5 reasons why Johnny Depp should move to Manchester
THERE was a lot of excitement yesterday around a spurious story that US film star and part-time pirate Johnny Depp could be relocating to Manchester.
We got caught up in the moment, but on more sober reflection thought there are plenty of good reasons why he should consider making the move. Here are our top five:
1) It’s cheaper to rent or buy in Manchester
According to Numbeo’s cost of living data, city centre apartments can be half as cheap to rent in Manchester, while if he was buying – and we reckon he can probably afford to – he can get 80% more space for his dollar compared to California.
2) It’s a Gothic city
Many of his films have a gothic edge, from Edward Scissorhands to Alice in Wonderland, so Manchester, with its Gothic town hall, the Centre for Gothic Studies at MMU and annual gothic festival, make it the perfect place to call home.
3) His local football team has some fella called Gerrard
It hasn’t been a sparkling season at either Old Trafford or the Etihad, but it’s still been a million times better than watching Steven Gerrard turn out for LA Galaxy.
4) He has already been a pub crawl of St Helens
In 2004, Mr Depp was filming the largely-forgettable film The Libertine in the Isle of Man with St Helens comedian Johnny Vegas. Soon, the town buzzed with rumours that the pair had been seen necking pints in various hostelries in the town. This being before smartphones, no photographic evidence exists, but The Sun reported it as fact and everyone’s neighbour’s uncle/brother/colleague/whippet claims to have seen them in The Wheatsheaf.
And why not? We’d rather have a pint of a proper Lancastrian ale than the fizzy water the Americans call lager.
5) Alice in Wonderland
Later this month, Depp’s latest film Alice Through the Looking Glass will hit the big screen, with the actor reprising his role as the Mad Hatter.
The original story was, of course, written by Lewis Carroll, who was from Daresbury. All Saints Church in the village has the Alice Window, a stained glass window featuring a nativity scene that also features Alice and her creator.
