Last week, The Manc had the exquisite and rare pleasure of talking to one of the most recognisable faces from TV and film over the past 20 or so years, the one and only Steve-O.
The man synonymous with the hit show and movie franchise Jackass, self-inflicted bodily harm and pretty much all things outrageous, Steve-O built an entire career out of making out of doing some of the most dangerous stunts known to man and making a fool out of himself for other peoples amusement.
Us Brits love someone who isn’t afraid to make an arse out of themselves from time to time, so it was no surprise that we got on like a house on fire in the 20 minutes or so that we had with him.
Rocking up to the UK for his multimedia ‘Bucket List’ tour at the end of this month and playing his Manchester show at the Academy on 1 July, we learned all about his live show, what fans can expect and so much more about this enigma of a man than we ever expected. Well, stuff like this:
The call began in the most surreal circumstances I could have expected, with the screen switching on to show a dimly lit Steve-O, wearing shades and barely lit by a single light in the back of a car at 12:15am in LA having just come from somewhere in the US.
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Right from the off, there was very little formality and professionalism on both sides, as we struggled to find the best spots for our connection and the 49-year-old worried about waking up his missus on the way inside his house.
After introducing him and asking him how he was doing that day in the most professional manner I can muster, he immediately jumped into mocking me by replying, “I’m great man. Are we on the radio?”
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Strong start.
Maybe it was the nerves of meeting a genuine cultural icon but I had clearly misread the room as the 49-year-old was basically horizontal the entire time whilst cuddling with his dogs as they licked his face and he chatted to this random lad from Stockport like two people who’d just got chatting in the pub.
Jumping straight into the story about how he came to adopt his dog, Wendy, he regaled me with the tale of how he rescued the doe-eyed street dog from a village in Peru whilst climbing the Andes Mountains for the 2018 show, Ultimate Expedition — as you do.
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Admitting that she became the star of the show and revealing how the YouTube video of getting her home earned more views on Facebook than any other piece of content he’s ever created, I quickly understood that, first and foremost, this was a very loving and caring bloke at his very core.
Bringing the craziness of ‘The Bucket List’ tour to the UK
Chilling with dogs throughout the interview, we moved on to his global phenomenon of a tour which he describes as a real “multimedia show” filled with everything from stand-up, interactive elements, pre-recorded stunts, reminiscing and general hijinx. Spoilers: we laughed, cringed and recoiled at just hearing about it.
“It’s unbelievably epic, dude”, says Steve-O, “It’s a multimedia show, which features videos that could never have been filmed for Jackass. It’s called The Bucket List and the things on my bucket list were so outrageously inappropriate and just ridiculous that they were never supposed to happen.
“I found myself confronting middle age and having gotten into live comedy and wanting it to be multimedia, so I just found these crazy things [to do].
Without going into too much graphic detail, he told about everything from trying to ride a bike through a field while under general anaesthesia to masturbating whilst jumping out of an aeroplane and plenty more.
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We can see why they weren’t allowed on Jackass but that, after some of them, he was actually “sobbing with tears of joy over how delicious it was to genuinely raise the bar from where Jackass left it”, adding, “I am the only guy in the world who could make that video, screen it for large audiences and truly feel good about it.”
Crowds either cringe, throw up or pass out
Asking how some of the pre-recorded stunts that he told us about have been going down in front of a live audience, he admitted that there’s some “pretty gnarly stuff” and that “at more shows than not, audience members would have to walk out or “were passing out cold in their seats”.
He explained to us that the show is banned in a lot of places around the world — Delaware being the only US state he hasn’t been able to play yet — and even in the places that do permit the show, getting a ticket comes with a “legal disclaimer that you entered this theatre at your own risk”. Crikey.
What became abundantly clear is that despite all the years of ridiculous and downright dangerous things he’s done, there isn’t a single inch of Steve-O that has slowed down even after being sober for 15 years now — congrats, by the way, mate.
