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How to
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SATURDAY & SUNDAY
21 - 22 JANUARY 2023

JOU R NA L I S M YOU C A N T RU S T + B R I TA I N ’ S FA S T E S T G ROW I N G R E A D E R S H I P

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Keep children
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headteachers
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‘You will
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SPORT

The return
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» School leaders tell Government they cannot predict scale of disruption from seven

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teacher strikes in February and March – or find enough agency staff to cover lessons
» Some headteachers are already asking parents to keep children at home on 1 February
» 23,000 schools across England and Wales are affected, after last-ditch talks fail
» Concern that growing industrial action could impact mock A-levels and exam season
» Exams watchdog hopes lenient 2023 grade boundaries protect students, i understands
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Pensioners are being left
behind in rush to digital

IVF in space

First step towards
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Waugh on Politics

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Britain has effectively
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TRAVEL

Winter
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weekend Former female PC reveals prevalence of police misogyny NEWS Why did park rangers not like this record-breaking cane toad? See p.25 The day at a glance NEWS, P17 Food for thought: where groceries cost only £2 a bag FOCUS, P19 Why I left one of the best BBC TV jobs Feed the birds GARDENING, P72 OPINION, P27 How Italy is fighting a boar war in its cities WORLD FOCUS, P41 Spielberg has gone against the Hollywood zeitgeist CULTURE, P57 Winter sun that won’t bust your budget TRAVEL, P75 I have no pension – what should I do? The heartwarming story of how football makes a difference SPORT, P106 index Gardening .............................. p72 iTravel ....................................... p75 Money & Business ..... p87 Weather .................................. p97 Sport ........................................... p99 HEALTH POLITICS The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2018 was 68.2% POLICE Excess deaths down Tories want tougher Audi driver arrested to flu and heatwaves action on fraud after officer struck Summer heatwaves and higher levels of flu than in the preceding winter are among factors that contributed to almost 5,000 more deaths than usual in England last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. On the hottest day there were 638 more deaths than would be expected, which experts said showed the danger that climate change poses to life. Senior Conservatives are pushing for tougher laws to combat fraud and money laundering through businesses. A group of MPs led by the former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland has proposed amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill to make it easier to hold companies and managers responsible for economic crime. GERMANY RETAIL No decision on more Spending cut by record amounts tanks for Ukraine A conference in Germany ended without a commitment by Western allies to send more battle tanks to Ukraine. This comes despite a call from President Volodymyr Zelensky to speed up the delivery of military support in his country’s struggle against Russia. So far among the Nato allies, only the UK has agreed to send tanks, in the form of 14 British Army Challenger 2s. PAGE 23 UK consumers cut their spending by record amounts in the run-up to Christmas, bringing more pain to retail companies. Overall retail sales for last year had the worst-ever fall, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data reveal. Sales fell by 3 per cent between 2021 and 2022 – the biggest decline since ONS records on the retail sector were established in 1997. PAGE 90 BRAZIL GUADELOUPE Police raids target far-right rioters Deep earthquake felt 360 miles away Brazil’s federal police have carried out raids targeting people allegedly involved in the 8 January storming of government buildings by supporters of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. The operation was aimed at “identifying people who participated in, funded or fostered” the riots. Eight preventive arrest warrants and 16 search and seizure warrants were issued in five states and in Brasilia. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe yesterday and its impact was felt 360 miles away in Puerto Rico. Local media reported that some buildings creaked and furniture shook. But there were no immediate reports of damage. The quake occurred at a depth of 103 miles (166km) just west of Guadeloupe, according to the US Geological Survey. UNITED STATES FRANCE Trump warns fellow Military spending to Republicans on cuts be boosted by third MONEY, P88 Opinion ..................................... p27 7 Days ......................................... p43 Puzzles .................................... p51 Culture ..................................... p57 TV & Radio guide .......... p58 The News Matrix Matr x 2 The former US president Donald Trump warned his party not to “destroy” federal retirement and health benefits as they try to extract spending cuts from President Joe Biden. “Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security,” Mr Trump said as he tried to influence Republicans in control the House of Representatives. France will boost its military spending by more than a third, President Emmanuel Macron said, as he unveiled ambitions to help deal with the great “perils” of this century. Acknowledging the end of the “peace dividend” of the postCold War era, Mr Macron said the planned 2024-2030 budget would adapt the military to the possibility of high-intensity conflicts. Detectives are questioning a teenager over what they say was an attack on a police officer in Edinburgh. Police Scotland said that an 18-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident, which they are treating as attempted murder. The force launched an investigation last week after a black Audi A1 was driven into a police motorcycle, injuring the officer riding it. iQuiz BY JOHN CLARKE 1. The story of the Three Bears originally appeared in a work by which former poet laureate? 2. Which small triangular bone at the base of the spine takes its name from the Latin for cuckoo due to its similarity to a bird’s bill? 3. Which Northern city gives its name to a tart spread with raspberry jam, covered with a custard filling and topped with flakes of coconut and a cherry? 4. Fluked, admiralty and grapnel are all types of what? 5. Which US state was once put forward to be considered as a haven for Jewish refugees from areas under Nazi control? 6. On a Qwerty keyboard, which letters flank X? 7. Dexion is a British company associated with which domestic and commercial product? 8. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which British actor portrays Doctor Strange? 9. As health secretary, Thérèse Coffey issued a ban on the use of which form of punctuation? 10. In 1986, which carmaker became the first Japanese manufacturer to open a British plant in Sunderland? Answers on page 30 © Published by Harmsworth Media, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY. Registered in England and Wales No. 00084121. Printed by Harmsworth Printing (Thurrock) Essex; Associated Print (Dinnington); Newsprinters (Broxbourne) Ltd; Newsprinters (Knowsley) Ltd; KP Services (Jersey) Ltd; Reach Printing Services Ltd, Cardonald Park, Glasgow; Associated Print (Carn), Ireland. Back issues available from Historic Newspapers, 0844 770 7684. Saturday 21 January 2023. Registered as a newspaper with the Post Office.
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 MONARCHY ThePage3Profile Camilla praises ‘wonderful’ Rashford MAJOR TIM PEAKE, THE FINAL TOUCHDOWN The Queen Consort sang the praises of Marcus Rashford when she unveiled a donation of books from the Manchester United and England striker to his former youth club. She described his gesture as “wonderful” during an afternoon spent touring Norbrook Youth Club in Wythenshaw with the King, where Rashford used to play pool with his friends. TELEVISION Torvill and Dean will get ‘Higher’ on ice Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will perform for the first time since the pandemic in front of a live audience on Dancing on Ice on ITV1 tomorrow night. The 1984 Winter Olympics gold medallists will stage a fast tango-style routine to singer Michael Bublé’s song “Higher”. Dean said that their partnership of 49 years had left them with a “sixth sense” on the ice. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Assumptions are the termites of relationships” Henry Winkler He looks very relaxed. Major Tim Peake is hanging up his spacesuit as he retires from his role as an astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA). He will instead become a “space ambassador”, shifting his attention to helping young people embark on Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. The 50-year-old became an astronaut in 2009, after a career as an Army helicopter pilot. He was the first Briton to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second British person in space after Helen Sharman, who went into orbit in 1991. New heights on the horizon? While on his six-month mission – dubbed Principia after Isaac Newton’s ground-breaking text on physics – on the ISS from December 2015 to June 2016, he made international headlines when strapped to a treadmill, he finished the equivalent of a marathon in three hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds. He also carried out more than 30 scientific experiments for ESA, and took part in a dozen research activities for other ISS partners. . A stellar career… Major Peake described his time as an astronaut as “an extraordinary experience”, adding: “I have had the privilege of working with an exceptional team of dedicated individuals during the past 13 years with the agency, which has been incredibly exciting and rewarding.” He is looking forward to focusing on educational outreach with ESA and the UK Space Agency. He wrote on Twitter: “I’ve always believed in moving forward and embracing new challenges, even if you don’t know what’s round the corner.” As for whether he will return to space, he said: “Never say never.” Ellen O’Dwyer ANNIVERSARIES Tuesday 21 Jan 1997 Elvis Presley’s manager and agent “Colonel” Tom Parker dies of a stroke in Las Vegas at the age of 87. Born Andreas van Kuijk, a Dutch immigrant who changed his name when he arrived in the US, Parker never applied for a resident’s permit and feared deportation his entire life. He also briefly managed the country singers Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. BIRTHDAYS Alex McLeish, football coach, 64 Plácido Domingo, opera singer, 82 Billy Ocean, singer, 73 Emma Bunton, singer/DJ, 47 Wendy James, singer, 57 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 3 Letter from the Editor Oliver Duff i@inews.co.uk Who are you calling dinosaurs? From hit TV series to expensive tech, I am a grudging late adopter. I am unstylish, I resent paying wildly over the odds for new gadgets, and I spend too little time outside a newsroom to ever join the cultural vanguard. And I’m still only 39. Goodness knows what I will be like in 39 years’ time, if I’m still around. We are living through a period of historically rapid change – technological, social and professional. The portrayal of older people as technophobes is often an unfair stereotype. I know people my age without smartphones – and over-80s with a lively presence on social media. Yet in the rush to digitise every aspect of our lives, millions of older people are vulnerable to being shut out. There remains a digital divide between some old and many young. Four in 10 over-75s don’t use the internet, despite gains during the pandemic. From parking and banking apps to cashless shops and automatic ticket machines, some pensioners are being left behind in the rush to digitise every aspect of our lives. That electronic peeping you hear is the sound of progress, of course. But the death of cash, in particular, is shrinking millions of older people’s horizons prematurely. I know friends (and i readers) in their 70s and 80s who refuse to use a car park without coin payment machines, because they lack smartphone access, or faith in the device, or confidence in their ability to use it. Yet plenty are willing to learn, with a bit of help. For more on this, turn to Waugh on Politics for an insightful column (page 29) – and an inspiring tale from a 78-year-old rebel. @olyduff
4 NEWS WEATHER Fog alert issued but cold snap will ease By Ruth Comerford Britons will experience some relief from this week’s cold snap this weekend, but should brace themselves for freezing fog that will linger until late this morning. The Met Office issued fog warnings until 11am today across London, north-west, south-west and southeast England, Yorkshire, Wales and the West Midlands. “Some fog could be quite dense, with the visibility falling below 100 metres at times,” it said. “Additionally, freezing fog may lead to some untreated surfaces becoming slippery. “Western England is more likely to see freezing fog persist into late morning and in a few places into the afternoon.” The warning follows a freezing week across the UK, plunging to -10.4°C (13.3°F) in Drumnadrochit near Inverness early on Thursday – the coldest recorded temperature of the year so far – and 13 inches (33cm) of snow fell in parts of Scotland. However, temperatures are expected to rise by about 6°C across parts of the country: first in northeast England, then with warmer air moving across from the north and west across the weekend. Frost and fog could linger in parts of the south of England, which could still be experiencing colder conditions by early next week. Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “Over the weekend and into the early part of next week, the UK will be witnessing a weather The ruins of Kilchurn Castle are reflected in the partially frozen waters of Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute JANE BARLOW/PA transition as milder air gradually moves in from the north and west. “This will be raising temperatures by around 6°C or more, but it will be slow to reach all areas as some parts of the south-east of England could still be in cold conditions on Tuesday morning. “Overnight frost or fog will remain potential hazards until the influence of the milder air extends to all parts of the UK.” Temperatures will increase steadily, reaching 10°C in Plymouth and Aberdeen by Monday, with London hitting 8°C. However, frost and temperatures below zero are still expected for parts of the country, including in Dorset. East Anglia is set to enjoy relief from the freezing temperatures by tomorrow night. Weather, page 97 SOCIETY Court warrants allowing energy companies access to families’ homes cost £22 each Exclusive By Dean Kirby entry into homes and businesses – only 72 were refused by magistrates. INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT i can now also reveal that the court costs for the energy firms to gain Court warrants that allow energy permission to force entry to properfirms to force desperate families ties are set out at £22 per warrant. Industry sources insist that caught in fuel poverty on to the vast majority of all controversial prepayment meters are being domestic forced entries churned out at £22 a go. are for fitting a prepayment meter. Other The Government is reasons for forcing under growing presNumber of magistrates’ sure to act to help the entry could include to refusals for the UK’s poorest families, check for meter tamwarrants – out of pering, to replace an and the Business Sec367,000 applications last year retary, Grant Shapps, unauthorised meter or has ordered officials to disconnect the supply. to draw up plans to adEd Miliband, Labour’s dress the metering issue. shadow climate change and net Out of 533,760 utility warrant ap- zero secretary, said: “It is a disgrace plications – which all debt firms act- that the Government, energy reguing on behalf of suppliers use to force lator and courts are letting families 56 be disconnected by the back door through the forced installation of prepayment meters.” Officials at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have confirmed that the fee it charges firms to apply for the warrants increased in September from £20 to £22 – although they insisted that they were unable to confirm the total amount that courts were paid last year for the work. An investigation by i previously revealed how one court in northern England took just three minutes and 51 seconds to issue 496 of the warrants that allow firms to force entry into homes – raising concerns about oversight of customers’ potential vulnerability when being pushed on to the meters. In September 2019, a new telephone hearing process was intro- duced for dealing with energy firms’ warrant cases across England and Wales. It has dramatically sped up the process, as it means warrant officers now rarely go to court, with an online application system also introduced in the same year. It can now be revealed, using MoJ data, that the granting of utility warrants has more than doubled from 174,000 in 2018 to 367,000 last year. Magistrates’ refusals fell from 2,800 to just 56. More are withdrawn by firms than are rejected. Mr Shapps announced on Tuesday that he had ordered his department to draw up “measures” as he prepares to write to the energy regulator, Ofgem. Mr Miliband said: “Labour has called for an urgent moratorium on the forced installation of prepay- ment meters – and that must include an immediate pause on signing off any warrants to forcibly enter people’s homes. “It is days since Grant Shapps said he would take action, but Rishi Sunak and his government continue to stand by and do nothing. “Britain’s energy bills are too high and our energy system too weak after 13 years of Conservative failure.” i revealed in December how the Ministry of Justice had admitted it has no central record of why access to homes has been sought by the firms, whether to forcibly install a prepayment meter or for any other reason.
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 5 SCIENCE Tests show sound waves may delay ageing By Ellen O’Dwyer S c i e n t i s t s a re i nve s t i gat i n g whether ageing can be delayed or even reversed using sound, after initial experiments appeared to “rejuvenate” cells. A team at the University of Texas has been applying low-frequency ultrasound to mice and is preparing to embark on a small clinical trial on people to see if the method could be used to treat age-related diseases. “Is this too good to be true, is the question I often ask myself”, Profes- sor Michael Sheetz at the University of Texas Medical Branch told the New Scientist magazine. “We’re examining aspects to see if this really does work.” The cells in our bodies eventually stop dividing, becoming “senescent”, but they are still alive. Some of these can secrete chemicals, causing inflammation in the body. An accumulation of senescent cells is thought to drive ageing and age-related diseases. But Professor Sheetz (inset) and his team said low-frequency ultrasound powers senescent cells in humans and monkeys to resume dividing, stopping them from producing the chemicals. The scientists used an ultrasound frequency of 100 kilohertz on the mice – much lower than frequencies used in medical imaging. As part of the experiments, some of the test mice received ultrasound while in warm water. This weakens the strength of ultrasound waves. Mice treated with ultrasound improved physically compared with the mice that had been treated in the water. Professor Sheetz said one mouse that had a hunched back was cured using this method. “Aspects of this are still mystifying,” he said. “We treated it twice with ultrasound and it was back to behaving normally. I don’t think that ‘rejuvenation’ is too strong a term.” The research is hosted on the open access pre-print repository bioRixiv, which is not peer-reviewed. The Texas team are planning to see how the technique affects people with osteoarthritis and diabetic foot ulcers. Professor Jürgen Götz, a neuroscientist at the University of Queensland in Australia, told the New Scientist that the findings were “generally” convincing. But he said the technique would be difficult to apply on humans, because ultrasound does not travel well through bones and lungs. HISTORY MUSIC Possible relics from unknown Civil War battle are dug up on HS2 railway route Debut album takes 15 years to claim No 1 spot By Ellie Iorizzo By Adam Dutton Archaeologists working along the route of the High Speed 2 rail line believe they have uncovered evidence of one of the first battles of the English Civil War, previously unrecorded in history books. The discovery was made at the site of the former Coleshill Manor in Warwickshire, which was unearthed three years ago. Experts say that 200 pistol and musket ball marks recently found on the remains of the medieval gatehouse could be scars from the first skirmish of the Civil War. The team from Wessex Archaeology said these were “striking signs” that the fortified manor house came under heavy fire. The first recorded battle of the conflict, the Battle of Curdworth Bridge, took place in 1642, only a short distance from Coleshill Manor. The finds also included more than 40 musket balls, excavated from nearby soil, which would have been a moat around the house. Archaeologists say the discovery is not recorded in any historical records and could provide fresh insight into the war. The discoveries will feature in an episode of the BBC Two series Digging for Britain at 8pm tomorrow night. Professor Alice Roberts, the anthropologist who presents the programme, said: “The front of the gatehouse was pockmarked and had clearly been shot at with muskets – perhaps for target practice – but there is also an intriguing possibility that we are looking at evidence of the earliest skirmish of the Civil War.” Stuart Pierson, an archaeologist, said: “From one of the most impressive Elizabethan ornamental gardens in the country to the remains of what could be the first skirmish of the Civil War, these findings – not recorded in historical records – would have been lost to time, had it not been for the expertise and hard work of the team.” The English Civil War began in The Manchester-based rock trio The Courteeners are celebrating reaching No 1 with an album released 15 years ago. Frontman Liam Fray (inset) said “good things come to thems that wait” after making history with St Jude, the band’s 2008 debut album. It is their first No 1 album following the release of a 15th-anniversary addition featuring remastered tracks and previously unreleased material. The band – consisting of Fray, drummer Michael Campbell and guitarist Daniel “Conan” Moores – are the third in official UK chart history to reach the top with a reissued album, alongside The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. SOCIETY Clockwise from main: Professor Alice Roberts sketches Coleshill Manor; a computerised reconstruction of the old manor house; a musket ball which was found at the site PA Manchester Crewe By Brendan McFadden Coleshill Manor site Birmingham London August 1642. At the time, Coleshill Manor was in the hands of the Royalist Simon Digby. The house, next to a bridge over the River Cole, would have been a strategic position that the Roundheads would have wanted to control. Experts say it is plausible that a skirmish took place on the way to Curdworth Bridge, especially given the Manor’s strong connection to the Royalist cause. Helen Wass, HS2’s head of heritage, said: “Detailed post excavation study will begin shortly and we will continue to share the incredible pieces of our past discovered during this once in a lifetime dig. “HS2’s extensive archaeology Letter posted in 1995 delivered programme, which has involved hundreds of people, has provided unparalleled insights into the history of Britain. The discoveries at Coleshill Manor are a major part of that. “Our investigations help historians to weave together the complex pieces of information to increase our understanding of events.” A letter posted in 1995 has finally been delivered to its intended destination almost three decades late. Though he wasn’t the intended recipient, John Rainbow opened the post from Bridgwater, Somerset, when it landed through his door in Wylam, Northumberland, recently. Mr Rainbow told the BBC: “We opened the letter, had a look at it and thought, ‘Blimey, this is a bit strange’. It was for a previous resident of the house. They must’ve lived here at least 12 to 15 years ago.” The envelope had a Royal Mail first-class stamp. The company apologised and said: “Incidents like this happen very occasionally and we are uncertain what happened in this instance.”
6 NEWS CONSERVATIVES Sunak under pressure to cut taxes By Hugo Gye POLITICAL EDITOR Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure to reduce the tax burden from its current record level as allies of Liz Truss prepare to push for the policies she supported. The Prime Minister should “increase the pie” rather than increasing taxes to try and improve public services, MPs warned. The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is planning to resist calls for fresh tax cuts when he announces his Budget in mid-March, i understands. His officials believe that the im- of cutting ever more from the same pact of higher borrowing costs sized pie. Instead, we need to increase the pie.” means it will be too early to Mr Hunt’s allies have start bringing down the signalled that the one tax burden. tax cut he may be willBut one senior MP ing to confirm in the involved with the new Budget is to continue Conservative Growth The reduction in the 5p reduction in Group warned: “The fuel duty expected fuel duty. only way that we will to be continued in This is one of the transform the country the next Budget on few tax cuts that reis by creating jobs with 15 March duces inflation by directly better wages that will increase the tax take, not by bringing down the cost of having to hike up tax rates. some goods. “We have to get out of this trap Multiple Conservative MPs have 5p publicly called on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to cut taxes rather than focusing solely on balancing the public finances. The former Cabinet minister John Redwood said: “The UK cannot afford high taxes. They stifle growth, cut investment and deter business. “The way to get borrowing down is to promote growth. Cutting taxes is the way to get us out of recession.” Simon Clarke, one of Ms Truss’s closest allies, last night warned Mr Sunak that the Tories will not regain support among young people unless they introduce policies to help reduce housing and childcare costs. He told the BBC: “I think that our problems with younger voters are needlessly self-inflicted. The Conservative party will die if we don’t fix this – I don’t think we should be surprised when people don’t turn to the party of capital because capitalism isn’t working for them.” Treasury insiders said the Budget on 15 March will contain a number of ideas to boost growth. But they fear that slashing taxes immediately would risk another markets meltdown similar to the reaction to Kwasi Kwarteng’s “mini Budget” in September last year that contributed to a fall in the value of the pound and higher interest rates. BREXIT ‘You will open a can of worms’ – UK negotiators warn Starmer By Hugo Gye and Chloe Chaplain Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to forge closer trade ties with the EU risk opening a “can of worms” and creating further conflict, Brexit experts have warned. Some senior figures in Brussels want to wait for a future Labour government before they start engaging seriously with the UK to rebuild post-Brexit relations. And Sir Keir has promised to build closer economic and trade ties without rejoining the EU’s single market or customs union. He argues that his proposals would also help to resolve problems over how the Northern Ireland Protocol is operating. But two former officials in the UK’s Brexit negotiating teams insisted there were limits to how far Sir Keir could go without reopening major political debates. One source told i that Britain could work with Brussels on issues such as mutual recognition of qualifications that are already covered by clauses in the existing trade agreement. But they added that more fundamental changes to the relationship “would be a big can of worms” and “demand efforts from the EU” that could not be guaranteed. Another former negotiator said: “The EU is not being flexible on Northern Ireland, because they’re fundamentally not very interested in it. They have no reason to do a deal without a lot of movement from the UK side.” Professor Anand Menon (inset), director of UK in a Changing Europe, said negotiating with the EU could become more challenging as the bloc progresses with regulation and investment and the UK, as a trade competitor, is locked out of this. “There are all sorts of potentials for conflict due to the simple fact that we’re out,” he said. “This will happen the more we diverge from the EU in regulatory terms – which means the EU keep regulating and we don’t keep up. “So I think Labour is probably underestimating how difficult it will be. I think a lot of observers are exaggerating the degree to which there are quick gains to be had.” A senior EU source insisted the bloc was serious about negotiating with the Government and was optimistic about making progress by April when Northern Ireland will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The source said: “The EU is not waiting for Labour to come into power – we are as committed as ever to concluding the talks around the implementation of the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and are working hard as we always have to deliver for the Northern Irish, British and European citizens and businesses.” Former Labour Cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw told i he did not think it was in either the UK or EU’s interest to hold out on a Northern Ireland agreement. “It would be the height of arrogance to assume there is going to be a Labour government and I think other European countries are sensible enough not to take anything for granted,” he said. Ben Bradshaw conceded Labour’s plan for sectoral agreements would not “reverse all the damage” caused by leaving the single market, but said this was “not on the cards”. Keir Starmer at the World Economic Forum in Davos FABRICE COFFRINI/ AFP/GETTY ENERGY Labour will call for halt to rise in energy prices By Chloe Chaplain POLITICAL REPORTER Labour will today call on the Government to stop the energy price cap rising in April to save households hundreds of pounds on bills. The party has urged ministers to toughen the windfall tax on energy companies to pay to keep energy prices lower and avoid a leap in costs this spring. Government support is due to fall in April, with the enforced price cap rising from an average of £2,500 to £3,000. In a speech at the Fabian Society Conference, the shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will warn that millions are under threat from the rising bills. Labour is proposing a more stringent levy on the profits of energy companies which she said would generate £13bn across 2022 and 2023. This income would come from closing the fossil fuel investment allowance, taxing oil and gas profits at the same rate as in Norway and backdating this to January 2022, Labour said. The money would be used to keep the energy cap lower and ensure that prepayment-meter customers do not pay more than those paying by direct debit. Off-grid households would receive equivalent support and funding would be made available for households in Northern Ireland. The party is also calling for fuel duty to be frozen and for a three-month moratorium on the forced installation of prepayment meters. “Millions of households are still looking to a 40 per cent increase in their energy bills, in April,” Ms Reeves will say. “In a week when temperatures fell below zero, I know many families and pensioners will be feeling the pressure particularly acutely. And at the same time, energy companies continue to enjoy record profits.” A Government spokesperson said energy support is “under continual review” and added: “The Government continues to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure that consumers pay the fairest price.”
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 7 TREASURY Scrapped Tory policies cost taxpayers at least £300m in three years Exclusive By Ben Gartside and Chloe Chaplain Scrapped Tory policies including a railway extension and electronic tagging for offenders have cost taxpayers at least £300m in the past three years, an i analysis of government accountancy documents has found. Costly cancelled projects include a £190m Transpennine railway extension, £98m on electronic monitoring of offenders scrapped on value-formoney concerns and £2m towards the controversial “Porn ID” scheme championed by Theresa May’s government and subsequently dropped by Boris Johnson. i analysed documents from all major Government departments for the past three years, which disclose financial losses and fruitless spending above £300,000. The reports, which are disclosed to Parliament on a yearly basis, vary in transparency level and often offer little detail for why a policy has failed or been scrapped. Over this period, i has identified more than 30 scrapped policies. The Government’s political opponents have blamed the losses on a revolving door of ministers and leaders, resulting in taxpayer funding “going down the drain”. Before the Transpennine Route Major infrastructure projects that were costly included the cancelled Transpennine Route Upgrade Upgrade was cancelled, £50m was spent on project management fees and £140m on assessing development options. But the numbers disclosed in the filings are likely the tip of the iceberg, with the true costs much higher. For example, payments incurred by the British Board of Film Classification as the designated regulator for plans to bring in age verification for online pornography were disclosed at £2.1m, but costs including the use of civil servants’ time were not disclosed. More than £50m was accrued by various cancelled IT projects, while £10m was incurred by military projects abandoned following the previous Ministry of Defence’s Integrated Review, which outlines strategic objectives and future trends for UK forces. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office’s new secured vetting infrastructure was cancelled after becoming 50 per cent over budget for £2.5m. Delays in vetting were labelled a “threat to national security” last week by the National Audit Office. The Cabinet Office said there was a shortage of capacity in security vetting compared to supply, aggravated by “operational weakness”. Pat McFadden, Labour’s shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “This is a classic story of Tory government waste – delaying projects and delivering poorly. “We need to hear less reannouncement campaigns from the Government – and see more of them getting on with the work of delivering what they’ve already promised.” A spokesman for the Government said: “High quality infrastructure is crucial for economic growth, which is why we have maintained public capital investment at record levels.” Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman, said: “Turmoil from the Government has resulted in hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer funding going down the drain.” Crowds turn out in Bolton to see the King yesterday ARTHUR EDWARDS/ THE SUN/PA MONARCHY King drops in for Manchester visit Biggest losers Policy costs “Porn ID” scheme — The we would expect and is a result of Government’s controversial the continually changing scope of planned scheme to propose strict the programme”. age verification on pornographic content cost £2.5m before being Electronic Monitoring scrapped in 2019. Plans — The project was cancelled had been outlined for a in August 2021, already 18 “gift-card” like system months behind schedule. to be purchasable from Plans to modernise the retailers to prove age tagging system had The cost of the verification. initially been outlined Government’s a decade earlier, but ‘Porn ID’ scheme TransPennine rail had struggled. A report – before it was — The Government from the National scrapped incurred costs of £190m Audit Office blamed on obsolete design costs, HM Prison & Probation programme options and Service (HMPPS) and Capita project management spend. The for the failures, which cost the costs were criticised by the National document £98m. There were a Audit Office as being “higher than number of formal disputes between £2.5m HMPPS and Capita, including one specific grievance into the delays on the project. “Apprentice” offices - Plans to give the Department for International Trade a specialist office space for negotiation were cancelled after it was decided to offer too poor value for money. Former prime minister and trade minister Liz Truss had championed the project. Before the project was cancelled, the Government had earmarked two potential buildings, including the skyscraper in which the reality TV show The Apprentice is set. In July 2020, the Government reported a £760,000 loss after the project had been cancelled. By Tony Jones The King used the royal train for the first time since starting his reign to travel to Manchester to visit the biggest Corn Flakes factory in the world. Charles journeyed overnight from Ayr in Scotland, close to where the 18th-century Dumfries House, part of The Prince’s Foundation, is situated. The monarch was visiting the Manchester site of Kellogg’s, which celebrated a century in the UK last year, with Corn Flakes and All-Bran first introduced to the British public in 1922. Unveiling a plaque to mark his visit and the centenary, Charles said: “Sorry I’m a year late.” Elsewhere in the city, the Queen Consort praised Marcus Rashford as she unveiled a donation of books from the Manchester United and England striker to his former youth club. Camilla described the gesture as “wonderful” during an afternoon at Norbrook Youth Club with the King, where as a schoolboy Rashford played pool with his friends when not training with his club. England manager Gareth Southgate called Rashford “impressive” as he joined King Charles to hear the stories of young people supported by The Prince’s Trust. list. He was also criticised for using a private jet to travel around the country. Mr Sunak has also come under fire after filming a piece to camera in a car where he can be seen not wearing a seatbelt. He apologised for the “brief error of judgment”, but Lancashire Police has since said that it is considering the case. Polling suggested the negative press affected the public’s perception of him, with Mr Sunak’s approval rating falling by six points to 41 per cent. Asked who would be the best prime minister, 27 per cent chose Mr Sunak – down five points week on week – with 46 per cent choosing Sir Keir. The poll questioned 1,268 people and is weighted to a nationally representative population. POLITICS Labour increases poll lead over Tories By Chloe Chaplain Labour has moved further ahead in the polls to enjoy a 26-point lead over the Conservatives, the latest figures have shown. Sir Keir Starmer’s party gained the support of 50 per cent of the 1,200 adults polled by Omnisis on Thursday, with the Tories dropping their share to 24 per cent. The extra two-point advantage for Labour suggests the public are not turning against the unions or the party in general over prolonged strike action. Rishi Sunak spent the latter part of the week promoting the second round of levelling-up funding, with more than £2bn allocated to various regions around the UK. But the Prime Minister faced questions around how fair and ­transparent the decision-making process was after his own wealthy constituency was chosen, with many deprived areas left off the
8 NEWS HEALTH More walkouts will worsen backlog, NHS leaders fear, as further action confirmed By Paul Gallagher HEALTH CORRESPONDENT Health leaders fear that another two months of NHS industrial action will send waiting lists soaring again, leaving hospitals under even more pressure to bring them down. NHS England figures released yesterday show that just over 5,000 operations, including routine procedures like hip or knee replacements, were postponed because of two days of nursing strikes this week. More than 22,500 appointments were also rescheduled because of the walkouts. This usually includes appointments, X-rays and minor procedures. Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, said the strike days caused “significant disruption” and were “some of the hardest” hospitals have had to cope with this winter. She said it would have a “big knock-on effect on efforts to tackle the backlog”, adding: “The ramifications go well beyond the day itself. We are deeply concerned by this pile-up of demand, which will only continue.” Nurses will strike in trusts across England and Wales on 6 and 7 February while the GMB has also called strikes on 20 February as well as 6 and 20 March. This week’s nursing strikes involved a quarter of hospitals, but in February close to half of hospitals will be involved. The waiting list for non-urgent treatment in England was just under 7.2 million last month, the first time it has dropped since the pandemic. But health experts said industrial action could hamper further progress. Siva Anandaciva, the chief analyst at the King’s Fund, said: “Targets to improve waiting lists were already challenging. Industrial action is not the only factor that will affect the NHS’s ability to achieve waiting-list targets but industrial action does add more uncertainty.” Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said that people had become “terrified” of falling ill, adding: “Every day is a challenge. The strikes do affect services, but the crisis the NHS is in is serious.” Ambulance workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will stage 10 strikes over the coming weeks as trusts begin preparing for the biggest day of industrial action the NHS has experienced. Junior doctors in England from the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association have voted to strike, with 45,000 others from the BMA balloted for action. Royal College of Nursing members and ambulance workers in the GMB are striking on 6 February, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Mid-Staffs NHS trust inquiry into the effects of nurse shortages on patient care and excess deaths. The director of policy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin (inset), said trust leaders were facing potentially “the most challenging day of their careers”. Health unions have begun coordinating strike days to cause maximum disruption in an attempt to force the Government to the negotiating table. Rishi Sunak and the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, have insisted the pay demands are “unaffordable”. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Hospitals have been asked to ensure anyone waiting longer than 18 months has their appointment booked in before March.” HUMAN RIGHTS UNIONS Parliament’s watchdog to study legality of anti-strike legislation No ‘bottomless pit of cash’, warns minister as RMT considers offer By Jane Merrick POLICY EDITOR Plans by Rishi Sunak to restrict public sector workers from going on strike are being investigated by Parliament’s human rights watchdog. The cross-party committee announced it will hold an inquiry into whether the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill violates the European Convention on Human Rights. The legislation has been widely criticised by unions as it would put millions of British workers at risk of being barred from going on strike. Anyone who works in the health, education or transport sectors could be told by their employer that they must stay in work even if their union has voted to strike – and they could be sacked if they refused. The Government insists it needs to enforce a minimum level of service in the health, fire and rescue, education and transport sectors in order to protect the public. Introducing the law this month, the Business Secretary, Grant Shapps, pointed to recent ambu- Joanna Cherry, the SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, said she doubted the legality of the Bill lance strikes where services have been seriously reduced. The Bill was originally intended only to apply to the railways but the new version tabled in Parliament is much broader in scope, applying in principle to a total of more than six million out of the UK’s 30 million workers. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), which consists of MPs and peers from all parties, will undertake legislative scrutiny of the Bill as it goes through Parliament. When the Bill was introduced in the Commons this month, ministers said it would “ensure crucial public services such as rail, ambulances and fire services maintain a minimum service during industrial action, reducing risk to life and ensuring the public can still get to work”. However, the JCHR, chaired by the Scottish National Party MP Joanna Cherry, said the legislation could in theory go against Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to free assembly and association. The right to strike is also recognised in UK domestic law. The plans mean in key sectors employers would be able to issue notice to unions of the minimum service level that was to apply and members would not have legal protection if these levels were not reached. Workers would be unable to claim unfair dismissal if they were sacked for going on strike. By Neil Lancefield and Paul Gallagher There is no “bottomless pit of money” to offer railway workers, the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said as the war of words between the Government and striking public sector workers continued. Mr Harper insisted that an offer made to the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) in an effort to break the deadlocked dispute over pay, jobs and conditions will not be improved. The Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, has described its proposal to the RMT of a minimum pay rise of 9 per cent over two years as its “best and final offer”. Mr Harper was asked on a visit to a business near his Forest of Dean constituency if a rejection of the offer would be “the end”. He told the BBC: “It is. I’ve made it very clear there is not a bottomless pit of taxpayers’ money. “I think they’ve got a very fair offer and it’s comparable to what you’ve got in the private sector, and I hope members of the union get the opportunity to set out their views on it.” Mr Harper (inset) later said that he had “tried to change the tone” of the debate since becoming Transport Secretary in October last year. He added: “I’ve made sure and
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 9 EDUCATION Keep children at home during school strikes, heads tell parents By Poppy Wood follow the advice to “build up a bank of cover supervisors” during strike action, after ministers changed the Parents face last-minute confusion law last summer to allow agency and chaos during teachers’ strikes staff to replace striking workers. as “difficult” government guidance “I need to stress that the availmeans schools may not be able to ability of agency teaching supply know if they can stay open until the staff is scarce at the best of times and I would imagine near impossiday of the industrial action. The Department for Education ble to obtain on strike days,” said Mr Smith. He urged parents to keep earlier this week issued fresh children at home on 1 Febguidance on keeping schools ruary, the first of seven open “for as many pupils as possible” during teacher strikes set to teacher walkouts. It take place throughout urged headteachers February and March. Number of schools to consider bringing Headteachers at across England in volunteers, using two schools in Harinand Wales that are gey in north London agency staff and revivexpected to be hit by ing remote learning to also said they had no teacher strikes minimise disruption on choice but to ask parents to keep their children strike days. at home on the first day of But school leaders have complained that current strike laws, teacher strikes. Park View Secondary School which mean union members are not required to notify employers about recommended that parents “begin whether they intend to take strike making alternative childcare araction, mean they are unable to pre- rangements” for three further strike dict the potential scale of disruption dates over the next two months, saying the situation was “out of [the during upcoming walkouts. Wexham School in Slough said the school’s] control”. It comes after the National EducaGovernment guidance was “difficult to implement” because it would “not tion Union (NEU), the UK’s largest know for certain whether we will be teaching union, announced earlier able to run the school as we normal- this week that it will launch strikes ly would until the day of the strikes”. throughout February and March Headteacher Lawrence Smith in an ongoing dispute over teachalso said a shortage of agency staff ers’ pay. More than 23,000 schools meant the school would be unable to across England and Wales are ex- pected to be affected after last-ditch talks between unions and Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, failed to achieve any tangible progress yesterday. The Association of School College and Leaders, which is set to launch a ballot on potential industrial action in the next few weeks, said the Government had blamed “high energy bills” for its decision not to fund an improved pay offer for teachers. It has sparked fears that industrial action could creep into exam season, with mock A-levels scheduled to take place in March at some schools across the country. Ofqual, the exams regulator, updated its exam contingency plan for England, Wales and Northern Ireland earlier this week to include guidance on keeping schools open during industrial action. i understands that Ofqual will monitor the situation and is hoping more lenient grade boundaries for 2023 to take into account disrupted learning during the pandemic will provide protection for students. POLITICS TRANSPORT Tory MP accused of using staff as ‘political football’ Stop misusing ‘cancellations’, rail firms told EDUCATION REPORTER 23,000 Mary Bousted of the National Education Union speaks to the media after meeting government officials in an attempt to avert teacher strikes PA helped to facilitate some fair and reasonable pay offers. “And I very much hope that those pay offers now get the opportunity to be put in front of the members of those unions, to accept them to help get the railways working more effectively for passengers.” On Thursday, the RMT leader, Mick Lynch, said that its executive would consider the offer and decide its next steps “in due course”. Meanwhile, Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, accused the Government of “deliberately misleading the public” over life and limb cover on strike days in the NHS and who is to blame for high numbers of excess deaths this winter. She said: “Rather than act to protect the NHS and negotiate an end to the dispute, the Government has disgracefully chosen to demonise ambulance workers. Ministers are deliberately misleading the public about the life and limb cover and who is to blame for excessive deaths. “Our members faithfully provide life and limb cover on strike days and it’s not the unions who are not providing minimum service levels. “It is this Government’s disastrous handling of the NHS that has brought it to breaking point, and the Prime Minister is seen to be washing his hands of the dispute. What an abdication of leadership.” Health strikes calendar On 6 February, Unite staff will join ambulance workers represented by the GMB, as well as nurses, in what trust leaders are warning would be the “biggest ever” strike day in NHS history. Ambulance workers at Unite will be striking on: 26 January in Northern Ireland. 6 February in the North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales. 16 February in Northern Ireland. 17 February in the West Midlands and Northern Ireland. 20 February in the East Midlands, the North East and Wales. 22 February in the North West. 23 February in Northern Ireland. 24 February in Northern Ireland. 6 March in the North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales. 20 March in the North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales. The GMB union has also called strikes on 6 February, 20 February, 6 March and 20 March. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and ambulance staff will both strike on 6 February, and the RCN has announced an additional walkout the following day, 7 February. By Brendan McFadden A Conservative MP has been accused of treating his staff as “political footballs” after using his aide as an example of how to handle the cost of living crisis. Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, previously claimed that those using food banks only did so because they “can’t budget”. This week he revealed the salary details, monthly expenditure and photo of his aide, Katy Colthup on Twitter. Mr Anderson said that despite earning less than £30,000, she was able to rent a room in central London for £775 a month, pay back £120 of her student debt, take foreign holidays and did not need to use a food bank. He said: “Katy makes my point really well.” His remarks drew fierce criticism from some MPs including Dawn Butler, a Labour backbencher. Ms Butler said that the tweet was “a form of bullying and harassment” and urged Mr Anderson (inset) to delete it. She said: “Whether Katy agreed to this, it is unacceptable to use a young female employee this way.” She added: “I will also be writing to the House of Commons authorities to stress that this is a very dangerous political strategy.” Jamie Stone, a Liberal Democrat MP, said the tweet was “in seriously bad taste” and is an “awful way to admit that you don’t pay your staff enough”. He added: “I have never, and would never, use my staff as a political football.” The six-hour crunch talks marked the third meeting between union leaders and Ms Keegan this week, as ministers scramble to minimise disruption ahead of the first national teachers’ strike in 15 years. By Neil Lancefield Train operators have been ordered by a regulator to stop misusing a process which removes services from schedules without them being classed as cancelled. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said cancellations were at record levels. It found that operators were increasingly using a process known as p-coding, through which services can be axed as late as 10pm the previous evening and not included in timetables that measure reliability. For passengers, it means a train they expected to catch when they went to bed can disappear from the timetable by the following morning. A spokeswoman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said: “The way that cancellation statistics are reported is set by the ORR, and train companies will operate within their framework.”
