Opinion

A belated happy new year to all Wigan Observer readers and may I extend my thanks to the voters who re-elected me to Parliament on December 12.

Cold Feet (ITV, Mondays, 9pm) is back, and as reassuringly warm and golden as ever. It’s an incredible series really, in that it makes Manchester look as green and bucolic as a forest glade, and the interiors could have come from a John Lewis catalogue.

I’ve got some bad news – that programme where a bunch of wannabe models laze around a villa in the sun all day talking incomprehensible language is back on TV.

When I was five I tried to dig a hole and make my way down under.

Herbal columnist Nicola Parker writes about getting more Vitamin D and L-5HTP to boost your mood.

I realise that we are just 11 days into the new year, but I think we can say we have already seen the worst TV show of the year, in the shape of new shiny-floor show The Masked Singer (ITV, Sat/Sun, 8pm).

We welcome the return of former Wigan Big Brother contestant and radio presenter Luke Marsden who is to write a regular column for the Wigan Post and wigantoday.

Re: HS2. I note in the media that ‘northern’ politicians are quoted saying we must continue with this project, which, in reality, is yet another transport infrastructure project with London the major beneficiary - HS1, Crossrail1 and Crossrail 2 spring to mind.

Viewing the litter that blights our British environment, I have been searching for words to describe the people responsible.

January and February tend to be the worst months for coughs and sinus congestion.

If recent events in the Middle East are anything to go by, 2020 will be another year of chaos and disorder around the world, so what better way to welcome in the new decade than with lashings of blood and gore, with a side of camp?

A well-known name in alternative rock has a court date as he heads for Wigan to play for the borough’s music fans.

As this column is written we stand on the cusp of another year, but by the time many readers pick up the newspaper 2020 will be in full flow.

It has become a habit on this page to turn the new year with a roll call of folk who figured somehow in my conscience who left us in the last 12 months.

I think 2019 will go down as a comings and goings sort of year for Wigan.

Herbal columnist Nicola Parker writes about the best herbal remedies of 2019

Christmas, is all about family, right? But what happens if you can’t stand your family, or they live miles away and you can’t get to see them? What then?

Herbal columnist Nicola Parker writes about preventing over indulgence

I’m making a list. I’m checking it twice.