Steve-O gave the impression that The Bucket List is a cut above the craziness of Jackass (Credit: Supplied)
What the new show will do, as opposed to the stuff you might’ve seen on telly before, is combine live comedy that he’s been trying since 2006 and properly honing since 2010, with the storytelling and the stunts your normally associate himself with.
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In his words, the stories in the act are patently absurd but after each story I literally provide the receipt playing the footage… it’s so much fun because the story is just coming out of my mouth sounds like such implausible fiction but it’s all completely true and proven to be true.
Growing up in Britain and memories of Manchester
This being his third comedy special to date, he also wanted to pick a meaningful place to record it, which just so happens to be London on 13-14 July, where it turns out he actually spent many of his formative years and which we’re ashamed to admit we did not know.
“I was born in London and lived there from the ages of nine all the way through 18 with the exception of a year and a half in Canada; I attended the American School in London in St. John’s Wood… so this is very much a homecoming for me.”
As for any lasting memories of our beloved city, he said, “I do remember Manchester as the most outrageous and disruptive at a 2003 show on my ‘Don’t Try This At Home’ tour, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit intimidated about the Manchester stop”.
Us Mancs never disappoint — we even put a bit of fear in a man who famously tightrope over a pool of alligators. 0161 was also the first place to sell out on the UK leg of his tour as well, just saying.
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The best/worst stunt ever?
Speaking of daft and dangerous stunts, we obviously couldn’t end the call without discussing some of his most insane moments from the Jackass years and beyond, at which point we both seemed to agree that his most ridiculous and inadvisable feat was the ‘Invisible Musical Chair’.
For anyone unaware, the stunt basically ended with an entire arm being engulfed in the fuel and leaving him with burns so severe he needed skin grafts on 15% of his body. Ouch.
Warning: do not watch this if of a squeamish disposition…
If the Bucket List has anything like this then we can see why people are passing out at Steve-O shows.
It was naturally the injuries that stuck with him the most, noting how he once “shattered [his] ankle and got it all screwed together with like two plates and 11 screws” following a stunt, but that it’s the one that cause lasting pain that he remembers the most.
And with that, I was genuinely exhausted from just hearing about the amount of frankly ridiculous things he’s done even in the 13 years he’s been doing his live comedy and multimedia shows, let alone when it was his full-time job on MTV.
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Not only did we end the call with a genuine feeling that I could have listened to him recall stunts and stories for hours, but which a genuine sense of envy for anyone going along to see Steve-O’s The Bucket List tour, which now feels appropriately named as I don’t wanna die without having seen it for myself.
Even from the familiarity and comfort he conveyed over the course of a 20-min Zoom call, I also got the sense that this show is also a very personable one where it feels like an intimate little invite into his self-confessed “triple X-rated” world and we want ours in the post like yesterday.
So if anyone ever asks me what it was like interviewing Steve-O and what I made of him, I have my answer ready: a sweet and funny man who just happens to have made a living off doing outrageous things that require a ‘do not try at home’ warning. You can get tickets to his remaining shows HERE.
Scouting For Girls on Chesney Hawkes, Manchester gigs, Old Trafford and new tour
Thomas Melia
In case you missed it, British boyband and pop-rockers Scouting For Girls have announced a 20-date UK tour for early next year.
They’re already planning potential set lists for the tour already including some very special surprises as well as an entire brand new album.
Lead vocalist Roy Stride reminisces on life in a boyband, career highlights and just how excited he is to play Manchester once again.
After playing at Manchester Cathedral earlier this year, the boys are coming back to one of Manchester’s city centre music venues for a 15-year anniversary tour for their sophomore LP, Everybody Wants To Be On TV.
With the announcement of a new tour, can we expect any new music to coincide with this?
We have announced a new album that will come out after our tour. This tour is all about celebrating the second album, we’re going to slip in maybe one or two new songs into the setlist as we go, though.
How excited are you to be coming back to Manchester after the reception of your cathedral gig earlier this year?
That Manchester Cathedral gig was like it, I was gonna say biblical, but it really, it really, like, it was an amazing place to play it and it, it was unlike any gig we’d done before. Audience participation and people singing along works so well in a cathedral.