10 NEWS HEALTH SCIENCE Covid cases fall below 100,000 per day for the first time in 12 months Flu vaccines may have offered some protection Exclusive By Tom Bawden SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT By Tom Bawden Covid cases have fallen below 100,000-a-day for the first time in more than a year as a spate of infections over Christmas built the nation’s immunity back up again, according to new figures. Data show that daily symptomatic infections fell by well over half this month in the UK, tumbling from 223,428 at the start of the year to stand at 91,818 on Wednesday, according to the ZOE Health Study. And they are likely to keep falling for the next few weeks. The current infection rate is the first time cases have been below 100,000 since December 2021, with daily cases exceeding that number all through 2022 and into the middle of January. However, experts warned that Covid was far from over. Cases are still high compared with the start of the pandemic. Daily infections remained below 100,000 until October 2021, although in the early days an infection was much more serious for most people than it is today. The sharp decline in cases this month has come as a surprise to experts, being earlier and steeper than many expected. And it suggests concerns that a new, highly infectious Omicron subvariant – known as XBB.1.5 – would fuel cases for some weeks to come may have been exaggerated. Professor Karl Friston, a virus modeller at University College London, suspects people have been taking a bit more care to shield themselves this month after a triple whammy of cold, flu and Covid over Christmas. “Common sense suggests that if flu is circulating, people are going to be more careful in terms of ex- One explanation for why cases have fallen so sharply is flu vaccinations, experts say. The idea that flu and flu vaccinations may, in some cases, have given people protection from Covid, is far from unanimous. But the experts say it is possible there may be something to the theory. “There are some theories and limited evidence that infection with other viruses may ameliorate the symptomatic effects of Covid. This might be due to the immune response induced by one virus protecting effects from Covid infection,” said Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, Professor Francois Balloux, director of the University College London Genetics Institute, added: “A viral infection can give a temporary boost to the immune response against infection from other viruses. “The likely mechanism is through increased production of interferons during the first infection. Interferons are part of the innate immune response and can fight off any pathogen. A heightened interferon response after a first infection can temporarily protect against different viruses.” However, Professor Balloux (inset) warned: “There are situations when a first infection makes the host more susceptible to another one.” Concerns that a highly infectious new Omicron subvariant would cause a rise in cases seem to have been unfounded GETTY UK Covid-19 cases As of 18 January 2023 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Jul Jan 2020 2021 Jul Jan Jul Jan 2022 2023 SOURCE: ZOE HEALTH STUDY posing themselves to infection,” he said. “Over the next few weeks, we predict that cases will continue to fall, with the next peak predicted on 7 May, give or take a couple of weeks.” Experts welcomed the rapid decline in Covid, while cautioning that the battle was far from over. “It’s certainly good news all round, and especially for the NHS,” said Steve Griffin, a virologist at Leeds University. “The number of people infected in recent waves may well have increased our collective immunity to make this trough between waves hit a lower ebb. “This is all part of the long road towards endemicity, but we’re nowhere near that yet – we need to slow the virus down.” Although an endemic is a constant presence in a community, it differs from a pandemic because the virus is more contained and not spreading out of control. Dr Griffin added: “It is important to remember that the overall prevalence levels can reflect an overall downward trend, but that local and regional increases may yet be occurring as a new variant emerges. “Moreover, a large decline in a dominant strain can mask the growth of an emerging variant in the early stages of its expansion,” he added. Scientists say the outlook beyond the next few weeks is still unclear and argue that XXB.1.5 could still fuel a further spike in the spring. Analysis New Zealand and China’s leaders may be facing zero-Covid backlash Jane Merrick POLICY EDITOR W hen Jacinda Ardern announced on Thursday that she would be resigning as New Zealand’s Prime Minister next month, she insisted it was not related to her poor opinion polling but because she no longer had “enough in the tank” to keep going. But it is inescapable that the public mood had turned against her since her party’s landslide victory in 2020, with polling for Labour and her personally at their lowest point since she first came to power economic difficulties as well as in 2017. Fuelling that decline was political backlash. voter dissatisfaction with the rising In China, President Xi Jinping cost of living, which has left few was forced to end his zerogovernments untroubled. Covid policy last month But is there an after a wave of public added political and protests in November. economic price that The economic Ms Ardern has paid consequences of The amount by due to her stringent zero Covid in China which China’s zero-Covid policy? have been stark: exports declined While high inflation the country’s onceyear on year in has been exacerbated thriving export December by the war in Ukraine market has been and has affected global battered by almost three economies, countries that years of shutdown, with pursued the toughest anti-Covid exports declining by 9.9 per cent measures, closing borders and year on year in December, the imposing lockdowns for longest, sharpest decline since the start of are now experiencing serious the pandemic. 9.9% China’s latest GDP figures, out next week, are expected to miss a 5.5 per cent target – and although that sort of growth is what the UK can only dream of, it is a sign of how one of the world’s biggest economic powerhouses has taken a hit. In New Zealand, the economy contracted in 2022 and is forecast to go into full recession this year. While the same is true of the UK, analysts are now predicting Britain’s slump will be much shallower than previously feared, and the Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, said this week that it looked like the “corner has turned” on inflation. Voters in New Zealand have become dissatisfied not only with economic woes but rising crime and unemployment. And there are signs in Beijing of panic that years of lockdowns are starting to cause lasting economic damage and political danger for President Xi. While the governments of New Zealand and China shared a policy of zero Covid, there are, of course, clear differences between the two countries – meaning that voters in New Zealand can democratically elect a new government if they wish, this October. Ms Ardern ended her country’s policy a year ago, but kept some restrictions in place until last September. She continued to face widespread criticism for imposing vaccine mandates on public sector workers, which added to her growing unpopularity. Despite her unpopularity in more recent months, her achievements in office should not be overlooked. Since arriving as the world’s youngest-ever female world leader in 2017, Ms Ardern consistently punched New Zealand above its political weight and in leaving office she should be congratulated for having the self-awareness to know when to quit – something few of her global counterparts would ever do.
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 11 IN DEPTH Sunak gets squeezed on all sides A new Tory faction is a reminder to the Prime Minister of the competing interests he must manage O n Tuesday evening, the team that briefly formed Liz Truss’s Cabinet squeezed into the office of Simon Clarke, the former levelling up secretary, to witness the birth of the Tories’ latest pressure group. Over a buffet of crisps, breadsticks and Tesco wine, the allies held a reunion to discuss the formation of the Conservative Growth Group (CGG), a new caucus to hold Rishi Sunak’s feet to the fire over their single biggest issue: how to grow the economy. While those behind the group insist that the decision to create another new faction within the Tories is purely to “support” the Prime Minister in his policies, its existence is only likely to serve as a reminder of the competing interests Mr Sunak must manage. The new CGG is just the latest in a long list of Conservative caucuses, each of which are vying to ensure their policies and priorities are at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s mind. Some, however, are more troublesome than others and the new Trussite group demanding growth be at the centre of the Government’s agenda threatens to be one of the most problematic for Mr Sunak. The founding members of the CGG claim that their motives are merely to help the Government develop growth policies that will “give us the best chance of winning as many seats as possible at the next election”. One said: “The strange thing is it’s really got nothing to do with Liz. Her name’s been attached to it but that’s really not the idea.” But there is deep suspicion elsewhere of the group, as it is founded by those who vigorously opposed Mr Sunak’s leadership bid during the toxic campaign over the summer. Alongside Mr Clarke as a founding member is Ranil Jayawardena, who briefly held the post of environment secretary during Ms Truss’s administration. Ms Truss (inset) herself “dropped in” to the launch party this week, but her allies said she did not speak. “Liz always wants to see the promotion of growth policies wherever they come from,” a source close to her said. One member of the CGG said: “The Prime Minister has listed growth as one of his five achievements, which we fully support, and we want to come The Conservative Growth Group is the latest Tory caucus vying to ensure their policies and priorities are at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s mind GETTY forward with ideas that will help the Government get there. We will be working with people inside and outside government to test these ideas, to work with the key drivers of the economy and for the Government to adopt them.” Among the first areas the group will look at will be childcare, which was among Ms Truss’s “supply side reforms” that she hoped to introduce in a bid to kick-start the economy. “People may look at this and say this is a Liz Truss approach to the world, and of course there are some really good ideas that people came up with during her leadership, but there are lots of other good ideas as well as to how we can make childcare more flexible, or more generous through shared parental leave. Perhaps we could look at how to share childcare within the family, such as sharing tax breaks; there are all sorts of things that can be done to improve this area,” the MP said. The group insists that the country can return to sustained growth within two years, but only if the Prime Minister focuses on the issue relentlessly. “We are going to try and make sure we win the next election, only the people can decide who wins and we believe reducing people’s taxes, keeping more of people’s money in their pockets and delivering growth in the economy to fund the public services they rely on is the best way of achieving that,” the Tory added. The first of its policies will appear within the next few months, while the caucus plans to meet every week and will divide itself up into policy areas within the overarching group. For the Prime Minister’s supporters, however, it will look like an attempt to fight the last war, with Trussites seeking to foist their policies on the Government having been kicked out of office for nearly crashing the economy. Some of the former prime minister’s ideas, such as a radical deregulation of planning laws, have been firmly rejected by the new regime. Were it just the one faction then No 10 may be able to manage it, but it is just one of many such conclaves within the Tories, including the still powerful European Research Group, the China Research Group, the Northern Research Group, the Planning Reform Group, the Covid Recovery Group, the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, the Conservative Environment Network, the One Nation Caucus, the Tory Reform Group and the Blue Collar Ms Truss ‘dropped into’ the launch party, but her allies said she did not speak Conservatives to name but a few. Each has its own agenda and several are willing to make waves. The Conservative Democratic Organisation, set up by allies of Boris Johnson, is planning a launch conference with a gala black-tie dinner in May, likely to take place shortly after the local elections, where it will reveal its next steps in the campaign to give Tory members more control of their party. A source in the group said: “We are gathering momentum behind the scenes, we are inundated with people wanting to join us.” The former home secretary, Priti Patel, is becoming increasingly involved in the organisation and it is hoping to sign up more MPs as supporters within Westminster. Ministers are also concerned that traditionalists on the Common Sense Group could try to push the party into a tougher line on trans rights – Kemi Badenoch, the Equalities Minister, is planning to write MPs a “dear colleague letter” to explain the Government’s decision to ban conversion therapy and head off public grumbling. She is keen to reassure concerned Tory colleagues that the new law would not result in any unintended consequences, sources said, such as preventing parents from speaking to their children who are questioning their gender. “We want to show we are committed to doing this, but we need to build proper time for scrutiny,” they said. “We will be letting MPs know more details about what is happening.” Some of the older heads in the Tory party blame the newer intake of MPs for the mutinous sentiment that now bubbles among the backbenches. One Tory veteran said that MPs who arrived in 2019 but due to the pandemic were not shown the ropes or given a chance to learn loyalty in the Commons were quick to cause trouble. “Most of them really think they won their seat and not Boris and the Brexit vote. They are deluded,” the senior backbencher said. “They are not all bad. Some worked their way up and were candidates for over a few years. It’s the likes of those that were given a crack at a seat they would never have won and were dropped in a few weeks out. Most were not Tories and were Ukip turncoats. They get in and think they are on I’m A Celebrity... ranting and talking shite.” The source added: “Rishi has addressed them by giving them jobs to lock them in to keep them from setting fire to the ship. He knows they will be gone after the next election but it’s stabilising them to get them to that point.” A minister who is close to Mr Sunak warned that those who persist in making waves now could come to regret it in future: “People remember if you are an arsehole for a very long time.” Richard Vaughan, Hugo Gye and Chloe Chaplain
12 NEWS RELIGION Welby won’t personally bless same-sex couples By Aine Fox and Tim Sigsworth The Archbishop of Canterbury has “joyfully” welcomed proposals to bless same-sex married couples, but said he would not personally carry them out due to his “pastoral responsibility for the whole communion”. Justin Welby spoke as the Church of England issued a formal apology for its historic rejection and exclusion of LGBTQI+ people. Plans to allow such blessings for the first time were outlined earlier this week, but same-sex couples will still be unable to marry in church. The blessings have been welcomed by some as progress on what is a divisive issue, but others have said they do not go far enough. Mr Welby (inset) said while he is “extremely joyfully celebratory” of the proposals, he will not offer them in his role as the highest-ranking religious leader of a church that has varying views on the subject. He told a press conference at Lambeth Palace Library: “Because of my pastoral care and responsibility of being a focus of unity for the whole communion I will, while being extremely joyfully celebratory of these new resources, not personally use them in order not to compromise that pastoral care.” Mr Welby spoke of a parish priest he knew in the past who was gay. He said: “The next thing I heard was that the pressure of living with the Church’s attitude had led to his suicide.” He said he wished the priest could be “here today because I think he would be able to feel that, perhaps it wasn’t everything he wanted, but it said that he wasn’t a lesser”. Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally described the blessings move as a “significant change”, but SWITZERLAND Comment Thunberg joins protests at Davos against use of fossil fuels Britain’s adoption system is in peril and letting children down Federica Cocco A curious thing has happened to adoptions in the UK: while the pool of approved adopters has expanded, the number of adoptions is in decline. Covid-19 is partly to blame, but this trend predates it. The effects have been devastating: children are now waiting much longer – an average of 660 days – to be adopted. There are a number of factors at play here, including the pressure on family courts and local authorities, and disrupted working patterns during the pandemic. The cost of living crisis has added new complexities: as ageing foster parents retire, young couples facing financial uncertainty are less willing to take children in. Social workers specialising in adoption are particularly hard to recruit, the training is complex and the churn rate is high. “Many in the workforce in children’s services have less than two years’ post-qualified experience. Many will never have seen an adoption,” Carol Homden (inset), the chief executive of Britain’s oldest children’s charity, Coram, tells me. There are also funding issues. Local authorities, which are already under enormous financial strain, are increasingly reluctant to pay voluntary agencies to recruit, train, assess and support adopters. In the past year, two – St Francis’ Children’s Society and Families for Children – became insolvent and folded, further reducing capacity in the system. Delays matter for multiple reasons, not least because, as Ms Homden warns, the longer children acknowledged it will be voluntary for clergy to decide whether they want to perform them, likening it to the situation with the marriage of people who have been divorced. The Bishop of Oxford, the most senior bishop in the Church of England to have called for a change in doctrine to allow gay marriage, said there is “further to go”. Dr Steven Croft added: “It is very good for us to be able to say today that the Church can now offer public services of blessing.” are waiting in care, the less likely they are to be adopted. Adoptions have undergone an extraordinary evolution over the past century. The system was only formalised after women joined the workforce and parliament in the 1920s. By 1946, the number of legal adoptions had reached 21,000, but it is likely that others were arranged informally by family doctors. This was not always successful, and some young mothers were forced to give up their children. Unbeknown to their biological parents, thousands of youngsters were sent to Australia in the 50s and 60s. The peak year for adoptions in England and Wales was 1968, at 24,800. But after this point, the availability of both contraception and abortion services sparked a dramatic drop in the number of unwanted pregnancies. The corresponding rapid decline in adoptions was also spurred by the increasing provision of social security benefits, childcare and housing to unmarried mothers, who could now afford to raise their own children. However, some of this progress is now at risk. Fewer adoptions mean more children ending up in care, which results in worse life outcomes. Both infants and prospective adopters – who have been approved via a meticulous and costly vetting process – are waiting desperately for the local authorities to get their act together. According to Ms Homden, “things are very likely to get worse before they get better”. This is a system that is quick to veer off the rails, and very slow to get back on track. ARTICLE REPUBLISHED FROM THE FINANCIAL TIMES By Maha El Dahan Greta Thunberg with activists at Davos yesterday FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GETTY Greta Thunberg and around 30 other activists braved sub-zero temperatures yesterday in a protest calling for climate justice as the World Economic Forum meeting wound up in Davos. The protesters chanted “What do we want? Climate justice. When do we want it? Now” and “Fossil fuels have got to go”, while Thunberg held up a sign saying “Keep it in the ground”. Ms Thunberg, who was detained by police in Germany earlier this week during a demonstration against the expansion of a coal mine, was in Davos after a Thursday roundtable discussion with the head of the International Energy Agency. The 20-year-old Swedish activist stuck to her stance against all new oil, gas and coal developments during the fringe event. The IEA director Fatih Birol said new investments in oil fields would take years to become operational. They would be too late to allay the energy crunch, but would contribute to the climate crisis. POLICE Sunak given fine after being caught not wearing seatbelt By Sam Blewett Rishi Sunak has been fined by police for failing to wear a seatbelt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car. The Prime Minister apologised for the “brief error of judgement” as he carried out a series of visits on Thursday, after Lancashire Police confirmed they were looking into the incident. Yesterday the force said: “We have issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.” Earlier, Tory MP Scott Benton (inset) suggested that police were wasting their time by “looking into” Mr Sunak, adding that “politically motivated complaints” about the offence that carries a maximum fine of £500 are “not good use of frontline resources”. Labour said it would be “very serious” if Mr Sunak received a second fine, having paid a fixed-penalty notice during the Partygate scandal. Downing Street said that “of course” the Prime Minister did not believe anyone was above the law. Mr Benton said that while the force did an “amazing job”, he believed “their time is better spent investigating serious crime which impacts on my constituents”. Asked about the MP’s remarks, the No 10 spokesman said: “It’s entirely a matter for the police where they allocate resources.” Downing Street previously said Mr Sunak “fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises”.
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 13 Comment ‘We thought we were gonna live forever’ David Crosby believed that his generation was mostly right. By Eddi Fiegel TRIBUTE ‘He was the glue that held us together’ W ith most interviewees, what they actually say is what you remember in years to come. Occasionally however, the preamble can be almost as memorable. That was certainly the case when I met David Crosby. It was the summer of 2002. I was writing a biography of “Mama” Cass Elliot of The Mamas and Papas and she and Crosby had been close friends until her death in 1974 at the age of 32. I had approached Crosby through the usual official channels and heard nothing, but after I had been in Los Angeles for about six weeks interviewing other people, his agent told me he might be willing to talk. Crosby suggested I come out to the Santa Ynez valley where he was living. “Great,” I said. “What’s the address?” Instead, he suggested I meet him in a café in his tiny local town. Once I arrived, it didn’t take me long to spot him. With his distinctive, white long hair and handlebar moustache, the then 61-year-old Crosby was sitting at a table on By Mike Bedigan and Ellie Iorizzo David Crosby in 2012 and, inset, as a young man MARIO ANZUONI/ REUTERS the pavement outside the café, and while we chatted, he stared at me closely. Then he suddenly suggested we decamp to his ranch. “Follow me in my car,” he told me. I realised I had passed the audition. Four decades of being one of America’s biggest stars had obviously left him uneasy with people he hadn’t vetted himself. The ranch itself was far from flash. Crosby stretched himself out on a sun lounger. Over the next couple of hours he talked candidly about Elliot, their friendship, their early days as penniless folkies. There was the occasional hint of the outsize ego and swagger for which he was often renowned. When I mentioned that he probably saw less of Elliot after 1970 when the supergroup he formed with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills was selling albums by the million, he agreed that he was “in the biggest group in America at the time and sort of busy”. But for the most part, what I saw was the mischievousness, warmth and insight for which Appreciation One of rock’s bad boys – but not afraid to sound vulnerable Ed Power D avid Crosby was not the first young man to pick up an acoustic guitar and emote his heart out with a cracked voice and tear-strewn eyes. But Crosby, who has died aged 81, nonetheless made it feel as if he had invented a new kind of music. Crosby took something old and made it fresh and vital. He did so first with The Byrds in the mid-1960s and later as a linchpin of folk behemoths Crosby, Stills & Nash. With flowing moustache and twinkling eyes, it was easy to mistake Crosby for a human manifestation of the hippy dream when he became a fixture on the LA songwriter scene. The same misunderstanding was possible with his music, which, at first inspection, had the balmy quality of a quiet day on a calm lake. But though he looked like a teddy bear, Crosby was one of rock’s original bad boys. Groupies, drugs, punch-ups with his bandmates – these were the clichés of the out-of-control rock star that Crosby helped originate. He would snort cocaine on stage; in 1986 he spent five months behind bars for drugs and firearms possession. Crosby, Stills & Nash were from wildly different backgrounds. Crosby the drop-out son of a cinematographer, Stephen Stills a bad boy from Texas, Graham Nash a classic tunesmith from Salford. Crosby’s sweet murmur entwined that of his bandmates in a way that sounds almost freakishly heavenly. But there was bite to go with the dudes-on-a-porch bromance. On “Long Time Gone”, he crooned: “You got to speak your mind if you dare”. Crosby Stills & Nash did. They arrived at the height of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam backlash, when the Sixties dream had started to curdle. Crosby captured that disillusionment perfectly, his falsetto splintering with emotion. The sense that he was an eyewitness to history was underscored by the presence of CSN at Woodstock in 1969. It was a bittersweet moment – the point at which the Sixties dream peaked and went into terminal decline. On stage, they existed in almost supernatural harmony. Off it, they feuded constantly. “I think that came from all the cocaine we snorted,” Nash said later. “That’s what brought egos into it.” They also took full advantage of the era of free love. The irony is that, if they treated women like commodities, in their music Crosby and his bandmates took a stand against the machismo that would become a defining trait of rock through the 1970s. He brought an energy that was raw and feminine: he didn’t swagger and strut, he wasn’t afraid to sound vulnerable. his friends clearly loved him. Whereas Elliot didn’t survive, Crosby, against considerable odds, did, and when we met, he clearly had the hard-won wisdom of someone who had lived to tell the tale. “Most of the things we believed in back then, we were right about,” he said. “We were right about civil rights, we were right about peace being better than war. We were wrong about the drugs. Nobody had died yet, so we didn’t know and we really didn’t believe there were any consequences. We thought we were indestructible. We were young and we were gonna live forever.” When it was time to leave, Crosby told me he would once again lead me out to the road back to LA. At first Crosby’s car was just ahead of me, but then, despite the fact I was driving fast myself, his car sped over the horizon and disappeared from view. Crosby may have found a slower life in Santa Ynez, but he clearly hadn’t quite said goodbye to the fast lane. Stephen Stills and Graham Nash have led tributes to the US musician David Crosby, who was described as the “glue that held us together as our vocals soared”. The trio formed the influential Crosby, Stills and Nash – a US supergroup that would later feature Neil Young – in 1968. Crosby died at the age of 81 following a “long illness”, his wife Jan Dance confirmed. He rose to fame in Los Angelesbased folk-rock group The Byrds, which he joined in 1964 alongside Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. He collaborated on hits including a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man”, which leapt to No 1 in the US singles chart. Shortly after leaving The Byrds in 1967, following a tumultuous tenure, he teamed up with Stills and Nash. “David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls. I was happy to be at peace with him,” wrote Stills. “He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius. The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun.” Nash (inset) wrote: “I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many years.” The Five-Clue Cryptic Crossword 1 2 4 3 No 3795 Across 4/5 Useful device for the Crown Prosecution Service in a case involving violence? (7,7) 6 5 Claimed a bit of chicken in dodgy deal (7) Down 1 Artist Hotel renovated when a particularly squalid residence (7) 2 Tales I found in shops (7) 3 Commanded to be well organised (7) 6 Solution, page 56
14 NEWS SPECIAL REPORT ‘I was brainwashed by Boris. I was lied to’ Rather than a Brexit boost, one Devon fish merchant is laying off 80 per cent of his staff. By David Parsley F ish merchant Ian Perkes won’t forget the day he met Boris Johnson. It was 23 August 2019 and Mr Johnson, less than a month into his spell as prime minister, was on an unannounced visit to the South Devon fishing town of Brixham. It was a typically rambunctious performance from Mr Johnson, extolling the virtues of Brexit and the “huge benefits” it would bring to the UK, not least the folk of this small but important fishing town. Mr Perkes, who has been running his fish merchant business in Brixham since 1976, sat down with the prime minister just after Mr Johnson had shelled out £7.75 for fish and chips on the harbour. “Me and my son Joshua chatted to Boris for about 10 minutes,” he recalls. “He promised us that we would need to expand our premises, employ more staff. “He told us that when the Brexit rules came in January 2021 we would be so busy that we would take the fish off the French and they would be desperate to buy it from us. He said we could look forward to a very, very prosperous future.” Roll forward three-and-a-half years and Mr Perkes’ revenue is 30 per cent down. He had run his business profitably for 45 years before the post-Brexit fishing rules came into force in January 2021. Now he is having to contemplate giving up entirely on exports – which accounted for 85 per cent of his pre-Brexit sales – and axing up to a dozen of his 15 staff. “I was brainwashed by Boris,” he says. “I voted for Brexit because we were told it would deliver for us. I was told that again in August 2019 by Boris when he came here. “I got it wrong. There are no positives of Brexit for us. We will have to go down to just three or four staff if sales continue like they did last year. We’ve made a loss for the past three months, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better. “We’ll be left with the 15 per cent of business we do in the UK because Boris lied to us, and Brexit ruined our export business.” As a fishing merchant, Mr Perkes’ business is now subject to a four-fold increase in fees for the export health certificates needed to transport fish to the continent. On top of that, there are customs charges of £250 each time he sends fish through Calais and onwards to their final destination. “My costs have increased £2,000 to £3,000 a week since Brexit,” he says. “And we also face increased competition from all over the world when it comes to buying fish from the market.” That competition has been Brixham’s thriving fish market’s gain (see box) – and there are positive fishing stories in the town, with trawlers seeking the likes of Dover sole or ray – commonly known as skate – selling at better prices. However, many other fishing businesses in the South West are, like Mr Perkes, still waiting for the benefits of Brexit to come through. Across the River Tamar in Cornwall, local fleets are feeling particularly hard done by over their ongoing ban on fishing for spurdog. Better known to fish’n’chip fans as rock salmon, stocks of the small species of shark were believed to Boris Johnson promised a ‘prosperous future’ to Ian Perkes, right, and his son
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 15 CONSUMER Price wars lead to disparities in fuel prices By Neil Lancefield Luke Bosdet, said: “Discovering that supermarket petrol or diesel Drivers in most parts of the UK is £5 to £7 a tank more expensive are missing out on benefiting from than just 10 miles down the road is supermarket fuel price wars, ac- guaranteed to leave drivers livid. cording to an analysis. “It just doesn’t make sense, parThe AA said retail firms engaged ticularly when other essentials like in competitive pump price cuts bread, milk and eggs are pretty much the same price wherare primarily restricted ever you go. to northern England, “Say, for instance, Northern Ireland and a supermarket lures Wales. But even in you into their store those areas, price with a voucher offerreductions are The amount in pence per litre that ing £6 off a £60 shoponly being seen in fuel prices differed ping bill. certain towns. in various parts of “To find out that Supermarket petGreater Manchester rol in Greater Manthat supermarket last weekend chester last weekend clawed back all that saving, and perhaps £1 on top was as much as 13p per of that, at the pump, compared litre cheaper in Ashton-underLyne – where three superstores to a superstore in a neighbouring in close proximity went “head to town, will quite rightly lead to a head on fuel” – than 10 miles away howl of protest. “The retailers only get away in Rochdale, the AA said. There are major differences in with it because the fuel price transparency that the Competiaverage fuel prices across the UK. In Northern Ireland, diesel tion and Markets Authority recwas 10p per litre cheaper than in ommended to the Government in London and south-east England October doesn’t yet exist, except in earlier this week. In Wales, the Northern Ireland.” Average UK petrol prices conprice was 6p per litre below that in tinued to fall this week, reaching southern England. An AA fuel price spokesman, 148.6p a litre on Wednesday. 13 Ian Perkes’ costs have increased by up to £3,000 a week since Brexit; below left, the Banksy work ‘Let Them Eat Fish’ Brixham Fish Market A Brexit beneficiary have fallen by 90 per cent and the Cornish have been banned from catching them since 2010. Newlyn fisherman Phil Mitchell has spent 12 years working with scientists proving the abundance of spurdog, but the Government has failed to agree a deal with the EU to lift the ban on him, and many like him, catching it again. “The French, Irish and Spanish can all work away and we’re still dumping loads of dead spurdog,” says Mr Mitchell. “It’s just unbelievable.” The Government argues that the UK fishing industry will be £34m better off this year following a deal struck at the end of 2022 that brought the total value of fishing “opportunities” secured for the UK fleet to £750m since Brexit. However, much of the increase in quotas apply to UK fishermen in the North of England, where there is plentiful supply of cod and haddock. Chris Ranford, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, argues that the South West has been left behind by the Government. “They’re the sort of end-of-year headlines the Government likes to announce,” he says. “In reality, in the South West we’ve actually had a £2m loss of fishing opportunities since 2021.” With a strong fishing tradition dating back to the 14th century, Brixham is credited with being one of the birthplaces of trawling. The South Devon town that rolls down to the coast on the western side of Torbay now has England’s largest fish market by value of fish sold. It is a rare post-Brexit success story in the industry. Back in 2017, fish traded through the market hit a record £40m. That record lasted until the new postBrexit fishing regimes came into force in 2021, when the market traded £43.6m of fish. Many thought that record would stand for many years to come – but it did not even last 12 months: in 2022, £60.8m worth of fish was traded in the port. Even a former Conservative environment minister is now criticising the Brexit deal he backed when in Mr Johnson’s cabinet. George Eustice was in charge of the fishing industry when he was, until Mr Johnson’s downfall last year, secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He now says he believes the Brexit fishing deal should have been better negotiated by Lord Frost, the UK’s chief negotiator for exiting the European Union during the Brexit negotiations in 2019 and then chief negotiator of Task Force Europe until he resigned in December 2021. We’re left with the 15 per cent of business we do in the UK because Brexit ruined our exports The market puts its success down to high fish prices, and the success of the group’s online auctions and newly built boats fishing from the port. Boats from other ports in Cornwall, the South and South East of England, and South Wales have also been landing their fish in Brixham as prices at the auction were so favourable. Barry Young, managing director of Brixham Trawler Agents, believes the market will have to expand due to demand. “The biggest issue we face is space,” he said. “With the additional volumes of fish, Brixham has outgrown the market that was built in 2011 when the values of fish landed were approaching £20m.” “[Lord Frost] was reluctant to make any concessions, and in the end it all happened in the final few days,” says Mr Eustice of the fishing deal with the EU. “It didn’t serve us well leaving fisheries till the very end. I think it would have been better had it been addressed earlier in the negotiation.” On the wall behind Ian Perkes’ processing units in the harbour is a Banksy mural, titled Let Them Eat Fish. Many fishermen in the South West might point out that they need to be allowed to catch them before people can eat them. A Defra spokesperson said: “We constantly work in collaboration with fishing communities across the UK to ensure they have a longterm and sustainable future – and our agreement with the EU secures valuable fishing opportunities for the UK fishing industry while cementing our joint commitment to manage fisheries sustainably.” INDUSTRY British Steel may get £300m bailout By Dominic McGrath and August Graham The Government is considering a plan to funnel nearly a third of a billion pounds towards British Steel to save the firm from collapse. A Treasury source said the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is thinking about handing the company £300m in instalments, if it meets certain conditions. The investment could help protect jobs at the company, which employs about 4,000 people directly. It could also save the Government an even bigger bill should British Steel collapse. British Steel could not be reached for comment. The Department for Business said the Government “recognises the vital role that steel plays within the UK economy, supporting local jobs and growth”. It said it was “committed to securing a sustainable and competitive future for the UK steel sector”. “While we cannot comment on negotiations, the Business Secretary considers the success of the steel sector a priority and continues to work closely with industry to achieve this,” a spokesperson said. The Government is to tell British Steel about the potential deal in the coming days. SOCIETY Rich leave Britain as Brexit bites By Isabella Bengoechea The super-rich are leaving Britain in their droves as the consequences of Brexit become more entrenched. It is estimated that since the 2016 EU referendum, 12,000 high-net-worth people have left the country. These are defined as those with liquid assets of at least $1m (£810,000). Last year 1,400 millionaires left Britain, according to the citizenship advisory company Henley and Partners. Many of these are likely to have been high-earning bankers who worked in the City of London. Since Brexit many bankers based in the capital have been transferred elsewhere in Europe. Henley and Partners said the UAE had seen the biggest increase of high-net-worth people in 2022.
