Andy Burnham revealed his visit to Oldham Coliseum yesterday evening during his weekly radio phone-in show today, broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester.

Jenny, from Saddleworth, called the program to ask the Greater Manchester mayor why Oldham Council had been awarded £1.8 million by Arts Council England when the same amount was not given to Oldham Coliseum.

The mayor responded: “It’s ring-fenced for arts in Oldham, is what it is.

"As I understand things, it’s been mainly the Arts Council that have been responsible for the situation that has arisen, but I don’t think they were completely without justification with regard to some of the challenge that needed to be made.

“I think what it’s done is it’s brought issues out that needed to be addressed, and I did go to the Coliseum yesterday and I had a good chat with everybody who’s involved with trying to save it.

“What I want to do, working with the leader of Oldham Council is see if we can now help develop a plan that helps the theatre make a transition if you like.

“The building, I think we’ve got to be careful about the building. Just to make a comparison quickly, if I may, I support Everton football club and I love Goodison Park and I will cry the day we leave – I’m already crying before we leave because it’s got a lot of emotion for me, like the Coliseum building has for you.

“But sometimes for an institution to survive, you’ve got to accept it will need a more modern home, if it’s to be then set up for another 100 years.

“I think that is going to be the case with the Coliseum.

“But, the Coliseum as an entity, as a producing theatre, as something that puts life in to the heart of Oldham, that builds on all that proud history that you’re talking about, I am 100 per cent committed to supporting and saving that. 100 per cent, and actually to see if we can manage any transition and keep the current building going as long as it can.

“It’s complicated, but all I’d say is we’re standing behind Oldham Coliseum and Oldham Council, we’ve got some money set aside as well to help resolve the situation, I’m ready to go in to talks with the Arts Council to see if we can get them signed up as well.

“What we need here is a path to securing the future of Oldham Coliseum.”

The Oldham Times: Andy Burnham responded to the call on his weekly phone-in showAndy Burnham responded to the call on his weekly phone-in show (Image: BBC)

The mayor’s comments come about a month after he mooted helping the Coliseum with Greater Manchester funding on the show.

Presenter Mike Sweeney then asked the Mayor whether securing the future of Oldham Coliseum would necessarily mean moving building.

The Mayor responded: “I think that is just a reality, given 10 years ago there was a report that said that building was going to have to be replaced, so there’s just facts of life sometimes aren’t there that you have to face up to, but I think the point is, for me, the important thing is what the Oldham Coliseum does, what it’s all about, all of that history and helping people carry it forward into a new era.”

The full episode of Andy Burnham’s hot seat can be watched on Facebook Live or audio streamed via BBC Sounds.

Other topics discussed on this week’s episode include the Manchester Arena bombing inquiry, and public transport.