The Run of The Mill

Jack and Ophira have been walking around Manchester asking people how much they earn. In today's episode, they talk money, the conclusion of the Mill impostor saga, seeing Gary Neville in the flesh, and applying for a job as Burnham's new No.10 North media adviser. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Run of The Mill! All sorts has been going on: a Mill-imposter has been trying to make Reddit think we're investigating people we aren't; we noticed Peppa Pig put the Factory Records logo on a medal and demand to know why, we look at how Greater Manchester's most scandalous council got control of the UK's biggest public pension fund and ask if Manchester's padel boom is on the verge of going bust. Ophira and Jack are on the mics, and if you want to read their and the rest of the team's work, go to: manchestermill.co.uk. If you'd like to sponsor an episode of Run of The Mill, email grace@millmediaco.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Run of The Mill, Ophira Gottlieb and Jack Dulhanty talk through our latest story on Educate and Empower, a self-proclaimed charity. Its employees dot the city asking for £5 donations from the public, but in its offices - wreathed in cigar smoke - the company's owner Phillip Hanks doesn't see it that way. He calls them sales. And, despite making tens of thousands from those believing they're donating to a good cause, Educate and Empower has only made paltry donations to a few sports clubs. So what's really going on? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest episode of our newly rebranded podcast, the Run of The Mill (ignore our outdated Spotify name, we're working on it), Ophira and Lucy talk about the latter's latest story about Moovin' Festival, which has landed in the sleepy village of Compstall on the eastern edge of Stockport. It's 500 residents aren't happy. They aren't happy with it's face-melting rock, or Craic by The Creek Irish festival, or the country festival either. What they're least happy about is the attendees, who have turned their semi-rural paradise into a party-haven. Can Compstall overcome this community tension? Listen to find out. If you'd like to sponsor one of our podcasts, email grace@millmediaco.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the Manchester Briefing from The Mill, Jack and Lucy discuss our recent mayoral hustings, breaking down each of the candidates' campaign promises and opening the floor to Reform's Sian Astley - who unfortunately dropped out of the event at the last minute. If you'd like to read more about the hustings, and the rest of our by election coverage, go to manchestermill.co.uk. And, if you'd like to sponsor a future episode of the Manchester Briefing, email grace@millmediaco.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, staff writers Ophira Gottlieb and Jack Dulhanty recount a recent walking tour of all the places Andy Burnham could set up No.10 North. Jack has been speaking to the people who know Manchester's buildings best - the leaders of its development industry - to get a sense of what buildings would be most suitable to host a Prime Ministerial office. Which of Manchester's building's could withstand a bomb, a tank attack, or a cavalry charge? This is the place to find out. If you'd like to get in touch with any tips for stories, email editor@manchestermill.co.uk. To sponsor an episode of our podcast, or one of our newsletters, email grace@millmediaco.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of the Manchester Briefing from The Mill, we're joined by special guest Toby Harnden, author of Bandit Country. For the last three months, Toby and Mill staff writer Jack Dulhanty have been working to unravel the mystery behind the 1996 bombing of Manchester by the IRA. Last week, counter-terror police announced its investigation into the bomb was no longer active, despite no one being charged. Toby and Jack spoke to police sources on both sides of the Irish sea, consulted previously classified documents and travelled to the borderlands of Northern Ireland for a two-part investigation published over the weekend. On the podcast, they talk about their reporting and the trip they took to South Armagh. To read the two parts of their investigation, go to manchestermill.co.uk. If you'd like to sponsor an episode of the Manchester Briefing, email grace@millmediaco.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Joshi is joined by Mill staff writer Lucy McLaughlin, who has just spent a few days speaking to Makerfield residents, guided by a handy map we have built predicting which wards are most likely to vote Labour and Reform. She found plenty of people who aren't voting, and several who like Burnham but say they will vote for Reform or won't vote at all. We also discuss Joshi's widely-shared essay about the elusive 'Burnhamism' and what the mayor really believes. Join us as a paying member NOW to get Lucy's report from Makerfield and our brand new projection of how different parts of the seat will vote - plus the next editions of our special Burnham Blueprint series. You will also be backing the team who have been covering the mayor for years up close. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the Manchester Briefing from The Mill, Joshi and Jack discuss what might be in store for Greater Manchester's politics without Andy Burnham in the mayor's office, now that he has found an MP willing to step aside for him in Makerfield's Josh Simons. On top of that, we have a live conversation between Jack and Rob Ford - professor of political science at the University of Manchester - about how the Labour party imploded since its landslide election victory in 2024, and why what we're seeing in today's politics is actually a result of some of the strategic mistakes the party made in the build up to that vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a Manchester briefing first, Jack (Dulhanty) and Jack (Walton) discuss the latter's living situation. Jack lives in a shared ownership flat in MediaCityUK, in Salford, a property he part-acquired after being turfed out by his girlfriend. Shared ownership has been in the news recently, as governments national and local push the model as a way for young people to get on the housing ladder. The reality is not so simple. As Jack - and a recent report by the National Audit Office - has discovered, the