The Hunt comes to Loughborough as former Hunted star Peter Blelsley takes to the stage
As Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted reaches its dramatic final, former Hunter Peter Bleksley is preparing to reveal the extraordinary true story of his life infiltrating criminal gangs when The Makings of a Murderer comes to Loughborough Town Hall on 3 September.
Viewers are currently watching the remaining famous fugitives battle to stay one step ahead of the Hunters as the latest series of Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted races towards its final on Tuesday 25 August.
Just over a week later, one of the programme’s best-known former Hunters will take to the stage in Loughborough and lift the lid on the dangerous reality behind tracking criminals.
Former undercover detective Peter Bleksley will open Loughborough Town Hall’s autumn season with The Makings of a Murderer – The Undercover Detective on Thursday 3 September, giving fans of the hit television series the opportunity to hear first-hand stories from a man who spent his career hunting criminals for real.
A founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit, Bleksley spent more than a decade living a double life and infiltrating some of Britain’s most dangerous criminal organisations. He posed as figures including drug dealers, arms traders and contract killers, entering a world in which a single mistake could have cost him his life.
His undercover career came to a dramatic end after the FBI uncovered a plot to murder him, forcing him into witness protection. Bleksley later became a familiar face to millions of viewers as an original member of the Hunter team on Channel 4’s Hunted. Now, as the current celebrity series builds towards its final showdown, his live show will reveal the extraordinary real-world experience behind the hunt.
In a gripping evening of true crime, Bleksley will share first-hand stories of infiltrating criminal gangs, investigating murder and operating in the darkest corners of the criminal underworld. He will also discuss the personal cost of his work and what happens when the hunter becomes the hunted.
His appearance leads a packed autumn season at Loughborough Town Hall featuring major names, blockbuster musicals, behind-the-headlines investigations, live music, comedy and festive family entertainment.
The true-crime theme continues on 17 October when former MI6 intelligence officer Matthew Dunn takes audiences behind the scenes of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service in Operation MI6.
Renowned forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd then returns on 3 November with Time of Death: More Unnatural Causes, offering a remarkable insight into the investigations surrounding some of the country’s most high-profile and mysterious deaths.
One of Britain’s most celebrated singers, Russell Watson, will visit Loughborough on 27 September with An Intimate Evening with The Voice.
The original crossover superstar will combine much-loved songs with candid stories from an extraordinary life and career that has seen him sell millions of albums, top the charts and perform for royalty, presidents and popes. Watson will also reflect on surviving two life-threatening brain tumours, his recovery and his return to the stage, giving audiences a rare opportunity to discover the man behind The Voice.
From criminal investigations to the King Power Stadium, Premier League-winning Leicester City legends Wes Morgan and Robert Huth will reunite on 10 November for an evening of memories and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most extraordinary seasons in football history.
The autumn programme also includes four major musicals presented by some of the area’s most accomplished theatre companies. LAOS opens with the Olivier Award-winning Come From Away from 8–12 September, followed by CTC’s explosive production of We Will Rock You from 22–26 September.
ESNA presents the timeless family favourite The Sound of Musicfrom 6–10 October, before Greasepaint Productions stages Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar from 20–24 October.
Music fans can enjoy a packed programme of leading tribute productions, including MANIA – The ABBA Tribute, Northern Live, Taylormania, Luther Live & Velvet Voices, Talon, Buddy Holly & The Cricketers, The Chicago Blues Brothers, The Elvis Years and A Sky Full of Stars, celebrating the music of Coldplay.
Leicester Big Band will make its first visit to the venue with The Music of James Bond and a Night at the Movies, featuring some of cinema’s most memorable soundtracks.
Comedy comes from Carl Hutchinson, Andy Hamilton and Rob Rouse, as well as the hugely popular Chuckl. comedy night, headlined by Milton Jones. Elsewhere in the programme, audiences can experience Crown Ballet’s spectacular production of Swan Lake, the supernatural storytelling of Hauntings or a night on the dance floor at the popular Silent Disco for Grown Ups.
The festive season begins in spectacular style when multi-award-winning Little Wolf Entertainment returns with Dick Whittington, running from 21 November until 3 January. It will be the first time Little Wolf has staged the title in Loughborough and the first production of the classic pantomime at the venue since 2013.
With internationally recognised performers, leading comedians, acclaimed touring productions and outstanding local theatrical talent, Loughborough Town Hall’s autumn season promises live entertainment for audiences of all ages.
For full listings, performance times and tickets, visit www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk
