WELCOME TO WONDERLAND

TAKE THAT COME HOME FOR THEIR 44th SHOW AT MANCHESTER ARENA:

FOLLOWING a career spanning 27 years, which started here in Manchester, Take That are back with their 10th tour - and this time they are taking us to Wonderland. The Wonderland Tour, which kicked off at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, rolls into the much-loved manband’s home city on Thursday - and as always fans can expect the spectacular from Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen.

The lads took us to the Circus (with former bandmate Jason Orange) in 2009, introduced us to a giant robot called Om on the record-breaking 20th anniversary Progress tour which played eight nights at the Etihad Stadium (rejoined by Robbie Williams) - and Take That, who became a trio back in 2014, deliver more surprises in Wonderland.

Where their previous 2015 III tour gave us flying machines, tea parties and Howard and Mark’s (almost) topless dance routine, Wonderland picks up the fun with a flying carpet.

The band play at the centre of the arena throughout the show - and on the first night in Birmingham there was an added surprise that singer-songwriter Gary had actually gone and reprised his famous bleached blonde spiked hair do from their early Do What You Like days. But hey, it suits the late 80s-style pop funk of their new album, also called Wonderland.