5 Things You Didn't Need To Know This Week

These five things dropped into our inbox last week, five things you really didn't need to know about... so here they are:

CASTLE ART GALLERY HOSTS 50 SHADES OF GREY EXHIBITION

The nationwide gallery chain - which now has branches in Manchester’s Deansgate and King Street - is seducing would-be buyers with the world’s only ‘50 Shades fine art exhibition,’ following author E. L. James’ collaboration with fashion photographer and artist Raphael Mazzuco (pictured). The collection (which probably has more like ten shades considering it’s monochrome) consists of four images with names like Laters Baby and Please Sir. For the, er, pleasure of owning one of the prints it’ll cost you just under a sweat-inducing £1000. Not feeling the love? Current exhibitions also include Bob Dylan and David Bowie. 

Once upon a time it was Bob the Builder - now it’s dubiously-named BGT finalists all the way for the Christmas Lights switch on, as Boogie Storm continues Old Men Grooving’s switch on legacy at the annual event. The switch on takes place on 20 November - incidentally the same date as Sparkle’s Transgender Day of Remembrance - and is followed by Brass Monkeys on 3 December. Meanwhile, borough youngsters are being asked to prove their salt and christen a new gritter - which joins the likes of Gritney Spears and Walter the Salter in the council fleet. Nitty Gritty? 

DIPPY SKELETON COMING TO ROCHDALE...IN 2020

You can’t say we didn’t give you advance warning... word in the Man Con inbox is that the National History Museum’s beloved diplodocus skeleton is taking a trip up north in four years’ time. It’s the first time Dippy, acquired by the museum in 1905, has left its London home - the dino will be touring eight UK venues, including Rochdale’s One Riverside from Feb to June. Talking of relics, a ‘historic Rochdale highway’ is to feature in new BBC Two series Black and British: A Forgotten History. The Victorian stone road - situated on Rooley Moor and widely known as ‘Cotton Famine Road’ - harks to Rochdale cotton workers who sided with the Union cause during the American Civil War.

SALFORD KNITTERS SPIN A YARN FOR BRIDGEWATER CANAL

If you happen to be walking along Bridgewater Canal and spy a crocheted #SWINGIEST at Barton Aqueduct, it’s not last night’s shenanigans giving you hallucinations. Over 70 women have spent a year creating 2000+ knitted and crocheted squares to create the letters, based on the marks stonemasons chiselled into the canal stonework to be paid for their work. And here’s one for the next general knowledge quiz: the aqueduct is apparently the world’s only bridge to swing open while retaining its water - how’s that for King of Swing, Mr Goodman?

SMUG ROBERTS CHANGES NAME TO ANDY WILKY

Cult comedy figure Smug Roberts is finally accepting the name bestowed by his parents (well, almost) and will now perform under the name Andy Wilky. Since appearing at the Monday amateur Raw night in 1995, Wilky has toured up and down the country; with gigs seeing him take the audience on a tram ride, perform an entirely silent set with Peter Kay and play Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy to a New Order backing band - amongst other things. On a more serious note, he’ll be performing a charity gig at favourite haunt Frog & Bucket on 22 November in aid of The Christie cancer hospital. Of the night, he says: “Get down if you can, I promise to be funny. Thanks a lot, bye.” Full details here.