Will Mellor has given fans a fresh hint that Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps could finally be making a long-awaited return.
And apparently, they’ve already “got a script” and are raring to go whenever.
The Stockport-born actor – who is best known for his role on the BBC sitcom, but has also appeared in Hollyoaks, Line of Duty, No Offence, and Broadchurch throughout his career, and is currently playing Harvey Gaskell on Manchester-based ITV soap Coronation Street – has revealed in an exclusive interview with the Daily Star this week that the beloved 00s show is ready for a comeback.
The 46-year-old told the paper that the show – which ran for nine series from 2001 to 2011 – could be set to return for a final series called ‘Two Pints: Last Orders’, and he believes it could “put a smile on the faces of everyone struggling” amid the rising cost of living crisis.
Written and created by Susan Nickson, and set in her hometown of Runcorn in Cheshire, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps first aired on BBC Two back in 2001, and originally revolved around the lives of five twentysomethings played by Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Ralf Little, and Kathryn Drysdale, alongside Mellor.
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Will Mellor hints Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps could return / Credit: BBC
The sitcom was not just loved by us northerners, but gained a cult-following of fans right across the UK, with millions tuning in to watch each series.
“Two Pints represented the working class who are really struggling at the moment,” Will told the Daily Star this week.
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“The reason why it lasted so long is because people loved it.
“We have got a script – Two Pints: Last Orders. If they wanted to make it, I would do it just to say thank you for all the support to the people who loved the show.”
Sadly though, despite huge popularity nationwide, on 23 July 2011, it was confirmed that Two Pints would end after its ninth series due to the BBC making room for new comedies, and the broadcaster’s feeling that the series had come to a natural end after the departures of most of the main cast members.
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The cast has apparently already ‘got a script’ ready to go / Credit: BBC
Because of this, Will further hinted to the Daily Star that another broadcaster may step in to take on the show if the BBC isn’t interested.
“Maybe, I don’t know,” he said.
“I just keep my head above water. I’m a self-employed actor, so we’ve got to keep moving with the times and keep doing what you have to do.
“It’s a show that I loved and it was a massive part of my life and a big part of other people’s lives. Nostalgia is a big thing as well so why not bring it back? Even if it’s for a little one-off like they did with Gavin & Stacey.”
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TV & Showbiz
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.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd March 2023 
