Netflix is on the hunt for someone to fill the role of Kate Middleton on an upcoming series of The Crown.
The hit drama, which follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the Royal Family, is now casting for its sixth season.
Netflix wants someone who could play an 18-year-old Kate Middleton.
The now-Duchess of Cambridge met her future husband, Prince William, in her late teens when they were both studying at the University of St Andrews – so it seems that the next series of The Crown will introduce the royal couple.
Netflix is looking for someone to play 18-year-old Kate Middleton on The Crown
The series changes cast every two years to portray the royals at different ages.
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Imelda Staunton is set to take on the lead role of Queen Elizabeth, while Elizabeth Debicki will step into the shoes of Princess Diana and Dominic West takes over as Prince Charles.
The casting call for Kate says that Netflix is hunting for ‘an exceptional young actor’ with a ‘strong physical resemblance’.
John Cooper Clarke announces new UK headline tour along with new book
Danny Jones
The ‘Bard of Salford’ himself, Dr John Cooper Clarke, is back with another UK headline tour in 2026, plus a brand-new book to boot.
Now 76 and still as fiery as ever, ‘The Godfather of Punk Poetry’s career spans more than half a century, and as a Greater Manchester native and cultural icon, he’s still just as worth celebrating as ever with each passing year.
Becoming the first poet to ever headline a UK arena with his landmark Co-op Live back in March, it’s been another milestone 12 months for local legend, and he clearly has absolutely no intentions of slowing down next year either.
Revealing a raft of new tour dates on Monday, 1 December, John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his spoken word stylings and latest collection – satsifyingly titled Have It – to crowds all over the country.
Confirming a total of 20 new live shows, JCC will be kicking off his next tour in October 2026 in time for the launch of his latest title.
Following on from last year’s release, ‘WHAT‘, which became an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and his memoir (published back in 2020), this will be his fifth book to date.
2025 also saw him receive the prestigious Northern Music Award (NMAs) in recognition of his phenomenal influence in the music world and art as a whole.
As for us here at Audio North, we recently also had the incredible privilege of sitting down to chat with Cooper Clarke ourselves ahead of the announcement, so keep your eyes peeled for that one…
You can see John Cooper Clarke’s list of live shows in full down below.
JCC UK headline tour dates 2026
We’ve kindly italicised all the Northern dates for you as well.
Wed, 7 Oct – Southend Palace Theatre
Sat, 10 Oct – Poole Lighthouse
Sun, 11 Oct – Bristol Beacon
Wed, 14 Oct – Brighton Theatre Royal
Thu, 15 Oct – London Palladium
Sat, 17 Oct – Sheffield City Hall
Tue, 20 Oct – Glasgow Pavilion
Wed, 21 Oct – Carlisle Old Fire Station
Fri, 23 Oct – Stoke-On-Trent Victoria Hall
Sat, 24 Oct – Birmingham Town Hall
Wed, 28 Oct – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Sat, 31 Oct – Leeds City Varieties Music Hall
Wed, 4 Nov – Whitley Bay The Playhouse
Fri, 6 Nov – York Grand Opera House
Thu, 12 Nov – Dublin 3 Olympia
Sun, 15 Nov – Belfast Mandela Hall
Wed, 18 Nov – Blackpool Opera House
Sat, 21 Nov – Manchester O2 Apollo
Wed, 25 Nov – Leicester De Montfort Hall
Fri, 27 Nov – Edinburgh Queens Hall
Tickets for Dr John Cooper Clarke in October 2026 will be available from this Friday, 5 December at 10am via Gigs and Tours as well as his official website.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/The Manc Group
TV & Showbiz
Tim Burgess pens touching tribute to ‘everyone’s mate’ Mani
Danny Jones
Legendary local musician Tim Burgess has written a touching tribute to the late, great Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield as people continue to pay their respects to the iconic Stone Roses bass player.
The Charlatans’ frontman, who recently got the band back in the recording studio for their stunning 14th studio album, is one of many who have taken the time to honour the influential Manc musician over the past few days.
Mani, 63, who also saw his career reignited as a regular member of Primal Scream after his time with the Roses, sadly passed away last week.
Penning a lengthy eulogy for The Sunday Times, Burgess was unaware that the digital version of the paper would be behind a paywall, deciding instead to share it publicly online.
Sharing the first few excerpts from the full article, the 58-year-old lead singer, solo artist and Salfordian said of Mani: “People have more stories to tell of their shared adventures with Mani than anyone else I know, often simply about enjoying a gig with him.”
The most striking part of his column is how much of it reiterates not just the Crumpsall native’s undying love for music but his raw obsession with the medium.
Perhaps most touchingly, however, is how he is positioned as “everyone’s mate” in the piece – a sentiment that seems to have been echoed all over social media, among the countless Manchester United fans that bumped into him at games, in the pub chat since and countless other corners.
Burgess is one of several high-profile artists to have honoured Mounfield in their own way; Richard Ashcroft and Oasis playing the ‘She Bangs the Drums’ riff and dedicating ‘Live Forever’ to their idol, The Membranes member and Louder Than War boss, John Robb, speaking via the BBC, just to name a few.
A particularly heartbreaking line is when he says, “On hearing the news of his death last week, I found solace in the idea that Mani lived life to the full. But at 63, it was a life cut lamentably short.” You can read more down below.
Since disclosing the Times write-up with his followers, it’s clear that the 58-year-old is going through a period of reflection following the death of not just a peer and role model but a close friend.
On Sunday, he summed up his feelings perfectly: “Go to that gig. Listen to that song, dust off that record player, learn to play that guitar. Music helps us through. Life can be overwhelming at times. Music can help, I promise you that.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Speaking of – we don’t know about you, but we’re going to be playing the best of The Stone Roses for the foreseeable future, and there’s a good chance we’ll also be heading to Chorlton for a special tribute DJ set by one of his friends and former colleagues.
Daisy Jackson -
28th April 2022 