16 NEWS EXCLUSIVE Sex crimes officer accused of assaulting colleague By Claudia Tanner A serving Met Police detective who is thought to have been responsible for investigating sex crimes has been accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague at a police station. The alleged incident occurred when the pair were alone in the station together in 2019. The woman, who worked in a support role as a civilian, reported the incident 10 days after it occurred. The CPS decided not to proceed with a prosecution against the officer, who she says was responsible for investigating sex crimes at the time. She was told that the decision was taken due to a lack of evidence, and is now taking the force to an employment tribunal, accusing it of victimisation and discrimination. The woman left the force after being told that a gross misconduct hearing against the officer was also being dropped. She told i that the episode had destroyed her trust in the police. “These are the people you’re meant to call on when you need help. I couldn’t carry on working for them,” she said. Trust in the police has come under greater scrutiny since the murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens in 2021. This week it emerged that Met officer David Carrick had committed 48 rapes, abusing his position to coerce victims in a campaign of sexual abuse for two decades, despite the force being told repeatedly of the allegations. The Met recently revealed it is reviewing 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims involving about 800 of its officers. Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has vowed to reform the force “at speed”. The woman involved in the 2019 incident is angry at the legal support she says her alleged attacker received from the Police Federation, the officers’ union, and the force itself. The officer was suspended Lawyers for the Metropolitan Police have secured a reporting restriction to try to limit press coverage of the case, after i initially made enquiries relating to the case. from duties for two years, but then returned to work. She said the complaints process was “not fit for purpose”, adding: “The detective was given Police Federation support ... but because I’m a civilian I’ve had to pay for legal support. “He was able to give multiple statements but detectives never went back to me for further information or statements after the first one I gave. It’s unfair that I was given no information about the discrepancies. “I didn’t want to report it at first. I’ve seen so many cases of how victims are treated badly. I was traumatised. I had physical effects. I had rashes, I kept bursting into tears at my desk. I couldn’t function. “I just hate the thought that a man capable of sexually abusing like this will have access to really vulnerable people and isn’t being stopped.” A Met Police spokesperson said: “The matter is progressing to an employment tribunal hearing and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. “We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously.”
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 17 EQUALITY Biting police comment Plastic rotten apples are left by members of the domestic violence charity Refuge outside New Scotland Yard in London yesterday. PETER NICHOLLS/REUTERS Met officers routinely denigrate women, says female former PC Exclusive By Alannah Francis Met Police officers refer to the public as “slags”, routinely make perverted comments about women while on patrols and ostracise new recruits who speak out, a female former PC in the force has claimed. The woman, who i is not naming, joined the Met in March 2021 and has detailed a series of factors that led to her resignation. The female former police constable joined the force as she wanted to foster better relationships between the Met and the community. She said she soon discovered that what she had previously put down as hyperbole by the press echoed the stark reality of life in the Met. “While training I discovered the Met calls the public ‘slags’ – not in the sense you would think, but that they are slaggy or slags in general,” she said. “This surprised me. Male officers also drive around making perverted comments about women.” She described how male officers would “discuss who they would have sex with daily” includ- ‘Thought of being part of the Met was embarrassing’, said a former officer ing female officers and members of the public. “I wanted to help the public and improve the relationship between the police and the public,” the former PC said. “I was constantly reading negative articles about the police and I thought, ‘Join up and make a change’.” The ex-officer said she still questions whether leaving was the right choice. “I was and still am so disappointed,” she said. “I loved the actual job serving the public, helping people in the worst times. It was hard work to get in and to go into a young environment. “I sometimes wonder if I did the right thing, but for me the thought of being part of the Met was embarrassing. “Dealing with people in a rude, uncaring way was not something I could stand by and see and not be able to challenge it.” Figures obtained by i last month suggest she is far from the only one. Thousands of police officers recruited under Boris Johnson’s 2019 manifesto pledge to boost numbers had already resigned by December, while the officer said she knew of eight colleagues from her intake who have quit because of the culture. “In my experience what is being said about the Met is completely accurate,” she said. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Bas Javid, who is responsible for the Met’s professionalism command, said: “There is absolutely no place in the Met for racism, misogyny or any other form of discrimination, and we have been working incredibly hard to remove people from the organisation who corrupt our integrity and let down the dedicated honest majority of officers and staff.” EXCLUSIVE ‘Met misses red flags and abuse in reports’ Victims’ Commissioner says police have difficulty recognising problems. By Serina Sandhu T he Metropolitan Police is missing “red flag” behaviour when abuse is reported, the London Victims’ Commissioner has said. The catalogue of crimes against women committed by David Carrick while he was a serving officer means the public’s trust and confidence in the force has plummeted even further, Claire Waxman told i. But despite this, the Met continues to miss crucial signs when women and girls come forward to report offenders. Ms Waxman, who became the capital’s first Victims’ Commissioner in 2017 and deals directly with victims, was “horrified” after Carrick pleaded guilty to 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, against 12 women between 2003 and 2020. He was sacked from the force on Tuesday. She said she could not understand how the force had “such a prolific sex offender and abuser in their own ranks” who went unchallenged for so long. A review into the culture of the Met, led by Baroness Casey, found up to 60 per cent of misconduct allegations involving staff receive “no case to answer” decisions. In the wake of Carrick’s crimes, all forces in England and Wales will check their officers against the national police databases to identify anyone who has “slipped through the net” by the end of March. And more than 1,000 Met officers and staff previously accused of domestic abuse or sexual offences are having their cases reviewed. Ms Waxman, who is herself a victim of stalking of two decades, said while the Met is taking positive steps forward, victims remain concerned about who is looking at their complaints. “I think it’s very hard for the Met to assess these complaints because they are part of the culture, so how can they recognise [the problem]?” she said. “What I see often is that they don’t necessarily pick up some of the red flag behaviours such as the dynamics of abuse. They’re missing some of this. “That’s maybe because they’ve got a quite a young force now, who haven’t yet got the expertise and experience to work on some of these cases.” Ms Waxman called for experts from the violence against women and girls (Vawg) sector to be embedded within the Met, including the anti-corruption unit. The role of the London Victims’ Commissioner, appointed by the Mayor of London, is to overhaul the criminal justice system and scrutinise areas where victims are being failed, including by the country’s biggest police force. The Met said: “The Met will become ruthless at rooting out those who corrupt our integrity. That’s because our integrity is our foundation. “We haven’t guarded this as Project for better policing Independent victim care hub Claire Waxman said some of her ideas for reforming victims’ experience of the police and justice process have not been welcomed. “They don’t like the idea of a independent victim care hub,” she said, referring to her vision for an entity that supports victims all the way through the criminal justice system to keep them engaged, informed and supported. For some victims it could be an online portal with regular updates regarding their case, while more vulnerable people may require a “case companion” throughout. “It’s not just about the Met, it’s the [Crown Prosecution Service], it’s the courts, it’s post trial, it’s everyone. This would have oversight of the entire justice system from a victim’s perspective,” she said. Ms Waxman (inset) said the Met supported the idea of a victim care hub run by the force, but took issue with it being independent. “They can improve the way they interact with victims but they cannot deliver the vision I have for the independent victim care hub,” she said. “They know how valuable the relationship with the victim is to the investigation so I think they’re a little bit fearful that [an independent hub] might impact that relationship as well as their trust in the force. “But they’ve got to realise this is not just how I feel, it’s how the public feel. It would be incredibly brave to do something really transformative. It would set them apart from any other force in the country. “The hub would support investigations and alleviate some of the pressures officers face.” ferociously as we must and we will do. In the four months to date, we’ve launched a new anti-corruption and abuse command, putting 30 per cent more officers into fighting corruption. And we’ve done public appeals. “We’ve raised 250 fresh lines of inquiry, and we’re doing more proactive work against problematic officers than ever before. “At the end of March, we plan to write to the Home Secretary and the Mayor in an open public letter. And by then, we will also have finished reviewing all of our people, having checked their details against all the police, national intelligence data in the police national database. “We’ll have begun a full review of our national vetting process, we’ll have completed Operation Onyx, which is our review of the officers and staff whom we have concerning domestic or sexual incident reports against. “And we’ll also have tested new legal routes to dismiss those who fail vetting. It is essential that we engage with victims and to protect and support them, gather evidence, and improve trust and confidence, allowing them to feel safe in reporting any future crimes. We are committed to providing an effective service to all victims. “A review is being commissioned to explore all options.”
18 NEWS ENVIRONMENT Die-off of marine life ‘was caused by mystery virus’ By Steve Robson The mass die-off of marine life in the North East is not related to dredging and was most probably caused by a mystery virus, a report commissioned by the Government says. Environmental groups, local MPs and fishing businesses have expressed increasing concern over what caused thousands of shellfish to wash up dead on beaches in Teesside in the autumn of 2021. Crab and lobster catches have remained significantly lower ever since. But a report published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) last May concluded a naturally occurring algae bloom was the most likely cause. Many remained unconvinced, however, and a row erupted when a group of scientists commissioned by the North East Fishing Collective suggested that pyridine, a toxin left in the sediment and a legacy of Teesside’s former coal and steel industries, was to blame. They believe the pyridine was disturbed during maintenance dredging of the River Tees and argued Thousands of shellfish washed up on beaches in Teesside in autumn 2021 that all dredging should therefore be paused pending further investigation. This would include crucial dredging work that is needed at South Bank Quay to open up the Teesside freeport to large vessels. Local Conservative politicians, including the Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, denied dredging on the Tees was linked to the die-off and accused Labour colleagues of whipping up a conspiracy theory to thwart the freeport plans. In an effort to bring some closure to the row, Defra commissioned a new independent report, which was published yesterday by a panel of 10 scientific experts. The report says: “Considering all available evidence about Teesside dredging the panel considers it very unlikely that release of any toxic chemical, including pyridine, due to maintenance dredging could have caused the deaths.” Overall, the panel was “unable to identify a clear and convincing single cause for the unusual crustacean mortality”. However, the panel does believe an unknown virus is the most likely cause, despite any lack of direct evidence that such a virus exists. A novel pathogen would explain why the shellfish died over a sustained period and a coastline of roughly 40 miles, the unusual twitching observed in dying crabs, and the fact that it is mainly crustaceans dying rather than other species. “The impact of an algal bloom would also explain the wide distribution of observed deaths and cannot be ruled out as a causative factor,” the report adds. “It is unlikely, however, that an algal bloom can explain the twitching nor the long duration of mortality.” Mick’s getting up to Speedo Mick Cullen, otherwise known as “Speedo Mick”, walks through Glencoe in sub-zero temperatures wearing only his swimming trunks. Mr Cullen is walking 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End while also completing the Three-Peak Challenge to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon along the way. So far he has raised nearly £50,000 for the Speedo Mick Foundation. PA
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 19 FOCUS The shops offering £2 bags full of groceries These alternative supermarkets sell surplus food – and help people who are struggling with the cost of living. By Serina Sandhu T here are crates full of glossy tomatoes, huge garlic bulbs and ripe avocados. But what many of the shoppers at Feed the Hill Social Supermarket are really looking for is a Pot Noodle. You only need to add boiling water to make an instant hot meal from the cartons of pasta, soya and flavourings, so they are very attractive to people who can barely afford to pay their gas bill or switch on a fridge. That is exactly the kind of low income customer Feed the Hill is aimed at. A single Pot Noodle usually costs at least £1. But at the social supermarket in New Cross, southeast London, you can buy a couple of bags full of surplus food from traditional supermarkets for just £2. Some will pay nothing at all if they can’t afford it. The number of social supermarkets has expanded dramatically since the model was first introduced to Britain in Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, in 2013. They offer a halfway house between foodbanks and conventional supermarkets. Growing demand means waiting lists to join them have been set up and are now doubling, i has learned. As well as helping people on low incomes access healthy food, they also reduce waste by passing on goods that shops can no longer sell. They’re set up to imitate a traditional supermarket to provide dignity and choice to customers, and to reduce the stigma attached to receiving a so-called handout by charging a small fee. “There’s a huge stigma in people suffering from food poverty,” says Hugh Lort-Phillips, a senior nutrition assessment adviser at the charity Action Against Hunger, which supports Feed the Hill and five other social supermarkets. “This model really helps us to overcome that.” Another charity, Feeding Britain, supports a national “affordable food network” of social supermarkets, food clubs and community pantries. Over the past year, it has seen its outlets more than double from 96 to 226, while the number of households accessing their help has almost tripled from 14,000 to 40,000. Feed the Hill never knows what it’s going to get from supermarkets. It might be branded goods that have fallen out of favour, or products suffering a labelling mishap. Recently there was a delivery of smoothies because the word “guava” had been incorrectly spelled on the label, says Sharon Shamir, who set up the project in 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic. She opens the jumbo freezer to reveal hundreds of packets of vegan mince, which retail for around £3. They’re two days over their useby date so they can’t be sold in supermarkets but they’re perfectly good to eat and will be handed out as this week’s protein item. The Feed the Hill team also buys in staples such as rice, pasta and tinned goods to ensure each customer has the ingredients to make decent meals. Everyone Pantries Food savings Not every social supermarket operates in the same way as Feed the Hill. People who use the Your Local Pantry network pay a membership fee of £3.50-£6.50 a week and pick 10 items from the shelves. Each shopper saves around £1,000 a year on food bills. Your Local Pantry started with a single site in Stockport in 2013 but, with support from Church Action on Poverty, it has grown to a network of 85 sites around the UK. James Henderson from the network said they had a record number of visits in November 2022 – 19,000 compared to 11,900 a year earlier. Demand is so high there are plans to triple the number of pantries to 225 by July 2025. Sharon Shamir (main) set up the Feed the Hill Social Supermarket (below) in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic usually walks away with around £30 worth of food. Giving people the means to cook from scratch, despite their financial troubles, allows them to create a sense of normality for their children at dinnertime. The shop opens every Wednesday at 10am but customers queue up outside an hour earlier. Feed the There’s a huge stigma in food poverty. This model really helps us to overcome that Hill has quickly become a mainstay for those in New Cross who cannot afford the usual supermarkets. “Darling, Sainsbury’s is for rich people. We’re poor. I can’t go to Sainsbury’s. This is my store,” says a 64-year-old woman as she waits outside. She comes every week. For others, like a 33-year-old selfemployed designer who has carried out work for clients but hasn’t been paid, Feed the Hill is a stopgap. It’s his first time and he’s grateful, giving £1.50 for his shopping. He had been resorting to stealing food from supermarkets. The pandemic forced many more people to the doors of social supermarkets and the cost of living crisis has meant a further “alarming increase in demand”, according to Action Against Hunger UK. The charity has seen social supermarket membership waiting lists of 30-40 people grow to around 70 since the crisis began. Every Wednesday Shamir and her team serve at least 50 customers – 58 on the day i visits – over two hours. On top of that, volunteer drivers deliver shopping bags to 200 households every week. “Demand is really our biggest challenge and we’ve really seen demand increase over the course of this winter,” says Shamir. When the shop opens, customers come in one by one. Unlike most food banks, they do not need a referral voucher and can come as often as they like. They simply give Shamir their postcode and their donation – if they can. She tells one person: “If you don’t have the money, please come anyway.” Some pay in kind, like the customer who gave the shop a fresh lick of yellow paint. An unemployed electrician maintains the fridges. In Feed the Hill’s fresh section, you’d expect the goods to be bruised castoffs, rejected by supermarket shoppers. But the onions, potatoes, carrots and bananas are fresh. Customer Ricky Wilmont remarks that the quality is “as good as any market stall”. The 57-year-old, who is out of work at the moment, says the stigma attached to food banks and food poverty has changed. “I think it’s just the way things are with society and the economy, it’s just a normal part of life.”
20 NEWS News in brief CRIME Man arrested with suspicious device A 27-year-old man was arrested by counter-terrorism police at St James’s Hospital in Leeds yesterday after being found in possession of a suspected firearm and a suspicious device. He was arrested at 5am and taken into custody, said Counter Terrorism Policing North East. A vehicle and a number of premises were being searched yesterday evening. Police said it is believed to be an isolated incident and there is not thought to be any ongoing risk to the public. TELEVISION SPOTLIGHT Aboard the flying saucers creating life in space Space nation Asgardia claims that its plans to conduct IVF experiments in orbit could allow us to leave Earth – and save humanity. Cahal Milmo reports Scott snubs BBC’s 40th anniversary Selina Scott has said celebrating the 40th anniversary of the BBC’s Breakfast with a “grin” would have been “dishonest” due to the treatment she received while doing the show. The presenter and journalist, 71, launched the morning programme at the corporation as Breakfast Time alongside co-host Frank Bough (both above) in 1983. Scott said Bough sought to “rubbish” her on and off air, including by making alleged sexual comments about her in front of colleagues. COURTS Foy stalker to be sent back to US A man who targeted actress Claire Foy in a “deeply frightening” stalking campaign has avoided a prison term. Jack Penrose, 49, was handed a 22-month suspended sentence at the Old Bailey yesterday after admitting to stalking Ms Foy (inset) and breaching an interim stalking order by sending a letter and a parcel to the actress. A US citizen, he has agreed to be repatriated to the US. The court had previously heard that Ms Foy, 38, who played the Queen in the Netflix series The Crown, found the actions of the stalker “deeply frightening”. I n about three months’ time, a rocket is due to blast off over Canada, carrying a module designed to host a succession of spinning discs in a temperature-controlled box. It will be among hundreds of bits of technology entering orbit this year. But it is a fair bet that it will be the only mission with the eventual goal of conducting human IVF in space. A Dutch company, working with British scientists, has unveiled detailed plans to push the boundaries of human endeavour by carrying out artificial insemination in an orbiting “bio-satellite” as part of a long-term mission to produce the first baby in space. The extraordinary venture is being supported by Asgardia, the so-called “Space Nation” established by an Azerbaijani- Background Asgardia’s ‘new space humanity’ Nascent space state Asgardia was founded in 2016 by Igor Ashurbeyli (right), an Azerbaijani-Russian scientist and businessman, who was re-elected last month as “head of nation”. Asgardia has set itself the goal of creating a “new space humanity” to be housed in a series of extraplanetary colonies in locations including “Arks” (illustrated below) orbiting above Earth. To help pursue its goals, the micronation has set up a parliament, headed by British former MP and Liberal Democrat politician Lembit Opik, alongside a judiciary and an administrative office based in Vienna. Named after a Norse legend describing a city in the sky, Asgardia plans to limit its population to 150 million and will shortly start issuing its first passports. Russian scientist and multimillionaire with the aim of setting up the first “off-planet” human colonies. The micronation, which says it has more than a million registered “Asgardians”, last year amended its constitution to make the “birth of the human child in space” – ideally within 25 years – its “main national mission”. Spaceborn United, based in Eindhoven, is developing a device capable of conducting an automated IVF procedure in orbit and then allowing the resulting embryos to develop for five days before returning them to Earth. The scheme, dubbed Artis – Assisted Reproductive Technology in Space – hopes to conduct its first flights carrying human cells within five years. But the initial experiments will be “validation missions” involving sperm and eggs from mice or rats, with the scientists recognising they face “all kinds of ethical and legal issues” before any flight using human genetic material – ultimately with the aim of returning “space embryos” to a mother for a normal pregnancy – could be contemplated. Nonetheless, a first test flight is scheduled to take place in April with a new Canadian launch provider, SpaceRyde, which is perfecting a system using balloons to carry rockets for much of their orbital journey before they then blast payloads into orbit. While this initial flight will carry a dummy Artis payload, it is understood by i that a fully-functional IVF “bio-satellite” could be ready for launch within the next 18 to 24 months. Dr Egbert Edelbroek, the founder and CEO of Spaceborn United, who is also an MP in Asgardia’s virtual parliament, said that an almost total lack of scientific knowledge on human reproduction in space meant it would be “medically and ethically irresponsible” to attempt any natural conception involving
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 Spaceborn’s Artis device would automatically trigger the IVF procedure 230km above Earth Fertilised eggs would grow for five days before being frozen to return to Earth astronauts having sex. He said the study of orbital IVF was therefore an initial step towards gaining the knowledge needed to build towards human procreation in space. “The goal is, indeed, that people will eventually be able to reproduce off-planet in a natural way,” he said. “But to achieve that goal in the most ethical and medically optimal way, We might not have enough time if we do not accelerate this space science we need to study that process with assisted reproductive technologies.” The result is a mind-boggling initiative being worked on by an international network of scientists, including experts at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, to build a flying saucer-like module – measuring 75cm in diameter – which will house a device allowing sperm to fertilise eggs in space while all the time mimicking conditions on Earth. The team has devised a system of sealing the genetic material in a series of discs about the size of a CD which will spin at sufficient speed to recreate a centrifugal force similar to gravity. Once launched to a height of about 230km (143 miles) above Earth, where solar radiation levels are still considered to be within safe limits, the temperaturecontrolled Artis device would automatically trigger the IVF process before allowing the fertilised eggs to develop for five days, with live images beamed back to scientists. The resulting “blastocysts” – a rapidly-dividing ball of cells that goes on to produce an embryo – would then be frozen on the Artis module and brought back to Earth for recovery. Spaceborn said it was lining up potential donors for a human IVF trial. Explaining how it would work in an online presentation to Asgardians earlier this month, the organisation’s science minister, Floris Wuyts, a Belgian academic, said: “We [will] only have about six to eight hours after harvesting the cells from the natural mother to bring them into space and have them fertilised by the sperm.” Dr Edelbroek said that humanity faces sufficient immediate and long-term threats, from global warming and nuclear war to the eventual extinction of the Sun (estimated to be some five billion years away), to make planning for a space-borne existence for homo sapiens, including procreation, a prudent necessity. Lembit Opik, the former Liberal Democrat MP who is now the chairman of the Asgardian parliament, told i: “We simply must identify morally and biologically sustainable solutions for space births; otherwise we’ll never reach other planets – or other star systems. For Asgardians, the prospect of our species spending the next few thousand years only on Earth is inconceivable. It doesn’t fit with humanity’s instinct to explore. Sooner or later human beings have to safely begin life in space.” David Cullen, Cranfield’s professor of astrobiology and space biotechnology, who has been advising the Dutch company on space engineering and the structure of the Artis scheme, said the team had been careful to ensure that the conditions in space for the IVF procedure would be as similar to those in an earthbound clinic as possible. By doing so, the thinking goes, an eventual approach to regulators for both space mission and fertility research may have a higher chance of success. He told i: “If we went down the route of IVF in microgravity, there is so little known currently about it that it is highly unlikely that a regulator would even consider reviewing it.” Scientific research on human IVF embryos is extremely tightly controlled and there is no existing scenario which allows human embryos to be created solely for scientific purposes. “We don’t know what it will take before we are allowed to [use human cells],” says Dr Edelbroek, “but it is also an interesting approach to argue that it might be unethical not to allow this because of all the threats to human life on Earth. We might not have enough time if we do not accelerate this space science.” TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 21 ENVIRONMENT Bottle deposit delay ‘kicking can down road’ By Jane Merrick POLICY EDITOR Ministers have been criticised for delaying the introduction of a deposit scheme for recycling plastic bottles by a year. From October 2025, people will have to pay a deposit of around 20p per plastic bottle or drinks can when they buy a drink and get the money refunded when they return it. But the scheme was originally intended to launch in autumn 2024, and green campaigners have accused the Government of “kicking the can down the road”. Scotland will launch its own deposit return scheme this August, but the rest of the UK will start in October 2025 – seven years after it was originally proposed by the then environment secretary, Michael Gove. The Government also revealed that glass bottles will no longer be included in the plans in England and Northern Ireland, although they will in Scotland and Wales. Around 70 per cent of the 14 bil- lion plastic bottles and nine billion drinks cans the UK goes through every year are currently recycled, but a deposit scheme is likely to push that figure to 90 per cent. Megan Randles, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “This could have been a moment for celebration, and of course for our environment it’s better to have this proposed system rather than nothing. But even at the final hurdle, this government bottled it and excluded glass from the scheme. “In what kind of world is collecting glass drinks containers not an essential part of a system designed to collect drinks containers? “If we’re serious about leaving a better natural environment for future generations, kicking the can down the road just doesn’t cut it.” Environment minister, Rebecca Pow, said: “We want to support people who want to do the right thing to help stop damaging plastics polluting our green spaces. That is why we are moving ahead using our powers to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme.” PEOPLE Army captain sets record for solo polar expedition By Brendan McFadden A British Army captain has completed the longest unsupported and solo polar expedition by a woman. Preet Chandi, a physiotherapist at a rehabilitation unit in Buckinghamshire, has become a record-breaker after trekking 868 miles (1,397km) with a 264lb (120kg) sledge. The previous female record was held by Anja Blacha, who skied 858 miles (1,381km) in 2020. Captain Chandi (pictured), 33, from Sinfin in Derby, who is known as Polar Preet, made history in January 2021 becoming the first woman of colour to reach the South Pole without any extra aid. But she was unable to fulfil her original aim of becoming the first woman to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported. Captain Chandi started her journey at Hercules Inlet in November and hoped to reach Reedy Glacier within 75 days. In the last update to her online blog on Thursday, she said she was about 30 nautical miles away from her pick-up point and “pretty gutted” to have missed the crossing record. She said: “I know that I have done a huge journey, it’s just difficult while I’m on the ice and I know it’s not that far away.” ANIMALS Zoo names rare monkey... Nigel By Ed Cullinane A zoo has named a new critically endangered monkey Nigel in a bid to save the species and the name. Drusillas Zoo Park in Alfriston, East Sussex, announced the safe birth of a healthy cotton-top tamarin monkey born on 17 December. It is one of the most threat- ened species of primates in the world – there are fewer than 6,000 remaining in the wild in Colombian rainforests. There are also a “critically endangered” number of Nigels in the UK with no newborns given the name between 20202021, according to the Office for National Statistics.

NEWS NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 23 DIPLOMACY Germany resists pressure to provide Ukraine with modern Leopard 2 tanks By Jessie Williams Germany has continued to resist making a decision on whether to send modern tanks to Ukraine, despite days of intense pressure from other Western powers to do so. Defence ministers from more than 50 countries gathered at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany yesterday to discuss future military aid for Ukraine. But the talks were dominated by Berlin’s reluctance to provide Kyiv with Leopard 2 tanks and allow other countries to send their own German-made tanks. The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said there were “good reasons” for and against sending Ukraine the tanks, which are used by several armed forces in Europe. Mr Pistorius said he could not say when there would be a decision on the tanks but Germany was prepared to move fast if there was agreement between allies. “All pros and cons must be weighed very carefully,” Mr Pistorius said. He added that he had given his ministry the task to “undertake an examination of the stocks” of the tanks available, which is the closest the German government has so far come to suggesting it may be contemplating the use of the tanks in the war. During the key meeting the US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, said it was time to “dig deeper” to help Kyiv confront Russian forces. “Russia is regrouping, recruiting, and trying to re-equip,” he said. Speaking at the start of the meeting, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he was grateful for the continued support and believed “our unity will only become stronger”, but warned that “we don’t have a lot of time”. He said: “Russia is concentrating Ukrainian soldiers pull a broken tank near the frontline town of Bakhmut OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK/REUTERS also agreed to send its M1 Abrams tanks to Kyiv, but the German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that no such linkage between the two had been made. The US and Finland announced new military aid ahead of the gathering, with the former proposing a defence support package worth $2.5bn (£2bn). The UK has already announced that it will send 14 Challenger 2 battle tanks. A Kremlin spokesperson said Western countries supplying ad- ditional tanks to Ukraine will not change the course of the conflict, adding that the West will regret its “delusion” that Kyiv can win on the battlefield. RUSSIA EUROPE RUSSIA Wagner ‘sending empty coffins to relatives’ EU plans more Russia sanctions ‘Relations with US at an all-time low’ European Union countries are working on a 10th package of sanctions to take effect next month against Russia, diplomatic sources said. The EU’s Russia hawks have already asked for new sanctions to curb the bloc’s nuclear fuel co-operation with Moscow, ban imports of Russian diamonds and reduce trade with Belarus, among other measures. Yesterday, diplomats from three middle-way countries said the next round of sanctions should be ready around the anniversary on 24 February of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour. REUTERS Russia said yesterday that relations with the US were at an all-time low, following accusations that Washington was playing a direct role in the Ukraine conflict. “Bilateral relations are probably at their lowest point historically,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (inset). “There is no hope for improvement in the foreseeable future.” While there have been occasional diplomatic successes, including prisoner swaps involving US Marine veteran Trevor Reed and basketball star Brittney Griner, high-level contact has been scarce. REUTERS By Kieron Monks Relatives of prisoners recruited by the Wagner mercenary group say they have been sent coffins without their loved ones’ bodies inside after being notified of their deaths. The wife of a convict told TV Rain that she received a call from Wagner representatives to say that her husband had been killed in fighting around Bakhmut. The mercenary outfit sent a zinc coffin with a death certificate and medals “for heroism”. The woman, named only as Angelina, said she was told not to open the coffin as Wagner used a DNA database to identify bodies. “They told us they could guarantee 100 per cent that it was him,” she said. But Angelina later received a call from a Ukrainian intelligence officer its forces, last forces, trying to convince everyone that hatred can be stronger than the world.” He warned that more was needed to defeat Russia’s invasion and that “hundreds of thank-yous are not hundreds of tanks”. Earlier this week, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said his country would never act alone in sending tanks to Ukraine. Previous reports suggested Berlin was reluctant to send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine until Washington to say that her husband was alive and being held in captivity. Russian authorities would not comment on the case. Similar claims have been circulating on Russian social media. A Telegram post on a channel named “Find prisoners in the Military Operation”, purportedly from the wife of a convict fighter, described opening a coffin that was said to contain her husband’s body – and finding it empty. “Wagner recommended not to [open the coffin],” the user said. The mercenary group has recruited tens of thousands of prisoners to supplement its forces in Ukraine, according to Moscow-based prisoner rights group Russia Behind Bars. Wagner’s convict fighters are harshly treated, according to the Lloyd Austin urged allies to ‘dig deeper’ to help Ukraine’s war effort group’s own members. Former commander Andrey Medvedev claimed that several were executed at the front, and leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was recorded threatening prisoners with that fate. A leaked audio recording published last week purported to show a Wagner representative arranging the transport of bodies by commercial freight trucks. The high death toll and chaotic nature of the war have left families on both sides struggling to reclaim the remains of their loved ones. Some have taken to scouring media footage of fighting for their relatives. One Russian mother told the local branch of Radio Free Europe that she identified the body of her son from a photo of a cart filled with corpses. Poland has previously hinted that it could send their own Leopards even if Germany is opposed, but Berlin has veto power over any decision to export them.
24 NEWS COURTS PEOPLE Second inquest to be held into teenager’s death Pub shooting victim ‘was just getting going’ By Steve Robson NORTHERN REPORTER A second inquest will be held into the death of teenager Yousef Makki, who was stabbed by a fellow Manchester Grammar School pupil. The 17-year-old was knifed by Joshua Molnar during an argument in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, in 2019. Molnar was cleared of manslaughter and murder following a trial, claiming selfdefence, and a coroner later recorded a narrative conclusion at an inquest held in Stockport in 2021. The coroner, Alison Mutch, ruled that the “precise circumstances” of how Yousef, from Burnage in Manchester, died “cannot, on the balance of probabilities, be ascertained”. The Makki family’s legal team was granted a judicial review to challenge the ruling at the High Court. Yesterday, Lady Justice Macur and Mr Justice Fordham quashed the conclusions of the first inquest and ordered a fresh one to take place before a different coroner. Molnar (inset), now aged 21, served a 16-month detention and training order after admitting possession of a knife and lying to police over the stabbing. The son of a wealthy Cheshire family, he denied having lied about the circumstances of Yousef ’s death during the inquest. Molnar told jurors that Yousef had pulled out a knife and threatened him. The Makki family’s legal team had urged Ms Mutch to record a conclusion of unlawful killing. Yousef won a scholarship to attend Manchester Grammar School, By Pat Hurst Yousef Makki, from Burnage in Manchester, was 17 when he died after being stabbed by Joshua Molnar, who was cleared of murder and manslaughter PA and his family maintain that he had taken the role of “peacemaker” in the dispute that erupted on the night of 2 March 2019. In their ruling, the High Court judges said that the coroner’s inquiry was “insufficiently distilled” and lacking some explanation as to how she reached her conclusions. They said the coroner’s “generic reference to her consideration of the ‘totality’ of the evidence is inadequate to convey that she did ‘strive’ to reach a conclusion upon the evidence. If she did so but was left profoundly unsure, then she did not explain why.” A date for the new inquest has yet to be announced. Jade Akoum, Yousef’s older sister, said: “We are very grateful to the judges for recognising that the coroner’s conclusion was unlawful, and for the compassion and understanding that they showed us during the judicial review hearing.” A grieving father whose daughter was shot dead in a Merseyside pub while celebrating on Christmas Eve said her life was only just beginning. Tim Edwards said he hopes a foundation in the name of his daughter, Elle Edwards, 26, can be set up to combat gun violence. Edwards (inset) was shot while out celebrating Christmas Eve with friends, when a gunman opened fire on the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, on the Wirral. She was not believed to have been the target. In his first interview since her death, Mr Edwards told Sky News that the beautician and dental nurse “had a heart of gold”. “She was beautiful-looking and she was a great hugger,” he said. “She was just a fantastic human being.” He said the “hardest part” was that his daughter’s life had been cut short. “She was just getting going,” he said.