shared ownership model makes it harder for people to own more of their properties and makes it even harder for them to sell up. Today's episode was sponsored by Colony, you can find out more about their co-working sites here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode Ophira speaks to Hannah Spencer - Green candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection - about dirty campaign tactics, whether or not she makes a living as an 'aristocratic heat pump installer', and get her response after Refrom's Matt Goodwin challenges her to a one on one debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Manchester Briefing, Jack Dulhanty and Jack Walton discuss our latest ding-dong with the MEN over it paywalling publicly funded journalism; the exodus of staff at HOME; and Jack Walton's recent piece on the Gorton and Denton by-election. Then they take a look at the other runners and riders vying for the seat, and discuss what they're hearing from campaigners on the ground. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our first podcast episode of 2026 Joshi and Jack round up the first week back at Mill HQ. They discuss the two major resignations caused by our reporting into the University of Greater Manchester, Manchester City Council and Rochdale Council, and round up Ophira's reporting on a mysterious spate of graffiti targeting Manchester businesses. Thanks to our sponsor, Manchester Museum. If you want to find out more about the Africa Hub's work at the museum, click below: https://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/galleries/africa-hub Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Joshi and Jack sit down to talk about The Mill’s first ever membership campaign. Over the next few weeks, we want 1,000 new members to join The Mill, so we can commit to six pledges to make Manchester a better place. With that new support, we’ll go into schools to talk about misinformation, make subscriptions free for first time voters and open a mentorship program for aspiring young journalists in Greater Manchester. This is about The Mill’s becoming more than just a newspaper, and how you can be a part of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When news broke about an attack on Jewish worshippers outside Heaton Park synagogue, The Mill's staff writers Jack Dulhanty and Ophira Gottleb were sent to the scene to report. In Ophira's case, she spent the best part of three days straight in the area, interviewing people and vising a community in shock and at prayer. She and Jack discuss what it was like to cover the atrocity, and why Ophira chose to write a much more personal - and hopeful piece - a few days later. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends to spread the word, or become one of our members with a discount by clicking here . Note: this podcast was recorded on Tuesday 7 October and only published on Sunday 12 October because of an issue we had uploading. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Backstabbing parents, extortionate private tutoring companies and a 'web of deceit'. This is the world of Trafford Grammar Schools, a highly selective group of schools where each year, desperate families put their children through extensive private tutoring to pass the rigorous 11+ exam. Are they living up to their original promise of delivering exceptional education to working-class children? And is there a sense of cruelty in how the system works? Ophira Gottlieb, staff writer at The Mill, takes you inside her reporting. Read Ophira's first story: Backstabbing, crying, and a ‘web of deceit’: Inside the fight to get into Trafford’s grammar schools Read her second story: Grexit: should Trafford keep its grammar schools? To read more of these stories and support our mission to bring about a renaissance in high quality journalism in the North, sign up as a paying member for just £4.95 for your first three months. With thanks to our sponsor, Newton Music Festival. If you fancy a summer weekend of DJs, bands and festival fun, Newton Music Festival is offering just that from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd August. The lineup includes (former Mill contributor) Dave Haslam on Friday, The K’s on Saturday and Flash (a Queen tribute band) on Sunday, and is set to repeat the incredible success of last year’s festival. Hosted in the beautiful Mesnes Park, just a 20 minute train from Piccadilly, Newton Music Festival has something for everyone. Day tickets start at £15 and Mill readers can get an exclusive 10% discount using the code ‘1qjpad’ – click here to book . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ophira has a story for you — one about Frank Evans, the 81-year-old Salford-born matador who now splits his time between Seville and Worsley like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Yes, that’s right: matador. While the city proudly boasts of luring the BBC up north, appearing behind the Smiths in That Photo, and producing Paul Scholes’ right foot — somehow, Frank slips through the net. But this is a man who traded Eccles cakes for cape work, and against all odds became one of the only Brits to ever rise to bullfighting’s top tier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack tells the story of his trip to the newly-built Royal Nawaab, the multi-story curry house which has been built in Stockport’s iconic glass pyramid on the Valley of the Kings. But while Mahmood Hussain, the curry maestro with a “strongman’s slab of tache resting on his top lip”, hopes his £15 million renovation will pay off, has he considered the ancient pharaoh's curse which has been said to hang over the valley… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our writer Ophira Gottlieb tells the story of the Britannia Coconut Dancers of Bacup, in Lancashire. For over a century the troupe of morris dancers has performed up and down the town’s streets dressed in knitted jumpers, candy-striped kilts, and painted completely black. “I worked in a pub just outside Manchester,” Ophira remembers, “many of the customers felt the practice was racist and badly outdated, but just as many disagreed.” On Easter weekend, Ophira finally met these dancers. Nicknamed the “Coconutters”, Ophira set out to understand why they hold a practice that many find so offensive so close to their hearts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.