Record low ratings: TV audiences are tuning out of Tokyo Olympics July 31, 2021 The TV audience for the Olympics has fallen since 2016, as viewing becomes more fragmented and athletes compete in Japan when audiences are mostly asleep in the UK, Europe and the US. Watch the full report.
Why the British and Irish Lions brand has gone from strength to strength – and what the future holds for the touring side July 30, 2021 Ahead of this weekend’s second Test between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa, City A.M. examines why the touring side’s brand has endured and how it might evolve. “It shouldn’t work,” former England captain Lewis Moody says of the British and Irish Lions. The concept of a band of disparate players from the [...]
Sundance Film Festival: London 2021 – Our Best of The Fest July 30, 2021 Thursday sees the return of Sundance London to Picturehouse Central. Like many events, the 2020 edition was held online, but the independent film extravaganza will once again be taking place in-person this week with a stellar line up picked from the best of its parent event in Utah. Fifteen features have been chosen, along with [...]
The Suicide Squad review: DC antiheroes get film they deserve July 30, 2021 If there’s one group that deserves a second chance, it’s Suicide Squad. David Ayer’s 2016 original had a lot of promise but became a lesson in studio interference, held back by a nervous Warner Bros who made their own edit that was poorly received. This week’s The Suicide Squad also had a turbulent path to [...]
Ollie Phillips: Rassie Erasmus rant shows how huge second Test is – and that Lions coach Warren Gatland has got under his skin July 30, 2021 If you needed any further proof of how big the second Test between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa is this weekend, look no further than Rassie Erasmus. The Springboks’ director of rugby this week issued a bizarre, hour-long video rant about refereeing decisions in the Lions’ first-Test win, even hinting he could [...]
Green and pleasant land? The future of cannabis use in the UK July 29, 2021 Smoking as a social activity suffered a heavy blow around 15 years ago. Between 2006 and 2007, the four parts of the United Kingdom brought in new laws prohibiting smoking in public places, with Scotland being the first to take the leap. I bear a sliver of responsibility: I worked for the House of Commons [...]
Tokyo’s intense heat could force more tennis competition schedule changes July 29, 2021 Intense heat and humidity could force more competition schedule changes at the Tokyo Olympics with the International Tennis Federation, in charge of the competition at the Games, already moving today’s matches. Watch the full report.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Team GB star Dan Bibby calls RFU cuts to Sevens funding ‘a joke’ July 29, 2021 Team GB Rugby Sevens star Dan Bibby has criticised funding cuts to the sport’s programme, calling the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) plans “a joke”. Bibby’s comments come after GB narrowly missed the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics yesterday, losing to Argentina 17-12 in the bronze medal match. The team’s central contracts ended last August [...]
Sundance London review: The Sparks Brothers is Edgar Wright’s love letter to music July 29, 2021 In another universe, Edgar Wright should be working on his third Ant-Man movie. It’s seven years since his departure from the Marvel film due to ‘creative differences’, in which time he has made three movies – car chase hit Baby Driver, the upcoming Last Night In Soho, and this week’s critically adored music doc The [...]
Former UK Athletics chair Ed Warner: My heart says Team GB track and field stars can deliver against the odds at Tokyo 2020 Olympics July 29, 2021 “Head not heart” was the mantra I lived by going into an Olympics, such is the jeopardy in international athletics. With 214 member nations within World Athletics, experience says that Great Britain needs at least two genuine podium prospects for every medal the team might actually bring home from any global track and field competition. [...]