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 25 UNITED STATES AUSTRALIA Filmmaking changed forever by death on ‘Rust’ set, say experts Record-breaking ‘Toadzilla’ found in rainforest By Andrew Dalton Film production and firearms experts have said that movie sets probably changed permanently when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed on the remote New Mexico set of the western Rust 15 months ago. Prosecutors announced on Thursday that Alec Baldwin and the film’s weapons supervisor will be charged with involuntary manslaughter later this month. “The gun safety experience on set has become more vocal, it’s a lot louder,” said Joey Dillon, an armourer who has overseen the use of firearms on television shows including Westworld and movies including The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. “I make it a lot louder myself.” Mr Baldwin was pointing the gun with a live round inside that killed Ms Hutchins (inset) as they set up a shot for an upcoming scene on 21 October 2021. People at various levels of production are determined to ensure that such an incident never happens again. That has meant the increasing use of digital and other technology that could make gunfire of any kind obsolete on set. It has also meant more simple things, like shouting when using the same safety protocols long in place to make clear to everyone when a gun is present and what its status is. Actors and others are now more interested when the gun is handed over. “Now people want to check because people are a little gun-shy,” Mr Dillon said. “I’ll stop the whole process just to show them so that they feel comfortable with it.” While checking a gun themselves may be in the best interest of actors, how much responsibility they bear for doing so remains in dispute, and will be a central question for jurors should Mr Baldwin’s case go to trial. By James Redmayne Kylee Gray was on patrol in Queensland when she found the 2.7kg cane toad AP Australian park rangers believe that they have stumbled upon a record-breaking giant toad deep in a rainforest. Dubbed “Toadzilla”, the cane toad – an invasive species that poses a threat to Australia’s ecosystem – was spotted by “shocked” park ranger Kylee Gray during a patrol in Conway National Park in Queensland state on 12 January. Ms Gray and her colleagues caught the animal and brought it back to their office, where it weighed in at a 2.7kg (6lbs). Guinness World Records lists the largest toad at 2.65kg, a 1991 record set by a Swedish pet. “We considered naming her Connie after Conway National Park, but Toadzilla was the one that just kept getting thrown out there, so that kind of stuck,” Ms Gray told the state broadcaster ABC yesterday. The animal was euthanised due to its ecological impact – the usual fate for the toads across Australia. REUTERS

Paul Waugh on digital-era pensioners p29 l Charlene White on ‘Love Island’ host Maya Jama p31 opinion GUEST COLUMNIST – DAN WALKER Why I left BBC ‘Breakfast’, one of the best jobs in television T here are times in your life when you look back on a decision you made and say: “What was I thinking?” When I was first offered the Breakfast job, I turned it down. I can’t really tell you why. Perhaps the prospect of trying to fill Bill Turnbull’s incredibly significant “slippers” daunted me, even then. I said “no” a second time before eventually realising what a wonderful opportunity it was. In his kindness, the rather special man who made the sofa his own for 15 years called me before I started the new gig. He was so very helpful. “You’ll be brilliant,” he said calmly, in those reassuring Turnbull tones. “The one piece of advice I would give you is make sure you manage your sleep.” I thanked him – and then completely ignored his wise counsel. Bill would always nap during the day and tried to go to bed at a sensible hour. During my six-and-a-half years on Breakfast I operated on about four hours’ kip. Not ideal, but the joy of the job kept me going. Just as soon as I started at Breakfast, I realised just how big a gig it was. There is something wonderfully intimate about being on television at that time of the day, on a programme that people trust. Viewers are waking up, they are sharing their first cup of coffee with you, they are getting ready for work, getting the kids ready for school, and they are – as I was often told – in their underpants. Louise Minchin and I would always talk to the audience like they were friends or members of the family. We could laugh along with them when Dan Walker enjoys a light-hearted moment on the ‘Breakfast’ sofa with co-presenter Louise Minchin Where we sat on the sofa could become front-page news. But the benefits of being involved in a show with so much history and such a big, loyal audience far outweigh the negatives and the 3am alarm calls. Every day, people would stop me in the street to talk about the programme. They would ask how Louise was, or what Carol Kirkwood was up to. They would tell me how much they enjoyed watching Sally Nugent become the new presenter once Louise moved on. People talk to me about Strictly Come Dancing and my new job on Channel 5 but it’s Breakfast, and what happened on that sofa, that resonates more than anything else. The other thing that makes Breakfast special is the people who work on it. I things were funny, be outraged at injustice together and hold their hands or put our arms around them before breaking bad news. I will never forget being on air the morning after the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. Louise was at the scene and I was alone in the studio. No autocue, no script and – when we went on air – no idea how many people had lost their lives. You have to be accurate, fair, kind, understanding at times like that – and treat your audience with great care. Louise was brilliant at it. With such an important job, there is an understandable level of scrutiny. Each day you are accused of bias from all sides. Each day, you get people shouting at you for everything from politics to potholes to your pay packet. There is something intimate about being on TV at that time of the day still talk to some of the directors, floor managers, producers, editors, bookers, make-up artists and presenters. They all care so much about the show. My sleeping pattern was a doddle compared to the real sofa superstars. When I got into the office before 5am, the overnight team had been in since 9pm the previous evening. So, why leave one of the best jobs in telly? I had a wonderful time on the show and loved every minute but I didn’t want to become stale. I wanted a fresh challenge. Telling Sally that I was leaving was one of my toughest mornings. She is amazing and we remain great friends. It has been lovely to watch her be brilliant alongside her new TV husband, Jon Kay. I must be honest here – I do miss Carol Kirkwood. For me, she is Breakfast. Carol is the human embodiment of all that is brilliant about the show. She is kind, loving, caring, serious when she needs to be and funny when it’s called for. She always gets the tone right; you can throw anything at her – and she has the perfect balance of someone you trust and somebody who would be great fun on a night out (which I can confirm). The show has been waking up the nation for 40 years, and it is a great honour to be a part of that Breakfast family. As long as they hold on to gems like Carol, there will be many more birthdays to celebrate – and it will remain the most popular way to start the day. @mrdanwalker Louise Minchin writes for i on page 31 This week I have been... Watching... Standing at the Sky’s Edge at The Crucible in Sheffield. Mrs Walker got me tickets to the theatre for Christmas and this week we went to go and see the brilliant show. We had heard good things about it and it was epic. The award-winning British musical is a love letter to Sheffield and a window into the history of modern Britain through the eyes of three families who all share the same flat in a tower block over a period of 60 years. It’s all set to the music of local legend Richard Hawley (right) and it’s going to the National Theatre in February and March. I’ve also been binge-watching the second half of The Traitors. I don’t normally watch much reality television but I gobbled this up because I always loved Mafia – the game it’s based on. There were some brilliant characters in there like Wilf, Amanda, Maddy and Alex and it was genuinely compelling right up until the final act. Travelling... on the train, where I spend a lot of my life at the moment. So it was interesting to see the Prime Minister flying around the country talking about “levelling up” this week. I tweeted that it would be nice to see him getting around the north of England on the incredibly unreliable train service so that he could see just how frustrating it is. I was bombarded with messages from people in all parts of the country (except London) complaining about cancellations, costs and crummy service. Stretching... because I have been struggling with a dodgy back and knee for years. I finally decided to take some action. A brilliant friend suggested that I book some sessions with the former Team GB sprinter Julian Thomas. We haven’t lifted a single weight, but he has had me stretching all over the place working on hip mobility and trying to make my bum muscles fire more efficiently. I’m loving it and it has already made a difference but, if you hear me screaming like a banshee with my leg up in the air, or see me walking like a Thunderbird the next morning, blame Julian.
28 OPINION i@inews.co.uk @theipaper The i Paper Please include a contact address with all email correspondence The Opinion Matrix COMMENT FROM HOME AND ABROAD SUNAK’S PLANS FOR GROWTH CHANNEL VIDEO BAN LOW STAFF PAY IN PARLIAMENT TANKS FOR UKRAINE ‘BABYLON’ MOVIE RISKS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE Short-sighted policies kill enterprise Footage bar unlikely to stop crossings No thought for what Katy does next Britain finds a worthy cause for Challenger Hollywood flick will stir up lively debate Avoid walking through a field of cows Daily Mail The Guardian The Independent Daily Express Metro UK The Daily Telegraph The best way to level up is to turbocharge growth. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats. Yet, as leading entrepreneurs tell the Mail, the Government’s short-sighted policies – including eye-wateringly high taxes and suffocating regulations – are driving away business, investment and job creation. Yes, the Prime Minister is determined to get Britain’s finances on an even keel. But the less firms are saddled with punitive levies and red tape, the more enterprise flourishes – and the more revenue the Treasury receives. It’s not rocket science. Of course, the Tories will struggle to draft a coherent industrial strategy if they change prime ministers every two minutes. (Editorial) In a change to the Online Safety Bill, video footage that shows people crossing the Channel in “a positive light” will be added to the list of illegal content that all tech platforms must proactively prevent from reaching users. The Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said that posting positive videos of crossings could be aiding and abetting immigration offences. Those who oppose the Government on Channel crossings remain fearful that they could be implicated if they share footage that may call into question the policing of these crossings. The new clause in the Bill could make institutions less accountable. It is also extremely unlikely to stop the people smugglers. (Diane Taylor) Lee Anderson took it upon himself to share a picture of his research assistant, Katy, who gets by just fine on less than £30,000, working for him and renting a room in a London house-share. Naturally, we do not wish to be mean about young Katy. She has a tough enough life as it is, working for a very dim man who has drop-kicked her into an internet cesspit just to try and win an argument. But it genuinely doesn’t appear to have occurred to Anderson that not all people are the same. What if Katy gets pregnant and the dad goes AWOL, and maybe she doesn’t necessarily want to bring up a child in a single room in a house with her mates in London? (Tom Peck) The UK is to donate a number of our veteran heavy tank, the Challenger II, to Ukraine. Good. If this fearsome beast can crush anything Russian in its path, which it probably can, even better. Years ago, I was tasked with making a documentary on the Challenger, then a prototype. I formed the view that, if there were any roles in the Armed Forces I would prefer to avoid, it would be a tank crew member. They are incredibly claustrophobic. Today, even a soldieroperated, shoulder-borne missile-launcher can knock off a tank track at 1,000 yards and leave the monster a helpless pile of steel for the enemy to use as target practice. (Frederick Forsyth) Director Damien Chazelle’s latest movie, Babylon, an homage to the seedy underbelly of the Golden Age of Hollywood – featuring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie – was clearly designed to provoke its audience. But Chazelle must be commended for going all out in his depiction of the excesses and tragedies during a time of great turbulence for the American film industry as it transitioned from silent pictures to sound. The writer-director was keen to expose the brutality of a cut-throat business that could easily leave its brightest stars behind if they couldn’t hack it. The film is certainly going to strike up some heated debate. (Tori Brazier) When Posy Simmonds published her graphic novel Tamara Drewe in 2007, one plot detail baffled me: I thought it was rather far-fetched that Nick Hardiman was trampled to death by cows while walking his dog. But when I turned to Google to see if this kind of casualty ever occurred, I was put firmly in my place. One or two walkers die most years in this brutal fashion, as well as two to four agricultural workers. Yes, there is a very small but real risk attached to walking a dog through a field of cows at their most maternal and potentially aggressive. But an instinctive form of risk assessment is part and parcel of being an outdoors person. (Rowan Pelling) Life In Brief QUOTE OF THE DAY RONALD BLYTHE WRITER, ESSAYIST AND EDITOR I ask that people please respect my privacy at this difficult time Rob Brydon The comedian reacts to the news that Ken Bruce is leaving BBC Radio 2 When Ronald Blythe – the muchloved English writer who has died just two months after turning 100 – got up at 6am, he liked to sit and think for a while before heading into his study at around 9am. Perhaps that is why, as he reported on his 90th birthday, he had never suffered from writer’s block. Blythe’s most popular work by far was Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village, published in 1969. Though the place name was fictional, the book was based on conversations Blythe had with neighbours in the villages of Debach, where he lived, and Charsfield. While telling the story of three generations of a Suffolk community, Blythe captured how rural life was being changed by modernity. In 1974, his book was made into a film by Peter Hall, which attracted 15 million television viewers. When Hall had first asked Blythe about an adaptation, the writer refused because he did not see how it would all come together. Once he had thought it through, however, he was happy to oblige. Filming took a year because it had to fit around the farming calendar. Local people were used instead of actors and Blythe himself made a cameo appearance as a vicar. The talented writer of more than 30 books also dabbled in newspaper columns, non-fiction writing, short stories, novels and collections of essays, though it was the latter he most enjoyed putting together. For 20 years, he was the editor of Penguin Classics books. He served as a canon in the Church of England and as a lay reader who conducted services. His column for the Church Times, called “Word from Wormingford” took up his time from 1993 to 2017. These meditative reflections on literature, history, the Church of England and the natural world were subsequently collected together in books including A Parish Year (1998) and A Year at Bottengoms Farm (2006). Ronald Blythe was born the eldest of six children in Acton, Suffolk, on 6 November 1922 and educated at St Peter’s and St Gregory’s school in Sudbury. Generations of his ancestors were shepherds and farm workers. He told the Church Times that he had been a “quiet sort of boy” growing up and enjoyed cycling long distances to visit churches. He left school at 14 and after brief service during the Second World War worked as a reference librarian in Colchester, where he founded the Colchester Literary Society. He never lived with a partner. In 2012, he told fellow author Victoria Connelly: “I live alone and have never lived with anyone, but I’m never lonely at all.” Speaking about ageing to the Church Times, he said: “I see it more in terms of life ending — not in a miserable sense at all, but just coming to a close. And, also, you love life more and more, because it’s so beautiful. There’s so much to do.” In 2017, Blythe was appointed CBE for services to literature. Born 6 November 1922 Died 14 January 2023 Izin Akhabau
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 29 To purchase signed or unsigned Ben Jennings prints, visit benjennings.newsprints.co.uk Pensioners are an afterthought in a digital world My View Paul Waugh A fter months of disruption, there was a glimmer of hope this week that a new pay deal could bring an end to the strikes on our railways. But buried under the encouraging noises from train companies and unions came a hint that normal service will not ever be resumed. Although the Government has dropped a demand for driver-only operated trains, the “best and final offer” still includes proposals to close or “repurpose” every ticket office in England. Not a single one of the 980 train station ticket offices will continue as they do at the moment. In an attempt to save £500m a year, the ticket office windows will be permanently shuttered and replaced by vending machines. Most people will be expected to book online or use their smartphone or debit card to get through the electronic gates on to a platform. But while some younger people will barely raise an eyebrow at the change, for millions of elderly and disabled people, the closures may feel like a hammer blow. Three million people over 65 do not have internet access and many do not have smartphones. Moreover, elderly people often find vending machines (which are often touch-screen and hard to read) difficult to use, and prefer a human face over the counter to explain prices, journeys and travel updates. For some, the reforms may mean yet more isolation and loneliness. Ministers have hinted that ticket office staff will be redeployed to more multipurpose “roving” roles on station concourses. It remains to be seen how overstretched such staff become, but it is possible that they could sell paper tickets from a mobile machine, give travel advice and help people on and off trains. Most strikingly, the ticket office closure plans underline the dire digital divide between the old and the young that still exists in much of Britain today. And despite big claims that the Covid pandemic had got many more senior citizens online, studies have found that 42 per cent of over-75s do not use the internet. This underclass of digitally excluded people faces growing pressure as both public and private sectors dash to cut With each advance, there’s also a need to just pause and think about those who are not online costs by switching services online. And with banks closing cashpoints and some ticket office vending machines and shops becoming card-only, those pensioners who rely on cash are getting slowly squeezed out of daily activities that many take for granted. What shocked me most this week were new Age UK figures showing that nearly a third (31 per cent) of councils in London do not offer a way to apply for housing benefit or council tax rebates without using the internet – this during a cost of living crisis in which pensioners need every penny they can get. But there are also councils that do not ignore the elderly. Some of them employ actual real, live human beings to see people in person to discuss how to claim benefits and pension credits and to help them to fill in forms. Many prefer that to ringing a “hotline”. This vital need for offline choice needs to be recognised in government funding. It’s time, too, for a dedicated minister for older people to make sure those who do not use the internet are not forgotten. Many pensioners want to be more digitally empowered, but often lack the money or support to do so. Charities offer skills training, but why doesn’t the Department for Work and Pensions provide a network of digital inclusion IT experts? The money spent would surely be saved over the long run. Why don’t broadband firms offer cheap tariffs for poorer pensioners? For some pensioners during lockdown, lives were transformed by a simple-to-use video screen installed at home. How about a national scheme, similar to the one that gave free tablets to schoolchildren in the pandemic, to give more of these devices to older people in need? Of course, the march of the machines seems unstoppable in some areas. From supermarket self-service checkouts to GP video calls to airline check-ins on your phone, consumers and companies can benefit. But with each advance, there is also a need to just pause and think about those who are not online or smartphone-ready. And at a time when some politicians crassly try to pit the old against the young, we should remember that the pandemic lockdowns made millions in all age groups realise just how vital face-to-face activity really was. Just as young people have flocked to theatres, concerts and live events of all kinds for interactions “IRL” (in real life), older people want and deserve similar engagements. And if you put people first, the profits – politically and financially – will follow. Paul Waugh is i’s chief political commentator
30 OPINION i@inews.co.uk @theipaper @ Your View LETTERS, TWEETS AND EMAILS The i Paper Please include a contact address with all email correspondence Our farmers need support The comments in “Farmers are at crisis point” (i, 19 January) are rational and urgent. Other countries ensure that farmers are paid fairly and that supermarkets have to pay the cost of production. In the UK, regulators have overloaded small producers with costs, but other countries find ways to support their farmers. When there is no food choice left, it will be too late. PAUL GREGORY FELTHAM, WEST LONDON A leader worthy of respect I gasped when I read that Jacinda Ardern was resigning and I agree with Simon Kelner (Opinion, 20 January) that she was relatable, authentic and was someone to look up to. I always felt that what you saw was what you got and this made her different to other leaders. She wasn’t afraid to make the unpalatable decisions and her leaving the world’s political stage, will be a loss. JUDITH DANIELS GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK not going to stand for re-election. Could we not get her over here as she has always seemed to be on the ball? She is also compassionate, understanding and intelligent. STEFAN DIMIC GREAT ELLINGHAM, NORFOLK So, Jacinda Ardern is What a sad diatribe from Stuart Heritage on banning office cakes (i, 19 January). Obviously, guzzling cakes every day would not be wise, especially in a sedentary occupation, but as an occasional treat promoting a bit of civilised togetherness in an otherwise mundane office life then why not? Celebratory cake has helped me through 83 years so far and long may it continue to lighten our rather gloomy lives. MARTIN READ HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX Let the workers eat cake! Having gone from working in an NHS “no cake” environment to a hospital where we have a “gone in 60 seconds” shelf, awash with cakes, chocolates and biscuits, I got fatter and fatter, as did many of my colleagues. Every day was cake day. Let’s stand up to sugary tyranny and make it OK to say no. NAME SUPPLIED UK has the cash for services I have much empathy with the willingness of Sarah Our commitment Too many cakes at work can enlarge your waistline Playforth (Your View, 19 January) to pay more in tax for better services. Sadly, however, the promise to direct extra funds towards improving specific areas is often ignored. Good-quality services are solely reliant on the Government’s will to fund them. DAVID PRESCOTT CARNFORTH, LANCASHIRE Do we really need inquiry? Here we go again – another prime minister not following the rules. How terrible of Rishi Sunak for not wearing his seat belt. There will now need to be a full investigation. Hours and hours of valuable time will be wasted investigating just how this error took place. LESLEY SKORUPKA BOOSBECK, NORTH YORKSHIRE ​ e take very seriously our responsibility to W maintain high editorial standards, and are grateful to readers for pointing out any errors. ​​i adheres to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) code of practice. If you wish to complain about our editorial coverage, especially with relation to inaccuracy or intrusion, please write to The Editor, i, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY, or email reader@inews.co.uk. You can contact Ipso directly at Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG, telephone 0300 123 2220, or by email on inquiries@ipso.co.uk. Bin the tea bags for better brew I could not agree more with Bob Johnson regarding leaf tea and its superiority to tea bags (Your View, 19 January). For Christmas, my wife bought me both “Winter tea” and “Xmas tea” in leaf form. Each is utterly delightful and far better than tea bags, which are certainly inferior. IAN DUCKWORTH PRESTON, LANCASHIRE Bob Johnson would not have been impressed by a mug I saw for sale a couple of years ago. On one side was printed “How to make the perfect cup of tea”. On the other a list of what to do: 1) Put freshly drawn water in kettle and put on to boil; 2) Place tea bag in cup. Needless to say, the mug was put back on the shelf. JOHN SAUNDERS POOLE, DORSET iQuiz answers (from p2) 1. Robert Southey 2. Coccyx 3. Manchester 4. Anchor (right) 5. Alaska 6. Z and C 7. Shelving 8. Benedict Cumberbatch 9. The Oxford comma 10. Nissan TRAVEL IN MONDAY’S Healing scars After decades of strife, Sri Lanka’s Hindu Northern Province is waiting to be discovered
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 31 CHARLENE WHITE There’s no one else out there like Maya – trust me, I’ve met her T here are a lot of you who are only very recent members of the Maya Jama fan club – but there are many of us who have been watching her brilliance, brains and beauty for quite some time. I first met Maya back in 2016. It was my first time presenting a Mobo award, and the entire Black British music industry was in Glasgow to celebrate the best of the best. It was a daunting experience, and my head was filled with panicked thoughts of tripping up on stage or falling flat on my face on national television. The ceremony itself was great. I didn’t trip up on stage (thank God), my co-presenter forgot my name and I had a bit of a boogie with my table-mate Sir Lenny Henry. But weirdly, one of the things that has stayed in my mind all these years is meeting Maya backstage. I had worked at a Black music radio station so the artists and their entourage didn’t really faze me. It was the magnitude of being in that space with so many talented people I admired which possibly made me quieter than normal – especially in the “green room”. I had been at ITV News for a number of years by that point, too, so I was more well-known as the “serious” news lady – so I felt slightly out of place around achingly cool music folk. And in the midst of all of that, it was Maya who made the effort to talk to me across the room as she checked her make-up in the mirror. I cannot for the life of me remember what she said, but she put me at ease and made me feel less awkward and out of place. She shined in that room and I mean seriously GLOWED. She just lit up what was a dark, chilly space without even trying. She was simply fabulous. And what I cannot believe is that it has taken this long for her to become a household name, through Love Island. It’s a big thing to have a non-white host for one Black women are rarely given the chance to shine in this way, on the big primetime show Maya Jama made her entrance as the new host of ‘Love Island’ on Monday ITV of the country’s biggest television programmes – and Maya does it with style and grace. And I’m here for it. All. Day. Long. Do you know how many times her slow-mo Love Island entrance shots have popped up on my timeline in the past week? My gosh. It’s a beautiful thing to see, for so many reasons. Black women are rarely given the chance to shine in this way, on the big primetime show. It has been long overdue, and those who have watched her over the years know that Maya is most definitely the one to buck that trend. Before the opening episode, I suspect that many viewers knew of her only as Stormzy’s former girlfriend – as opposed to a clever businesswoman who is very much a star in her own right. And then there were those like me, rolling our eyes at the lateness with which many people have come to the Jama party. And can we talk about the outfits? For many of us, it came as no surprise that Maya chose a Black British independent designer, Sierra Ndagire, for her first outfit. Maya is a woman who is all about the culture and bringing others with her as her star rises. Within the Black community, that means a lot. It was almost a nod to “yes I’m doing the big shows, but I remember who got me here”. Black Twitter noticed and tipped its hat in appreciation. In Monday’s opening episode of the new series of Love Island, what I saw was the same Maya who had made me feel at ease all those years ago. Though our paths briefly crossed at the National Television Awards last year, I doubt she will remember that the quiet girl in the corner of the Mobo green room way back in 2016 was me. And she will probably never know that her kind words that night helped to calm my nerves. But the fact that millions of others now get to see that in the villa is pretty bloody awesome. @CharleneWhite Banning wild camping would be a devastating loss to us and the countryside Louise Minchin W hen I stumbled out of my tent in the middle of the night beneath a riot of stars pressing down from the coal-dark sky above me, I knew that I was lucky. Lucky to be in the middle of nowhere without the slightest hint of an orange smudge on the horizon, the tell-tale sign of light pollution, which meant that I could see the sparkling constellations above me in all their unadulterated glory. There are very few places in the world that I have been able to do that, but this time I wasn’t in the middle of a Namibian desert or a Patagonian mountain range, but in the South West of England. I was wild camping on Dartmoor. Had I known then that the privilege of pitching my tent and making my home for the night on the scrubby heath land could possibly be taken away from all of us, I would have made sure to take a few more deep breaths of that freezing air before I snuggled back into my sleeping bag. Last week, one of the moor’s largest landowners won a case in the High Court by arguing that legally, despite what many presumed, there was actually no right to camp in the national park. For a short time, wild camping was illegal, and it looked likely that I could have been one of the last people allowed to spend a chilly night under the stars there. This week, however, Dartmoor National Park said it had done a deal which means that those who want to will be able to camp for the time being, and in return the landowners will be paid for permissive access. That agreement will last for only 12 months and the fee is likely to have to come out of the public purse. What happens after that is unclear, and it may not continue. The final outcome matters. Until last week, Dartmoor was thought to be the last place in England or Wales where there was a presumed right to wild camp overnight, and to lose that would be a huge loss to all of us. I am not alone in having my life shaped by wild camping on Dartmoor. The long-held tradition of spending the night exposed to the elements, getting lost in the marshes and traipsing for hours, The national park has done a deal which means that those who want to will be able to camp – for now GETTY I could have been one of the last people allowed to spend a chilly night under the stars there head bowed against the wind and rain, has been a rite of passage for many thousands of teenagers and young adults who have taken part in either the Ten Tors Challenge or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Many of them will have had their first experience of the outdoors there, their first real taste of independence. When they step out of the national park, they will have learnt invaluable life skills about teamwork, resilience, determination and self-confidence which will for ever be part of their DNA and help steer to the course of their lives. The ability to wild camp on Dartmoor is a precious resource – and one that we should make sure we guard. Louise Minchin is a TV presenter @ louiseminchin
32 OPINION i@inews.co.uk @theipaper The i Paper Please include a contact address with all email correspondence PATRICK COCKBURN Why has rape effectively become decriminalised? R ape is effectively decriminalised in England and Wales today since perpetrators face only a minimal chance of punishment. An estimated one in five cases of rape is reported to the police, of which 10 per cent are sent on to the Crown Prosecution Service, which brings half of them to trial. Since a further half of these prosecutions fail, this means that out of an estimated 335,000 rapes, only 1,400 end up with the perpetrator found guilty. Spelling this out, the shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, told Parliament last year: “Today, in England and Wales, an estimated 300 women will be raped. About 170 of those cases will be reported to the police, but only three are likely to make it to a court of law, never mind the jail cell. Just think what that means.” In fact, the rape crisis is even worse than she described because her figure for the proportion of women reporting rape looks far too high. All attention is currently focused on David Carrick, the Metropolitan Police officer who confessed to carrying out multiple rapes while escaping detection over two decades, despite numerous complaints against him. The toleration of his sexual violence by his commanders and colleagues has discredited the Met and could even be its death knell. Its toxic behaviour has a long history: Almost my first journalistic assignment was reporting a case in the 1970s in which a senior Met detective was accused of working with a drugs gang. Focus at that time was on Met corruption, while it is now on rape and murder carried out by officers confident that complaints against them would be disbelieved. Public presumption of Met innocence has vanished, but its institutional strength and solidarity has enabled it to resist all attempts at reform. It has survived a deluge of critical reports over the years, even as its reputation has sunk lower and lower until it is permanently tainted. Perception of the Met has been transformed from largely unreserved confidence to automatic suspicion and wariness. Trust, once lost, will not easily return. Something similar happened to the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland – another institution in which many once had absolute confidence – but its reputation never recovered from a series of scandals in which priests were exposed as sexual predators whose victims the Church had repeatedly failed to protect. Probably, the best solution would be to break up the unreformable Met into several smaller divisions, so it could no longer act like an independent republic with its own norms. This idea is Police officer numbers have fallen by 7,000 since 2015, but ministers’ ideological fixation on ‘the small state’ has also inflicted deep wounds on the justice system DINENDRA HARIA/ SOPA IMAGES/ LIGHTROCKET/GETTY Rape is one of many serious crimes where the perpetrator knows that he is almost certainly going to get away with it proposed by John Fox, a former senior detective who is now a senior lecturer in police studies at the University of Portsmouth. “Part of the challenge may be the Met’s size,” Fox writes in The Conversation, an online publication specialising in expert analysis of important issues. “It is four times larger than any other UK police force and perhaps the deep-rooted culture of misogyny is just impossible for senior leaders to eradicate. It is time to seriously ask why the Met should not be broken up into a few manageable forces, mirroring every other English force.” Yet when it comes to the criminal justice system’s inability to punish rape, the failings of the Met are a minor contributor. Its blackened reputation may deter victims from reporting rapes in the first place, but at the heart of the failure over rape is the breakdown of criminal justice in general and that, in turn, is but one of the many symptoms of the run-down and degeneration of the British state. Rape is one of many serious crimes where the perpetrator knows that he is almost certainly going to get away with it. In the speech cited above, Cooper pointed out that no charges were made within a year of an offence being committed in 93 per cent of reported robberies, 95 per cent of violent offences, 96 per cent of thefts, 97 per cent of sexual offences, more than 98 per cent of reported rapes and more than 99 per cent of frauds. She quoted one police officer as saying to her: “This is awful – it feels like once serious offences are effectively being decriminalised.” Reasons for this include police numbers falling by 7,000 since 2015, but government ideological fixation on “the small state” has also inflicted deep wounds on the criminal justice system as a whole. Out of 320 magistrates’ courts in England and Wales in 2010, no fewer than 164 – or 51 per cent – were closed, contributing to a backlog of 386,000 cases. Every serious case begins with a brief hearing in a magistrates’ court, so this halving of their number has contributed to a backlog of 58,000 trials in crown courts, including many rape cases. The most convincing evidence-based account I have read about the rape crisis is another study by John Fox, also published in The Conversation, titled “Why do so many men get away with rape?” Using interviews with police officers, victims, prosecutors and lawyers, it explains the legal and practical obstacles to a successful rape prosecution – difficulties exacerbated by the severity of government cuts in manpower and resources. Prioritising what resources remain available inevitably favours dealing with emergencies first, diverting them from so-called “volume” crime such as burglary. “This in turn means many officers have become generally deskilled at criminal investigation,” says Fox. “A detective inspector complained to me: ‘I have people joining my team from uniform who have never been to court and never taken a case through from start to finish’.” He quotes a detective sergeant’s account of one consequence of the lack of trained manpower: “If a response officer arrests someone, they just do a verbal handover to a detective sergeant. They never investigate anything because they are so short-staffed on the shift, and are just going from job to job. There is a general lowering of investigation standards – as a workforce, we are completely deskilled.” Moreover, prioritisation means that a crime like rape, which takes time and expertise to investigate, drops down the queue since the police know that, however great the effort they put in, they are unlikely to get a guilty verdict. The many police officers taking early retirement speak of demoralisation, unfair promotion prospects and a lack of leadership at all levels. The latter failing goes right up to the top of government when it comes to helping rape victims who do report what has happened to them. In May last year, the then attorney-general Suella Braverman, now Home Secretary, issued a directive restating that, if a rape victim resorts to counselling before a criminal trial, then any notes of the session might be examined by a police officer and possibly handed over to the defence. The practical decriminalisation of rape and other crimes can only get worse because the structural damage to British criminal justice caused by cuts over a dozen years is too great for swift repair. Subscribe now to his exclusive newsletter Patrick Cockburn’s Dispatches Expert analysis on world news inews.co.uk/sign-up
NEWS NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 33 UNITED STATES Harvard job offer to Israel critic reversed By Kieron Monks Yosemite’s winter vista Water flows from Bridalveil Fall (right) as recent snowfall on trees in the valley of California’s Yosemite National Park melt and clouds clear from the last of a series of atmospheric river storms to hit the region. MARIO TAMA/GETTY Harvard University has reversed a decision to withdraw a job offer to former Human Rights Watch (HRW) director Ken Roth, allegedly due to the organisation’s criticism of Israel. After facing a backlash from staff, students and civil rights groups, Kennedy School dean Douglas Elmendorf said he had “made an error” and the offer of a prestigious fellowship at the Carr Centre for Human Rights to Mr Roth had been reinstated. Mr Elmendorf did not dispute a claim by a colleague that his reason for blocking the appointment was “anti-Israel bias” at HRW. But he denied allegations that the move was intended to appease pro-Israel donors. Students and faculty members had signed a letter calling the original decision “shameful”. The American Civil Liberties Union said it was “profoundly troubling”. Mr Roth, who is one of the most prominent figures within the field, told i that he intended to accept the offer but hoped Mr Elmendorf would be “more transparent” about the reasons for the veto.
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NEWS NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 FOCUS ‘I would talk to Shamima Begum’ The first Muslim woman to host a UK-wide weekly news podcast is looking forward to offering new perspectives. By Adam Sherwin “I find it intriguing that just because I’m a Muslim woman, I get asked by the media to give my opinion about a terrorist attack. Why should I have a view?” asks Shelina Janmohamed. The award-winning ad executive, who wrote a bestselling book about growing up as a British Muslim woman, has just landed a job heading a national news podcast, and believes that existing news coverage has a problem. “All the commentators you see on the news are from the same bubble,” says the author, named one of Britain’s 100 most influential women by the BBC. “They leave me shouting at the TV. The perspective and experiences of young Muslim women and other groups are missing from the limited range of voices on air. Muslim women are talked about in the news but never allowed to tell their stories.” It is a deficit that the mother of two hopes to fill with The Shelina Show, the first UK-wide weekly news podcast fronted by a Muslim woman. Body image, poverty and Andrew Tate come up for debate in the opening edition of a series which the presenter believes is “ground-breaking”. “We don’t have Asian representation across the British media,” she says. “That is why the Muslim population is portrayed as something to be feared. If you dehumanise and stereotype a population, that isn’t going to encourage society to move forward.” Janmohamed says she is prepared to tackle the most controversial subjects, but wants to do so in a different way. She would be prepared to have Shamima Begum (inset), who left Britain to join Isis as a schoolgirl in 2015, as a guest on her podcast – but she might take a different line of questioning. “It’s a big debate about whether she should have been stripped of her citizenship but I’m interested in unheard perspectives,” Janmohamed says. “It never really comes up that she had three children and they all died in quick succession. When she was being detained for interview, she was in postpartum depression. We need to have a conversation about terrorism – but that conversation got completely missed.” Begum’s radicalisation and her treatment by the British authorities should be used to spark a discussion about “how children from minority and Muslim women are talked about in the news – but not allowed to tell their stories Shelina Janmohamed has been named one of Britain’s 100 most influential women by the BBC ethnic groups get treated as adults much earlier”, says Janmohamed, who was brought up in London, studied at Oxford University and charted her 10-year quest to find a husband through the arranged marriage process in her memoir, Love in a Headscarf. Her podcast, launching this week, promises an in-depth discussion of the week’s events, with a diverse range of guests including topical comedian Ahir Shah and historian Dan Snow. Janmohamed, vice president at advertising firm Ogilvy, will also tackle Islamophobia in Britain – from her own perspective The untapped “Muslim pound” is another passion for the 48-year-old who has written about the growing global influence of young Muslims in her book Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World. Through her work at Ogilvy, she has been working with the world’s largest brands to engage with Muslim audiences. “More than half the UK Muslim population was born here; they have a real sense of Britishness,” she says. “So ‘othering’ and dehumanising them is very toxic and unhelpful to society. You’ve got four million Muslims in Britain spending £20bn, with £200m of that at Ramadan alone. But we just don’t see them catered for.” Those numbers clearly impressed commercial audio company Global, which offered Janmohamed a podcast to help them access a hard-to-reach audience. “Different perspectives SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 35 can help connect that audience to those setting the news and policy agenda,” she says. A board member of Impress, the independent press regulator which oversees around 200 publications, she says she understands why many young people believe that newspaper coverage of Meghan Markle has been “racist.” “People can draw their own conclusions from the different treatment of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan,” says the author, who published a biography of tennis star Serena Williams for children. “What was interesting to me was when Oprah Winfrey interviewed Meghan, you had a black woman owning her own platform talking to a biracial woman. It’s a shift in the balance of power.” A sought-after commentator on Muslim social and cultural trends, Janmohamed has suffered “implied” racism herself. “As soon as I walked into one job interview, I saw the guy’s face fall. The interview lasted five minutes. The feedback was that I was ‘too weak’. He could tell that in five minutes? Or I got told I spoke English ‘very well’ and was very articulate.” She sees Rishi Sunak’s elevation to Prime Minister as a “historic moment, whatever you think of his politics”. “People from South Asian backgrounds were trying to ‘claim’ him. But his ethnicity was little remarked upon and we moved on – I am still not sure if we should have noted it more.” Janmohamed admits to being a little starstruck at being handed a high-profile show at Global, where she shares a stable with Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel’s The News Agents podcast, as well as Andrew Marr and James O’Brien. “What’s important is that this is a show that just happens to be fronted by a Muslim woman,” she says. “It’s not a ‘Muslim show’. I want to look at issues like poverty, and my generation having to care for their parents, with depth and nuance. I’m not interested in getting involved in a culture war or soundbites and polemics. “But it’s true that I can’t think of another Muslim woman who has been given this kind of weekly platform.” The Shelina Show will be available on Global Player and other podcast platforms with new episodes every Wednesday News in brief PEOPLE TELEVISION Wife marks Meat Loaf anniversary ‘Harry & Meghan’ takes No 2 spot at Netflix The wife of late US rocker Meat Loaf said yesterday that she wishes she could “rewind the clock and have you back beside me”, as she marked the first anniversary of his death. The musician died aged 74 on 20 January last year, with his wife Deborah and daughters Pearl and Amanda by his side. Netflix has announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recent series is its second-highest ranked documentary, behind true-crime programme The Tinder Swindler. Harry & Meghan (inset) was released on 8 December, with damaging claims levelled at the Royal Family throughout its six episodes. Netflix reported its fourth quarter earnings this week, noting a gain of 7.7 million subscribers during the OctoberDecember period. As defined by cumulative view hours in the first 28 days, it also reported that Wednesday was its third most popular series, followed by Glass Onion. SPAIN NATURE Footballer Alves on sex attack charges Rare horses help in shifting estate logs Brazilian footballer Dani Alves appeared before a judge in Barcelona yesterday over a sexual assault allegation. Prosecutors requested that the former Barcelona player, 39, be detained without bail pending trial. He denies he touched a woman under her underwear without her consent at a nightclub. REUTERS Two rare breed horses are helping to drag pine logs clear of a plantation at a National Trust estate so that a wider variety of trees can be planted. The hooves of the Suffolk Punch and the Ardennes Comtois cross will cause minimal damage to soil at the Oxburgh Estate in Norfolk, the National Trust said.
