Joe Barson

Looking out towards Manchester from my home in Stretford a couple of years ago, a silvery tower started to appear through the trees. When I arrived in Manchester 20 years ago, no one lived in the city centre. Now a 45-storey tower block was emerging. What had changed? The idea for the BBC documentary series that became Manctopia wasn’t mine, but when Minnow Films, the production company, called me to ask if I’d be interested in directing it, it made perfect sense to make a programme about the boom.

Once upon a time, in a pre-lockdown world, I’d often find myself wondering how people with kids manage to cope. I’d be there, washing dishes at 11pm after a hectic day at work, looking at my diary for the week ahead and panicking about how I was going to fit everything in – all while finding time to feed myself three times a day, shower, exercise, sleep, read, fold washing and keep my dog alive.

Meeting my friend Stuart in Leeds is always arranged by text, so I was surprised when he called my mobile. “Let me put this out there,” Stuart said. “How about taking off for a walk in some remote spot where we’re not going to come within two miles of anyone, never mind two metres?” No, I had to tell him. The fresh air Gestapo are mounting spot-checks on cars heading into the Dales and Pennines. We’ll be lucky to cross the A1 if we try for the North York Moors.