SleuthSleuth is a sideways glance at the city every week, it's the truth, but Sleuth's truth. He's several people all at once. We give £25 for every story/rumour and piece of absurdity you find for us to publish. Sleuth sometimes even gets serious. We ask for the money back if any legal action follows. Follow Sleuth on twitter @mcrsleuth
Craig David Keeps His Chin UP
Craig David spoke to Confidential’s Lynda Moyo earlier this week about his upcoming tour which comes to Manchester Ritz on 20 May. He was a charming man - serious about his work and willing to talk about anything and everything (unlike many s’lebs), including the fact he was the most prominently mocked target on TV show Bo Selecta. Lynda grilled him on his feelings towards the parody, devised and acted out by comedian Leigh Francis, which many believe had a detrimental effect on his music career. His answer would have been clever, had he have been joking. A very nostalgic Craig said: “I take it all on the chin.” Unfortunately he was being serious. He must have put the size of the chin on Francis’ interpretation of him right to the back of his mind.
Craig David Bo Selecta
Is Karl Pilkington Running The Co-op?
Sleuth's got confused: Who's the Strategy and Development Director for the Co-op's NOMA development in Manchester and who is The Idiot Abroad? Even with name tags here Sleuth still can't be sure. Is there a conspiracy, people love a conspiracy?
Is this Ruairidh Jackson really? Or is it Karl Pilkington?
Is this really Karl Pilkington. Or is it Ruairidh Jackson really?
Ramsbottom's Up
Sleuth read with occasional interest 'The Sunday Times Best Places to Live' last weekend. The guide names the 10 most desirable locations in the North West as: Kendal, Crosby, Lytham St Annes, Heswall, Chester, Clitheroe, Northwich, Hale, Didsbury, Ramsbottom.
Pretty obvious choices.
The Times wrote about the last of these: 'When the BBC was anxious to relocate from London to Salford Quays, the small town of Ramsbottom, 12 miles north of Manchester, featured on the tour'.
Sleuth devised the tour for the BBC which also included Castlefield, Whalley Range, Chorlton, the Didsburys, Hale and Worsley.
One producer from the BBC became legend when he said: "What a great city you have, what a beautiful area, fascinating place." Then he paused. "I'm not going to relocate North though. I wouldn't want my children to talk with an accent like yours."
Ramsbottom With A Lovely Big Jug
Wrigley’s ‘Up North’
Sleuth would like to thank London based PR company Red Consultancy for doing their homework this week. The team were up in Manchester promoting Wrigley’s gum under the guise of World Oral Health Day. Apparently out of the 983 people surveyed in Manchester, 34 per cent only brush their teeth once a day. And to prove chewing gum is beneficial after eating, they left us a goody bag of food and Wrigleys to put it to the test. But not just any food. The bag contained Eccles cakes and a can of fizzy Vimto, plus some Oreos for good measure. We didn’t bother eating the latter, being Northerners and all. With daft accents.
Bryan Robson Loses Face
Sleuth had a tour around Wembley the other week. In the tunnel from where the players swan onto the pitch there are life size images of past England greats. There wasn't much to Bryan Robson though, the ex-Manchester United and England captain. "They weren't really thinking when they put that poster there were they?" said the Wembley representative. Maybe Wembley was emphasising his heading ability.
Another door opens for Bryan Robson
Who Is That Man?
Sleuth had a drink with German journalist Antje Zimmerman in the Radisson Edwardian recently. Sat behind her was Ryan Giggs, 39, and still going strong in the Manchester United first team. Antje didn’t like football and so had no idea who one of the most famous footballers on the planet, with a face known to millions, was. This was refreshing given football's global over-exposure. Sleuth also probably thought it refreshing for Mr G who, for once, didn’t have some footy fanatic sticking a camera phone in his face and asking for an autograph while he was simply enjoying a quiet drink with his missus.
Welcome To The Bridge Pub, Manchester
A classic warm welcome
Sleuth And Central Library
Every seven days or so Sleuth is stopped in the street by policemen, firemen, concierges, Bo Selecta, German journalists, Bryan Robson, Karl Jackson-Pilkington, Giant Urns and the complete cast of To Kill A Mockingbird currently playing at The Royal Exchange and asked "Where can we find the best circular, recently restored, reading room with a crazy echoing accoustic in Manchester?"
"Why," says Sleuth, "that would be in Central Library where the special accoustic paint that's been applied doesn't necessarily dampen the satellite dish-effect of catching sound waves, but where the refurbishment does look very beautiful."
And to prove the story he showed these pictures to the policemen, firemen, concierges, Bo Selecta, German journalists, Bryan Robson, Karl Jackson-Pilkington, Giant Urns and the complete cast of To Kill A Mockingbird currently playing at The Royal Exchange.
"One last thing," said Sleuth. "It's not re-open to the public until 2014."
"Oh, right, damn," said the policemen, firemen, concierges, Bo Selecta, German journalists, Bryan Robson, Karl Jackson-Pilkington, Giant Urns and the complete cast of To Kill A Mockingbird currently playing at The Royal Exchange.
Lovely library
Lovely library
Lovely library