It really was a great feeling.
Are there any songs that you’ve put out on Everybody Wants To Be On TV that have grown on you over time or become your favourite all these years later?
There’s a song on there called ‘Posh Girls’ which I still can’t believe we put on the record, but it’s so ridiculous and fun, you know, that’s probably a real favourite of mine. It’s a real live favourite too.
Scouting for Girls are heading to O2 Apollo in Manchester early next year.Credit: Press Shot
This time round you’re playing O2 Apollo and in the past you’ve played multiple venues in our city centre, which has been your favourite?
Night and Day Cafe and O2 Apollo but we’ve even played old Trafford. We played in between a football or rugby game, that was pretty epic.
There’s a video which went round our band and crew WhatsApp group of the first time we played [O2 Apollo] in 2010, like when the album first came out.
We played the Royal Albert Hall the night before with these trumpet players, and they got really drunk and ended up staying on the tour bus with us. The trumpet players weren’t supposed to be there, but we hid them in the Manchester crowd and got them to play this fanfare intro.
It was really bad because they were just incredibly hung over, it was all over the place and our guitarists’ were just filming it but it’s still a real core memory for me.
It’s not just Manchester you’re stopping off at either, you’re playing a 20 date UK tour, how are you feeling ahead of playing a tour this big?
I love traveling around the country. I love being on a tour bus. I love getting a show really good. Our shows are quite fluid and they change, and the setlists change, but when you get really tight on tour it’s a magical place because you go on stage and you know, whatever happens, it’s going to be amazing.
And in fact, the weirdest stuff that happens, whether I end up in the crowd or the balcony, doing a conga – it’ll be a great night every night.
On your album you have a song titled ‘Michaela Strachan’, you all met for the first time last year at your Shepherd’s Bush show – Have you considered the potential of her joining you on stage during this song?
Maybe. I don’t know, however, I’m quite a good friend of Chesney Hawkes, who was just in the Big Brother house, and he was supposed to play a couple of songs last tour.
He was going to pop up and play like ‘The One and Only’ at one of our shows last year and we couldn’t make it happen because our guitarist ended up having a baby early and we didn’t have enough time to do it. I think we will have to play ‘Michaela Strachan’ on tour, though.
You have a song titled ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ named after the rock ‘n’ roll legend, besides the Memphis icon, who are your favourite music legends?
I’ve got a holy trinity: The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The [Rolling] Stones, everything goes back to those bands for me.
I also like REM I’d love for them to get back together. They were one of the first bands I saw and when they split up I honestly mourned when they split us up, I was depressed for like two weeks. Their last album was so good.
They’ve done a few shows now so I don’t whether they’ll get back together, but that is definitely something I would love to see.
With this tour celebrating the remarkable 15 year anniversary of Everyone Wants To Be On TV, are there any songs off this project you wish fans showed more attention to when the album initially came out?
There was a song called ‘Take A Chance’ which was the last single, I hadn’t listened to the album for many years but going back and listening to it properly there’s some really good moments on it.
You spoke on social media about your single ‘The Place We Used To Meet’ and the album of the same name being very personal to you. Did fans respond the same way they did to your first few records?
It was a slightly different record. I suppose the songs were a bit more like this inner love song in terms of being more introspective, a bit more ballady. We still had an amazing response to it and we’re really, really proud of that album. But I don’t think it had like a banger like our first records.
If you could pick one song off The Place We Used To Meet that each of you connects to the most, what would it be and why?
Glow. It was one of the singles and it’s all about how I sort of met my wife and how we met in Tokyo, got engaged, went back to Tokyo and I proposed to her. I went and did a video [for ‘Glow’] in Tokyo too. So it’s really special.
I think we’re working out what songs we’re going to put in the festival set but I think that’s still got to be in there.
Have there been any moments in your career that have made you feel like ‘The Luckiest Boy In The World’?
‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, because it went to number one and we got to play ChristmasTop of the Pops. It was a massive thing for us – that was definitely a bucket list moment.