36 NEWS IN DEPTH Red meat bad for you? What a carve-up! Scientific attacks on carnivorous diets may not stack up. Stuart Ritchie reports C anadian psychologist Jordan Peterson only eats meat. In several interviews he has claimed to have cut all other foods out of his diet, surviving on only beef steaks, salt and water. Most of us can probably agree that Peterson’s meat-only diet – which is, perhaps worryingly, gaining in popularity online – is a little extreme. But many would go much further, arguing that, for health reasons, almost all of the carnivores among us should be cutting down on the amount of meat – specifically red and processed meat – we eat. The NHS website advises readers to cut their red meat consumption down to 70g or less per day. The UK Government’s healthy eating guidelines agree. This guidance is based on a lot of research: huge studies, sometimes including millions of people, have investigated the links between eating red and processed meat and a variety of different health complaints. Over time, the results from these studies have been put together in meta-analyses – the type of review study that synthesises the available evidence on a certain scientific question – and become a consensus: eating red meat is bad for your health. But in recent years, this consensus has been shaken. Studies began to appear that cast doubt on the quality of whole reams of studies – and the dietary advice taken from them. In 2019, a series of review papers was published in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine that raised major questions about the link between red meat and health. Three of the studies reviewed all of the available evidence on the links between red meat and cancer, heart disease and death, and concluded that, despite the sheer number of studies, the state of the evidence was very poor. That’s mainly because of “confounding”, the major scientific problem that bedevils nutritional research. In an observational study, where you ask people about their diets, then later check their health, it is easy to assume that the diet must have caused the disease. But there could be a third factor causing both. For example, if living in poverty affects the amount of meat people eat (as we know it does) as well as their health (perhaps from working more dangerous jobs, or living in more polluted parts of CONSUMER Farmers sack off potatoes as bills rise By Lucie Heath It is an essential British food – a key component of national dishes like fish and chips and the Sunday roast. But there are worrying signs that the UK’s farmers are starting to turn their backs on the potato, leading to predictions of higher prices and shortages for the consumer. Many farmers have already taken the decision to reduce the amount of land they will devote to Britain’s favourite vegetable when planting starts in spring this year. And some are abandoning potatoes entirely. Cedric Porter, managing editor of World Potato Markets, estimates there will be a 10 per cent reduction in the land being used to grow potatoes in 2023 – which could lead to a 10 per cent reduction in the harvest come October. This comes on top of a “historically low” harvest in 2022, which Mr Porter said was caused both by farm-
NEWS 2-41 town), then poverty, not diet, might be the relevant factor. Almost every study ever done on red meat and health has been observational. The reviews noted that large numbers of them don’t even try to take confounding factors such as poverty (or other diseases people have, or whether they smoke) into account. And these were far from the only problems faced by the studies. Most controversially of all, in a final Annals of Internal Medicine paper, a panel of researchers took these reviews and made their own Subscribe now to his exclusive newsletter Science fictions Good writing about bad science, from our expert correspondent Stuart Ritchie inews.co.uk/sign-up ers planting less of the crop and a summer drought. He expects prices soon to rise by more than 10 per cent because of the problems. “It’s a combination of high costs and not high enough prices for the farmers themselves,” he said, explaining why farmers are abandoning the root vegetable. National Farmers Union (NFU) research has found the cost of producing a potato increased by 20 per cent between 2021 and 2022. Energy costs were up 165 per cent, fertiliser 40 per cent and workforce costs up 13 per cent. For farmer Fiona Smith, a partner at Westerton Farmers – a 900-acre farm in Aberdeenshire that has been growing 100 acres of the vegetable a year – said rising energy costs are “a OPINION 27-32 recommendations. After considering the quality of the evidence, they said, the only advice they could give was for people to carry on eating as much red meat as they were before. All those studies had produced a body of evidence worth little more than a big shrug. This led to fireworks. Scientists urged the journal not to publish the guidelines, claiming they might endanger public health. Harvard published a response calling the guidelines an “irresponsible” intervention from a “self-appointed panel”, “tantamount to promoting meat consumption”. Even as the reviews criticised the previous studies, the Harvard response said, they had made their own scientific slip-ups and failures. Despite their efforts, they had failed to move the scientific consensus. After a few pandemic years in which the epidemiology of infectious diseases – not diets – took centre stage, the debate over red meat has returned. Towards the end of 2022, a study appeared in the journal Nature Medicine from University of Washington researchers that once again cast doubt on previous big part of the jigsaw that makes it less attractive to grow potatoes”. The farm has decided not to plant any “ware potatoes” – those destined to be sold in shops and eaten – at all in 2023. Ms Smith said the decision was made after the farm’s electricity bill increased by 500 per cent. While potatoes are the only crop the farm will stop growing this year, Ms Smith said her “entire business is impacted” by rising bills. “The electricity bill for our farm shop alone has gone up £800 per month,” she said. “We have had so many hurdles in the past while – fuel crisis, fertiliser price hike, labour shortages – it’s tough.” Charlie Browne, a farmer based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, also cites rising energy costs when explaining LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 Many of the analyses in these scientific papers are seriously misleading Fiona Smith will not plant potatoes why his farm is reducing its potato growing area by 30 per cent. Farmers are being sheltered from some of the impact of energy costs due to the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme, but it is set to become less generous from March. TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 37 red meat research. Their major innovation was a complicated statistical method that considers the differences between the studies. Studies come in all shapes and sizes: not only are some bigger than others, but they include different age groups, are in different parts of the world where “red meat” might mean pork, beef, or something else; and they sometimes use different criteria for diagnosing disease. As we have seen, studies also vary dramatically in quality. Dealing with all this variation is tricky, but the Washington researchers argued that it should all make us less certain about the overall findings. In their analysis, they found that red meat was associated with a slight increase in colorectal cancer (a 6 per cent increase between those eating no meat and those eating up to 98g per day), breast cancer (a 3 per cent increase), heart disease (1 per cent) and diabetes (also 1 per cent), but that the extra uncertainty meant they couldn’t draw any stronger conclusions. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard, disagrees. He argues that the new method improperly “inflates” the uncertainty around the studies. He points to another study by the Washington researchers, using the same methods, on the effects of smoking. Even there, some very wellestablished causal associations (such as the fact smoking causes heart disease) were only tagged as having “moderate” evidence. “Many of the analyses in their papers”, he says, “are seriously misleading.” So how can good-faith researchers have such fundamental disagreements about what all these data show? One reason is that nutritional research is hard: we have seen some of the problems encountered when trying to pin down the causal effect of this food or that. It is easy to find a dataset and publish yet another low-quality observational study. It is extremely difficult to do a randomised controlled trial – the gold-standard kind of study, normally used for drugs – with people’s diets (for one thing, it is tough to get them to stick to any dietary change for a long enough time). No specific red meat-reduction trials have ever been done, but some studies that inadvertently reduced red meat as part of low-fat diets tend not to show much of an effect on health. Another reason for the confusion is that interpreting this research involves an uncomfortably high degree of subjectivity. In many cases, scientists on opposing sides are looking at the same results and coming to opposing conclusions. On top of disagreements about statistics, they bring in their personal views on what they would choose to eat, their moral views about killing animals and their environmental views on the impact of livestock farming. The uncertainty among scientists leaves the door wide open for potentially dangerous health fads like Jordan Peterson’s 100 per cent meat diet. “A lot of horticulture depends on being able to store produce in a chilled way and that does use a lot of energy,” explained Rupert Weaver, NFU horticulture adviser. “That’s going to be a really big concern.” Despite the rising costs associated with growing potatoes, supermarkets have been reluctant to pay higher prices for the vegetable. “The open market price of potatoes at the moment is about the same as it was a year ago,” said Mr Porter. By comparison, crops such as wheat saw a big increase in prices last year to correspond with rising production costs, making it a more attractive option to farmers. But the era of the cheap supermarket British potato might soon be over. Mr Porter predicts we will see a 10 per cent increase in the cost of potatoes over the coming months as the supply from last year’s harvest starts to run out. Prices are likely to rise even higher from October if the potato harvest is smaller than last year’s, he added. “We will certainly see higher prices and perhaps less choice,” Mr Porter said, adding that there could also be shortages later in the year. Meanwhile, farmers suggest the potato decline could be part of a longer-term trend. Mr Browne said his farm will stop growing potatoes entirely in 2024 if prices do not rise. Ms Smith agrees, adding: “There’s so many factors that would need to change in order for it all to go back to how it was working four years ago.” Fussy eaters Why nutritional research is so difficult As well as the problem of “confounding”, there are many other elephant-traps for scientists who do nutritional research. Here are just three: RECALL BIAS: Can you remember exactly what you had for lunch yesterday – or, say, last Tuesday? Asking people to fill in food questionnaires from memory is always going to come with a lot of uncertainty. SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS: Even in an anonymous food questionnaire, it’s not “socially desirable” to tell researchers that you’ve eaten very unhealthily – and this might distort people’s answers. REPLACEMENT: Even if you run an intervention that successfully gets people to cut down on meat-eating, what do they replace it with? If they eat more green vegetables, you might see benefits to their health. But if they replace the meat with carb-heavy snacks, they might end up worse off. This is also a problem in observational research, where you have to ask what foods people are eating in place of meat.
PUZZLES INQUISITOR The country’s best barred crossword PAGE 56 38 NEWS Analysis Peru fractures across racial lines as it nears meltdown Michael Day CHIEF FOREIGN COMMENTATOR T he insurrection attempted by Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters in Brazil may have captured international headlines, but Latin America’s real drama is being played out in Peru, where the ousting of Marxist leader Pedro Castillo has put the country on the path to a racially fuelled meltdown. After riots, blocked roads and the sight of terrified tourists being helicoptered out of Machu Picchu before Christmas, Castillo’s indigenous supporters have moved from the interior to the capital Lima, through which they were rampaging on Thursday night, clashing with police who responded with tear gas. The protests are Peru’s worst political violence in more than two decades and highlight bitter divisions between the country’s urban elite, largely concentrated in Lima, and the poor in remote or rural areas. “This has been brewing for a very long time,” according to Chris Sabatini, a Peru expert and senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House. “This is all about Peru’s geographical-racial divide. When you look at Peru now, you see that politics has become a blood sport.” Castillo (inset) was elected as Peru’s first indigenous head of state in July 2021, having vowed to end the “racial regime” imposed on Latin Americans by the conquistadors. But his government was soon mired in levels of corruption and incompetence that were exceptional even by the standards of Latin America, as he burned through 80 ministers in 18 months. His arrest last month ignited protests and violence from his indigenous supporters, even though another member of Castillo’s leftist Free Peru party, Dina Boluarte, assumed the presidency. “The protests are also against Boluarte because she’s white ,” says Sabatini. “That’s how racially divided this country has become.” Making things worse is the fragmented state of the country’s politics. There are 10 significant groupings in the one-chamber congress plus a large number of “Toyota parties” – so called because most could fit all of their representatives in a small hatchback. Much of the indigenous population’s anger stems from the perceived leaching of wealth from mining in the remote areas into the pockets of the elite in Lima. There is evidence of extremist and criminal activity among the protests. Some reports suggest that members of the Shining Path are active. The Maoist terror group was supposed to have hung up its guns and machetes after the capture of its founder Abimael Guzman in 1992. Boluarte says she supports a plan to hold elections for president and Congress in 2024, two years before originally scheduled. Many observers say she is right in refusing to give in to protesters’ demands for an immediate election. If Boluarte stands her ground she might help the cycle of instability that has seen six Peruvian presidents in five years. But there is little doubt the country’s outlook is bleak. Some people now think that a regional initiative involving neighbouring countries facing similar problems, such as Chile, or some sort of international political mediation will be needed to end Peru’s downward spiral. People gather in Lima, the capital of Peru, to protest this week against the removal of Pedro Castillo KLEBHER VASQUEZ/ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY
S1 NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 ROMANIA Court extends police detention of Tate brothers By Ruth Comerford Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are to stay in custody until the end of February after a Romanian court extended their detention period. Andrew Tate (inset), 36, his brother, 34, and two Romanian female suspects were arrested on 29 December on suspicion of rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to exploit women. Both men have denied wrongdoing. The Tate brothers were kept in custody in Romania while police in- vestigated the allegations. This has been extended for a further 30 days. Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer, has millions of online followers despite being banned from various sites for misogynistic comments. Earlier this month, Romanian teenagers claimed he made approaches to them on social media using “techniques” he teaches men on how to pick up women online. Daria Gusa, now 19, described receiving a message from Mr Tate’s account on Instagram when she was 16. “It just read ‘Romanian girl’ and he put a flirty emoji,” she told the BBC. Tristan Tate reportedly messaged another teenage girl, who wished to remain anonymous. It is not illegal to contact girls aged 16 or 17 online. The Tates’ lawyers have been contacted for comment. Far-right protest to burn Quran Sweden is preparing for demonstrations today that could complicate its efforts to persuade Turkey to approve its Nato accession. A far-right activist from Denmark has received permission to stage a protest outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, where he intends to burn the Quran. Meanwhile, both pro-Turkish and pro-Kurdish groups are plan- PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 39 NEW ZEALAND SWEDEN By Conrad Smith LIFE 45-81 ning demonstrations in the capital. Turkey has so far refused to approve bids by Sweden and Finland to join Nato. Turkey says Sweden in particular needs to crack down on Kurdish and other groups that Ankara considers terrorists. Sweden has assured Turkey it will not allow any terrorist groups on Swedish soil. But pro-Kurdish groups have staged anti-Turkey demonstrations that have infuriated the Turkish government. AP Labour names Hipkins as choice to replace Ardern By Zoe Drewett Chris Hipkins is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand’s prime minister after being the only candidate to be nominated for the role. The country’s Labour Party confirmed the appointment in a statement last night. Mr Hipkins, 44, must still get an endorsement from colleagues in parliament and that is expected to happen tomorrow. First elected to parliament for Labour in 2008, Mr Hipkins became a household name fronting the government’s response to the pandemic after being appointed minister for Covid-19 in November 2020. He is currently minister for the Police, Education, Public Service and serves as leader of the House. A Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll in New Zealand found Mr Hipkins to be the most popular choice to replace Ms Ardern, winning 30 per cent of support among the public. Prior to Mr Hipkins’ elevation, New Zealand was facing having its first Maori and openly gay leader in Kiri Allan, a senior Labour MP tipped as one of the front runners. Ms Ardern is to step down as leader next month, before the general election in October. Justice Minister Ms Allan is a politician who comes from the Maori community, the Polynesian ethnic group that makes up about of 17 per Chris Hipkins fronted New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic AP cent of New Zealand’s population. When asked on Thursday whether she intended to run, the 39-year-old said: “We’re going to go through a process as a caucus over the next few days.” Ms Ardern’s successor as party leader and prime minister faces a stern test in a general election, with support for Labour falling and the country expected to go into a recession this year. Other potential candidates included foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta – who is also Maori – and transport minister Michael Wood. A poll last month by New Zea- land’s 1News had Labour at 33 per cent, down from 40 per cent at the start of 2022. Even with traditional coalition partner the Green Party polling at 9 per cent, Labour could not hold a majority. Attention will now turn to who Mr Hipkins makes his deputy – with Ms Allan a candidate for the job. The current deputy Labour leader, Kelvin Davis, ruled himself out of the leadership contest, but said it was “obvious” that Labour supporters within the Maori community would be keen on a Maori MP getting the job, New Zealand media outlet Stuff reported.
40 NEWS Panorama Around the world in 10 stories LEBANON UNITED STATES ‘No regrets’ over classified papers, says Biden By Jeff Mason IN CALIFORNIA US President Joe Biden said he has “no regrets” about his handling of classified documents found at his home and former office, and that he believes the matter will be resolved. Postcard From... Hong Kong Rabbits scamper around a play area in a climate-controlled building in suburban Hong Kong, some climbing a castle made of wood while others explore a cotton tunnel. In one of the world’s most densely populated cities, where most apartments range from small to miniscule, rabbits are popular pets. And when their owners are away, there are rabbit lovers ready to look after their lonely pets at Bunny Style, a luxury rabbit resort. That’s especially evident this month, as the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in Hong Kong Women to make up 30% of workforce under new law By Clarice Roy-Macaulay IN FREETOWN TAIWAN Portraits of blast President Tsai victims erased praises military Some portraits of the Beirut port blast victims have been erased from a memorial wall in the Lebanese capital, causing outrage on social media. A number of the victims’ family members shared videos of workmen using water jets to spray off the murals of lost loved ones yesterday. Sarah Copland, whose two-year-old son, Isaac, was killed in the explosion, tweeted: “The disrespect is sickening.” The investigation into the explosion in August 2020 has been suspended for a year. SIERRA LEONE A landmark bill mandating that women make up 30 per cent of Sierra Leone’s workforce and government positions went into effect yesterday, along with paid maternity leave benefits extended to 14 weeks. The legislation, signed by President Julius Maada Bio, applies to all companies in the private sector that employ 25 or more people. It also includes civil service positions and cabinet appointments. “The future of Sierra Leone is female”, Mr Bio said at the signing of the bill, approved by Parliament late last year. “We must do all it takes to facilitate the timely, full and unconditional inclusion of women in our national life.” The new law’s 30 per cent rule does not include smaller businesses and those who are self-employed, eking out their livings selling at markets or along roadsides. It does, however, give women equal access to credit and other financial services. Those who discriminate on the basis of gender could face up to five years in prison as well as fines. About 30 per cent of girls in Sierra Leone are married before the age of 18, according to government statistics. In 2020, a ban on pregnant young women attending school was overturned, though social stigma often remains a barrier. AP Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen thanked the armed forces for defending the island in her Lunar New Year message yesterday, and said her government was safeguarding peace in the face of China’s military drills. China, which claims the island as its own territory, has increased military activity around Taiwan during the past three years. Ms Tsai said that this year would be “full of challenges”, but that “in the face of the Chinese Communists’ military ships and aircraft harassing Taiwan, the government firmly safeguards peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and region”. REUTERS “I think you’re gonna find there’s nothing there,” Mr Biden told reporters in California on Thursday. “I have no regrets. I’m following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do. It’s exactly what we’re doing.” The Attorney General, Merrick Garland, has appointed a special counsel to investigate the matter, after classified documents were found at Mr Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, and a Washington DC office he used before he became president. REUTERS is spurring a surge in travel for the Lunar New Year to welcome the Year of the Rabbit. Donna Li, the owner of Bunny Style, says she is fully booked for the holiday. She says she keeps her charges happy with regular exercise, parties, spa treatments – and lots of carrots. “We aim to provide a secure environment,” Ms Li says. The proprietor, who has two pet rabbits of her own, set up Bunny Style in June. She started with just a playroom, which offered rabbits space to hop and some relief from Hong Kong’s hot, humid weather. Bunny Style was full over Christmas and Ms Li is already taking Easter bookings. The price is about £12 per night, but beauty treatments and special menu items are extra. AP Alice Fung and Karmen Li Safety first for air crews Thai AirAsia’s cabin crew participate in an annual aviation safety and emergency course at Asia Aviation Academy in Bangkok. The exercise took place as China reopens its borders to international travellers. CHALINEE THIRASUPA/REUTERS JAPAN Tokyo stokes Seoul tensions over gold mine status By Mari Yamaguchi Japan has formally resubmitted documents seeking to obtain Unesco World Heritage recognition for a controversial former gold mine – a move that has added to diplomatic frictions with South Korea over the Japanese colonisation of the Korean Peninsula and its wartime actions. Japan’s earlier attempt to have the Sado Island mine listed as a World Heritage site this year faced issues as the documents it originally filed did not contain enough information. Seoul says some Koreans were used in forced labour at the mine during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonisation The mine in north-west Japan operated for nearly 400 years before it was closed in 1989. Uncertainty remains over the attempt to gain Unesco status. A nomination meeting planned to take place in Russia last June was postponed due to the invasion of Ukraine, and another meeting has not been set. South Korea has opposed the registration because of Japan’s wartime abuses of Korean labourers. Seoul said some Koreans brought to Japan during its 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula were used in forced labour at the mine. AP TIBET PAKISTAN TURKEY IN TOKYO Avalanche death Eight injured in Opposition set to toll rises to 13 train bomb blast name candidate The death toll in an avalanche that buried vehicles outside a highway tunnel in Tibet has risen to 13, authorities said yesterday. Rescue efforts are continuing after tons of snow and ice collapsed on to the mouth of the tunnel near the city of Nyingchi in Tibet’s south-west on Tuesday, trapping drivers in their vehicles. Many of them were heading home for China’s Lunar New Year holiday, which starts tomorrow. AP At least eight people were injured when a bomb blast derailed a passenger train in the south-western Pakistani province of Balochistan yesterday, a local official said. “The Jaffar Express came under bomb attack in the Bolan district – eight people were injured and eight bogies derailed,” deputy commissioner Bolan Agha Samiullah said. He said a rescue team was facing difficulties as the site is in a mountainous area. REUTERS Turkey’s six-party opposition alliance said it is preparing an announcement for next month to name its candidate in the upcoming presidential elections. Turkey is headed towards one of the most consequential votes in its history, with presidential and parliamentary elections expected on 14 May – a month ahead of schedule. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in power for almost 20 years. AP
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 41 News in brief WORLD FOCUS What a terrible boar Wild pigs have been running amok throughout Italy, causing chaos. Now Rome has come up with a plan to cull them. James Imam reports O n a warm August morning in Milan, locals and tourists seated outside cafés along the Naviglio canal – one of the city’s favourite recreational hot spots – sipped cappuccinos as they do on any given sunny day. But many were no doubt surprised when an unexpected visitor turned up: namely, a 70kg boar spotted paddling down the waterway. The furry beast soon disappeared from view, before firefighters, police officers, civil defence officers and vets launched a mission to capture it. “Boars are great swimmers, and they are also very dangerous,” Davide Volante, a press official of the Metropolitan City of Milan, said in an interview at the time. “They are wild and unpredictable – and when they get on to roads they can wreak havoc.” The authorities focused their search on a 6km underground passageway that connects two ends of the city, placing cages in the tunnel and sealing it off. “We’ve been down there but it’s pitch-black and we can’t locate the animal,” Volante said. “We’re sure it’s there. We’ve found traces of its excrement,” he added. The animal was found inside one of the cages 14 days later. Distressed and weak after days in hot and humid conditions, however, it died a couple of hours after being retrieved. Boar sightings are increasingly common in Italian urban centres, as expanding towns and cities encroach into green belts and the animals – which were emboldened when humans lay low during the lockdowns – venture out of their natural habitat. “Boars enter cities as they find food there in enormous quantities,” Massimo Vitturi (far right), director of the wild animals section of the Anti Vivisection League (LAV) animal rights organisation, tells i. “Human waste is easy food: the animals understand they can get hold of it without expending too much energy.” Boar populations in Italy doubled from 500,000 in 2010 to one million 10 years later, the environmental agency Ispra claims, and there are an estimated 2.3 million of them in the country today, according to the Coldiretti farmers’ association. Reports suggest numbers are also rocketing in much of Europe. The situation is particularly drastic in Rome, where families of boars are SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 CONSUMER India to export a record 50m eggs India is set to export a record 50 million eggs this month, boosted by sales to Malaysia, where there have been acute shortages as soaring feed prices caused by the Ukraine war forced many farmers to cut output, industry officials said. Middle Eastern countries, including Oman and Qatar, are the main buyers of eggs from India, but over the past few months, Indian hatcheries have received large orders from surprising quarters as output fell in some of the world’s top suppliers. The biggest surprise order came from Malaysia, which used to export eggs to Singapore and other Asian countries. REUTERS KENYA Woman turns home into cat shelter It is estimated that there are now 2.3 million boars in Italy today; Coldiretti farmers protest to demand a cull (below); GETTY; CORBIS Boars enter cities because they find food there in enormous quantities regularly filmed walking through the city’s streets. Italian comedian Rosario Fiorello even presented Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, with a “Golden Boar” prize on live national TV in December. As their numbers soar, boars are proving to be disruptive from a human perspective. The animals cause $22m (£17.7m) of damage on farms annually, Coldiretti estimates, and are involved in 2,000 car accidents in Italy each year. A train on the Rome-Lecce line hit three boars last month, bringing traffic on the route to a standstill. In a separate incident two days later, a pack of the animals wandered onto a busy Benevento thoroughfare, bringing cars to a halt. One woman eating a pizza on a Genoa beach in July was bitten by a boar that crept up behind her. And a 92-year-old farmer was savaged by one of the animals that had wandered on to his Mantua farm in November; he was subsequently airlifted to hospital and had an arm and leg amputated. The situation is “out of control”, the Mantua wing of Coldiretti recently stated. The same organisation’s Turin division has appealed for the army to be brought in to kill the boars. Italy’s native boars were driven to the brink of extinction by deforestation and agriculture during much of the 20th century, before rapid urbanisation after the Second World War led forests to heal and the animals to return. Hunters pushed for boars to be actively reintroduced to forests from the 1950s, sometimes by transferring them from Eastern Europe. By the time the practice was banned in 2015, boar numbers had veered out of control. Roughly 250,000 of the animals are still hunted today by armed men accompanied by dogs. Boar is commonly served on dining tables accompanied by dollops of polenta. Yet previous government attempts to solve the boar problem by calling in the hunters has been unsuccessful, with the animals reproducing at a faster rate than they can be killed. Efforts to halt their rise have been made especially urgent by the spread of African swine flu. The deadly disease, which swept through countries in the Eastern part of the European Union seven years ago, was first detected in boars in the Piedmont, Liguria and Lazio regions last year, according to the country’s ministry of health. In Lazio, where 48 boars had been identified as carrying the flu by October, the regional administration launched an emergency operation in December aimed at the “reduction and successive extinction of boars” found within Rome’s 68km ring road. Boars were to be captured in traps laced with sleep-inducing narcotics, before being shot by police officers bearing long-distance rifles. The plan was to slaughter all infected boars within a month, with the reduction of the entire population within six months. Others are proposing less harmful solutions. In November, LAV won government backing for two projects in which vaccines will be used to make boars infertile for up to six years. “The undeniable facts show that people armed with rifles cannot limit the numbers of boars,” Vitturi said. In the outskirts of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, mother-of-five Rachael Kabue has earned the nickname “cat woman” from her neighbours by turning her four-bedroom home into a shelter for some 600 cats. The 51-year-old started the Nairobi Feline Sanctuary in 2020, taking in cats from the street that needed shelter and medical care. Once recovered, Ms Kabue then puts them up for adoption. “Of course 95 per cent of the space is dedicated to the cats, and then I live in one corner,” she said, adding her children love the cats. REUTERS UNITED STATES Trump fined over ‘bogus’ Clinton suit Former US president Donald Trump and one of his lawyers, Alina Habba, have been sanctioned by a Florida judge – who ordered them to pay almost $1m (£810,000) for what he said was a bogus legal claim against Hillary Clinton and others. Mr Trump has been accused of a “pattern of abuse of the courts” by filing frivolous claims for political purposes. Mr Trump sued Ms Clinton claiming that she and other Democrats sought to rig the 2016 presidential election by falsely accusing his campaign of links to Russia. AP
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7 days 7 days 43 The stories that shaped the news What we learned this week (main) has announced her first ever greatest hits tour, which will start in Vancouver, Canada, on 15 July and end in Amsterdam on 1 December. “Madonna: The Celebration Tour” will mark the 40th anniversary of her first big hit, “Holiday”. The star will perform at venues in 35 cities in the US and Europe – including The O2 in London on 14 October. Thirty-year manhunt ends Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, Italy’s most-wanted man, has been arrested in Sicily after 30 years on the run. In 2002, he was tried and sentenced to life in jail in absentia for a number of crimes. These included the murders of prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in 1992, bomb attacks in Milan, Florence and Rome in 1993 in which 10 people died, the kidnapping, torture and murder of the 12-year-old son of a Mafia informant, and the murder of Antonella Bonanno, the pregnant girlfriend of a rival Mafia boss. Messina Denaro was arrested outside a private clinic in Sicily’s capital, Palermo, where he had been receiving chemotherapy. More than 100 members of the armed forces took part in the operation to arrest the fugitive, in what Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, described as “a great victory for the state”. Injury hits local favourite Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, the world No 21 in singles, was forced to pull out of the Australian Open with a knee injury the day before his opening match. The 27-year-old (inset), who was beaten by Novak Djokovic in last year’s men’s singles final at Wimbledon, had been one of the favourites to win this year’s tournament. End of an era BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce will step down in March after 31 years presenting the mid-morning weekday show. The Scottish broadcaster, who has worked for the BBC for 45 years, will present a new mid-morning show on Greatest Hits Radio from April. “Nothing stays the same for ever and I have decided the time is right for me to move on from Radio 2 when I reach the end of my current contract in March,” he said. Seal population booming Almost 4,000 baby grey seals were seen on Norfolk’s beaches this winter – a record high, according to Friends of Horsey Seals. A total of 3,796 pups were spotted along a five-mile stretch of coast between Waxham and Winterton – almost double the previous record in 2019-20. Shock departure New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern (left), has announced that she will step down next month after more than five years in power. She became the world’s youngest female head of government when she led the Labour Party to victory in 2017 at the age of 37. Ardern said she no longer has “enough in the tank” to continue. “I am human, politicians are human. We give all that we can for as long as we can. And then it’s time. And for me, it’s time,” she said. Labour MPs are set to choose her successor this weekend. Historic move towards equality The Church of England has announced plans to bless same-sex marriages for the first time, but has stopped short of allowing same-sex couples to be married in church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “I am under no illusions that what we are proposing will appear to go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others.” Covid cost The HMRC’s “most likely” estimate of how much was lost from Covid-19 support schemes due to organised crime, fraud and error is £4.5bn, according to its chief executive, Jim Harra. The largest amount, £3.5bn, was lost from the Government’s furlough scheme. It is thought that £1bn was lost from the scheme to help self-employed workers, and £71m from the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme. The estimated losses amount to 4.6 per cent of the total spent on the three schemes. Shopping basket price drama Butter, milk and cheese cost up to 30 per cent more than they did a few months ago, outstripping overall inflation, according to the Which? consumer group. Food and drink inflation reached 15 per cent at the end of 2022, but in the case of butters and spreads, inflation over the three months to December was 29.4 per cent. The consumer watchdog also found that milk was 26.3 per cent more expensive, with cheese 22.3 per cent more costly over this period. Which? revealed that inflation was significantly higher on budget ranges (20.3 per cent) and own-brand items (18.5 per cent) than premium (12.6 per cent) and branded (12.5 per cent) alternatives. RETAIL Marks & Spencer is to create 3,400 jobs across the UK, under a £500m plan to open 20 shops within the next financial year. CULTURE Netflix is to release its first Welshlanguage TV show, after buying rights to S4C crime series Dal y Mellt (Catch The Lightning). 1 Nicholas Lyndhurst – aka Rodney Trotter – is to join a reboot of which US sitcom? 2 Which veteran actor is to make his debut as a film awards host as the presenter of this year’s Baftas? 3 Which singer called a song created in his style by artificial intelligence “a grotesque mockery”? 4 Bono has changed the lyrics to the U2 song “Pride” to reflect that which person was assassinated in the early evening, not the morning? 5 Which country’s population has fallen for the first time in 60 years? 6 Spectators are banned from bringing in flags from which two countries at the Australian Open? 7 Lioness Ella Toone is the first female player to collaborate with which brand on a boot deal? 8 To whom was the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, compared for a social media video in which he used coffee cups to explain inflation? 9 New national recommendations in Canada suggest that if you drink at all, you should have no more than how many drinks a week? 10 Ten Chinese players of which sport face match-fixing charges? Answers below it’s been a good week... LITERATURE Poet Anthony Joseph has won the £25,000 TS Eliot Prize for his Sonnets For Albert poetry collection. iNewsQuiz CONSERVATION A pair of beavers have been released near Basingstoke – the first time the species has lived in Hampshire for 400 years. LANGUAGE “Queen” has been voted the Children’s Word of the Year for 2022, according to the Oxford University Press. POLITICS Publisher HarperCollins has bought the rights to Boris Johnson’s memoir on his time as prime minister. ENERGY The Crown Estate made deals for six offshore wind farms to be built, with the capacity to power seven million homes. iNewsQuiz answers 1. Frasier. 2. Richard E Grant. 3. Nick Cave. 4. Martin Luther King Jnr. 5. China. 6. Russia and Belarus. 7. Nike. 8. Mr Bean. 9. Two. 10. Snooker. Greatest hits tour Madonna 7 days COMPILED BY JONATHAN OWEN
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Culture p57 l 7-day TV guide p58 l Gardens p72 l itravel p75 SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND How to get fit after 40 From functional training to cold water exposure, experts share their top tips on how to stay in shape at 40 and beyond. By Emily Cope FOCUS ON FUNCTIONAL FITNESS One aspect of growing older is a greater risk of falls, injury and loss of mobility and strength, which is why functional compound exercises are so important. These exercises mimic everyday activities to leave us stronger in our daily lives – and therefore less prone to unexpected injuries. According to Caroline Idiens, who runs a fitness platform for people over 40, these are the best exercises to focus on: SQUAT AND PRESS “We squat more than any other movement (outside of walking) – sitting down, going to the loo, getting things off the floor, getting in the car – so this is a really important one,” says Idiens. “Place your feet just wider than hip distance apart. With your shoulders back and chest lifted, sit back as if into a chair until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Keep your back straight without rounding and put your weight through your heels. With your core engaged, push back up to standing, engaging your glutes at the top. “Once mastered, add in some light dumbbells (start with 2kg), and as you stand up push the dumbbells overhead.” DEADLIFT “This exercise is about hinging, which is so important when doing things like picking up small children, gardening or cleaning the bath. Stand with your knees slightly bent, feet hip-width apart. Engage your core. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your thighs. Hinge at your hips sending your hips back and sliding the weights slowly down the front of your thighs until your chest is parallel with the floor. Keep a slight bend in the knees and a neutral spine with shoulders back. “As soon as your chest is parallel – and with your core tight – push through your heels to stand back up straight. Keep the weights close to your thighs, then pause at the top as you squeeze your glutes.” BICEP CURL INTO SHOULDER PRESS “This is important for daily movement such as carrying shopping bags or putting something heavy in an overhead cupboard. Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by your sides with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing inward. “Flex the elbows to curl the weight. Do not use momentum or swing; instead use a controlled motion. Then slowly extend overhead. Return to the starting position. Abs should always be kept tight to protect the lower back.” ROW “This is a brilliant exercise that mimics the action of pulling weeds or hoovering,” explains Idiens. “Stand holding a single dumbbell in one hand with your knees slightly bent and the opposite leg further forward in a lunge position. “Hinge at the hip with the dumbbell hanging down, your arm extended. Your core must be tight and back straight without rounding the shoulders. Keep your head in line with your spine. Slowly row the weight in towards your hip, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you pull the weight towards you, then slowly lower the weight to the start position.”
