Shaun Ryder and Andy Whyment, two Greater Manchester legends, discovered a surprise connection on I’m A Celebrity… South Africa last night in a very wholesome bit of telly.
Proving that it really is a small world after all, the Happy Mondays singer and Coronation Street star discovered that they’d crossed paths back home in a big way.
Despite spending years walking the same halls, they’ve only met for the first time on the hit ITV series, which started its new all-star format earlier this week.
Shaun Ryder has proved to be an early fan favourite and this blossoming ‘bromance’ with Andy provided some more I’m A Celebrity gold last night.
The pair were both chatting about life back home in Greater Manchester around the campfire, and quickly worked out that they had a few things in common.
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After establishing that Shaun lives in Salford and Andy telling him he grew up in Clifton, they both discovered they went to the same primary school, St Mark’s.
And then as they kept chatting, it emerged that they both also went to the same secondary school too.
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Andy said: “The mad thing is, we live not far from each other, and the first time we’ve met is in the jungle.”
The video shared on TikTok has already pulled in millions of views, with comments flooding in from fellow proud Salfordians.
They both got very excited, and people said it was like watching ‘two dads chit chatting down the pool’.
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One person wrote on Twitter: “Watching Shaun and Andy talking on i’m a celeb is like watching my last 2 brain cells bobble around in my head lmao i love them
Another wrote: “I’m fully here for a Shaun and Andy bromance.”
Someone else said: “I can see this becoming a really good Bromance.”
Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear diagnosed with dementia
Danny Jones
Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear, who famously played the iconic character Bet Lynch for over 25 years, has sadly been diagnosed with dementia.
Issuing a statement via ITV, her husband Scott Brand confirmed that they had been given the “heartbreaking diagnosis” this week.
Goodyear, 81, played the legendary Rovers Return pub landlord for over two decades across two different spells on the show, starting in 1966 before leaving the show for good in 1995.
Brand told the outlet on Wednesday: “Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance, but we now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation – and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse.”
Coronation Street's Julie Goodyear is suffering with dementia, her husband has revealed.https://t.co/4CZwt5KbGJ
— ITV Granada Reports (@GranadaReports) June 7, 2023
Julie Goodyear has been diagnosed with dementia at the age of 81.
He went on to say that he and Goodyear “have taken the decision to publicly announce the diagnosis as Julie still loves visiting friends and eating out”, noting that she inevitably gets recognised “and fans love to meet her – and she them – but she can get confused particularly if she is tired” and adding they “hope people will understand.”
The Manc soap star and household name is from Heywood in Rochdale and retired from acting in 2003 after making her final special appearance on the Coronation Street spin-off, After Hours.
Fans baffled as Arctic Monkeys spotted boozing in a Manchester Wetherspoons
Daisy Jackson
We all know by now that Arctic Monkeys were in Manchester over the weekend, with two sold-out shows at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground.
But what many people weren’t expecting is for the rockstars to pop up in a pretty well-known pub in the city centre.
And they didn’t pick some cool trendy craft beer bar – nope, these lads went for the cheapest option possible.
Two members of Arctic Monkeys were spotted nursing pints outside The Moon Under Water, of all places, between performing to 50,000-strong crowds.
Fans stopped to take pictures with bassist Nick O’Malley and guitarist Jamie Cook, as well as touring band member Tom Rowley, at the Wetherspoons pub on Deansgate.
People have all been pretty bemused by their choice of watering hole, unsurprisingly.
One person wrote: “You’re not telling me Arctic Monkeys are having a booze in the Moon Under The Water on Deansgate hahahaha.”
Another said: “Imagine bumping into some of the monkeys in a Wetherspoons hahaha.”
Someone else pointed out: “Biggest band in the country and they’re drinking carling in spoons.”
It’s also drawn comparisons to the iconic ‘Four lads in jeans’ meme.
It’s the second weird celebrity sighting this week, after Pink was spotted swinging her way around Total Ninja in Trafford Park at her daughter’s 12 birthday party.
Pink is about to perform two huge shows at the University of Bolton stadium in Greater Manchester.
Arctic Monkeys were pictured over a sunny weekend in Manchester, where they’d performed two gigs in Trafford.
The Sheffield band’s triumphant return will peak later this week when they perform in their hometown at Hillsborough Park.