Pride’s a fairytale for Corrie stars
Mark Fletcher said he was thrilled with the turn-out this year.
“It’s so exciting when you see tens of thousands of people lining the streets,” he said. “There are so many different varieties of parade entries this year, it’s the longest ever.”
Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend kicked off on Friday with performances from former X Factor and N-Dubz star Tulisa and disco diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor in The Village.
The festivities continued throughout the weekend with sets from the likes of MNEK, Katy B, Will Young, Fleur East and Groove Armada.
The four-day event comes to an end today with one last day of music and merriment, featuring performances from stars Heather Small, Lucy Spraggan, Seann Miley Moore and Eli Cripps.
There’ll also be chance for quiet reflection as those lost to HIV and AIDS are remembered at a candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens.
IT was a fairytale day for stars of Coronation Street - as they pulled out all the stops on a magical themed float for the Manchester Pride parade. With this year’s parade theme of Once Upon a Time, Corrie cast and crew got into the spirit with a host of fancy dress outfits, while their float was a huge Gingerbread house version of the soap’s favourite haunts the Rovers Return and the corner shop.
We were treated to the vision of Corrie siren Kym Marsh as a blonde-haired Rapunzel, while her co-star Faye Brookes donned a green outfit to become Robin Hood
for the day. Kym, twirling her blonde plait, said: “I love how everyone just gets into the spirit of Pride, even the little kids, everyone gets involved. It’s really lovely to see.
“Corrie always pulls out all the stops for Pride every year and the team have created a brilliant float again.”
Katie McGlynn dressed as fairy Tinkerbell, while Rhea Bailey was the Mad Hatter and Sair Khan also donned some fairy wings in keeping with the theme.
Also spied on the float were the soap’s Antony Cotton, Mikey North, Debbie Rush and Daniel Brocklebank.
Daniel, who plays Corrie’s vicar Billy Mayhew said Manchester Pride remains as important as ever.
“The whole city gets behind Pride, it’s amazing,” he said.
“It’s important to get the message out to show solidarity with countries where being gay is still illegal.
“And also to show that this is a friendly, family day, this is all about equality.”
The float was created by Corrie’s assistant director Woody Wade and her team of helpers who come up with new designs each year for the parade.
The Corrie float is always one of the most eagerly awaited in the parade, which this year had the most entries yet.
And cast and crew are always keen to support the Manchester Pride festival which celebrates the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
The float, sponsored by Black Dog Ballroom boss Ross Mackenzie, also included a large leopard print throne at its heart.
“It was a feature of which Coronation Street icon Bet Gilroy would be proud. But who got to take the throne first?
Daniel laughed: “Well as I’m being the biggest queen here, I think it will be me!”
After the parade, the Corrie stars were seen heading to the festival main stage where live entertainment was getting under way for a second night, with headliners MNEK and Katy B.