Gareth Bale is back for Tottenham – so is this another Jose Mourinho managerial masterstroke? March 1, 2021 Just a few weeks ago, Jose Mourinho did not want to talk about Gareth Bale. On 4 February, he sniped at a reporter for asking why Bale was left on the Tottenham bench during a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. Eight days later, Mourinho publicly rebuked him for implying, via social media, that he was fit and [...]
FC Barcelona offices searched by police ‘in connection with Barcagate scandal’ March 1, 2021 Catalan police searched the offices of FC Barcelona this morning, the football club have confirmed. Spanish media said the search related to last year’s Barcagate scandal, in which senior figures at the club were accused of ordering social media campaigns against enemies. Local reports also said former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and current chief [...]
How Bloodborne dragged me through the dark days of lockdown February 27, 2021 In the before-times, people like me – people in the prime of their working lives, three decades away from collecting a pension – would occasionally drift into reverie about what it might be like to retire. The books we would read, the places we would visit, the things we would create. Somewhere, the mother of [...]
British family sells $10m Van Gogh to avoid rise in capital gains tax February 26, 2021 A British family are selling a Vincent Van Gogh drawing for a record breaking $10m (£7.1m) to avoid a potential rise in capital gains tax in next Wednesday’s budget. Thomas Gibson, a London art dealer, and his three sons have decided to sell the Van Gogh alongside seven other works, including art by Lucian Freud [...]
Toast This Morning with a glass of Phillip Schofield’s own wine February 26, 2021 People say watching This Morning with Phillip Schofield is like having a nice cup of tea with an old friend. Well, you can go one better than that now, after the beloved presenter launched his own wine brand. The talk show host is a knowledgeable wine enthusiast who began collecting wine after he was introduced [...]
WandaVision Episode 8 review: S1E8 revels in last week’s reveal February 26, 2021 If you’ve been watching WandaVision every week (and if you haven’t, why are you reading this?), you’ll have been humming a certain theme tune for the past week. Yep, it was Agatha All Along! Or was it? Following the jaw-dropping twist last week that kindly neighbour Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) was in fact a powerful witch [...]
Ollie Phillips: I still think they’re poor, but belligerent Wales can beat fragile England – even without a Principality Stadium crowd February 26, 2021 Don’t underestimate the magnitude of Wales v England in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday. With France’s position uncertain due to a Covid-19 outbreak, this is a big match in the context of the title and, for Wales, possibly a Grand Slam. And anyway, this is Wales v England: a great clash full of [...]
Bellator: MMA promotion’s head of Europe David Green on its new deal with the BBC, wooing the UK and Ireland and why it has a strong female following February 26, 2021 Question Time. Antiques Roadshow. Songs of Praise. To that list you can now add cage-fighting organisation Bellator. This month the BBC became the home of the American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the UK, meaning it now sits alongside some of the most traditional shows in British broadcasting. While it might rile the “Disgusted [...]
United States may boycott 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing February 25, 2021 The White House has not made a final decision on whether the US will participate in the Winter Olympics in Beijing, a decision that could see the United States boycott the games in 2022. “There hasn’t been a final decision made on that and of course we would look for guidance from the U.S. Olympic [...]
How do sports teams and competition organisers defend against the threat of Covid-19 outbreaks? February 25, 2021 The Six Nations this weekend has been thrown into disarray with the postponement of France’s fixture with Scotland on Sunday after another French player has tested positive for Covid-19. At present a total of 11 players and three staff members in the squad have now tested positive and, due to the close contact proximity of [...]