TV & Showbiz

Sarah Lancashire’s accent at the NTAs has baffled fans as Happy Valley shines

Not a trace of Oldham left in that accent.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 6th September 2023

Happy Valley had a phenomenal night at the National Television Awards last night, scooping three awards – but it’s Sarah Lancashire’s accent that’s had the internet talking overnight.

The star, who is originally from Oldham, is perhaps best-known for her portrayal of Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley, as well as for her time as barmaid Raquel Wolstenhulme at the Rover’s Return on Coronation Street.

In Happy Valley, she sports a strong – and very authentic – Yorkshire accent, fitting with the setting around the Calder Valley.

So when Sarah Lancashire went to collect her various awards at the NTAs last night (Returning Drama, Drama Performance, and the Special Recognition Award), audiences were shocked to hear that her accent isn’t very northern at all.

In fact, fans have gone so far as to say she is ‘posh’, and that her real accent sounds ‘jarring’ compared to the Yorkshire tones we’ve all got used to in recent years.

The 58-year-old took to the stage last night, wiping away tears, to tell the crowd (who were chanting her name): “You have no idea what it’s like to have so many lovely things said about you by so many people that you love and admire.”

Sarah added: “I have been so very fortunate to spend my working life doing a job that I love, made possible by brilliantly talented people – producers, directors, writers, actors – and I am exceptionally lucky to have enjoyed every moment of it.”

Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley as fans are stunned by her 'real accent' at the NTAs
Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley as fans are stunned by her ‘real accent’ at the NTAs. Credit: ITV

Many have been sad to hear that her years of theatre training seem to have dulled down her native Oldham accent, with most surprised that she doesn’t ‘sound Northern’.

Which makes her performance in Happy Valley, where she chats away about brews and stews and swear like a true Yorkshireman, all the more impressive.

One person said: “Sarah Lancashire is that good an actress that it’s a shock when she doesn’t speak in a Yorkshire accent.”

Someone else posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Sarah Lancashire speaking that posh just took me by surprise!! Her Yorkshire accent is spot on in happy valley!”

The National Television Awards 2023 (NTAs) winners in full

  • Special Recognition Award – Sarah Lancashire
  • Serial Drama – Eastenders
  • Talent Show – Strictly Come Dancing
  • New Drama – Wednesday
  • Reality Competition – The Traitors
  • Authored Documentary – Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now
  • Returning Drama – Happy Valley
  • TV Presenter – Ant & Dec
  • Factual – Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs
  • Drama Performance – Sarah Lancashire
  • The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award – Gogglebox
  • TV Interview – The Graham Norton Show
  • Serial Drama Performance – Danielle Harold
  • Quiz Game Show – The 1% Club
  • Rising Star – Bobby Brazier
  • Daytime – The Repair Shop
  • Comedy – Young Sheldon

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TV & Showbiz

Diana Ross at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

It’s true, the Queen of Motown Records, Diana Ross, is coming to Manchester, and she’s bringing The Hallé Orchestra with her too.

Diana Ross and her band are making their way to Manchester for a night of glitz and glam, but they’re also making room for the much-loved Manc-based music collective

Much like collaborator and friend, Lionel Richie, who also paid a visit to Co-op Live earlier this month, Ross likes a bit of ‘Dancing On the Ceiling’ with her flipped-dance hit ‘Upside Down’.

You can expect this Pop and disco diva to perform lots of other timeless classics such as ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Chain Reaction’, she really is ‘The Boss’.

Diana Ross gig guide – everything you need to know

Diana Ross, her band and The Hallé Orchestra are coming to Co-op Live Manchester on 26 June.
Diana Ross, her band and The Hallé Orchestra are coming to Co-op Live Manchester on 26 June.
Credit: Crisco 1492 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Diana Ross UK tour dates

  • Sun 22 June – Birmingham, UK – bp pulse Live
  • Mon 23 June – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
  • Wed 25 June – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Thu 26 June – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Sat 28 June – Leeds, UK – first direct arena
  • Mon 30 June – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
  • Wed 2 July – London, UK – The O2

Diana Ross tickets for Co-op Live gig

This living legend is a bucket list gig for many, but we’re sure if you’re fast enough, you’ll be able to secure a ticket for yourself and your ‘Baby Love’.

