A new BBC drama film about one of the victims of the UK football sexual abuse scandal is to hit our TV screens this spring.
BBC Two has announced that it is to air the new 80-minute feature-length drama that tells the “impactful and important” story of a former professional footballer, Andy Woodward, whose brave revelations about the sexual abuse he suffered as a youth player sent shockwaves throughout the industry and across the globe.
Floodlights was written by the award-winning screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh, directed by BAFTA-nominated Nick Rowland, and adapted for TV by production company Expectation.
The film has been made with the full cooperation of Andy Woodward, the BBC says.
In November 2016, Andy shocked the world when he found the strength to go public about horrific sexual abuse by his youth coach, Barry Bennell.
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After doing so, hundreds more men – many also victims of Bennell, who worked as a coach with connections to a number of North West clubs – had the courage to speak up about their harrowing experiences of abuse too, which contributed to lifting the lid on a national scandal in the country’s most popular sport.
A description for the factual drama by the BBC reads: “Floodlights depicts Andy’s life, from a boy with a passion for the game to a successful professional footballer who seemingly has the world at his feet, until, no longer able to ignore the haunting memories of the abuse he was subject to by his youth coach, his career is cut short.
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“It examines the power and control held by Bennell, grooming young players and their families with the promise of making their dreams come true.”
It stars former Shameless star, Gerard Kearns, as Andy Woodward.
Jonas Armstrong (Hollington Drive, The Bay), Morven Christie (Lockwood & Co, The A Word), and Steve Edge (Benidorm, The Madame Blanc Mysteries) also form part of the wider cast.
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Speaking ahead of the film’s release this spring, Andy Woodward said: “Since speaking out in 2016, I’ve wanted to continue to encourage people to talk without fear, to make a change. Floodlights tells my story, which no child should ever have to go through.
“I hope this film helps to stop abuse in football and in all areas of life.”
Gerard Kearns added of his role: “I am honoured to be playing Andrew Woodward, and hope that we have done his story justice.”
Floodlights will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this spring.
Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
You can get FREE tickets to watch The Voice UK in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Fans of The Voice UK can apply to get free tickets to watch the filming of the upcoming series taking place right here in Manchester.
Anyone looking to get their late-night fix more up close and personal than just sitting on the sofa will be delighted to know that The Voice UK is returning, and you could see this show in the flesh.
The music competition show is returning to its usual filming spot right here in MediaCity UK in Salford and offers members of the public the chance to showcase their vocals in front of music icons.
The Voice is known for attracting some of the biggest musical stars, with judges of past seasons including Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Hudson, Meghan Trainor, Ricky Wilson and more.
Last year’s judges included American country-pop superstar LeAnn Rimes and the first-ever double-chair, which seated McFly members Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher.
Fortunately, these tickets aren’t to take part in the show, instead they’re to appear in the studio audience, although we all know Mancs love a good sing-along.
There are three various filming dates all taking place at MediaCity UK in Salford, meaning Mancs have a few opportunities to see the judges discover the next best thing in music.
Although the judging lineup for The Voice 2025 hasn’t been officially announced yet, there are two music mentors who have been on the show since it very first launched here in Britain.
Anyone considering attending is almost guaranteed to see the legendary Sir Tom Jones, as well as notable producer and recording artist Will.I.Am, as both music legends have been on the judges panel since it first aired back in 2012.
It is just us, or does it seem hard to believe it was that long ago?
The Voice UK starts filming at MediaCity UK in Manchester from Thursday, 5 June until the following Saturday (7 Jun), with tickets to all three dates still available HERE.
Featured Image — Okras (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Voice UK (screenshot via YouTube)
TV & Showbiz
Liam and Noel spent a wholesome Gallagher Easter together for the first time in years
Danny Jones
We wish you a belated and brilliant Gallagher Easter, courtesy of Noel and Liam, who spent the holiday together, along with family members, for the first time in god knows how many years.
In all seriousness, we do hope you had a lovely long weekend, but we’ll admit we’re far more interested in the Gallagher brothers spending the bank holiday together than anyone else.
No offence.
As far as largely inane celebrity news, this particular brand is the kind we get up for, mainly because we have alerts on for everything Oasis and/or Gallagher-related since the long-awaited reunion was announced. Safe to say the algorithm knows exactly what we want.
So we had a BIBLICAL Easter Sunday Noel Donavan and Sonny popped over to ours for a cup of tea it was absolutely incredible to meet the young guvs i obviously blew there minds coz im cool as fuck you heard it here 1st LG x
Hopping on social media (let’s be honest, he’s never off it) to share the good news, Liam confirmed that he and his big bro spent at least part of the Easter break together, along with some of the Gallagher kids.
Noel’s daughter Anaïs and Liam’s youngest, Molly and Gene, may have been spotted together on multiple occasions recently and look to have buried the feud along with their dads, but to our knowledge this may have been the first time some of these kids have ever met their cousins.
While it wasn’t a complete family reunion, the idea of the Burnage boys sitting with a brew alongside their children is quite a surreal image to picture in our mind’s eye – but then again, so were those first snaps of the brothers together in the same room before the comeback was officially announced.
Donavan Gallagher was just two years old when Oasis split up back in 2009, so there’s the plenty of reason to assume he had at least seen the mini Manc before that point; second son Sonny, however, was only born in 2010, so LG may have never even seen him in the flesh before.
In fact, Noel has insisted in the past that his younger sibling hasn’t met his of his kids bar his eldest daughter, Anaïs. As the kids were present, we’re going to faithfully assume the rider consisted of strictly tea and chocolate.
Given the unprecedented meeting and the fact the communion took place over Easter, for once, Liam describing it as ‘biblical’ feels actually somewhat accurate.
Once again, we’re just glad to see and hear any positive stories about the Manc music icons and we just pray they keep up the families until the reunion world tour is over at the very least.
We were also delighted to see that Radio X once again voted an Oasis track as ‘the greatest British song ever’ – can you guess which one it is?