Gogglebox is back for another season and its first episode featured a cameo from a locally famous cake that has got the whole city talking this morning.
Stars Ellie and Izzi had a new living room to show off on the first episode of the show's new season and were also filmed tucking into some of Headingley's most expensive (and famous) cake.
When the new season's first episode began, the pair were pictured with quite a large selection of cakes and other sweet treats in front of them - all seemingly wrapped in the same Get Baked packaging.
Image: Channel 4
Called 'Bruce' the £9 a slice, 12-layer chocolate cake has garnered quite the reputation in Leeds since the city's viral Get Baked brand was revived earlier this year.
Its name references the young lad in Matilda who is force-fed a similar confection in front of the whole school as punishment for having been caught eating the Trunchbull's own personal stash earlier that day.
Headingley bakery Get Baked has made quite a lot of noise in the city lately, none more so than with this gargantuan cake: which combines twelve thin layers of chocolate sponge with slathers of thick, chocolate icing.
Image: Get Baked
Weighing in at 800g for just a slice, it is heavier than a full chocolate fudge cake from a supermarket - which typically weighs in at around 700g.
Justifying the '£9 a slice' price on their social media, the team said:
"Please remember, if you think £10 is extortionate for a slice of cake, just don’t buy it.
"All of our pies represent sensational value for money at £5 a slice, as do our brownies at £3.50 and cookies at £2.50 respectively.
"The plan here, is that by 2024, Bruce comes in two halves, and it’s £70 per half.
Image: Get Baked
"Done and done."
Whilst some might roll their eyes at the idea of paying nearly £10 for a slice of cake, as the Get Baked team admits themselves that this is not any old slice. It's a Bruce slice.
Spotting the cake on the show last night, they wrote on Facebook: "Yes, that was Bruce on Gogglebox.
"Big, sexy, famous b*****d."
We expect there will be some extra-long queues at the bakery this week. Find them here.
In another hit to the high streets, Claire's Accessories is shutting up shop across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration yet again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire's will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire's closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded in America way back in 1961, Claire's has enjoyed a presence across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they've struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They filed for bankruptcy in the US in August 2025 after having already concluded operations in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
For many, the outcome isn't all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Slam Dunk festival’s statement in full as director steps down amid allegations
Daisy Jackson
Slam Dunk festival has shared a statement confirming one of its directors has stepped down, in the wake of allegations.
The popular punk festival takes place next month across two sites, one of which is here in Leeds.
This year's line-up is set to include headline performances from the likes of Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose, Sublime, and Taking Back Sunday.
But Slam Dunk has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week after allegations against one of its directors came to light.
Slam Dunk said in its statement, which did not get into specifics about the nature of the allegations, that the festival 'remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers'.
They added that the director has stepped down, but 'strongly refutes' the allegations.
The statement then promised 'transparency and honesty' and said that more updates would be provided when appropriate.
Slam Dunk wrote: "We are aware of allegations published yesterday relating to one of our directors. We take these allegations seriously and understand that they may be distressing and hard to process for our community.
"Our Slam Dunk fans, staff, and artists are, as always, our top priority.
"While he strongly refutes these allegations, the director in question has agreed, in consultation with the board, to step down from Slam Dunk operations while this matter is ongoing.
"Slam Dunk remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all employees, partners, and customers.
"Our values and culture are fundamental to how we operate, and we are committed to upholding them.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on an ongoing legal matter.
"However, we promise transparency and honesty to our Slam Dunk community and will provide updates when it is appropriate to do so."
Slam Dunk returns to Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday 24 May.
Georgina Pellant -
20th September 2021 
