The city was filled with famous faces and fireworks
Cunard Queen Mary 2 185th Anniversary celebrations in Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A slew of famous visited were in Liverpool this week for two big events. If you were unlucky and didn’t bump into your favourite television or movie star in the streets, hopefully you witnessed the dazzling fireworks display rounding out the evening at Pier Head.
The Epstein Theatre celebrated its reopening with a line-up of Liverpool stars at its opening gala. Although the venue has been open since April, it officially reopened with a special gala evening on Friday, September 19 – Brian Epstein’s birthday – after a £1m refurbishment. Several test events were scheduled ahead of the event.
Brookside and Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of crowds of attendees, officially marking the start of a new era in the 110-year-old venue’s history.
Other stars in attendance included Emmerdale’s Samantha Giles and Liam Fox. Andrew Lancel, Joe McGann, Charlotte Gallagher, Asa Murphy and acoustic duo The Skylarks.
Epstein Theatre opening gala pictured Ricky Tomlinson, Andrew Lancel and Asa Murphy(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool group The Christians headlined the event in their first show in the city since drummer Lionel Duke suffered a heart attack on stage at On The Waterfront in June.
Across the city at the same time, Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral held its own star-studded event with the return of the National Diversity Awards.
Activist and television personality Christine McGuiness, legendary football pundit Chris Kamara, Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, Brookside star Jennifer Ellison, and more, were in attendance to celebrate the achievement of grassroots communities.
Jessica Ellison arriving at the NDAs(Image: Mancpicss66 / BACKGRID)
In a very welcome coincidence, the Pier Head also bid farewell to the Queen Mary 2 ship, concluding a star-studded evening in the city with fireworks.
The visit from Queen Mary 2 (QM2) marks the 185th anniversary of Cunard’s first transatlantic crossing departing Liverpool in 1840.
Spectators were at vantage points in Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton as the 345m luxury liner departed on Friday night, marking the end of Cunard’s third and final visit to the city this year following Queen Anne’s calls in May and August.
Her departure was met with a stunning display of fireworks and pyrotechnics, as the number 185 was projected onto the Cunard Building.