46 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Continued from p45 GET OUTSIDE – AND EAT MORE PROTEIN TO STOP MUSCLE LOSS “As we get a little older, it can become harder for us to stay fit and healthy, but the importance of keeping up a regular exercise routine increases as we age,” explains personal trainer Darren Cunningham. “At 40 our bodies are changing and we start to store more fat, our bone density reduces and we lose muscle – not to mention that we may start to become bored of our go-to fitness regime. Opting for exercising outdoors can open up a whole new feeling of freedom to your workouts. “Surrounded by nature, you’ll leave the artificial lights behind and experience the world around you, which will not only give you an endorphin boost but you’ll also be topping up your vitamin D intake. “Our protein intake is key here, too. As we lose muscle with age, something called sarcopenia, we need to think about how we can add protein to our diet, be it through all-natural protein shakes or meats and fish, eggs and nuts.” and the practice enhances mood, focus and concentration as well as exercising core muscles, which are important as we age,” says Dr MacRae. “Swimming is also an excellent choice. The aerobic exercise is beneficial for weight control and cardiovascular health, and swimming also uses large muscle groups while increasing heart rate and is most helpful for maintaining joint movement and flexibility. “Water exercise may also be the preferred choice for women suffering from hot flashes during the menopause, which can be particularly testing around the 40 mark.” IMPROVE CIRCULATION Cold exposure is an effective way to improve circulation, boost the immune system and improve overall health – something which is often needed post-40. However, before you head straight for the sea, it is best to begin any cold water therapy slowly with a cold shower or bath – and always consult your GP first. Calum Sharma, from The Body Lab, explains: “Cold exposure is a very accessible treatment, but you don’t want to go to the extreme to begin with – so diving into a frozen lake unsupervised should not be on your agenda. I would suggest standing in a warm shower and turning the heat down until your breathing changes. Stay for 30 seconds under the cold water and then go back to hot. When you get more comfortable being uncomfortable, go longer and slightly more extreme, building up to three minutes under the cold water.” Though it may be uncomfortable at first, Sharma insists the benefits are worth it, especially as you get older. “Cold-water exposure not only reduces inflammation, builds our resilience to stress and enhances our mood, it also reduces white fat and increases metabolism, which can be important as we age and our metabolism slows down,” says Sharma. “Consistency is key and you will have to do more than one to two cold showers a week to really feel the effects. “Once you’ve nailed the cold showers, you can go a little more extreme in the form of ice baths.” FASTER DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN FITTER A varied exercise routine is key throughout your life, but as you grow older there are plenty of benefits to be had from slowing down a little. According to Dr Fiona MacRae, from the Marion Gluck Clinic, not all workouts need to leave you sweating and out of breath. “Qigong or Tai Chi movements (top) are both fluid and meditative, SWAP HIIT FOR YOGA TO PREVENT STRESS INJURIES “It’s impossible to imagine that any machine could run for 40 years without needing some TLC or repairs – and the body is no different,” explains Carlos Cobiella, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. “While genetics play a role in the advancement and severity of upper body conditions such as osteoarthritis, all adults can expect to experience some change to their shoulder joints as they age and the cartilage that cushions joints wear down, leading to less mobility, pain and inflammation.” As such, if you are prone to injury Cobiella recommends avoiding highimpact repetitive movements, such as those seen during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. “Once women hit their forties, progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone levels begin to decline,” adds Cobiella. “This leaves the adrenals carrying more of the workload, so women in their forties must be extracautious about balancing stress-inducing exercises, such as burpees (which may have been fine to do in their twenties and thirties) with exercises that have a lower impact on the shoulders. Women in their forties will also see a decline in muscle mass due to lower testosterone levels so low-impact exercise like yoga and resistance band exercises are better for adding muscle tone and strength.” And for men? Cardio is important, but make sure not to push it too hard every time. “Cardio doesn’t have to be a hardcore sprint session every day,” explains Cobiella. “A gentle Yoga (main) is a good low-impact workout; eating a balanced diet (top right) is beneficial; regular weight training (right) can help reduce pain; gardening (above left) or getting outside with the kids (below) can help boost fitness; finding an activity you enjoy (below left) is key to sticking to it GETTY jog a few times a week is enough to make sure that you are engaging in the aerobic exercise needed to promote heart health, improve endurance and decrease the risk of chronic diseases. Make sure that you warm up beforehand, stretching out the legs, calves, arms and shoulders with a few circular movements and stretches.” INCLUDE RESISTANCE TRAINING – AND ADD PLENTY OF CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D TO YOUR DIET According to Jack Claxton, a personal trainer at David Lloyd Clubs, there are three common health concerns to anyone over 40: metabolism, stress and bone density. “You hear many people say that they find it hard to lose weight the older they get, and this is because as we age our metabolisms slow down and our muscle mass naturally decreases,” explains Claxton. “Our bone density also decreases, which can lead to general aches and pains, as well as more serious conditions such as osteoporosis. To
life 47 your children or grandchildren is what’s important to you, pushing the pram to the park, lifting a child and pushing them on a swing will give you the necessary workout while doing something that brings you joy. “The most important thing is never to stop moving, bending, stretching and reaching, as this will improve your health, mobility and flexibility – and ultimately, your physical and mental wellbeing.” MOVE FOR 30 MINUTES A DAY TO KEEP MENTAL FITNESS combat this, our bodies need regular exercise and some form of resistance or weight bearing exercises within our daily routines. “My top suggestions are regular weight training – which is about three times a week – as well as having a balanced diet that includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D.” TAKE TIME TO RECOVER After 40, rest and recovery is more important than ever – especially postworkout. “Getting older means more focus needs to be put on recovery, which includes sleep, hydration and good nutrition, not just stretching after a workout,” says Olympic weightlifter Haylene Ryan Causer. “We can no longer bounce back after a big session like we did in our twenties. Taking days between weight workouts for your muscles to replenish their glycogen stores is important, as well as walking daily to maintain good blood flow.” FEEL THE SQUEEZE WITH KEGEL EXERCISES FOR A HEALTHY PELVIC FLOOR Pelvic floor exercises are important for all women. However, factors such as pregnancy and childbirth, changes in hormone levels and general age-related changes to muscle strength, mean that exercising your pelvic floor becomes all the more important as you get older. “There are many symptoms that women often just put up with, as they think they are just a consequence of getting older, but many of them can be prevented by working on your pelvic floor,” says Dr Susanna Unsworth, medical expert for Intimina. “Performing regular pelvic floor exercise reduces problems related to incontinence, helps reduce the likelihood of developing pelvic floor prolapse, and can also increase the pleasure experienced during sex. “As with all muscles, it is important to exercise them regularly otherwise weakness can develop. “You can do Kegels simply by locating your pelvic floor muscles, meaning exercises can be performed anywhere – sitting up, lying down or even standing, without equipment. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, try the ‘elevator method’: imagine your vagina as an elevator shaft, with the opening as the ground floor. Slowly contract your pelvic muscles, lifting the elevator towards your belly button. Pause at the top, then slowly lower the elevator back down. Repeat five times, breathing normally, and trying not to squeeze your bum or stomach muscles.” GET INTO GARDENING – OR TAKE THE KIDS TO THE PARK If swimming, cycling or weight training at the gym simply aren’t your thing, then don’t fret – there are plenty of other ways to get in shape after 40. Kate Sheehan, occupational therapist for Stannah from The OT Service, suggests taking up gardening. “To enable activity (both cardio and strength) to be part of our day-to-day activities they need to be enjoyable to us and not seen as a chore, so why not think about taking up a new hobby such as gardening?” she suggests. “Heavy digging will give you that cardio and strength workout, while you are also doing something that brings you personal fulfilment. If spending time with Staying healthy after 40 isn’t just about physical fitness, but mental fitness too. Keeping active is one of the best ways to stop your brain shrinking, according to Pete Williams, founder of Functional Medicine Associates. “The human body is designed to be moving for most of the day. In fact, our genes and physiology expect daily movement to perform at their best, and when we don’t achieve this, it’s a problem to both body and brain health,” says Williams. “As we age, our cardiovascular system doesn’t perform as well. It gets stiffer and the capacity to pump blood effectively to far-off regions of the body declines. Combine ageing with lack of fitness and we start to lose tiny blood vessels that are vital for allowing the exchange of nutrients, oxygen and other beneficial molecules in different organs as well as taking away the cellular rubbish that our body creates. “To help keep cognitive decline at bay, we need to achieve a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking. This could be 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity every week or an equivalent mix of the two. “It can be any activity that raises heart rate, from walking to jogging to jump rope to dancing. It’s not what you do, it’s consistency that matters.” REMEMBER, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE Regardless of all the advice on how to get fit after 40, experts agree the number one tip is that it’s never too late to take your health and fitness seriously. “If you’re just starting out, then don’t rush going forwards,” advises Michael Fatica, a consultant osteopath for The Back in Shape programme. “Set a reasonable schedule, such as working out three to five times per week, or as your busy life permits. To begin with err on the lower intensity side so as not to ‘burn out’. “Remember, you only need to spend 30 to 45 minutes, three times a week, to reap the benefits. You can make the time, and if you grow to enjoy it more you can always, steadily increase your exercise frequency. Better late than never.”
48 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 30 easy ways to simplify your life From reorganising your wardrobe to learning to cheat in the kitchen, these straightforward hacks will help you streamline your daily routine and clear your mind of clutter. By Anna Bonet FAMILY Create a ‘command station’ “A really useful way to organise your family is by creating a ‘command station’,” says parenting coach Jo Mitchelhill. “This is somewhere you can house the school bags, the family planner and a kind of notice board containing any important information – notes from school, or reminders about whose PE day or flute lesson it is when.” Box things up “Under my sink, I have three containers: one with toothbrushes and toothpaste; one with hairbrushes, combs and hairbands; and another with vitamins and medicines,” says psychotherapist and host of The Therapy Edit podcast Anna Mathur. “After breakfast I pull them all out, putting them away again once everyone has completed each job. This limits rushing around to gather things from different rooms.” Have a dedicated dump zone “Dedicate a space for your children to dump their coat, shoes and bags when they come in,” suggests Mitchelhill. “It’s good to keep this stuff contained to one area – and then that is exactly where it will all be the next morning.” Invest in items that make your life easier Where possible, buy products that make your life a little less stressful. “Slings are great because you can pop your baby in it and get on with your day,” says parenting expert Rachel Fitz-Desorgher. “Meanwhile, a Gro Clock is a godsend to help encourage your child to sleep as long as possible, and the Yoto – which is an audio player – is perfect for keeping little ones entertained.” Pack lunches the night before “Pack lunch boxes with the non-perishable items and leave them on the kitchen counter, while perishable things such as yoghurts or sandwiches should go in one container in the fridge, so that in the morning you can grab that one thing,” says Mitchelhill. Stick to a routine Schedule and routine are key to limiting friction, especially when you are dealing with toddlers. “I notice my daughter feels most comfortable when she knows exactly what is going on throughout the day,” says Ashley Verma, host of parenting podcast Bizzimumzi. “So I make sure I communicate the schedule to her each day – and if we do have to have a change of routine, I tell her about it the night before. This makes for an easier transition.” Buy pairs of the same socks “Buy bundles of the same socks and then you won’t have to hunt for matching pairs in the morning,” advises Mitchelhill. HOUSEHOLD Clean little and often “Rather than letting cleaning and tidying build up, do little and often – ideally throughout the week so you have a day free at the weekend to relax in a nice clean house,” says cleaning expert Danielle Mason. Have a seasonal wardrobe “Rotating your wardrobe based on seasons will save you rifling through all the wrong clothes,” says Lauren Allen, organisation expert and founder of Not a Boring Box. Stop multitasking - being singleminded is better for your mental health If you have a baby, wearing them in a sling will free up your hands (below) ; cut down the amount of laundry you do by airing clothes (far right); food prep will reduce time spent in the kitchen (top right) GETTY “In winter, remove all your summer clothes from your wardrobe and store them elsewhere and vice versa.” Stuck for storage space? Use the inside of your suitcases. Get organised with better storage “Maximise your space by using hanging storage on the inside of doors and cupboards,” says Carolyn Creel, cleaner and author of the forthcoming decluttering book The Clear Method. “You can get collapsible hangers that allow you to hang up to five items on but take the space of only one. Vacuumpacking your seasonal clothes is also a great way to save space.” Do less laundry “Cutting down the faff of laundry starts with rethinking your understanding of ‘dirty’,” says Kathleen Bell, a sustainable cleaning expert at eco-friendly cleaning brand smol. “There are lots of ways to get more wear out of clothes without compromising on cleanliness – such as spot cleaning, and shaking clothes out and airing them out overnight. You can also refresh hardier fabrics (ie not silk) by misting them with some essential oils added to a spray bottle, or by steaming them. If you’re taking a hot shower, you can even hang clothes in the bathroom.”
life 49 MIND Cut corners “You don’t have to do everything well, from scratch, or to completion – even though it might feel good to, or be the standard that you set for yourself,” says Mathur. “I often call corner-cutting a valid form of self-care. When we’re feeling depleted, it is a great way to preserve some energy.” Write down what’s in your control “Write down what is on your mind into two columns – ‘What is inside my control’ and ‘What is outside my control’,” says mind coach Alison Blackler. “This helps you to simplify your concerns and highlight your action list.” Stop multitasking “Be single-minded,” advises Mathur. “Multitasking is praised, but in truth, focusing on one thing at a time is better for our mental health.” Don’t look at your phone first thing “When you wake up, instead of looking at your phone and letting your mind explode with your inbox, schedule a to-do list, dedicate a few minutes to something a little more steadying,” suggests mindfulness expert Neil Seligman. “An awareness-based practice – such as slowly sipping tea – is great for mental clarity and helps you start your day clear and focused.” @ Reduce your cleaning products “There is a common illusion that you need lots of cleaning products, when water and a microfibre cloth can keep pretty much every surface clean and clear,” says Creel. “Otherwise, I would say you only really need three products: a good bathroom cleaner, a good kitchen cleaner and some bleach. For glass and windows, you can make your own solution with a 1:1 ratio of diluted vinegar and water and store it in a spray bottle – it’s not only a great disinfectant but it also keeps them smear clear.” Reduce decision fatigue “Decisions can feel overwhelming,” says Mathur. “Next time you need to decide something, allow yourself to become narrow-minded for a moment – block out external direction and consider what decision you’d make if nobody knew.” We can also reduce decision fatigue by limiting the number of choices we need to make in a day – perhaps by always having the same breakfast, or reducing the options of clothes you wear to work. Set boundaries “[Money expert] Martin Lewis encourages us to ask: ‘Do I need it? Can I afford it?’ when confronted with a potential purchase,” says Mathur. “This is also a brilliant tool to use when confronted with an invitation or a call on your time or resources. Is it something you need to do? Can you afford to spend the energy/time?” WORK ‘Eat the frog’ “‘Eat the frog’ means identifying the day’s least attractive task and forcing yourself to complete it first,” says Freddie Titcombe, co-creator of the Evolve Journal. “It can make a big difference.” Limit distractions “When you are trying to focus, turn off notifications on emails, Teams, Slack and your phone for a set time period,” says productivity expert Jo Bendle. “You can also use a distraction blocking tool – such as the Chrome extension blocksite.co – to stop you scrolling through certain websites. Also, use noisecancelling headphones.” Organise your emails “Use the ‘Do, ditch or delegate’ method when emails come in – you can even organise folders with those titles,” says leadership coach Amy Wilkinson. “Also, set up ‘rules’ for emails so that they automatically filter into a folder.” Use the ABC method The ABC method is a way of keeping on top of your to-do list. “First brain-dump everything that needs ticking off in the next month or so,” advises organisation expert Jane Lee. “Then divide them into A, B or C, depending on their urgency: A: needs doing in the next day or two; B is not so urgent but to do this week; and C is not urgent but worth making a note of.” End your day right “Before my day finishes, I write down everything I have to do the next day, so I don’t go to bed thinking about it,” says entrepreneur Am Golhar. “I also pack up my laptop and clear my desk – because when we leave things cluttered, our brain is cluttered.” KITCHEN Time-saving techniques “Rather than carefully chop mushrooms, I tear them and throw them straight into the pan,” says chef Lisa Marley. “Also, a quick and easy way to peel a lot of garlic is to put the cloves in a bowl and place another bowl on top to create a dome, and rigorously shake.” Cheat on spices “To make flavoursome meals without fuss, using a simple spice blend instead of a huge list of single spices can save loads of time – and money,” comments Sanjay Aggarwal, cookbook author and co-founder of Spice Kitchen. Don’t skip prep “The more you prepare, the quicker and simpler it is to cook,” says chef Dipna Anand. “That means having onions chopped in the fridge tomatoes pre-blended, and cupboards organised and labelled, so you know where everything is.” Make mash bowls “Use a single pot to steam multiple vegetables and create a ‘mash bowl’, says registered nutritional therapist Vicky Godfrey. “My go-to combination is one potato, half a cauliflower, four to six carrots and six to eight florets of broccoli. Steam them until they are tender, add seasoning and olive oil or butter, then mash to make amazing potato cakes – perfect for a side.” Don’t overcomplicate things “Do more one-pot cooking and tray bakes,” says Marley. “They save time and washing up.” Cook double Where possible, cook double. “It is usually the same amount of effort, reduces ingredient wastage and means you can stock the freezer with ready meals for those nights you’d rather not be standing in the kitchen,” says Mathur. Maintain cupboard essentials “Keep your cupboards stocked with dried pasta, lentils, cous cous, quinoa and tinned beans, which have a long shelf life and are great to fall back on,” says Marley.

games puzzles 6 pages of puzzles Give your wits a workout with the weekend’s best puzzling package Jumbo General Knowledge Crossword ACROSS 10 English darts player, nicknamed “Bully Boy”, who won the 2023 PDC World Championship (7,5) 13 1984 Stanley Donen film based on the 1977 French film Un moment d’égarement (5,2,2,3) 14 District of Copenhagen, Denmark in which J C Jacobsen founded a brewery in 1847 (9) 15 1941 novel by James Hilton (6,7) 16 English actor whose film roles include singer Billy Mack in Love Actually (4,5) 17 Comedian who presented the Channel 4 chat show Chatty Man (4,4) 18 Another name for Beethoven’s third symphony (6) 20 Middle name of president John F Kennedy (10) 22 A former name for Jakarta (7) 23/35 English photographer who won Oscars for costume designs for Gigi and My Fair Lady (5,6) 26 Fuel created by passing steam over incandescent coke (5,3) 28 Elton John’s first top ten single (4,4) 30 US state whose capital is Augusta (5) 34 Silvery-white metallic element whose atomic number is 21 (8) 35 See 23 36 Substances that stimulate the production of antibodies (8) 38 2022 BBC drama starring Martin Compston and Tony Curran (8) 39 US vice president from 1993 to 2001 who starred in the 2006 documentary film An Inconvenient Truth (2,4) 40 Doctor John ___, central character of a series of 14 books written by Hugh Lofting between 1920 and 1952 (8) 42 Horse that won the 1963 Grand National (5) 43 Brown crystallised cane sugar named after a region of Guyana (8) 44 A woman’s light, filmy dressing gown (8) 47 A large German sausage (5) 49 The capital of Northern Ireland (7) 51 Welsh dish of seaweed boiled, dipped in oatmeal and fried (5,5) 55 A fixed number of verse lines forming a unit of a poem (6) 56 American soul vocal group who had a 1975 number one hit with Ms Grace (3,5) 57 Francesco ___, Italian baroque architect featured on a 100 Swiss Franc banknote in circulation from 1976 to 2000 (9) 60 Actor and director who starred in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting (6,7) 61 German Expressionist artist invited to join Die Brücke in 1906 (4,5) 62 American singer best known for the 1979 hit single I Will Survive (6,6) 63 April 9 this year (6,6) DOWN 1 2 3 Senior RAF officer of equivalent rank to an admiral in the Royal Navy (3,5,7) English singer and TV personality who has had the surnames Tweedy, Cole and Fernandez-Versini (6) Ballistic missile named after a US general nicknamed ‘Black Jack’ (8) 1 2 3 4 10 5 11 12 14 6 7 8 9 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 25 29 30 31 32 34 35 33 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 47 44 46 48 49 50 53 55 51 52 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 4/58 Private detective partner of Charley Farley played by Ronnie Barker in The Two Ronnies (5,6) 5 American actress whose film roles include Jane in The Twilight Saga and the title character in Effie Gray (6,7) 6 British track racing cyclist who won the world amateur sprint title in 1947 and two Olympic silver medals in 1948 (3,6) 7 Real surname of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr (7) 8 See 46 9 Tree whose edible green kernels are used in ice cream (9) 11 The cruciferous plant Capsella bursa-pastoris (9-5) 63 12/19 American actor, comedian and stunt performer whose films include Safety Last! (6,5) 13 TV Western series featuring the Cartwright family (7) 19 See 12 21 1897 novel by Ethel Voynich whose protagonist is Arthur Burton (3,6) 24 Former administrative region of France known for its mountain ranges and dormant volcanoes (8) 25 Former British bronze coin that ceased to be legal tender in 1961 (8) 27 Giant monster, or daikaiju, who first appeared in Ishiro Honda’s 1954 film of the same name (8) 29/31 Long-running American TV show whose original 1975 cast included John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase (8,5,4) 32 Well-known canzone sung by the Duke of Mantua in Verdi’s opera Rigoletto (2,5,1,6) 33 1996 Roland Emmerich science fiction film starring Will Smith (12,3) 37 Australian actress seen as companion Tegan Jovanka in Doctor Who (5,8) 41 The capital of Senegal (5) 45 Swimming stroke first swum in competition in 1933 (9) 46/8 1973 single by The Carpenters that is their best-selling single in the UK (9,4,4) 48 Best-selling posthumous album by Eva Cassidy released in 1998 (8) 50 The original name of the band Blur (7) 52 Title held by Margaret Thatcher from 1992 (8) 53 Roman emperor who was the adopted son and successor of Trajan (7) 54 A minor parish officer such as Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (6) 58 See 4 59 The back of a sheet of printed paper (5) Solutions, page 56 Inquisitor l Jigsawdoku l Zygolex l Codeword l Sudoku l idoku l Word Wheel
52 games puzzles 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Zygolex® CRYPTIC CROSSWORD No 3731 BY PHI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Solution to yesterday’s Cryptic 8 HO N N T H GE S Y I D S P E A P E L P A OU S R S L OG I T AG M B U O UN R I N N I M S T R 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 P L A T F L N A A NGE L I L L CH E S S E R H PO A R R P R A C T O M S U B PO T L D A R I S E T N O E NG I N 22 23 24 25 26 ACROSS 1 Bird requiring introduction of odd cage, note, one with many sides (9) 6 Agreement in Berlin about a very rich sort of coffee (4) 10 Fitzgerald’s era? Generation with wits running wild is about right (7,8) 11 Run, missing first place? Nothing magical about me (6) I C U T S T Z O M D S U ON I GO N OR E I C U P E OR A I T I E N G N Full rules at www.zygolex.com BRIDGE E S CHOO L O R O A D A YG L O Q T A S RUR I E NC E E D E R E L A T I ON N G E D I ON E R F N P A A S T HROB H N O A GE RON T I C B U O U E A RN I NGS 24 Though unkempt, not a bad clearing where specialist plants grow (9,6) 8 English occupying street and road during two mornings in European city (9) 25 Sentimental nonsense applied to female in error (4) 9 26 Tragic ship, Italian, at sea with American on board (9) 13 Ugly boil about to appear in face – very unpleasant (10) DOWN 14 Mania for cartooning as a form of weapon (9) 14 Policeman at fault, taking time to wipe out fine (9) 2 Anything supplied by doctor is a dose of medicine? (7) 15 Quietly moved goalposts, initially between editions (5) 3 Unfriendly image leading to concern about new chef’s special? (6,3,5) 4 Suppress article making little sense (4) 5 PA, say, freshly appointed, learned about residing in US city (4,6) ANOINT FAN PAINT 4 TRASH 5 3 4 TUT 3 3 PEG 3 3 6 LAB 3 PLEAD GURGLE RID BUNGLE RHYME SCARLET LETTERS MEANING Mensa® Brain Number Teasers Square Zygolex (from left to right) - span; point; tat; 17 Request reduced openings for research officers using test-tubes (2,5) 19 Daughter engaged in relaxation in new North London location (7) 22 Historic garment seen around origin of native island state (5) 23 Endless luxury is a bonus (4) playbeg; Fill the empty l Replace each setspat; of dashes with an eightdoe; dot; row; cow; cot; rob;How bed;tolob; squares with numbers that letter word. Both words burgle; red.must contain the will make the across and down same eight letters. What are the words? calculations produce the results For safety reasons, the manager _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ shown in the grey squares. Each on _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in the workplace numeral from 1 to 9 must only appear once. The calculations l On a coach day-trip, tickets were sold for should be performed from two lunch deals. Option 1 was £15 for lunch left to right and top to only; option 2 was £20 for lunch with drinks. bottom, rather than in strict One-third of the people paid for option 1 mathematical order. and one quarter for option 2. If £160 was collected, how many passengers were on the coach? Easier Solution, page 56 1 0 0 1 5 0 3 2 1 1 3 1 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 3 2 6 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 3 0 2 2 1 1 1 3 3 TOSS A source of uplift, making Satan President, possibly (14) Minesweeper 0 1 1 1 1 3 DEER 3 3 l What letters should replace the question marks? BHAE GFDH AFEC CBAE AAFB ???? How to play Find all the mines in the grid. Numbers in certain squares indicate how many mines there are in the neighbouring squares, including diagonally touching squares. Mines cannot be placed in squares with numbers. WOE 3 M Helping to keep Bishop standing (7) Cylinder filled with first of Ukraine’s wheat (5) 20 Attractive duck board with front scrubbed (8) A C R O N Y M S 7 1 18 Contrived phrase to support Reagan, say, the writer’s recalled (9) G A M B L E R 21 Literary lion beginning to talk in oblique manner (6) 12 Sea horse? I’m behind it being captured (8) 16 Ferdinand, say, appearing among working stars (5) P P I NGB A A E I S U B A T O T U C R A L L H A I NG S CH E E E A C T R E R E S V A NG L E I H O S S E A U T A A D E CD I AGR A Solution to last Saturday’s Cryptic 19 20 S L E I G H T Find the missing words by following the RHYME, LETTERS and MEANING links – eg, a word that rhymes with ‘cheek’, has one letter different from ‘pear’ and has the same meaning as mountain, would be ‘peak’. Full rules at zygolex.com. Find the missing words by following the RHYME, LETTERS and MEANING links, e.g. a word Solutions, page 56 that rhymes with ‘cheek’, has the same meaning as ‘mountain’ and has one letter different from RHYME LETTERS MEANING ‘pear’, would be ‘peak’. Note: only one letter is changed in a Letters link. 0 0 2 1 0 How to play This is an open-ended puzzle. How many words of three or more letters, each including the letter at centre of the B O wheel, can you make from U Y this diagram? R We’ve found 39, including one D G nine-letter word. A D Solutions, page 56 1 + + + x 9 - + + - Curious about IQ? Take the workout, mensa.org.uk Word Wheel 0 1 2 x 42 0 0 + 8 15 - - 13 -7 -10 Harder x x + - ÷ 8 3 1 + x x -6 + 24 7 13
games puzzles 53 Solutions minURL.co.uk/i Killer Sudoku Jigsawdoku How to play Each row, column and 3 by 3 box must contain each number (1 to 9) only once. The sum of all numbers contained in a dotted area must match the number printed in its top-left corner. No number can appear more than once in a dotted area. How to play Place the numbers 1-9 once in each row, column and bold-lined jigsaw region. 9 15 14 16 18 16 12 5 5 11 4 8 4 7 15 9 3 15 3 15 15 14 4 11 12 11 11 14 16 5 12 15 12 12 5 18 idoku Exclusive to i Easier In addition to the usual constraints, each numeral from 1 to 9 must appear (once only) in the squares forming the red letter i. 5 2 7 1 6 3 3 5 6 3 2 5 6 9 1 3 6 4 9 4 8 9 2 3 1 8 8 1 4 8 1 9 5 7 6 3 1 2 1 6 9 4 1 2 2 9 5 4 4 8 Codeword No 3473 How to play As traditional sudoku, but numbers along the path of an arrow must also add up to the circled square at the top of each arrow. 9 5 14 The numbers in the grid correspond to the letters of the alphabet. Solve the puzzle and fill in the letters in the key as you discover them. Three letters are provided to give you a start. The solution will be printed in Monday’s paper; the solution to yesterday’s codeword is on page 56. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 G M 23 2 Word Ladder How to play Convert the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom of it, using only the four rungs in between. On each rung, you must put a valid fourletter word that is identical to the word above it, apart from a one-letter change. There may be more than one way of achieving this. 3 7 8 2 7 9 2 4 8 4 1 2 9 7 5 3 6 1 4 1 9 8 9 1 3 4 2 7 4 6 15 15 20 25 23 24 20 6 11 11 A 26 20 18 25 15 5 25 3 17 9 7 9 13 9 20 13 4 8 4 7 8 14 15 24 11 25 20 25 24 15 11 24 11 16 18 11 20 4 25 4 22 13 5 19 2 4 13 3 20 23 15 26 14 25 11 11 24 20 16 24 25 18 24 23 25 11 15 25 4 26 21 3 2 11 19 18 25 11 1 20 16 25 25 3 10 25 5 24 14 14 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Concise Crossword No 3795 1 2 3 4 8 5 6 7 9 LOOM 10 COPY 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 LIME 5 25 Need a little help getting started? Then call for up to four extra clue letters on 0901 292 5204. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge (if you are having trouble with the phone service, call the helpline: 0333 202 3390). Or text THEI CLUE to 85100 to receive your clues. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge (if you are having trouble with the text service, call the helpline: 0333 335 3351). Clues change each day at midnight. TIES 11 15 12 3 1 15 11 4 7 1 6 3 5 2 6 8 14 Sudokarrow 3 Sudoku 21 18 ACROSS DOWN 1 4 8 9 10 11 12 15 19 20 21 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 14 16 17 18 Military body (5) Destroyed (7) Wishy-washy (7) Kinship group (5) Debased (11) Stitched join (4) Skin eruption (4) Acting without restraint (11) Stretchy fabric (5) Intense desire (7) Sleep (Babyish) (3-4) Give up (5) Stylishly fashionable (4) Remainder (7) Additional (13) Matrimonial (6) Very unusual (13) Cutlery item (5) Squirrel’s nest (4) Infertile (7) Travelling entertainment (6) Mother-of-pearl (5) Body fat (4) Old (4) Stuck on the concise crossword? Then call our solutions line on 0906 751 0201. Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. If you are having trouble accessing this number, please call our helpdesk on 0333 202 3390. 20 22 Solution to yesterday’s Concise Crossword ACROSS 1 Mao, 3 Strap (Mousetrap), 7 Assist, 8 Podium, 9 Material, 10 Chew, 11 Dishevelled, 15 Area, 17 Filament, 19 Snails, 20 Sextet, 21 Seamy, 22 Pun. DOWN 1 Mustard, 2 On ice, 3 Sepal, 4 Radical, 5 Plume, 6 Strike, 12 Stamina, 13 Enlist, 14 Dungeon, 16 Runes, 17 Fishy, 18 Mix-up.


