Fantastic Mr Fox at Hammersmith Lyric review: stage musical is good, dirty fun February 2, 2017 Roald Dahl’s fabulously lurid stories translate well to musical theatre, and since the runaway success of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Tim Minchin’s Matilda, we can no doubt look forward to a production line of singing Witches and Twits and Dirty Beasts. The latest to get the treatment is Fantastic Mr Fox, in a [...]
I didn’t cry when my own father died but I will mourn the end of the Resident Evil franchise of terrible films February 2, 2017 There’s a point early on in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter – around the time when Milla Jovovich is riding along a motorway in her zombie-proof battle tank – where the film reaches critical levels of schlock, a sort of self-aware tipping point after which the rest of this mad ordeal makes a strange kind [...]
England coach Eddie Jones puts faith in Maro Itoje to bruise Les Bleus in Six Nations opener February 2, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has tipped Maro Itoje to flourish on his first Test start as a back-row forward in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against France. Itoje – usually a lock – has been tasked with replacing Chris Robshaw, a key figure in England’s renaissance under Jones, at blindside flanker for the showdown with [...]
Liverpool top the list as English clubs are paid €38m by Uefa for sending players to Euro 2016 February 2, 2017 Football clubs in England were paid €20m more than any other nation by Uefa for releasing players to play in Euro 2016, new figures reveal. English teams received a collective €38.2m (£33m) for providing players to the Euro 2016 qualifiers and tournament in France last year. Liverpool were the most heavily remunerated of all English clubs, [...]
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard retires from football despite receiving “exciting offers” to keep playing February 2, 2017 Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard has retired from professional football after a 21-year-career. The 38-year-old, who was capped for England 106 times and is Chelsea's all-time top scorer with 211 goals, said he had turned down "a number of exciting offers to keep playing". "At 38 I feel now is the time to begin [...]
Simon Shaw interview: Lions tours are pinnacle but this year’s could deny England a Grand Slam February 2, 2017 England's chances of securing a second successive Six Nations Grand Slam will be impaired by the summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, insists former international powerhouse Simon Shaw. An unblemished championship would also see England, who remain unbeaten during the 13-match reign of head coach Eddie Jones, surpass the All Blacks’ record of 18 [...]
Jose Mourinho aims further dig at Jurgen Klopp and claims other Premier League bosses receive preferential treatment from officials February 2, 2017 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho raged that other Premier League managers receive preferential treatment from officials after his side played out a goalless draw with Hull and failed to close the gap on teams currently occupying a Champions League place. United followed the trend of the week which saw the top six, fifth-placed Manchester City [...]
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says Premier League title Chelsea’s to lose despite starring show of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus in destruction of West Ham February 1, 2017 Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola dismissed his side’s chances of reigning in league leaders Chelsea, despite battering West Ham United at the London Stadium last night. City were the only club in the Premier League’s top six to pick up three points in the midweek fixtures after a commanding 4-0 win over the Hammers, yet [...]
England’s collapse against India was crazy, but there were a number of positives to come out of their one-day tour of India February 1, 2017 Losing eight wickets for as many runs in just 19 deliveries is crazy when you look at it on paper and there is no disguising the fact that England took a hiding in the decisive Twenty20 clash against India in Bangalore. But rather than look too deeply into it, I would put it down to [...]
Eoin Morgan laments England’s worst batting in years as tourists lose final eight wickets for just eight runs in T20 decider February 1, 2017 England skipper Eoin Morgan lambasted the worst batting performance in years after his side lost eight wickets for just eight runs in their forlorn Twenty20 decider with India in Bangalore. The tourists were progressing with intent on 117-2 in pursuit of a 203 victory target before Morgan and Joe Root fell in successive deliveries to [...]