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BRIT Awards to go ahead in 2021 with live audience

A crowd of over 4,000 will be in attendance - with 2,500 tickets gifted by the recorded music industry to frontline workers.

The Manc The Manc - 22nd April 2021

An audience of 4,000 people will attend the BRIT Awards in 2021 as the ceremony becomes the latest event to join the government’s COVID pilot programme.

The event – featuring live performances from Dua Lipa, Headie One, Arlo Parks and Griff – will take place at London’s O2 Arena and be around a quarter-full on the night, with 2,500 seats reserved for key workers.

Tickets are being gifted by the music industry to frontline staff via ballot to “thank them for their remarkable hard work and selfless commitment.”

Attendees will need to show a negative test result upon entry and take another test after the event, but will not need to socially distance from others or wear masks.

The Events Research Programme has been launched to gather data from populated venues in an attempt to reintroduce bigger crowds in England later this summer.

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Two Greater Manchester bands Blossoms and The Lathums have been booked to headline another pilot event at Sefton Park in Liverpool on May 2, with reduced crowds already attending sporting fixtures this month.

Danielle Kennedy-Clark, Deputy General Manager of The O2 said: “We’re proud that The O2 has been selected to host the largest indoor capacity pilot event with The BRITs.

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“This scientific trial is an important step on the path to recovery for the live entertainment industry, and our operational teams are making the final preparations to be able to welcome people into The O2 again for the first time in more than a year.”

Dua Lipa stated: “This has been a long tough year for everyone and I’m delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so.

“They are quite simply an inspiration. The Brit Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember.”

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The BRIT Awards will be screened live on ITV on Tuesday 11 May.

View the 2021 nominees online.

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A charity auction is selling memorabilia from the ACTUAL Peaky Blinders set

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Peaky Blinders super-fans get ready, because there’s a charity auction is currently open and items worn by the stars of the iconic TV series are up for grabs.

This exclusive event gives bidders the chance to own a piece of modern-day TV history in the form of not just merchandise but authentic memorabilia.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all wanted to pull on a flat cap and pretend we were a gangster at one point in our lives, and what better way to do so and relive your Peaky Blinders fantasy than by doing so with one from the show? Especially since you know your money is going towards a good cause.

Whether you want to look as dapper as Tommy Shelby, or you just want to add a culture-soaked collector’s item to your, well, collection, you might want to check this one if you’re a big Peaky fan.

Maybe you could own something from this very picture at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Maybe you could own something from this very picture at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Walk away feeling dapper as ever with exclusive merchandise up for grabs at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Walk away feeling dapper as ever with exclusive merchandise up for grabs at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Credit: BBC

Anyone planning on going to the Peaky Blinders charity auction event can bid in person or even register to bid online now if you won’t be free during the proceedings.

As for what is on the table, you could raise your virtual paddle for everything from a full suit worn by Cillian Murphy himself to Sam Claflin’s homburg hat, a pair of Michael Gray (Finn Cole) shiny shoes and much more.

You can find a full list of the items available for auction online, as the bidding commenced this month and will officially close on 20 May with a special tie-in event.

And where else to hold said event and than Manchester’s very own Peaky Blinders bar on Peter Street just off the main Deansgate strip, where the action will culminate in a flamboyant and free-to-all event.

Those attending in person will be greeted with a welcome drink before being encouraged to join in with the final day of the auction – guests are encouraged to turn up in ‘true Shelby style’ of course.

All the funds raised will go towards the much-loved NHS foundation and specialist hospital, The Christie, Europe’s largest cancer centre, right here in Manchester.

Peaky Blinders bar on Peter St in Manchester city centre.
Everyone knows the Peaky Blinders like a drink.

Tickets for this event cost nothing, but there is an option to add an additional donation if you wish, and bidding on items taken from the cult favourite TV show is open to everyone.

This isn’t the only claim to fame this Manchester-based centre has as just last month a breast cancer study at The Christie set up by Girls Aloud star and Stockport-born, Sarah Harding, helped save 80 women. Now that’s leaving a legacy.

Once again, the final day of the Peaky Blinders charity auction event is taking place on Tuesday, 20 May from 6-10pm, and tickets are completely free.

Sign up for yours below HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — GoodFon/BBC

What's On

Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.

If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.

Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.

This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.

It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.

Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.

This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.

Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.

Belter.

The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.

If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”

Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Wikimedia Commons/Press shot (supplied)

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