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We also made Pete, our drummer, wear a Santa costume and told him we were all going to dress up, then we walked out the dressing rooms and he was the only one in an outfit, so he’s just there with this whole Santa costume and beard set while we’re just dressed looking normal.
To this day, he can’t prove that he was actually on Top of the Pops because it just looks like a guy with a massive beard.
Scouting for Girls are heading out on tour to celebrate 15 years of ‘Everybody Wants To Be On TV’.
Swordplay and rock ‘n’ roll: A Knight’s Tale comes to Manchester Opera House
Danny Jones
From the moment the curtain rises at Manchester Opera House, A Knight’s Tale bursts into life with exhilarating energy. This stage adaptation of the beloved 2001 film expertly blends medieval spectacle with a bold, modern twist.
Full of jousting tournaments, noble quests, and underdog triumphs, the production delivers both heart and high drama – all with a heady dose of rock ‘n’ roll.
At the centre of it all is William Thatcher, a young squire who dares to defy his lowly birth and enter the world of high-born knights. Played with charm and confidence by Andrew Coshan, William’s journey from peasant to jousting champion is rousing, if occasionally veering into heroic cliché.
Still, Coshan’s likability and natural charisma keep the audience cheering for him through every lance charge and dramatic monologue. The supporting cast also shines.
A standout is Eva Scott, whose comic timing and delivery consistently land laughs, often stealing scenes with her sharp one-liners.
Meanwhile, Meesha Turner brings elegance and spark to the role of Princess Jocelyn. Her powerful vocals during the show’s pop-classic ballads transform the character into a fiery, modern princess you can’t help but root for.
The production’s standout sequences are undoubtedly the jousts, theatrical set pieces that are an absolute masterclass in stagecraft. Using a clever combination of rigging, physical choreography, and dynamic sound design, the creative team conjures a truly immersive atmosphere.
Dramatic lighting and resonant sound effects make you feel the thud of hooves and the crash of lances. The cleverly designed set, featuring an arena-style jousting field, draws the audience into the action in a way that feels fresh and cinematic.
However, the show stumbles slightly in its quieter, more emotional scenes. The dialogue, while laced with humour, sometimes dips into melodrama. The villain, Count Adhemar, feels a touch underwritten, with motivations that don’t quite match the emotional weight the story strives for, but is still well-acted.
Don’t just take it from us: the A Knight’s Tale reviews from Manchester crowds are already very strong.
The stakes between him and William never fully build to the payoff they could – leaving certain dramatic beats a little flat. Musically, the show makes a bold departure from traditional scores. Instead, it leans into a soundtrack of classic rock anthems; think Queen, AC/DC, The Who and more.
At first, it seems like an odd match for a medieval tale, just as it did with the movie, but it works brilliantly. The music injects the show with rebellious energy and gives it a timeless quality. It’s loud, bold, and exactly what this high-octane tale of ambition and identity calls for.
A special mention must go to the ensemble and choreography. The jousting scenes are beautifully choreographed, blending acrobatics, dance, and swordplay with seamless precision. Even in quieter moments, the movement on stage supports the storytelling with subtle grace.
But the unexpected stars of the show? The horses. Designed with clever costume and movement illusions, they create the convincing effect of riders in full gallop – and at times, they very nearly steal the spotlight altogether.
Credit: Supplied
Though clearly aimed at adult audiences, with its cheeky humour and classic rock soundtrack, the show flirts with the spirit of panto, oversized characters, regional accents, and exaggerated physical comedy. And it works.
The regional dialects add warmth and levity, grounding the fantasy in a cheeky, very British sensibility. In the end, A Knight’s Tale is a triumphant and entertaining spectacle, an electrifying mix of medieval mythology and modern musical theatre.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original film or seeing the story for the first time, this production offers a fun, fast-paced, and surprisingly heartfelt night out. It’s not perfect, but it’s hard not to be swept up in the clashing swords, galloping hooves, and power chords.
Put simply, this is a knight to remember – with a soundtrack that slays.
Danny Jones -
27th June 2023 