games 54 puzzles 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Solutions minURL.co.uk/i Kakuro Word Fit Binary How to play Fill the white squares so that the total in each across or down run of cells matches the total at the start of that run. You must use the numbers from 1-9 only and cannot repeat a number in a run. How to play Can you fit all the words into the grid to complete the puzzle? Some words may initially fit in more than one place, but there is only one way to fit all the words together to complete the grid. How to play Complete the grid so that each row and column contains five 0s and five 1s. The same number cannot appear in more than two consecutive squares in any row or column. In the finished puzzle, each row must have a different sequence of 0s and 1s to any other row, and likewise for each column. 7 3 letters 3 letters Gem Gem Mop Mop Pop Pop Way Way Who Who 4 letters 4 letters Moon Moon Oval Oval Rook Rook Ruts Ruts Vets Vets 5 letters letters Bebop Bebop Chaff Chaff Chess Chess Frame Frame Soaks Soaks 6 letters 6 letters Caress Caress Locale Locale Shelve Shelve Soiree 7Soiree letters 7 letters Cunning Musings Cunning Partway Musings Proxies Partway Quiches Proxies 25 12 29 28 17 8 16 6 4 17 16 17 24 23 23 6 12 13 3 25 24 12 7 4 17 10 9 6 16 24 How to play Locate the position of each of the ships listed below in the grid. Numbers around the edge tell you the number of ship segments in each row and column of the puzzle. Ships are surrounded on all sides by water, including diagonally. 1 8 6 5 4 1 1 3 2 9 2 2 1 1 0 1 3 3 3 0 2 2 0 1 4 5 3 1 3 0 4 4 1 6 1 0 1 5 1 4 2 3 2 4 6 0 2 5 0 6 4 4 0 5 6 6 1 0 2 6 6 3 6 5 4 2 3 3 0 1 0 1 4 5 3 3 4 4 1 5 5 1 5 6 5 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 91 0 3 0 6 1 0 1 4 2 3 0 2 5 0 6 4 4 0 6 2 6 52 6 6 3 2 1 6 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 5 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 2 1 3 5 1 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 1 2 4 I 1 5 2 4 K 3 2 2 2 3 A F G H L M N O R S T U V W Y Z 2 1 1 2 How to play Place each of the letters below once into the empty hexagons, crossing them off as you do so. Enter the letters in such a way that it is possible to find all the words listed alongside the grid by moving from hexagon to adjacent hexagon to spell out each word. 3 3 2 Hexalex 3 4 4 4 3 7 3 91 0 4 1 4 4 3 5 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 5 2 9 2 2 4 3 3 3 2 3 42 46 5 1 4 7 1 3 3 4 2 3 3 4 3 2 3 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 6 3 4 2 2 2 2 6 1 0 0 0 How to play Connect every island (represented by circles) into a single interconnected group. To do this draw bridges between islands. The number in each circle states how many bridges must be connected to that island. Bridges cannot cross each other, can only be drawn horizontally or vertically, and there can be a maximum of two bridges between any pair of islands. 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 How to play Each hexagon is divided into six triangles. The sum of these six triangles is always 25. Place a number from 1-9 in each empty triangle to complete the puzzle; you cannot repeat a number within a hexagon. 9 Locate the position of each of the ships Locate the position of each of thearound ships listed below in the grid. Numbers listed belowtell in the around the edge yougrid. the Numbers number of ship the edge in telleach yourow theand number segments columnofofship the segments in each row and column the puzzle. Ships are surrounded on allof sides puzzle. are surrounded by water,Ships including diagonally. on all sides by water, including diagonally. 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 Bridges 4 Dominoes 0 1 Number Hexagon 2 2 2 1 1 3 3 Locate the position of each of the ships 2 listed below in the grid. Numbers3around the edge tell you the number 3of ship segments 4 in1each row 5 and 0column1 2of the 2 1 puzzle. Ships are surrounded on 1 all sides by water, including diagonally. 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 1 0 3 3 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 006 1 5 0 1 1 2 3 2 1 0 6 1 5 0 1 1 How to play Each 3 2 of the 28 domino 1 pieces from 0-0 3 through to 6-6 have 0 1 1 been placed once 5 into the grid. Can you work out where 5 each of them are placed? 5 0 0 0 Quiches Battleships 0 1 3 1 2 2 1 4 2 COY COY E CZAR CZAR FRAY ILK FRAY JUMP ILK MUTE X C SAVING JUMP J D SAX MUTE WHO YARD SAVING P A F G H L M N O R S T U V W Y Z SAX WHO YARD
CHILDREN’S PUZZLES WO Elements R D SE A RC H Chemical X H C E P E Z L M S H R R A O U I K U H E O Y D I Z R L N Q I L P D G Z B O K L V P X N X O F E E R O V O Y S V N H R O C R G N Y D F P I U M P K G I E C S O D E N L F T W E O N M N N C N I Z CARBON MCOPPER AT C H I N G S HELIUM HARK 1 HYDROGEN How to play CanIRON you find the matching shark? K N L OXYGEN ROU T E WO R D How to play Can you find Three of How the to numbers thenumbers box below play Threein of the in the add up to 101. the words in box below add up to 101. But can you work the grid? They But can you work out what those three numbers are? out what those three numbers are? may be written horizontally, vertically or diagonally, and either forwards or backwards. START 39 30 29 14 34 23 CARBON COPPER HELIUM HYDROGEN IRON NEON OXYGEN SILVER SODIUM ZINC 25 11 10 18 L E T T E R Bat 1 5 5 3 7 Can you find the matching shark? 2 6 3 4 4 Can you find the matching shark? 2 7 N G CLUES l Moving to music (7) l Type of tree-dwelling ape (6) l Body part used for smelling (4) l Mistake; fault (5) l What a car drives on (4) l Waterbird that quacks (4) SPOT TH E DIFFER ENCE F I T 3 letters 4 letters Bat 4 letters Gull Gull Ibis Ibis Moth Moth Orca Orca Tern Tern 5 letters 5 letters Civet Civet Eagle Eagle Heron Heron Lemur Lemur Perch Perch Quail Quail Robin Shrew Robin Swift Shrew Whale Swift 6 letters Whale Spider 6 letters 7 letters Spider Catfish Herring 7 letters Pelican Catfish 8 letters Herring Mongoose 1 3 K END Can you spot the 6 differences between the two pictures? Type of tree-dwelling ape (6) Can youBodyspot the 6 differences between the two pictures? part used for smelling (4) How to play Fill the grid with the words given in the list. ZINC 6 R D 13 38 How to play Solve the crossword-style clues below to fill the grid, writing one letter per square. The last letter of each answer is the first letter of the next answer. These have been written in for you, along with the first and last letter of the whole puzzle. D E SODIUM Each word only has one position and must fit exactly in the given3squares letters 2 minURL.co.uk/puzzles Moving to music (7) NEON SILVER H SUM FINDER Solutions HowMistake; to playfault Can(5)you spot the 6 differences between the two pictures? What a car drives on (4) Waterbird that quacks (4) 4 Pelican 8 letters NUMBER PY R A M I D Mongoose HEX MAZE ↓ How to play The value of each square in the number pyramid is the sum of the two squares directly under it 186 242 73 77 41 15 11 133 45 13 12 How to play Find your way out of the grid, entering at the entrance arrow. You must follow only one path which does not cut corners, jump walls or repeat itself. WO R D BUILDER ↓ How to play Answers to every clue contain only the letters in the grid, are five letters long and include the central letter. L E T K A I R P N l Coloured substance put on walls l Fourth month of the year lColoured Part of a flower substance put on l Joint of the foot Fourth month of the year Part of a flower Joint of the foot walls
games 56 puzzles 1 2 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 3 4 5 6 7 11 INQUISITOR 13 No 1787 15 10 14 16 17 18 20 21 23 22 24 26 29 9 12 19 Moggie by Chalicea 14 supposedly said “13 46”. An extra letter in addition to those needed for the solution is produced in 24 clues. These letters, in clue order, give an instruction concerning the subject of the title. 8 27 30 25 28 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 ACROSS 1 7 11 12 13 18 19 22 23 24 26 27 39 Condemn unheard tubby fellow without research and justice (8) Sidestep American car company (5) A female active environmentalist may be so incorruptible (8) Measure minute storage organ (4) See preamble (11, 3 words) Newspaper cautiously includes illuminating comment (6) One not difficult to persuade nastily cheats you (9, 2 words) In Edinburgh endure opening of French bank (4) Prominent saint; foreigner at heart (7) Reactionary liberated southern villein (4) Committing murder in Vegas, taking risks removing dead (5) Commotion about iron explosive devices (5) 44 40 41 42 45 46 46 See preamble (11, 3 words) 29 Acquire advanced footwear (4) 31 Tone rebranded intermittently in art-deco (7) 34 Circular vessel in echinoderms, curiously arcing neatly now and then (9) 36 What could be in rose and red stain (5) 37 Surrendered produce heartlessly exposed (7) 39 Tin ware not essentially advised in lavatory (4) 41 Lusted-after teacher caught in act (7) 44 Retrograde racy vehicle (3) 45 Heard woman use offensive language for feminine clothing (10) DOWN 2 3 Soaks eroded spots (4) English beer might have been foul for Falstaff (4) Rogue’s toe injured section of snake (8) Dissipated duke framing king over casual look (5) Embraces troubled cleaners (7) Inane fellow’s dead – requiescat in pace! (4) Ordinary money some say for oafish Aussie yobs (6) Female animal runs – an active one (4) 4 5 6 7 8 9 ABC Logic How to play Place the numbers from 1-5 exactly once in each row and column. The greater than and less than signs (‘>’ and ‘<’) indicate where one cell is greater/less than the adjacent cell indicated. How to play Place the letters A, B and C only once in each row and column. Each row and column has two blank cells. The letters at the edge of a row/column indicate which of the letters is the first/last to appear in that row/column. < > 2 < C B C A < < < 4 > < < C A A < < < A 3 A C B C The i Book of Codewords Vol 14 Featuring 100 brand new codewords. Available on Amazon for £4.99. See minURL.co.uk/ codewordsvol14 R E L I N Q U I S H E P D C E I N L A Y P H O E B E D A R D L E A D U S E R E R A Y ME B L U E L A A F N I C E E S A T P R E A R R A N G E B A B O A L E P D TWE DM I R I D L E E E D T B L E T Y E R A I T E R D E D A U D E A T H T R A P N U T T Y I T I T I D N E I E R O T I C E D NO RW O N L A S T S H Y E V E A L Solution to 1785 A Face To Be Reckoned With by Serpent The 22 bars inserted mark off the 1,1,2,3,5-scaled boundaries on a Fibonacci clock, which uses combinations of red, green and blue colours to represent the time to the closest five minutes. Extra letters in clues give CHRETIEN FIBONACCI CLOCK DISPLAYING SIX TEN. Of the various ways to represent 6:10, only two meet the stipulations; the letters of BLUE indicating which option is correct. Give Me a Clue Compilers Filbert (“Tandem riders got home (3-2,3-4)”) and Bluth (“Somehow R2D2 showed up (8)” and “C3PO satisfied TV show’s gauge of audience approval (10)”) were up to no good in last week’s Independent. To parse the clues, solvers needed to cross-reference other solutions in their respective puzzles. If you haven’t solved the puzzles or visited the blogs at FifteenSquared, I wonder if you can deduce what the other solutions are – and where in the puzzles they were located. We should have been alerted to Filbert’s impish mood. The first clue in the same puzzle? “Spooner’s rubbish dump is a disciplined operation (5,4)”. John Henderson (Nimrod), @enigmatistelgar B WORD WHEEL Nine-letter word bodyguard Other words bar, bard, boar, board, bra, brag, bray, broad, bury, dour, drab, drag, dray, drub, drug, dry, garb, gory, gourd, grab, grub, guard, gyro, oar, orb, our, rag, ray, road, rob, rod, rub, ruby, ruddy, rug, rugby, yard, your MENSA BRAIN TEASERS 1. Insisted and tidiness 2. 32 3. DDCC. Replace each letter with its alphabetical value, then subtract the second row from the top row to get the bottom row 5-CLUE CROSSWORD Across: 4/5 Battery charger, 6 Al-leg-ed* Down: 1 RA-thole*, 2 Stor-I-es, 3 Ordered ZYGOLEX LEFT TO RIGHT: span; point; tat; doe; spat; dot; row; cow; cot; rob; bed; lob; beg; burgle; red JUMBO CROSSWORD Across 10 Michael Smith, 13 Blame It On Rio, 14 Carlsberg, 15 Random Harvest, 16 Bill Nighy, 17 Alan Carr, 18 Eroica, 20 Fitzgerald, 22 Batavia, 23/35 Cecil Beaton, 26 Water gas, 28 Your Song, 30 Maine, 34 Scandium, 36 Antigens, 38 Mayflies, 39 Al Gore, 40 Dolittle, 42 Ayala, 43 Demerara, 44 Negligee, 47 Wurst, 49 Belfast, 51 Laver bread, 55 Stanza, 56 The Tymes, 57 Borromini, 60 Robert Redford, 61 Emil Nolde, 62 Gloria Gaynor, 63 Easter Sunday Down 1 Air chief marshal, 2 Cheryl, 3 Pershing, 4/58 Piggy Malone, 5 Dakota Fanning, 6 Reg Harris, 7 (Richard) Starkey, 9 Pistachio, 11 Shepherd’spurse, 12/19 Harold Lloyd, 13 Bonanza, 21 The Gadfly, 24 Auvergne, 25 Farthing, 27 Godzilla, 29/31 Saturday Night Live, 32 La donna è mobile, 33 Independence Day, 37 Janet Fielding, 41 Dakar, 45 Butterfly, 46/8 Yesterday Once More, 48 Songbird, 50 Seymour, 52 Baroness, 53 Hadrian, 54 Beadle, 59 Verso FRIDAY’S CODEWORD 3472 1 2 14 15 3 4 5 6 16 17 18 19 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 M N V D B A X Y C P S ALL NEW PUZZLES The i Book of Concise Crosswords Vol 15 With 100 brand new puzzles. Available on Amazon for £4.99. See minURL.co.uk/ crosswordsvol15 Solvers may e-mail queries and comments to nimrod1@jetdoc.co.uk at any time. Twitter @enigmatistelgar You can comment about today’s puzzle after 10am on 31 January at fifteensquared.net, which hosts a weekly blog. Puzzle solutions Futoshiki > 43 10 Food stores selling processed river congers (7) 14 See preamble (8) 15 Rejected grass clutching signal for plotter (8) 16 24-hour period at home producing letter (4) 17 Not completely reciprocal upset over northern year resembling late season (7) 20 Narrow opening in singular mechanism for raising vessels (4) 21 Engaged for money, lacking Rubles, made haste (4) 25 With no limits bearing net (4) 27 Frustrated fellow, slightly intoxicated (6) 28 Marine creature primarily swimming employing flippers and tip of tail (4) 30 Eastern company mother paid initially for diagram of family’s local interactions (6) 32 Critically examine rising or elevated poetic enthusiasm (5) 33 Six circle the French instrument (5) 35 According to Ed, put an end to interminable breaks in Parliament proceedings (5) 38 Small remnant of Democratic Germany returning (4) 40 Intertwine resinous substance (3) 41 Extremely calamitous with no right to come to an end (3) 42 Close attention (3) 43 Uninteresting and oddly dirty (3) The i Book of Puzzles Vol 3 With 100 puzzles. Available on Amazon for £4.99. See minURL.co.uk/ ibook3 For the full range of i puzzle books see minURL.co.uk/ibooks The i Book of Jigsawdoku Vol 4 Our fourth book of jigsawdokus has 100 brand new puzzles. Available on Amazon for £4.99. See minurl.co.uk/jigsaw4 F I G T H J Z L O E K U Q W R More solutions: minURL.co.uk/i For more puzzles, see www.clarity-media.co.uk Terms & Conditions SMS services on these pages are provided by BBA Digital Ltd, KT18 5AD, helpline: 0333 335 3351. Phone services on these pages are provided by Spoke AL10 9NA, helpline: 0333 202 3390, and by Advanced Telecom Services, EC1M 4BH. Helpline: 0330 333 6946.
culture 57 culture The five best this weekend TALKING POINT FILM BABYLON Damien Chazelle (he of La La Land) has a handle on creating mood – and the mood he creates in this portrait of 20s Hollywood is one of decadent depravity. With Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. TV WITHOUT SIN ITVX A four-part thriller starring Vicky McClure as a grieving mother who, in her search for answers about her daughter’s death, forms a bond with the man accused of her murder. PODCAST GET IT ON WITH DAWN O’PORTER Global Writer and presenter Dawn O’Porter talks to guests about why they wear what they wear, what inspires their style, and solves listeners’ fashion dilemmas. RADIO CLUBLAND BY PETE BROWN Radio 4/BBC Sounds Pete Brown’s history of working men’s clubs – from their founding by teetotal Rev Henry Solly to the booze-soaked heyday of seven million members. ALBUM MERCY By John Cale The veteran rocker is back with his first new material in a decade – and even at the age of 80, he’s as sonically experimental as ever as he addresses the sad state of the world. As cinema slaps its back, Spielberg chides himself Hollywood nostalgia is now box-office gold – but in his Oscar-tipped new film, the master explores the toll that film-making can take. By Christina Newland I n Steven Spielberg’s new loosely autobiographical family drama The Fabelmans, an adolescent boy, Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle), falls in love with the movies as his parents fall out of love with each other. Sammy is, of course, a version of Spielberg, who from a young age was encouraged to be creative and foster a love for the arts by his mother (here played by a phenomenal Michelle Williams), a sensitive former concert pianist who settled into the monotony of being a housewife to her scientist husband (Paul Dano). Her malaise becomes terminal as Sammy grows older, and he identifies with her, even though he doesn’t quite grasp how deep the problem really is. Again and again, The Fabelmans has been referred to as a “love letter to cinema”, but in truth it is something a little darker and more complex, and with much more of a sting in its tail. Early in the film, the family take young Sammy to see Cecil B DeMille’s 1952 epic The Greatest Show on Earth. The child becomes utterly obsessed with a violent scene of a train derailing, tinkering with a model train he requests from his parents to recreate the scene in miniature at home. Over time, Sammy’s obsession sees him pick up a camera, becoming a sort of mini-guerilla film-maker by enlisting his siblings to star in his backyard war films and westerns. The film world has been particularly fond of referencing itself of late: Damien Chazelle’s Babylon and Sam Mendes’s Empire of Light both also luxuriate in cinema nostalgia. That film-makers may be sentimental about the art of shooting a film or the ritual of movie-going is hardly surprising, but it sometimes feels like navel-gazing or self-congratulatory in the smug Hollywood self-love tradition. The film-maker’s absorption in their art can make them oblivious to their own lives But The Fabelmans has a rare intelligence, verve and melancholy. There are homages to beloved films like classic John Ford western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as well as Spielberg’s own movies, but it doesn’t hinge on saccharine sentiment. Rather, it gives a clear-eyed portrait of the unanticipated consequences of reaching for a camera and allowing it to record your reality. One of the film’s pivotal moments revolves around not one of Sammy’s made-up movies but a true story that he inadvertently captures: the loving gazes and arm touches between his mother and a beloved family friend (Seth Rogen). As Sammy realises that this romance has been unfolding in the margins of all the family home videos and skits he has shot, he also starts to understand that the power of cinema – and his impulse to make his films – is entwined with the breaking apart of his family home. It is a smart metaphor for how a film-maker’s absorption in their art can make them oblivious to their own realities, or lives. For a veteran hero of American cinema of many decades, now nearly 80 years old, that can’t help but feel like a self-conscious choice. For all that Spielberg has been accused of a certain brand of cutesiness in the past, in The Fabelmans he drops any pretence that strongly felt emotions or passions may hold a family, or a film, together. Much of this story is about how pursuing one’s art comes at a cost – and sometimes that cost is both deeply heartbreaking and inevitably formative. If The Fabelmans is a love letter to cinema, it is also a wistful, even selfreproaching, examination of the cost of creative passion. The Fabelmans (12A) is in cinemas on Friday Your seven-day guide to television, on-demand services and radio p58-71
58 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Saturday television CRITIC’S CHOICE Michael McIntyre’s Big Show 6.50pm, BBC One The BBC’s one-man answer to Ant and Dec welcomes a fresh roster of celebrities to his variety show – and unlike on The Wheel, they don’t have to risk motion sickness. Alison Hammond does, however, have to hand over her mobile phone for “Send to All”, while Peter Crouch is rudely awakened by “Midnight Gameshow”. Meanwhile, back at the Palladium, George Ezra performs his latest single. Secrets of the Royal Palaces Royal Family picked Windsor as their new name (going down rather better than Saxe-Coburg and Gotha during the First World War). The programme also examines the incident in 1981 when shots rang out during Trooping the Colour, with an account from the guard who confronted the shooter. Stock Aitken Waterman: Legends of Pop 6.45 Supertato (R) (S). 6.55 Shaun The Sheep (R) (S). 7.00 Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed! (R) (S). 7.15 Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese (R) (S). 7.25 The Football Academy (R) (S). 7.55 The Dengineers (R) (S). 8.25 Operation Ouch! (R) (S). 8.55 Newsround (S). 9.00 Blue Peter (R) (S). 9.30 Deadly Pole To Pole (R) (S). 10.00 Robot Wars: World Series (R) (S). 11.00 Serengeti III (R) (S). 12.00 The Hairy Bikers Go Local (R) (S). 1.00 Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start (R) (S). 1.30 Bowls: World Indoor Championships 2023 (S). 5.00 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job (R) (S). 5.30 Flog It! (R) (S). 6.00 CITV 9.25 ITV News (S). 9.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning (S). 11.40 James Martin’s French Adventure (R) (S). 12.10 ITV News; Weather (S). 12.25 Live Champions Cup Rugby Northampton Saints vs La Rochelle. Kick-off is at 1pm (S). 3.30 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (R) (S). 4.30 The Chase Celebrity Special (R) (S). 5.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 5.45 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.20 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 6.45 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.10 The King Of Queens (R) (S). 7.35 The King Of Queens (R) (S). 8.00 The King Of Queens (R) (S). 8.20 The Simpsons (R) (S). 9.20 The Simpsons (R) (S). 9.50 The Simpsons (R) (S). 10.20 The Simpsons (R) (S). 10.50 The Simpsons (R) (S). 11.20 The Simpsons (R) (S). 11.50 FILM: Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Mike Mitchell 2011) (S). 1.30 Four In A Bed (R) (S). 2.00 Four In A Bed (R) (S). 3.05 Four In A Bed (R) (S). 3.35 Four In A Bed (R) (S). 4.05 Location, Location, Location (R) (S). 5.05 A Lake District Farm Shop (R) (S). 6.00 Milkshake! 10.05 The Smurfs (R) (S). 10.15 SpongeBob SquarePants (R) (S). 10.25 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 10.30 Friends (R) (S). 11.00 Friends (R) (S). 11.25 Friends (R) (S). 11.55 Friends (R) (S). 12.25 FILM: 13 Going On 30 (Gary Winick 2004) Romantic comedy, starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo (S). 2.30 FILM: Never Been Kissed (Raja Gosnell 1999) Romantic comedy, with Drew Barrymore and Michael Vartan (S). 4.30 Michael Ball’s Wonderful Wales (S). 6PM 6.05 Celebrity Bridge Of Lies (S). 6.50 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show With Alison Hammond (S). 6.00 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (R) (S). 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase With Charlie Brooks, Jimmi Harkishin and Siobhan McSweeney (S). 6.05 Channel 4 News (S). 6.35 FILM: Mission: Impossible 2 (John Woo 2000) Action thriller sequel (S). 6.00 5 News Weekend (S). 6.05 Edward & Sophie: The Reliable Royals (R) (S). 7PM 7.50 That’s My Jam Tom Grennan and Patsy Palmer take on Tom Ellis and Billy Boyd (S). 7.00 Waterhole: Africa’s Animal Oasis The team uncovers the new dynamics of night-time (R) (S). 7.00 The Masked Singer Five incognito celebrities take to the stage (S). 8.50 Casualty Jan returns to work but things remain awkward between her and Sah (S). 8.00 The Witch Hunts: Lucy Worsley Investigates (R) (S). 8.30 Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win Conall and Michael return to continue (S). 9PM 9.40 Not Going Out Lee promises Lucy he will try to be more friendly with other parents (R) (S). 9.00 Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World New series (S). 9.30 The John Bishop Show Comedy chat show (S). 10.10 BBC News; Weather (S). 10.30 Match Of The Day Action from the latest Premier League fixtures (S). 10.00 Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World Chuck D explores rap in the 1980s (S). 10.15 ITV News (S). 10.30 Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad (R) (S). 11.50 FILM: The Railway Man (Jonathan Teplitzky 2013) Fact-based drama, starring Colin Firth (S). 11.00 Behind The Beat Special: Public Enemy (R) (S). 11.30 Hip Hop At The BBC (R) (S). 10.55 English Football League Highlights (S). 1.45 BBC News (S). 12.35 Top Of The Pops (R) (S). 1.35 FILM: Persian Lessons (Vadim Perelman 2020) Holocaust drama, starring Nahuel Pérez Biscayart (S). 3.35 This Is BBC Two (S). 12.50 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 Unwind With ITV (S). 4.15 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (R) (S). LATE 8PM DAYTIME 6.00 Breakfast (S). 10.00 Saturday Kitchen Live (S). 11.30 The Great Food Guys (S). 12.00 Football Focus (S). 1.00 BBC News; Weather (S). 1.15 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 2.00 Money For Nothing (R) (S). 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 3.45 Garden Rescue (R) (S). 4.30 Final Score (S). 5.15 BBC News (S). 5.25 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 5.35 Celebrity Mastermind (S). 10PM 8.30pm, Channel 5 From Kylie, Sonia and Rick Astley to Jason Donovan, Bananarama and Sinitta, there was a time in the late 80s when you couldn’t turn on your radio without hearing a song written and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. This two-part look at 11PM Alison Hammond bravely hands over her phone to Michael McIntyre, 6.50pm, BBC One 7.30pm, Channel 5 Behind-the-scenes tales of Windsor Castle, looking at the Welsh Cottage and the Waterloo Chamber, and revealing why the radio the sometimes fractured history of SAW’s so-called “assembly line” begins with their breakthrough with American drag star Divine. Casualty 8.50pm, BBC One An unseaworthy-looking boat is washed up on a beach with a cargo of distressed passengers. Asylum seekers ferried by people smugglers would seem to be the suggestion – although would they have landed anywhere near Holby in the far south-west of England? Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World 9pm, BBC Two What promises to be a definitive, four-part history of hip-hop begins with the social roots of music described here by Grandmaster Flash’s Melle Mel as “the bastard son of disco”. The so-called “white flight” from inner-city New York in the 60s and 70s, and the politically orchestrated “benign neglect” of poorer neighbourhoods such as the Bronx, created the conditions that spawned rap and hip-hop. Public Enemy’s Chuck D (an executive producer on the series), meanwhile, describes the genre’s evolution from escapist party tunes to powerful protest songs. Mystery Road: Origin 9pm, BBC Four The final two episodes of this excellent Aussie noir prequel series wrap up the twin mysteries Chuck D recalls the early years of hip-hop 9pm, BBC Two Kylie Minogue features in a look back over Stock, Aitken and Waterman’s pop hits 8.30pm, Channel 5 Anousha finds a lead in ‘Mystery Road: Origin’ 9pm, BBC Four 7.30 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces Behind-thescenes tales of Windsor Castle (S). 7.00 Arctic With Bruce Parry The explorer learns about the importance of hunting to Inuit communities (S). 6.40 FILM: Mortal Engines (Christian Rivers 2018) Fantasy adventure, starring Hera Hilmar (S). 8.30 Stock Aitken Waterman: Legends Of Pop The career of the songwriting and production trio (S). 8.00 Sicily: Wonder Of The Mediterranean Michael Scott traces the history of Sicily (S). 9.00 FILM: Infinite (Antoine Fuqua 2021) Premiere. Sci-fi thriller, starring Mark Wahlberg (S). 9.00 Mystery Road: Origin (S). 9.55 Mystery Road: Origin Last in the series (S). 9.00 FILM: Red Sparrow (Francis Lawrence 2018) Spy thriller, starring Jennifer Lawrence (S). 6.00 Unwind With ITV (S). 6.20 Coronation Street Omnibus (S). 9.10 Secret Crush (S). 10.10 Dress To Impress (S). 11.10 Dress To Impress (S). 12.10 Catchphrase (S). 12.55 FILM: Step Up 2: The Streets (Jon Chu 2008) Drama, starring Briana Evigan (S). 3.00 FILM: Goosebumps (Rob Letterman 2015) Fantasy adventure, starring Jack Black (S). 5.05 FILM: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn 2013) Animated comedy sequel, with the voice of Bill Hader (S). 6.55 FILM: Yes Man (Peyton Reed 2008) Comedy, starring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel (S). 9.00 Love Island: Unseen Bits Exclusive content from the first week in the villa (S). 10.05 Kavos Weekender David is isolating in his hotel room after catching coronavirus (S). 10.05 Stock Aitken Waterman: Greatest Hits – Part 1 (S). 10.50 Early Doors Joan and Eddie celebrate their anniversary (S). 11.05 FILM: Triple 9 (John Hillcoat 2016) Crime thriller, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (S). 11.30 Country Music Queens: All The Hits And More Featuring Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline (R) (S). 11.20 Early Doors Melanie meets her real father (S). 11.50 To The Manor Born (S). 11.45 FILM: Berberian Sound Studio (Peter Strickland 2012) Thriller, starring Toby Jones (S). 11.00 Family Guy Peter and Lois open a cookie store (S). 11.30 Family Guy (S). 1.15 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S). 2.05 Couples Come Dine With Me (R) (S). 3.00 Hollyoaks Omnibus (R) (S). 5.05 Location, Location, Location (R) (S). 1.25 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.25 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.30 The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard (R) (S). 4.20 Edwardian Britain In Colour (R) (S). 5.05 House Busters (R) (S). 12.20 The Many Faces Of June Whitfield (S). 1.20 Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The Border (S). 2.35 Arctic With Bruce Parry (S). 3.35 Close 1.40 FILM: Picnic At Hanging Rock (Peter Weir 1975) Period mystery, starring Rachel Roberts (S). 4.00 Close 12.00 American Dad! (S). 12.30 American Dad! (S). 12.55 Hey Tracey! (S). 2.00 All American (S). 2.50 Unwind With ITV (S). 3.00 Teleshopping
culture surrounding the deaths of Mary’s brother and Jay’s father. The latter investigation pivots around an outsider who has been paying local indigenous people to obstruct the mines, while lawyer Anousha (Salme Geransar) makes a breakthrough when scouring the local newspaper library. FILM CHOICE Atlantic Crossing 9pm, Drama The focus of this lavish costume drama shifts from wartime Norway to Washington DC, where the exiled crown princess Martha (The Bridge’s Sofia Helin) strikes up a flirtatious relationship with Franklin D Roosevelt (played by Kyle MacLachlan). Gerard Gilbert 13 Going on 30 12.25pm, Channel 5 (Gary Winick, 2004) A gawky 13-year-old embarrasses herself at her birthday party and wishes she could somehow be magically transformed into someone older and more popular. And because this is blatantly just the Tom Hanks comedy Big remade for girls, she wakes up as beautiful and successful magazine editor Jennifer Garner. Predictable but wholly likeable, thanks to Garner. Infinite Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo star in ‘13 Going on 30’, 12.25pm, Channel 5 9pm, Channel 4 (Antoine Fuqua, 2021) Mark Wahlberg stars amid a lot of frenetic lore-laden sci-fi action as a schizophrenic who learns he 6.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 7.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 8.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 9.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 10.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 11.00 Grimm (R) (S). 12.00 Grimm (R) (S). 1.00 Grimm (R) (S). 2.00 Grimm (R) (S). 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 4.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 5.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 6.00 Rude(ish) Tube (S). 6.25 Don’t Tell The Bride (S). 7.20 Don’t Tell The Bride (S). 8.20 Supernanny USA (S). 9.20 Lego Masters Australia (S). 10.35 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 12.05 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 1.05 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 2.05 Modern Family (S). 2.35 Modern Family (S). 3.05 Modern Family (S). 3.35 The Big Bang Theory (S). 4.05 The Big Bang Theory (S). 4.35 The Big Bang Theory (S). 5.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 5.35 The Big Bang Theory (S). 8.55 Food Unwrapped (S). 9.30 A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (S). 10.25 A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (S). 11.30 A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (S). 12.35 Location, Location, Location (S). 1.35 Location, Location, Location (S). 2.40 Come Dine With Me (S). 3.10 Come Dine With Me (S). 3.40 Come Dine With Me (S). 4.15 Come Dine With Me (S). 4.50 Come Dine With Me (S). 5.20 Four In A Bed (S). 5.50 Four In A Bed (S). 6.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.30 The Big Bang Theory Amy and Sheldon start a gossip experiment (S). 6.25 Four In A Bed (S). 6.55 Four In A Bed The final stay is at Higher Gitcombe in Totnes, Devon (S). 6.00 Agatha Raisin Part one of two. Agatha’s friend Sarah is accused of murder (R) (S). 7.00 FILM: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Jonathan Liebesman 2014) Fantasy adventure (S). 7.25 Four In A Bed The B&B owners meet for the last time and try to settle some scores (S). 7.00 Agatha Raisin Part two of two. Agatha fights to clear Sarah’s name (R) (S). 8.00 Escape To The Chateau In the spring, the family turn their attention to the beloved walled garden (S). 8.00 Flintoff: From Lord’s to the Ring Andrew Flintoff meets boxing legend Mike Tyson (R) (S). 9.00 Celebrity Gogglebox Shows including Big Brother: Best Shows Ever and Scarface are appraised (S). 9.00 24 Hours In A&E A 93-year-old man is injured by a hit-and-run driver (S). 9.00 A League of Their Own Road Trip: Dingle to Dover (R) (S). 9.00 Game Of Thrones Robb Stark marches south to avenge his father (R) (S). 10.00 Gogglebox Appraisals of The Masked Dancer and Married at First Sight UK (S). 10.00 24 Hours In A&E An eight-yearold boy falls 8ft onto concrete (S). 10.00 Hold The Front Page Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe work at the Yorkshire Post (R) (S). 10.05 Game Of Thrones Theon is reunited with his father on the Iron Islands (R) (S). 11.25 Des Jay and the police throw themselves into proving premeditation (S). 11.05 Gogglebox The critics share their opinions on Frozen Planet II (S). 11.05 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Jimmy Carr hosts the comedy quiz (S). 11.00 Banshee Hood reflects on his friendship with Job (R) (S). 11.10 Game Of Thrones Tyrion plots to identify Cersei’s spy on the small council (R) (S). 12.25 The Real “Des”: The Dennis Nilsen Story (S). 1.30 George And Mildred (S). 2.05 Unwind With ITV (S). 2.30 Teleshopping 12.05 First Dates (S). 1.10 Summer House (S). 2.10 Summer House (S). 3.05 Summer House (S). 3.55 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 4.45 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 12.10 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (S). 1.15 24 Hours In A&E (S). 2.15 24 Hours In A&E (S). 3.20 Food Unwrapped (S). 3.50 Close 12.00 Never Mind The Buzzcocks (R) (S). 12.45 Never Mind The Buzzcocks (R) (S). 1.30 Road Wars (R) (S). 2.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 3.00 NCIS: Los Angeles (R) (S).4.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S).5.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 12.15 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 1.20 The Wire (R) (S). 2.25 The Wire (R) (S). 3.30 Fish Town (R). 4.20 Fish Town (R). 5.10 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 6.00 George And Mildred (S). 6.40 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 8.40 Rosemary & Thyme (S). 9.45 Rosemary & Thyme (S). 10.45 Inspector Morse (S). 1.10 ITV Racing: Live From Ascot Coverage from Ascot and Haydock Park (S). 4.00 George And Mildred (S). 4.30 Inspector Morse (S). 6.45 Snooker: World Grand Prix Live coverage of the second semi-final (S). 10.15 Agatha Christie’s Poirot A man receives threatening letters (S). 6.00 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 7.00 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 8.00 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.10 The Sopranos (R) (S). 11.15 The Sopranos (R) (S). 12.20 The Sopranos (R) (S). 1.25 The Sopranos (R) (S). 2.30 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 3.35 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 4.40 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 5.45 Ray Donovan (R) (S). is actually an “infinite”, and the voices he hears are memories of his past selves. With sword fights between two warring clans of immortal souls, it is basically a Highlander update with bits of The Matrix and Wanted thrown in. White Riot 11pm, Sky Arts (Rubika Shah, 2019) Bursting with righteous indignation and punkish energy, this lively documentary recounts the formation in 1976 of Rock Against Racism, a grass-roots protest organisation that united Britain’s makers and fans of punk, ska and reggae in rooting out the skinhead element in their midst. Laurence Phelan Radio listings BBC Radio 1 6am Radio 1 Happy 7.00 Adele Roberts 10.00 Radio 1 Anthems 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Radio 1 Anthems 11.02 Katie Thistleton 1pm Matt And Jamie 4.00 Radio 1’s Dance Anthems 5.00 Radio 1’s Dance Anthems 6.00 Radio 1’s Dance Anthems 7.00 Radio 1’s Soundsystem Party With Jeremiah Asiamah 9.00 1Xtra’s Rap Show 11.00 Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show 12mdn’t Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Mix 12.30 Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Mix 1.00 Radio 1’s Classic Essential Mix 3.00 Future Dance Mix With Sarah Story 3.30 Pete Tong’s Hot Mix 4.00 Radio 1’s Dance Anthems 5.00 Radio 1 Relax BBC Radio 1Xtra 6.50 Ray Donovan Mickey manipulates an A-list star into working with him on a movie project (R) (S). 7.55 Game Of Thrones Robb’s bannermen make a momentous declaration (R) (S). 6am 1Xtra’s R&B Chill Mix 7.00 Saturday Breakfast 10.00 Nick Bright 1pm Joelah Noble 4.00 Sian Anderson And Tazer Black 7.00 1Xtraís Pre-Party Show With DJ Target 9.00 1Xtra’s Rap Show 11.00 Ace 12.30am Ace 1.00 1Xtra’s Throwback Party 2.00 1Xtra’s Cosmic Wind Down With Jamz Supernova 3.00 Mo Ayoub 5.00 Amapiano To AfroHouse BBC Radio 2 6am Sounds Of The 60s With Tony Blackburn 8.00 Dermot O’Leary 10.00 Claudia Winkleman 1pm Pick Of The Pops 2.00 Pick Of The Pops 3.00 Rylan On Saturday 6.00 Liza Tarbuck 8.00 Sounds Of The 80s With Gary Davies 10.00 Sounds Of The 90s With Fearne Cotton 11.00 Sounds Of The 90s With Fearne Cotton 12mdn’t Top Brass 1.00 Dance Sounds Of The 90s With Vernon Kay 2.00 The Best Of Radio 2’s Piano Room 4.00 Radio 2 In Concert – Annie Lennox 5.00 Tracks Of My Years BBC Radio 3 7am Breakfast 9.00 Record Review 11.45 Music Matters 12.30pm This Classical Life 1.00 Inside Music 3.00 Sound Of Cinema 4.00 Music Planet 5.00 J To Z 6.30 Opera On 3 10.00 New Music Show 12mdn’t Freeness 1.00 Through The Night BBC Radio 4 6am News And Papers 6.07 Open Country 6.30 Farming Today This Week 6.57 Weather 7.00 Today 9.00 Saturday Live 10.30 You’re Dead To Me 11.00 The Week In Westminster 11.30 From Our Own Correspondent 12noon News 12.04 Money Box 12.30 The News Quiz 12.57 Weather 1.00 News 1.10 Any Questions? 2.00 Any Answers? 2.45 39 Ways To Save The Planet 3.00 Drama: The Jungle Book 4.00 Weekend Woman’s Hour 5.00 Saturday PM 5.30 Political Thinking With Nick Robinson 5.54 Shipping Forecast 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.15 Loose Ends 7.00 Profile 7.15 This Cultural Life 8.00 Archive On 4: Profumo Confidential 9.00 Stone 9.45 Rabbit Remembered 10.00 News 10.15 The Moral Maze 11.00 Counterpoint 11.30 Poetry Please 12mdn’t Midnight News 12.15 Torn 12.30 Short Works 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20 Shipping Forecast 5.30 News Briefing 5.43 Bells On Sunday 5.45 Profile BBC Radio 4 LW 8.30am Yesterday In Parliament 12.01pm Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Jonathan Holloway: The Affair At Grover Station 7.30 Sharp: The Women Who Made An Art Of Having An Opinion Omnibus 8.45 Uncle Mort’s North Country 9.00 Ray’s A Laugh 9.30 The Eric Morecambe And Ernie Wise Show 10.00 Growing Pains 11.00 Jonathan Holloway: The Affair At Grover Station 12.30pm Sharp: The Women Who Made An 59 On Demand Hancock: Very Nearly an Armful UKTV Plus Jack Dee presents a featurelength tribute to the comedy legend Tony Hancock. Bling Empire Netflix New reality show focuses on the lives of wealthy Asian Americans. Truth Be Told Apple TV+ Drama in which a murder case that propels a truecrime podcaster to fame comes back to haunt her. Art Of Having An Opinion Omnibus 1.45 Uncle Mort’s North Country 2.00 Ray’s A Laugh 2.30 The Eric Morecambe And Ernie Wise Show 3.00 Growing Pains 4.00 Doctor Who: The War Doctor 5.00 Jonathan Holloway: The Affair At Grover Station 6.30 Sharp: The Women Who Made An Art Of Having An Opinion Omnibus 7.45 Uncle Mort’s North Country 8.00 Ray’s A Laugh 8.30 The Eric Morecambe And Ernie Wise Show 9.00 Growing Pains 10.00 Comedy Club: Chris Addison’s Civilization 10.30 Comedy Club: The Penny Dreadfuls Present: More Brothers Faversham 11.00 Comedy Club: Vent 11.30 Comedy Club: Old Harry’s Game 12mdn’t Aliens In The Mind 12.30 A Sting In The Tale 1.00 Jonathan Holloway: The Affair At Grover Station 2.30 Sharp: The Women Who Made An Art Of Having An Opinion Omnibus BBC 5 Live 6am Saturday Breakfast 9.00 Patrick Kielty 11.00 Fighting Talk 12noon 5 Live Sport 3.00 5 Live Sport 5.00 Sports Report 5.30 5 Live Sport 7.30 6-0-6 9.00 Geeta Guru-Murthy 10.00 5 Live Boxing 12mdn’t Newscast 1.00 Laura McGhie 5.00 Sports Desk BBC 6 Music 6am Amy Lamé 8.00 Radcliffe And Maconie 10.00 The Huey Show 1pm Jamz Supernova On 6 3.00 Gilles Peterson 6.00 The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show 9.00 The Blessed Madonna 12mdn’t Lose Yourself With 1.00 Lose Yourself With 2.00 Late In The Day Classic FM 7am Alan Titchmarsh 10.00 Aled Jones 1pm Alexander Armstrong 4.00 Moira Stuart’s Hall Of Fame Concert 7.00 Saturday Night At The Movies 9.00 David Mellor’s Melodies 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Katie Breathwick Absolute Radio 8am Frank Skinner 11.00 Sarah Champion 2pm Rock ’n’ Roll Football With Matt Forde 5.00 Andy Bush’s Indie Disco 7.00 Absolute Classic Rock Party With Claire Sturgess 10.00 Sophie K 4am Ross Buchanan Heart 9am Feel Good Weekend With JK&Kelly Brook 12noon Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Dev Griffin 4.00 Mark Wright 7.00 Heart’s Club Classics With Pandora Christie 11.00 Rezzy Ghadjar 1am Katrina Ridley TalkSPORT 6am Weekend Sports Breakfast 9.00 GameDay Warm Up 11.00 GameDay Exclusive 2.30pm GameDay Live 5.30 The GameDay Phone-In 7.30 The Mark Goldbridge Show 9.00 Fight Night 12mdn’t A TalkSPORT Special 1.00 Extra Time With Martin Kelner RADIO PICK Opera on 3 6.30pm, BBC Radio 3 A New York Met production of Donizetti’s romantic comedy L’Elisir d’amore, starring Golda Schultz (inset) and Javier Camarena. Donizetti’s tune-packed classic is a love story about a rich landowner and a poor peasant. Nemorino has fallen for his boss, the beautiful Adina, but when she agrees to marry someone else, his only hope is a fake love potion.
