ITV has announced the full celebrity lineup for Gary Lineker's new game show, 'The Box,' marking the former 'Match of the Day' host's first major television role since his departure from the BBC. The show, which is based on a format that launched earlier this year in Norway, will feature ten celebrities who will be transported to unknown locations inside yellow boxes and face unexpected challenges. Lineker, who recently ended Ant and Dec's 23-year winning streak at the National Television Awards, expressed excitement about the diverse cast, stating that the mix of strengths and abilities among the contestants mirrors the composition of successful teams.

The contestants include reality TV star Joey Essex, known for 'The Only Way Is Essex,' and former Commons Speaker John Bercow, who previously appeared on the US version of 'The Traitors.' They are joined by 'The Chase' star Jenny Ryan, JLS singer JB Gill, YouTube personality Danny Aarons, and 'Lorraine' presenter Ranvir Singh. Completing the lineup are 'Dragons' Den' star Sara Davies, former footballer Graeme Souness, comedian Ellie Taylor, and 'Love Island' contestant Shakira Khan. The show has been compared to 'I'm A Celebrity' and 'SAS: Who Dares Wins,' promising a blend of physical, mental, and logical challenges.

In each episode, the celebrities will be released from their boxes with minimal or no instruction, forced to decipher and tackle whatever game awaits them. The challenges are designed to be unpredictable, ranging from funny to daunting, with the show teasing 'shocking reveals,' 'mind-bending puzzles,' and 'twists.' At the end of each installment, the two worst-performing contestants will face 'The Duel,' a high-stakes head-to-head game where the loser is eliminated from the competition. This format ensures a gradual reduction of the cast until a winner emerges.

Katie Rawcliffe, ITV's Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime Commissioning, highlighted the entertainment value of observing how each celebrity reacts to the varying challenges. Production company Twofour's Chief Content Officer, Dan Adamson, echoed this sentiment, expressing excitement about how the cast will rise to the occasion. While a specific release date has not been confirmed, 'The Box' is expected to air on ITV in 2026, following filming in the UK later this year. The show represents a significant step in Lineker's career transition, leveraging his experience and public profile to anchor a new entertainment format for the channel.

Global medical technology company Convatec has announced plans to establish a new flagship research and development hub in Manchester as part of a £500 million investment in the United Kingdom. The FTSE100-listed firm, which specializes in products for chronic wounds, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and stomas, will relocate its R&D operations from Deeside to Bruntwood SciTech's CityLabs 4.0 facility, scheduled to open in 2027. This strategic move represents a significant commitment to the UK's life sciences sector at a time when several other pharmaceutical companies have been shifting investments overseas.

The new Manchester facility will become one of the largest centers in Convatec's global network, spanning 125,000 square feet across seven storeys in the £42 million CityLabs 4.0 building. Located on Hathersage Road facing the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St Mary's and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the state-of-the-art facility will focus on research in four key therapeutic areas: advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care. The company cited Manchester's "vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which includes leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions" as the primary reason for selecting the location.

Approximately 200 staff will be employed at the new Manchester hub, with most positions transferring from Convatec's existing R&D operation in Deeside, North Wales, which has served as a major research center since 1996. The company emphasized that no redundancies are planned as a consequence of the relocation and that the Deeside manufacturing site will remain unaffected, continuing to employ around 400 workers. The new Manchester facility is approximately 50% larger than the current Deeside operation and has capacity for up to 250 employees, allowing for future expansion.

Convatec's investment comes as part of a broader $1 billion worldwide R&D commitment, with the UK portion representing nearly half of this global initiative. The company, which generated $2.3 billion in revenue last year, typically allocates approximately 5% of its annual revenue to research and development. The relocation to Manchester positions Convatec to leverage the city's concentration of medical research institutions, including neighboring organizations such as the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, biotech company QIAGEN, and MAC Clinical Research, strengthening its pipeline of new products addressing unmet needs in chronic care.