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Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez have joked about being their own ticket touts back in the band’s heyday.

Pioneers of the “Madchester” sound of their home city in the 80s and early 90s, they rose to fame alongside the likes of The Stone Roses and Inspiral Carpets, a few years before Oasis.

The pair are now Gogglebox favourites and live a quieter life. But back in the day, Happy Mondays were known for their hard partying and not always doing things by the book – including the time they headlined Glastonbury Festival in 1990 when they infamously printed out their own backstage passes to squeeze as many mates in as they could.

Bez and Shaun Ryder attending the MTV Europe Music Awards 2024 at the Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester. Picture date: Sunday November 10, 2024.
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‘Manchester royalty’ Bez and Shaun Ryder were VIP guests at the MTV Europe Awards

Happy Mondays stars Bez (left) and Shaun Ryder performing at Glastonbury in 2000. Pic: Toby Melville/PA
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Happy Mondays stars Bez (left) and Shaun Ryder performing at Glastonbury in 2000. Pic: Toby Melville/PA

Sky News caught up with Ryder and Bez, whose real name is Mark Berry, at the MTV Europe Music Awards, which were held in Manchester for the first time this year.

They talked pop and politics, as well as Taylor Swift – and following the dynamic pricing controversy surrounding the Oasis reunion tickets earlier this year, we wanted to get their thoughts.

“It’s like being your own personal tout, isn’t it?” Bez said. “It’s like touting your own tickets. Which is better than the touts doing it.”

“We used to tout our own tickets,” added Ryder. “Do side merch and all that lot, print out passes backstage.”

“Don’t tell everyone,” Bez joked.

Oasis stars Liam and Noel Gallagher pictured at the Q Magazine music awards in London. Oasis frontman Liam received the Best Act in the World trophy on behalf of the band at the 10th anniversary of the awards.  * On 14.11.96 Oasis were announced as winners of the Best Group in the MTV Europe Awards, but failed to turn up for the event. See PA story SHOWBIZ MTV. Photo by Fiona Hanson/PA.
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Liam and Noel Gallagher, pictured in 2000, announced the Oasis reunion earlier this year. Pic: PA

Following the backlash over the dynamic pricing surrounding the initial Oasis reunion ticket sale, the band put a stop to it for extra dates added to the tour.

In October, promoters warned that thousands of tickets being listed on unauthorised sites, to sell for a profit, would be cancelled.

The repercussions from the ticket-buying process have led to a proposed new law to improve pricing transparency and prevent fans from being ripped off.

The UK competition watchdog is also looking at the dynamic pricing system, which sees prices change according to demand.

Read more:
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Shaun Ryder on early nights and hair loss

Despite Liam Gallagher winning an award at the MTV Awards for best rock act, he was not there in person to collect his prize.

“I love and adore you,” he told fans the following day in a message on X.

Ryder and Bez were there to represent their home city, though, hailed as “Manchester royalty” by host Rita Ora during one segment.

The night’s big winner was Taylor Swift, who did not attend the event but picked up four awards, including best artist.

Ryder told Sky News he is a fan. “She’s great,” he said. “An excellent songwriter.”

And on politics, the Happy Mondays frontman said he did not usually get involved, but following Donald Trump’s re-election, said: “I think we should do with that lunatic getting back in, because the world’s going to go f***ing mad”.

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Jessie J cancels tour dates ahead of second breast cancer surgery

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Jessie J cancels tour dates ahead of second breast cancer surgery

Jessie J has been forced to rearrange or cancel all upcoming tour dates as she will be having a second operation as part of her treatment for breast cancer.

The 37-year-old announced in June that she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer. She had her first operation later in the same month.

The singer, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, was due to tour the UK and Europe in October, before gigs in the US in November.

In a video posted on Instagram, she’s now told fans: “Unfortunately, I have to have a second surgery, nothing too serious, but it has to be done before the end of the year and unfortunately, that falls right in the middle of a tour that I had booked.”

The UK and Europe dates have been postponed until April next year while the US tour has been cancelled.

“So that is what it is, and I’m sorry,” the performer said. “I feel frustrated and sad, but also it is what it is, and I need to be better.

“I need to be healed, and I know this is the right decision to make. So I’m postponing the tour till next year.”

The star has asked fans to “please bear with us for the US tour”, adding that it’s “something that I want to do, but when the time is right”.

