The Phantom of the Open sees Mark Rylance on fine comic form March 22, 2022 British cinema loves a quirky amateur. Whether it’s steel workers doing The Full Monty, W.I. members becoming Calendar Girls, or a largely fictional biopic of Eddie The Eagle, comedies about giving it a go have become a regular at the box office. The latest in that line is this golf-themed comedy, loosely based on the [...]
Seville is the sweet spot for rooftop relaxation and city centre cycling March 22, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Seville is the ideal long weekend destination. The flight is less than three hours, it hardly ever rains, and the locals start reaching for their jumpers and moaning about the cold if the temperature drops below 25 degrees. We left grey London on Friday afternoon and spent most of the weekend sunbathing, looking [...]
Complete immersion in Belize March 22, 2022 There is a human skull half-submerged in the mud at my feet. Through the damp gloom, I can just make out other bones, scattered across the floor. Luckily, I haven’t stumbled upon a gruesome murder scene, but the truth is almost as chilling. This is an ancient Mayan ceremonial cave, buried deep within the jungle [...]
An adventure through glorious, neglected Cuba March 22, 2022 Despite only a brief appearance, the hookah-smoking caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland was a significant character. Between puffs he took the time to answer questions and offer advice to someone quite confused by her environs. In Havana, Cuba, I’ve met a man of a similar disposition. Amid chat, plumes of cigar smoke that were custard [...]
First, England. Next, the world? Why those behind The Hundred have big ambitions March 21, 2022 “Every successful brand in the world has to start somewhere, in one geography,” says Nick Sykes, global chief executive of FutureBrand, the company that developed the branding for The Hundred, English cricket’s newest tournament. “But if you look at sporting formats around the world, many of them have travelled geographies and there are large parts [...]
Tales from the Crypto: Will digital assets save sport sponsorship or prove a horror story? March 21, 2022 When you think of US cable TV giant HBO, blockbuster drama series like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos and The Wire immediately spring to mind. One of the first major triumphs for the network, though, was Tales from the Crypt, a horror anthology inspired by a cult 1950 comic book series. The series was successful [...]
World’s richest football clubs: Manchester City top Deloitte Money League for the first time March 21, 2022 Manchester City have been named the world’s richest football club in the latest edition of Deloitte’s Football Money League. City topped the list, which is based on revenue, for the first time after increasing their income to €645m (£571m) in 2020-21 – despite the effects of the pandemic. The Premier League champions climbed five places, [...]
FA Cup: Crystal Palace ride crest of a wave all the way to Wembley semi-final March 20, 2022 Crystal Palace’s season goes from good to better under Patrick Vieira, despite some uncertainty in the boardroom at Selhurst Park. Vieira’s dynamic young Eagles thrashed Everton 4-0 in south London on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for only the second time since 1995. They had to weather early pressure but held [...]
Six Nations 2022: Free-flowing France leave static England with questions to answer March 20, 2022 Le tournoi est bleu. The words of a nation that has waited more than a decade to taste Six Nations glory. The tournament is indeed blue after they clinched the Grand Slam against England on Saturday night, and how happy so many were to see the day come. France play some of the most attractive [...]
England must treat French game like World Cup final, says Dallaglio March 18, 2022 Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has urged Eddie Jones’s team to treat tomorrow’s Super Saturday Six Nations match with France as a World Cup final. England cannot win the title in Paris but do have a chance to end a disappointing championship on a high and deny one of the in-form international sides their first [...]