It’s not even been a month since comedian, TV personality and drag icon Paul O’Grady sadly passed away and while there have been countless touching tributes since his death, one of the biggest responses has been to an old clip of his passionate speech from back in 2010.
The Birkenhead-born comic who rose to fame as Lily Savage was always one to wear Merseyside on his sleeve, as well as his left-wing politics and support for the Labour Party, so when this old clip from his self-titled show resurfaced, it’s no surprise it soon started trending.
Responding to the Conservatives ‘austerity’ budget 13 years ago, when David Cameron was Prime Minister and George Osbourne Chancellor, the broadcaster went on to deliver a humorous but equally powerful message about the trying times the UK was going through at the time.
It won’t be lost on you how poignant this impassioned speech still feels:
Paul O’Grady takes on the “Austerity Budget” live on TV in 2010…
“We should let them know that we are not taking these draconian cuts lightly”. pic.twitter.com/AQt4XcmOAG
It’s quite telling just how much of this still applies today.
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As you can see, O’Grady had plenty to say regarding the 2010 cuts and the austerity budget that bears such a striking resemblance to the cost of living crisis that the majority of Britain is currently going through.
Remarking that it’s “always the poor what gets the blame” and quipping “vive la révolution” as he urges his viewers to take the streets and protest their resistance to the cuts, the gist of his message wouldn’t go a miss in 2023, especially given the flurry of strikes and anti-government sentiment at this time.
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The rousing speech serves as a timely reminder that Paul O’Grady was more than just the funny bloke off the telly who loved dogs, he was an avid campaigner for the working class, the LGBTQIA+ community and anyone he felt needed looking after.
Politics aside, that’s all an ethos we can get behind. Rest in peace to a legend and a lovely man.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
Emily Sergeant
Call yourself a clever clogs? The BBC is currently looking for contestants to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That’s right – Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show – which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is – knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed ‘vitally important’.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Greater Manchester encouraged to apply.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’ / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: “The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
“Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
“This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It’s all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all.”
Reckon you’ve got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Danny Jones -
21st April 2023 