“You guys know how much I want to do all of it, but I just can’t,” she said. “And I have to be realistic.”

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Jessie J has battled numerous health issues, including being diagnosed with a heart condition when she was eight years old and suffering a minor stroke aged 18.

The singer-songwriter has had three number one songs in the UK singles chart, with Price Tag and Domino – both released in 2011 – and 2014’s Bang Bang, a collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

She won the Critics’ Choice prize at the 2011 BRITs and bagged four Mobo awards in the same year.

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‘I’m shocked at how fragile I am still’: Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media

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'I'm shocked at how fragile I am still': Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says he’s shocked at how “fragile” he still is – despite years in the spotlight and success in the industry.

It might seem like the Doctor Strange star and The Crown actress Olivia Colman have it all when it comes to money and success – but they are also human like the rest of us.

The pair lead the cast of new satirical black comedy The Roses, which sees picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo Rose – a rising star chef and ambitious architect – raise their two children in California, while chasing their own dreams.

‘I am shocked at how fragile I am’

But behind its dark humour and comic language, the film also looks at the realities of power imbalance, insecurity and wounded pride – in even the strongest of relationships.

And 49-year-old Cumberbatch – whose character faces a major setback in his career – tells Sky News that in real life the glare of social media only intensifies those type of situations.

“I am shocked at how fragile I am still.

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“I don’t go anywhere near it [social media] because of that.

“It’s like walking into a place where people want to marry you or kill you. Those extremes.

“I think we will get to a stage, a corporate culture that’s now manifested around it where people are obliged to do that in order to sell their lives, and therefore their brand and what they do for a living.”

Co-star Colman – who’s long-shunned the online world – agrees.

Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures
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Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures

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“I’m afraid I am very thin-skinned.

“I don’t look at any of it. My husband will look at a review and if it’s nice he’ll show me – but if it’s anything mean he knows to just go ‘don’t look – don’t look.’

“You just have to learn to be thicker-skinned.

“But actually, I think we need people who are sensitive and kind.”

‘Don’t do it… delete it all’

Colman – now 51, and whose leading role in The Favourite bagged her an Academy Award in 2019 – says no amount of experience and success can shield her from criticism.

“My advice to a young’un – sort of dipping their toe into the world of social media for the first time is absolutely don’t do it.

“Delete it all. If you want a happy life, don’t have any of it. I’ve never had it.”

The movie – directed by Meet The Parents’ Jay Roach with The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara – also calls into question the notion of success – asking, is it really possible to have it all?

Or is sacrifice inevitable when it comes to spinning the plates of a high-flying career, marriage and parenthood?

Cumberbatch admits “you can’t do it all without there being a cost”.

“You just have to weigh up what those balances are,” he adds.

Colman says “there are I suppose little sacrifices along the way” – from both sides of a relationship.

The comedy drama offers a fresh take on Warren Adler’s novel The War Of The Roses – and the 1989 hit film adaptation- starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

Colman and Cumberbatch – both producers on the film – insist they weren’t daunted by that though.

“We wanted to find a project to do together, and we have utter respect for the iconic status of the film and book,” explains Cumberbatch.

“Hopefully this will have its own place in the culture – it’s very different, it’s not a remake – it’s a reimagined jumping-on point.”

“But beyond that, it’s very different,” adds Colman.

Former Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and Barbie’s Kate McKinnon also form the cast.

The Roses is out in UK cinemas now.

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Top Boy and Eddington actor Micheal Ward granted bail as he appears in court on rape charges

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Top Boy and Eddington actor Micheal Ward granted bail as he appears in court on rape charges

BAFTA-winning actor Micheal Ward has been granted bail after appearing in court charged with two counts of rape.

The 27-year-old, who appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court this morning, is also accused of two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault.

The offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023.

Ward, who starred in the popular British series Top Boy and was awarded BAFTA‘s rising star honour in 2020, spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a short court hearing.

He did not enter any pleas and was granted conditional bail until a further hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 25 September.

In a statement issued after the charges were announced last month, Ward denied them “entirely” and said he had co-operated with police throughout their investigation.

The actor’s film credits include Blue Story, The Old Guard and Empire of Light, as well as the current Hollywood Western Eddington.

He was also twice nominated for BAFTA’s best supporting actor prize.

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