Any available tickets can be found HERE.

Diana Ross has racked up 58 Top 10 hits and we're sure she'll play a hefty amount of these at Co-op Live.
Diana Ross has racked up 58 top 10 hits and we’re sure she’ll play a hefty amount of these at Co-op Live.
Credit: DVROSS (via Flickr)

Diana Ross setlist

  • I’m Coming Out
  • More Today Than Yesterday
  • Baby Love
  • You Can’t Hurry Love
  • Come See About Me
  • Stop! In the Name of Love
  • Touch Me in the Morning
  • I’m Still Waiting
  • Chain Reaction
  • He Lives in You
  • Good Morning Heartache
  • Love Hangover
  • Ease on Down the Road
  • Home
  • The Boss
  • Endless Love
  • Reach Out and Touch
  • Upside Down
  • Tomorrow
  • Count on Me
  • Just in Case
  • If the World Just Danced
  • Why Do Fools Fall in Love
  • Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)
  • Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
  • Amazing Grace
  • I Will Survive
  • Thank You

What are the stage times for Diana Ross in Manchester?

The supreme space that is Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, so you’ll be able to dance your socks off without having to ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’, while still making it back to bed before the early hours.

Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm with a kick-off time of 7:30pm and no official announcement regarding a support act.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

This will be Diana's first time performing at Co-op Live in Manchester.
This will be Diana’s first time performing at Co-op Live in Manchester.
Credit: Crisco 1492 (via WikiCommons)

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Featured Images — Publicity Picture (supplied)/Wikimedia Commons/Flickr

TV & Showbiz

Channel 4 to air exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Jay Slater's mum has issued an update through a GoFundMe. Credit: GoFundMe

An exclusive new documentary taking an inside look at the the disappearance of Jay Slater is coming to Channel 4.

On the morning of 17 June 2024, 19-year-old Jay Slater – an apprentice bricklayer from the Lancashire town of Oswaldtwistle – disappeared on the island of Tenerife in Spain, after attempting to walk 14 hours back to his accommodation when there was no local taxi service available and no bus due for 90 minutes.

From then commenced one of the biggest missing persons cases in recent British history.

As the world’s media were following the story minute by minute last summer, producers at Channel 4 were in the incredibly-unique position where they had access to the Coronial process in Lancashire, and this has led to the exclusive documentary title The Disappearance of Jay Slater.

From Jay’s post-mortem to Jay’s inquest, the team have been with the family every step of the way over the last year, as they try and understand exactly what happened to Jay outside of the public gaze

Jay was ultimately pronounced dead on 15 July 2024 after Spanish police reported the discovery of a body in the vicinity of the area of interest, but before this discovery and eventual announcement, the internet became awash with public discourse, conspiracy theories, and more.

The Disappearance of Jay Slater is described as being ‘the family’s story’.

Spanish Civil Guard ask for volunteers to help with Jay Slater search
Channel 4 will air an exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater / Credit: GoFundMe

The documentary is set to follow them as they search for answers about what happened to Jay, witnessing the conspiracy theories raging online and the subsequent horrific abuse they received as a family – which is an hourly onslaught that continues to this day. 

These cameras were the only media in the world granted full access to film both Jay’s post-mortem and inside the church at his funeral.

But the broadcaster claims this documentary is not only the story of Jay’s tragedy, it’s also the story of ‘the new world we live in’ where so-called true crime armchair detectives run wild.

“The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture,” commented Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor, Rita Daniels, ahead of the documentary airing.

“We are so glad to be working on a sensitively handled exploration of the family’s experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief.

“The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.”

Read more:

Executive Producer Anna Hall added: “It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family, and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation. It is an unmonitored world where fake news runs rife, and this film shows the devastating impact this has had on one grieving family.”

The Disappearance of Jay Slater is expected to air on Channel 4 later this year, but no official dates have been confirmed as of yet, so keep your eyes peeled.

Featured Image – GoFundMe

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