60 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Sunday television CRITIC’S CHOICE How to Live to 100 6.45pm, Channel 4 Jon Snow continues his “semiretirement” by travelling the globe and meeting communities that live healthily and happily into their “senior years”. First up, he visits a Christian community in California obsessed with healthy living. While life expectancy in the US is plummeting, the Seventh-Day Adventists of Loma Linda live 10 years longer than the average. But do the extra years justify foregoing so many of life’s pleasures? The Great Pottery Throw Down Call the Midwife 6.20 Countryfile (R) (S). 7.15 Coast Great Guides: Scotland’s Western Isles (R) (S). 8.15 Weatherman Walking (R) (S). 8.45 Around The World In 80 Gardens (R) (S). 9.45 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites (S). 11.15 The Hairy Bikers Go Local (R) (S). 12.15 MOTD Live: Women’s Super League Chelsea vs Liverpool. Kick-off is at 12.30pm (S). 2.40 Bowls: World Indoor Championships 2023 The open singles final (S). 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S). 6.00 CITV 9.25 ITV News (S). 9.30 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (S). 11.25 James Martin’s Saturday Morning (R) (S). 1.35 Simply Raymond Blanc (R) (S). 2.05 ITV News; Weather (S). 2.15 FILM: Babe: Pig In The City (George Miller 1998) Family comedy sequel, with Magda Szubanski (S). 4.00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (R) (S). 5.00 The Chase Celebrity Special (R) (S). 6.00 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 6.25 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 6.50 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.15 The King Of Queens (R) (S). 7.35 The King Of Queens (R) (S). 8.00 The King Of Queens (R) (S). 8.30 The Simpsons (R) (S). 9.00 The Simpsons (R) (S). 9.30 Sunday Brunch (S). 12.30 The Simpsons (R) (S). 12.55 The Simpsons (R) (S). 1.25 The Simpsons (R) (S). 1.55 The Simpsons (R) (S). 2.25 The Secret Life Of The Zoo (R) (S). 3.25 The Dog House (R) (S). 4.15 FILM: The Day The Earth Stood Still (Scott Derrickson 2008) Sci-fi remake, starring Keanu Reeves (S). 6.00 Milkshake! 10.05 The Smurfs (R) (S). 10.15 SpongeBob SquarePants (R) (S). 10.30 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 10.35 NFL End Zone (S). 11.05 Friends (R) (S). 11.35 Friends (R) (S). 12.05 Friends (R) (S). 12.35 Friends (R) (S). 1.05 FILM: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (Lynne Stopkewich 2016) Crime drama, starring Candace Cameron Bure (S). 2.50 Agatha Christie’s Crooked House (R) (S). 3.50 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.55 Agatha Christie’s Crooked House (R) (S). 5.05 Jane McDonald’s Sunshine Cruises (R) (S). 6.00 Countryfile Anita Rani and Joe Crowley are in Flash, the UK’s highest village (S). 6.00 Ski Sunday Action from Kitzbuhel (S). 6.00 ITV News; Weather (S). 6.15 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.30 Dancing On Ice (S). 6.15 Channel 4 News (S). 6.45 How To Live To 100 Part two of two (S). 6.25 5 News Weekend (S). 6.30 When Holidays Go Horribly Wrong (R) (S). 7PM 7.00 His Dark Materials Lyra and Will attempt to lead the ghosts out of the Land of the Dead (S). 7.00 Antiques Roadshow Fiona Bruce presents (R) (S). 8PM 8.00 Call The Midwife The maternity home is thrown into chaos by an outbreak of gastroenteritis (S). 8.00 Digging For Britain Examining a gatehouse riddled with Civil War bullets (S). 9.00 Happy Valley As Tommy’s big day approaches, Catherine becomes suspicious (S). 9.00 The Warship: Tour Of Duty New series (S). 10.00 BBC News; Weather (S). 10.25 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 10.30 Match Of The Day 2 (S). 10.00 FILM: Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg 1993) Fact-based Holocaust drama (S). 11.35 The Women’s Football Show Highlights of the weekend’s games in the Super League (S). 6PM DAYTIME 6.00 Breakfast (S). 7.35 Match Of The Day (R) (S). 9.00 Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg (S). 10.00 Politics England (S). 10.30 Sunday Morning Live (S). 11.30 Scotland’s Sacred Islands With Ben Fogle (R) (S). 12.30 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 1.00 BBC News; Weather (S). 1.15 Songs Of Praise (S). 1.50 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 2.15 FILM: Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (David Soren 2017) Cartoon adventure (S). 3.35 Young MasterChef (R) (S). 4.05 Young MasterChef (R) (S). 4.35 Serengeti III (S). 5.35 BBC News (S). 5.50 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 9PM 8pm, BBC One Alas, all is not well with Reggie (Daniel Laurie) – Fred and Violet Buckle’s surrogate son is usually full of sunshine but now lies in bed in the morning and generally mopes about. Elsewhere in 1968 Poplar, a pompous consultant running a training course makes the mistake of making 10PM 7.45pm, Channel 4 Siobhán McSweeney hosts Retro Week, in which the contestants are challenged to make a trio of flying birds and, in this week’s surprise task, try to create an old-fashioned hot water bottle (the ceramic ones known as “stones”). As usual, judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller then decide who will be potter of the week and who will be heading home. 11PM Jon Snow visits the US in his quest to find out ‘How to Live to 100’, 6.45pm, Channel 4 radio LATE 12.25 The Apprentice (R) (S). 1.30 BBC News (S). 8pm, ITV1 The final episode in this series, and Brenda Blethyn’s Columbostyle detective DCI Stanhope is called out to the banks of the River Tyne, where the body of a young woman has been washed up. Although the victim appears to have been a popular manager at a local green energy company, as well as a l\a\oyal friend and a loving mother and wife, Vera uncovers a web of intrigue, betrayal and lost promises. 9pm, BBC One To recap: jailbird killer Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) has invited his son Ryan (Rhys Connah) to come and see him “when I’m in Leeds”. Tommy was referring to an upcoming court appearance, of course, but as the big day approaches, Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) becomes suspicious. The Warship: Tour of Duty 9pm, BBC Two This new series follows the Royal Navy aircraft carrier (and flagship) HMS Queen Elizabeth on her first operational mission, the awardwinning director Chris Terrill being embedded with the 1,600strong crew on a gruelling seven- Vera investigates a body by the Tyne 8pm, ITV1 6.00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records (S). 6.35 Secret Crush (S). 7.35 Secret Crush (S). 8.30 Secret Crush (S). 9.25 Dress To Impress (S). 10.30 Dress To Impress (S). 11.35 The Masked Singer (S). 1.05 FILM: Antz (Eric Darnell, Lawrence Guterman 1998) Animated comedy, with the voice of Woody Allen (S). 2.50 FILM: Step Up 3 (Jon Chu 2010) Dance drama sequel, starring Rick Malambri (S). 5.05 FILM: The Croods (Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders 2013) Animated comedy, with the voice of Nicolas Cage (S). C hris Terrill goes aboard ‘The Warship’ 9pm, BBC Two 7.00 Come Dancing 7.45 FILM: Romeo And Juliet: Beyond Words (Michael Nunn, William Trevitt 2019) (S). 7.15 FILM: Johnny English Strikes Again (David Kerr 2018) Spy comedy, starring Rowan Atkinson (S). 7.05 FILM: Legally Blonde (Robert Luketic 2001) Comedy, starring Reese Witherspoon (S). 9.00 Motorhoming With Merton & Webster Paul Merton and Suki Webster head to Devon (S). 9.15 FILM: Westwood: Punk – Icon – Activist (Lorna Tucker 2018) (S). 9.00 FILM: The Martian (Ridley Scott 2015) sci-fi drama, starring Matt Damon (S). 9.00 Love Island The second week begins (S). 10.00 Hotel Benidorm: Sun-Loungers & Sangria (R) (S). 10.55 Greatest 80s Songs: 1981 (R) (S). 10.35 Vivienne Westwood Talks To Kirsty Wark (S). 7.45 The Great Pottery Throw Down Siobhan McSweeney hosts Retro Week (S). 8.00 22 Kids & Counting The Radfords begin their hunt for a new house (S). 8.00 Vera The body of a young woman is washed up on the banks of the Tyne. Last in the series (S). 9.00 FILM: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (Edward Zwick 2016) Action thriller sequel, starring Tom Cruise (S). 10.00 ITV News; Weather (S). 10.15 FILM: The Fast And The Furious (Rob Cohen 2001) Thriller (S). 12.15 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 The Widow (R) (S). 3.50 Unwind With ITV (S). 5.05 Lingo (R) (S). Vera Happy Valley Siobhán McSweeney presents Retro Week on ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ 7.45pm, Channel 4 11.20 Walter Presents: Grow Danish crime drama, starring Lars Mikkelsen (S). 1.05 Sign Zone: Question Time (R) (S). 2.05 Sign Zone: Waterloo Road (R) (S). 3.05 This Is BBC Two (S). condescending remarks about Nurse Crane’s age, and a breakout of gastroenteritis brings the maternity home to the attention of the Board of Health. 12.15 FILM: Lucy In The Sky (Noah Hawley 2019) (S). 2.20 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S). 3.10 Come Dine With Me (R) (S). 5.15 Location, Location, Location (R) (S). 12.55 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 1.00 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.00 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.05 The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard (R) (S). 3.55 Edwardian Britain In Colour (R) (S). 10.00 Love Island: Aftersun Maya Jama and guests discuss all the latest news and juicy gossip (S). 11.05 Byzantium: A Tale Of Three Cities The sacred history of Istanbul (S). 11.50 FILM: Assassin’s Creed (Justin Kurzel 2016) Action adventure, starring Michael Fassbender (S). 11.05 Family Guy Brian becomes an estate agent after having cosmetic surgery (S). 11.35 Family Guy (S). 12.05 The Search For The Lost Manuscript: Julian Of Norwich (S). 1.05 Ancient Worlds (S). 2.05 Sicily: Wonder Of The Mediterranean (S). 3.05 Close 2.00 FILM: To Kill A King (Mike Barker 2003) Historical drama, starring Tim Roth (S). 4.00 Close 12.00 American Dad! (S). 12.30 American Dad! (S). 1.00 The Sex Lives Of College Girls (S). 1.30 The Sex Lives Of College Girls (S). 2.05 All American (S). 3.00 Teleshopping
culture month voyage to the South China Sea. Aimed as a demonstration of Britain’s new naval strength to friends and foes alike, the first enemy encountered had crept up unseen – an outbreak of Covid. FILM CHOICE Walter Presents: Grow 11.20pm, Channel 4 A taster opening episode of this new Danish crime drama (before it moves to All 4) in which a newly graduated stockbroker returns to his hometown after the death of his father and becomes involved in biker gangs and drug trafficking. The homecoming also leads him to a reunion with his brother, a police officer. Lars Mikkelsen from Borgen is among the cast. Gerard Gilbert 6.00 George And Mildred (S). 6.40 Emmerdale Omnibus (S). 9.25 George And Mildred (S). 9.55 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 11.55 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 1.55 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 3.55 Doc Martin (S). 5.00 Doc Martin (S). 6.00 Rosemary & Thyme A blind professor is killed (S). Schindler’s List 10pm, BBC Two (Steven Spielberg, 1993) In his most sombre, most adult film, Spielberg displays impressive commitment to telling his story, avoiding dramatic or cinematic contrivance as best he can. Liam Neeson is excellent as the complex and flawed hero, a German profiteer who saved 1,100 Jews from the Holocaust, while Ralph Fiennes is unforgettable as a concentration camp commandant. The Fast and the Furious Paul Walker stars in the flashy B-movie ‘The Fast and the Furious’, 10.15pm, ITV1 6.00 Hollyoaks Omnibus (S). 8.20 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 9.15 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 10.10 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 11.05 Ramsay’s 24 Hours To Hell And Back (S). 12.05 The Big Bang Theory (S). 12.35 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.30 FILM: Zathura: A Space Adventure (Jon Favreau 2005) Family scifi adventure, starring Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo (S). 3.30 Junior Bake Off (S). 5.05 Lego Masters Australia (S). 6.55 FILM: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (Dave Green 2016) (S). 8.55 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (S). 9.55 Ugly House To Lovely House With George Clarke (S). 11.00 George Clarke’s Old House, New Home (S). 12.00 Come Dine With Me (S). 12.35 Come Dine With Me (S). 1.05 Come Dine With Me (S). 1.40 Come Dine With Me (S). 2.10 Come Dine With Me (S). 2.40 Four In A Bed (S). 3.10 Four In A Bed (S). 3.40 Four In A Bed (S). 4.15 Four In A Bed (S). 4.50 Four In A Bed (S). 5.20 Come Dine With Me (S). 5.50 Come Dine With Me (S). 6.25 Come Dine With Me (S). 6.55 Come Dine With Me (S). 10.15pm, ITV1 (Rob Cohen, 2001) Who could have predicted that this B-movie would spawn a multi-billion-dollar franchise? 6.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 7.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 8.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 9.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 10.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 11.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 12.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 1.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 2.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 3.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 4.00 Grimm (R). 5.00 Grimm (R). 6.45 Ray Donovan Mickey is kicked out of Bunchy’s apartment (R) (S). 7.50 Succession Kendall plans his next move (R) (S). 7.25 Come Dine With Me Business owner and socialite Maz plays host (S). 7.00 Grimm A hotel guest claims to be haunted by a frightening creature (R) (S). 8.00 Martin Clunes: Islands Of The Pacific The presenter explores the Galapagos (S). 8.00 Emergency Helicopter Medics (S). 8.00 Rob & Romesh vs Superstar DJs Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan enter the DJ world (R) (S). 9.00 FILM: Terminator Genisys (Alan Taylor 2015) Sci-fi adventure sequel (S). 10.00 Scott & Bailey First episode of the detective drama, starring Lesley Sharp (S). 10.55 Scott & Bailey (S). Lucy in the Sky 12.15am, Channel 4 (Noah Hawley, 2019) When this film starts, astronaut Lucy Cola (Natalie Portman) is floating in the cosmos and looking down on all of humanity. Upon returning to Earth, she finds everything somehow drained of meaning – including her marriage. This stylish drama, based on a true story, charts this exceptional woman’s mental breakdown. Laurence Phelan Radio listings BBC Radio 1 6am Radio 1’s Chillout Anthems 7.00 Adele Roberts 10.00 Radio 1 Anthems 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Radio 1 Anthems 11.02 Radio 1 00s With Nat O’Leary 1pm Matt And Jamie 4.00 Radio 1’s Life Hacks 6.00 The Official Chart: First Look On Radio 1 7.00 Radio 1’s Chillest Show 9.00 Radio 1’s Indie Show With Jack Saunders 11.00 BBC Introducing On Radio 1 12mdn’t Radio 1’s Future Soul With Victoria Jane 1.30 Radio 1’s UK R&B Mix BBC Radio 1Xtra 6.00 Grimm Nick, Hank and Wu investigate a bizarre murder in a local park (R). 7.00 Rosemary & Thyme The duo investigate a churchyard murder (S). 9.00 Joanna Lumley’s Great Cities Of The World Joanna visits Berlin (S). 6.00 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 7.00 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 8.00 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.05 The Sopranos (R) (S). 11.10 The Sopranos (R) (S). 12.15 The Sopranos (R) (S). 1.20 The Sopranos (R) (S). 2.25 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 3.30 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 4.35 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 5.40 Ray Donovan (R) (S). For one thing, its characters – an undercover cop and the gang of petrolheads he infiltrates – are not the least bit fleshed out nor interesting. But it is directed with some flash and flair. 6am 1Xtra’s R&B Chill Mix 7.00 Fee Mak 10.32 The Gospel Corner 11.00 Trevor Nelson 1pm David Rodigan 3.00 The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show With Eddie Kadi 4.00 Rampage 7.00 Heartless Crew 9.00 1Xtra Talks 10.00 1Xtra Introducing Show 12mdn’t Throwback Throwdown: 3 1.00 1Xtra @ 20-20 Years Of African Sounds 2.00 Ace 3.30 Ace BBC Radio 2 9am Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs 11.00 The Michael Ball Show 1pm Elaine Paige On Sunday 3.00 Sounds Of The 70s With Bob Harris 5.00 Rob Beckett 7.00 Tony Blackburn’s Golden Hour 8.00 Sunday Night Is Music Night 10.00 Radio 2 Unwinds With Angela Griffin 11.00 Radio 2 Unwinds With Angela Griffin 12mdn’t Phil Williams 3.00 Alternative Sounds Of The 90s With Dermot O’Leary BBC Radio 3 7am Breakfast 9.00 Sunday Morning 12noon Private Passions 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 The Early Music Show 3.00 Choral Evensong 4.00 Jazz Record Requests 5.00 The Listening Service 5.30 Words And Music 6.45 Sunday Feature: Yiddish Glory 7.30 Radio 3 In Concert 9.00 Record Review Extra 11.00 The Art Of Music With Anna Clyne 12mdn’t Sounds Connected BBC Radio 4 9.00 24 Hours In A&E A woman with a weak immune system is bitten by her cat (S). 9.00 S.W.A.T New series. Hondo stumbles upon a wide-ranging heroin operation in Bangkok. 9.00 The Last Of Us Postapocalyptic drama, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey (R). 10.00 Super Surgeons: A Chance At Life Last in the series (S). 10.00 NCIS: Los Angeles New series (S). 10.10 Euphoria Jules falls for a boy online and asks Rue to help her take suggestive photos to send to him (R) (S). 11.55 Upstairs, Downstairs Former maid Sarah is rehired (S). 11.25 Gogglebox Even Better Than the Real Thing and The Great British Bake Off are appraised (S). 11.05 Emergency Helicopter Medics A man suffers multiple injuries after a quad-bike accident (S). 11.00 Hold The Front Page Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe work at the Yorkshire Post (R) (S). 11.15 Britannia Aulus is reborn, but his destiny remains undetermined (R) (S). 1.05 Upstairs, Downstairs (S). 2.20 George And Mildred (S). 2.50 Emmerdale Omnibus (S). 5.35 Unwind With ITV (S). 12.30 Naked Attraction (S). 1.35 Summer House (S). 2.35 Summer House (S). 3.25 Hollyoaks Omnibus (S). 12.10 24 Hours In A&E (S). 1.15 Super Surgeons: A Chance At Life (S). 2.20 Emergency Helicopter Medics (S). 3.25 Food Unwrapped (S). 3.50 Close 12.00 Brassic (R) (S). 1.00 Road Wars (R). 2.00 Road Wars (R). 3.00 Brit Cops: Rapid Response (R). 4.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 5.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 12.20 In Treatment (R). 12.55 City On A Hill (R) (S). 2.00 The Last Of Us 3.05 Boardwalk Empire (R) (S). 4.10 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 5.05 Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets (R) (S). 6am News Headlines 6.05 Something Understood 6.35 On Your Farm 6.57 Weather 7.00 News; Sunday Papers 7.10 Sunday 7.54 Radio 4 Appeal 7.57 Weather 8.00 News; Sunday Papers 8.10 Sunday Worship 8.48 A Point Of View 8.58 Tweet Of The Day 9.00 Broadcasting House 10.00 The Archers 11.15 Desert Island Discs 12noon News 12.04 Just A Minute 12.30 The Food Programme 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World This Weekend 1.30 Born In Bradford 2.00 Gardeners’ Question Time 2.45 Property Of The BBC 3.00 Drama: The Medici: Bankers, Gangsters, Popes 4.00 Open Book 4.30 Poetry Please 5.00 File On 4 5.40 Profile 5.54 Shipping Forecast 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.15 Pick Of The Week 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Believe It! 7.45 The Circus 8.00 More Or Less 8.30 Last Word 9.00 Money Box 9.25 Radio 4 Appeal 9.30 Icon 10.00 The Westminster Hour 11.00 Loose Ends 11.30 Something Understood 12mdn’t News And Weather 12.15 Thinking Allowed 12.45 Bells On Sunday 12.48 Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 LW 12.01pm Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Poetry Extra 6.30 Unsheltered Omnibus – Part One 7.40 Inheritance Tracks 7.50 Unsuitable Men With Familiar Smiles Omnibus 9.00 The Betty Witherspoon Show 9.30 Something To Shout About 10.00 Desert Island Discs Revisited 11.00 Poetry Extra 11.30 Unsheltered Omnibus – Part One 12.40pm Inheritance Tracks 12.50 Unsuitable Men With Familiar Smiles Omnibus 2.00 The Betty 61 On Demand Smallville ITVX All 10 seasons of the Superman origins drama starring Tom Welling as a teenage Clark Kent. Are You the One? Paramount+ The former MTV dating show lives again in a global version filmed in Spain. Up the Junction BBC iPlayer Ken Loach’s ground-breaking 1965 TV play on the dangers of backstreet abortions. Witherspoon Show 2.30 Something To Shout About 3.00 Desert Island Discs Revisited 4.00 Aliens In The Mind 4.30 A Sting In The Tale 5.00 Poetry Extra 5.30 Unsheltered Omnibus – Part One 6.40 Inheritance Tracks 6.50 Unsuitable Men With Familiar Smiles Omnibus 8.00 The Betty Witherspoon Show 8.30 Something To Shout About 9.00 Desert Island Discs Revisited 10.00 Comedy Club: Sean Lock – 15 Storeys High 10.30 Comedy Club: Party 11.00 Comedy Club: The Skivers 11.30 Comedy Club: 1966 And All That 12mdn’t Poetry Extra BBC 5 Live 6am 5 Live Science 7.00 Sunday Breakfast 10.00 Helen Skelton 12noon 5 Live Sport 2.00 5 Live Sport 4.00 5 Live Sport 4.30 5 Live Sport 6.30 6-0-6 8.00 Kammy & Ben’s Proper Football Podcast 8.30 Different With Nicky Campbell 9.00 Geeta Guru-Murthy 12mdn’t Bugzy Malone’s Grandest Game 12.20 Bugzy Malone’s Grandest Game 12.40 Bugzy Malone’s Grandest Game 1.00 Edward Adoo BBC 6 Music 6am Amy Lamé 8.00 Radcliffe And Maconie 10.00 Cerys Matthews 1pm Peel Acres 2.00 Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour 4.00 Iggy Pop 6.00 Now Playing @6Music 8.00 Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone 10.00 Don Letts’ Culture Clash Radio 12mdn’t Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour 2.00 6 Music Goes Back To The 90s – The Playlist Classic FM 7am Aled Jones 10.00 Andrew Marr 1pm Catherine Bott 4.00 John Humphrys 7.00 Smooth Classics At Seven 9.00 Uplifting Classics 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Bill Overton 4.00 Early Breakfast Absolute Radio 8am Jason Manford 11.00 Sarah Champion 2pm Rock ’n’ Roll Football With Jay Lawrence 6.00 Request Show With Claire Sturgess 8.00 Sunday Night Music Club 10.00 A Rush Of The Blood Of The Head At 20 With Ross Buchanan 11.00 The Magic Of McCartney With Anna Geary 12mdn’t Dan Noble Heart 6am Rob Howard 9.00 Zoe Hardman 12noon Yasmin Evans 4.00 The Official Big Top 40 7.00 Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Emma Bunton 10.00 Anna Whitehouse 12mdn’t Anna Whitehouse 1.00 Simon Beale 4.00 Early Breakfast With Lindsey Russell TalkSPORT 6am Weekend Sports Breakfast 9.00 Jonny Owen And Friends 11.00 The Warm Up 1pm The Sunday Session 5.00 The Boot Room 8.00 A TalkSPORT Special 9.00 Trans Europe Express 12mdn’t A TalkSPORT Special RADIO PICK The Listening Service 5pm, BBC Radio 3 Tom Service (inset) explores the fascinating world of musical marches, with pieces by Elgar, Sousa, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven, as well as Eric Coates’ theme for 1955 war film The Dam Busters, to discover how the march can beat the drum for many different ideas and emotions.
62 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Monday television CRITIC’S CHOICE 6.00 Holiday Homes In The Sun (R) (S). 6.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Nadiya’s Fast Flavours (R) (S). 7.30 Mastermind (S). 7.30 Emmerdale Priya revisits her trauma (S). 7.00 Channel 4 News (S). 7.00 Police Interceptors (R) (S). 7.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 7.30 The Joy Of Painting (S). 8.00 Dogs, Dealers And Organised Crime – Panorama (S). 8.30 The Bidding Room (R) (S). 8.00 Only Connect (S). 8.30 University Challenge (S). 8.00 Coronation Street Sarah alerts Stephen to the existence of the factory’s CCTV (S). 8.00 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (S). 8.00 Traffic Cops A disqualified driver with possible links to violence triggers a police camera (S). 8.00 Winterwatch 1963: The Big Freeze (S). 9.00 Silent Witness Part one of two. The team are called to a devastating train crash (S). 9.00 How The Holocaust Began (S). 9.00 Maternal Maryam fears her old doubts and anxieties are returning (S). 9.00 SAS: Who Dares Wins – Jungle Hell New series (S). 9.00 Police: Night Shift 999 Officers are called to a late-night break-in at a shop (S). 9.00 Killer Storms And Cruel Winters – The History Of Extreme Weather: Timewatch (S). 10.00 BBC News (S). 10.30 BBC Regional News 10.40 Humza: Forgiving The Unforgiveable (S). 10.00 QI With Sarah Millican, Daliso Chaponda and Rob Beckett (S). 10.30 Newsnight (S). 10.00 ITV News 10.30 Regional News 10.45 Britain’s Notorious Prisons: Wormwood Scrubs (R) (S). 10.00 Everyone Else Burns New series (S). 10.35 Everyone Else Burns (S). 10.00 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts (R) (S). 10.00 The US And The Holocaust The first reports of the killing reach the United States. Last in the series (S). 11.40 The Graham Norton Show Guests include Michelle Williams and Helena Bonham Carter (R) (S). 11.15 FILM: I, Tonya (Craig Gillespie 2017) Biopic, starring Margot Robbie (S). 11.45 English Football League Highlights (S). 11.05 Jon & Lucy’s Odd Couples (R) (S). 11.05 999: Critical Condition A man is rushed in after being attacked with a machete (R) (S). 12.30 Would I Lie To You? (R) (S). 1.00 Have I Got News For You (R) (S). 1.35 BBC News (S). 1.10 Sign Zone: Countryfile (R) (S). 2.05 Sign Zone: Dragons’ Den (R) (S). 3.05 This Is BBC Two (S). 1.30 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (S). 4.40 Unwind With ITV (S). 5.35 Simply Raymond Blanc (R) (S). 12.05 I Literally Just Told You (R) (S). 1.00 Travel Man: 48 Hours In Dublin (R) (S). 1.25 The Caribbean: Billionaires’ Paradise (R) (S). 2.20 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S). 12.05 Police Interceptors (R) (S). 1.00 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.00 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.05 The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard (R) (S). 3.55 OMG: My Barbie Body (R) (S). DAYTIME 6.00 The Simpsons The family remembers Lisa’s early days (R) (S). 6.30 Hollyoaks (R) (S). 6PM 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (S). 6.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes New series (S). 7.00 The One Show (S). 7.30 EastEnders Kat takes care of a conflicted Lily (S). 9pm, Sky Atlantic “The greatest video game adaptation ever made” is perhaps not quite the plaudit it seems when you consider some of the dud adaptations that have gone before, but there is no doubt that this slow-burning spin on the apocalyptic game is genuinely classy. The latest episode opens unexpectedly 6.00 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 7PM 6.00 BBC News At Six; Weather (S). 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 9pm, Channel 4 The latest 20 civilians facing a condensed version of the SAS selection process are whisked off to the jungles of Vietnam for this The Last of Us 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (S). 12.45 George Clarke’s Build A New Life In The Country (R) (S). 1.40 5 News At Lunchtime (S). 1.45 Home And Away (R) (S). 2.15 FILM: Revenge For My Mother (Doug Campbell 2022) Premiere. Thriller, starring Sami Nye (S). 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits In The Sun (S). 5.00 5 News At 5 (S). 8PM 6.00 Good Morning Britain (S). 9.00 Lorraine (S). 10.00 This Morning (S). 12.30 Loose Women (S). 1.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 1.55 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (S). 3.00 Lingo (S). 3.59 ITV Regional Weather (S). 4.00 Tipping Point (S). 5.00 The Chase (S). SAS: Who Dares Wins – Jungle Hell new series of the reality show. As a warm-up exercise, they have to traverse parallel bars suspended 50ft in the air before facing one of the most dangerous infiltration methods used by the SAS – a waterfall abseil. I’m a Celebrity… it isn’t. 9PM 6.30 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 7.15 Make It At Market (R) (S). 8.00 Sign Zone: The Smeds And The Smoos (R) (S). 8.30 Sign Zone: Tom Kerridge: Lose Weight For Good (R) (S). 9.00 BBC News At 9 (S). 10.00 BBC News (S). 12.15 Politics Live (S). 1.00 Hardball (R) (S). 1.45 Celebrity Eggheads (R) (S). 2.15 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (R) (S). 3.15 Great Australian Railway Journeys (R) (S). 3.45 My Unique B&B (R) (S). 4.30 Saved And Remade (R) (S). 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S). 9pm, ITV1 “People die… they’re ill,” Catherine (Lara Pulver) tells a guilt-ridden Maryam (Parminder Nagra). “It doesn’t make us Harold Shipman.” Little wonder that Catherine is whisked off to brush up her communication skills. She is, however, delighted when the father of her child, Lars, jets in from Sweden – but less thrilled to discover that his wife is in tow. 6.10 Countdown (R) (S). 6.50 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.15 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.40 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.30 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 9.00 Frasier (R) (S). 9.30 Frasier (R) (S). 10.00 Frasier (R) (S). 10.25 Undercover Boss USA (R) (S). 11.25 Channel 4 News Summary (S). 11.30 Come Dine With Me: The Professionals (R) (S). 12.30 Steph’s Packed Lunch (S). 2.10 Countdown (S). 3.00 A Place In The Sun (S). 4.00 A New Life In The Sun (S). 5.00 Junior Bake Off (S). LATE 6.00 Breakfast (S). 9.15 Morning Live (S). 10.00 Defenders UK (S). 10.45 Rip Off Britain: Holidays (R) (S). 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) (S). 12.15 Bargain Hunt (S). 1.00 BBC News; Weather (S). 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 1.45 Doctors (S). 2.15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (S). 3.00 Escape To The Country (S). 3.45 The Repair Shop (S). 4.30 Bridge Of Lies (S). 5.15 Pointless (S). Maternal 10PM 9pm, BBC Two There is a crossover between this documentary and the final episode of The US and the Holocaust (10pm, BBC Four) in that both programmes touch on the same aspect of the genocide – the fact that before the organised slaughter in death camps, millions of Jews were shot, buried or burned in what historian James Bulgin here calls “the holocaust of bullets before the holocaust of gas”. Much of this chaotic mass murder has come to light only in the past 30 years, following the fall of the Soviet Union, and in this documentary Bulgin and teams of specialists scour Eastern Europe for unmarked burial sites. 11PM Harry Connor and Simon Bird in new sitcom ‘Everyone Else Burns’,10pm, Channel 4 How the Holocaust Began radio in Indonesia in 2003, where an eminent mycologist is whisked off to a secret centre and shown a disturbing corpse. Can she create a vaccine? Everyone Else Burns 10pm, Channel 4 This promising new comedy from the makers of Russian Doll begins with a father, David (Simon Bird from Inbetweeners and Friday Night Dinner), waking his children to tell them that “the end of time is here”. “Finally,” sighs his teenage son, for David and his family are part of a religious cult longing for Armageddon. Or rather they did – only now wife Fiona (Kate O’Flynn, superb) is fed up with the overbearing David, while daughter Humza Arshad looks into forgiveness 10.40pm, BBC One A guilt-ridden Maryam (Parminder Nagra) worries about an investigation 9pm, ITV1 12.05 Ancient Worlds (S). 1.05 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 1.35 The Joy Of Painting (S). 2.05 Winterwatch 1963: The Big Freeze (S). 3.05 Close James Bulgin on the ‘holocaust of bullets’ 9pm, BBC Two 6.45 FILM: Made In America (Richard Benjamin 1993) Romantic comedy (S). 6.00 World’s Funniest Videos (S). 6.35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records (S). 7.00 Secret Crush (S). 8.00 Dress To Impress (S). 9.00 Chuck (S). 10.00 One Tree Hill (S). 11.00 The O.C (S). 12.00 Secret Crush (S). 1.00 Dress To Impress (S). 2.00 Family Fortunes (S). 3.05 Chuck (S). 4.00 One Tree Hill (S). 5.00 The O.C (S). 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase With Joe Lycett, Chizzy Akudolu and Nick Knowles (S). 7.00 Ninja Warrior UK: Race For Glory More competitors take on the obstacle course (S). 8.00 Superstore Glenn returns from quarantine to resume store manager duties (S). 8.30 Superstore (S). 9.00 FILM: Fatherhood (Paul Weitz 2021) Premiere. Comedy drama, starring Kevin Hart (S). 9.00 Love Island Maya Jama presents all the latest action from the villa (S). 10.05 Georgia Toffolo: In Search Of Perfect Skin (S). 11.10 FILM: The Craft (Andrew Fleming 1996) Horror, starring Robin Tunney (S). 11.05 Family Guy Brian and Peter go on a mission to find a new Thanksgiving turkey (S). 11.35 Family Guy (S). 1.15 FILM: Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders 1987) fantasy, starring Bruno Ganz (S). 4.00 Close 12.00 American Dad! (S). 12.30 American Dad! (S). 12.55 Superstore (S). 1.25 Superstore (S). 1.50 Kavos Weekender (S). 2.45 Unwind With ITV (S). 3.00 Teleshopping
culture Rachel now shyly fancies a local dog walker. The support cast is to die for (albeit with no promise of an afterlife), including Morgana Robinson, Lolly Adefope, Arsher Ali and Liam Williams. FILM CHOICE Humza: Forgiving the Unforgivable 10.40pm, BBC One Actor and YouTuber Humza Arshad explores the possibility of forgiving the gang who stabbed his cousin. Among those he speaks to are a father whose sons were killed by rioters in Birmingham, a mother who lost her daughter at the Manchester Arena bombing, and an imam who survived a vicious racist knife attack. Gerard Gilbert 6.00 Classic Emmerdale (S). 6.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 7.00 Classic Coronation Street (S). 8.05 George And Mildred (S). 8.40 George And Mildred (S). 9.15 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 11.30 Heartbeat (S). 12.35 Heartbeat (S). 1.40 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.10 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.40 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.15 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.45 Inspector Morse (S). 6.00 Heartbeat Nick is attacked (S). 7.00 Heartbeat Nick investigates a hit-and-run incident (S). 8.00 Ridley Crime drama, starring Adrian Dunbar (S). Sausage Party 10pm, Sky Cinema Comedy (Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon, 2016) Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 15-rated but extremely sweary and extravagantly, gloriously profane musical parody of Pixarstyle digimations is set in a US supermarket, and concerns a talking hot-dog sausage’s atheistic awakening, after he discovers the true fate that awaits foodstuffs after they leave the supermarket. I, Tonya Margot Robbie stars in the stranger-thanfiction biopic ‘I, Tonya’, 11.15pm, BBC Two 11.15pm, BBC Two (Craig Gillespie, 2017) Margot Robbie stars in this exhilarating sporting biopic-cumtrue-crime drama about disgraced ice-skater Tonya Harding. She 6.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 7.55 Junior Bake Off (S). 9.00 The Goldbergs (S). 9.30 The Goldbergs (S). 10.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 10.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 11.00 Modern Family (S). 12.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 12.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 1.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 3.00 Modern Family (S). 3.30 Modern Family (S). 4.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 4.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 5.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 5.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 8.55 Kirstie’s House Of Craft (S). 9.15 A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (S). 10.05 A New Life In The Sun (S). 11.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 12.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 1.10 Heir Hunters (S). 2.10 Heir Hunters (S). 3.10 Four In A Bed (S). 3.40 Four In A Bed (S). 4.15 Four In A Bed (S). 4.50 Four In A Bed (S). 5.20 Four In A Bed (S). 5.55 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It (S). 6.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 7.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 8.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 9.00 The Blacklist (R) (S). 10.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 11.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 12.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 1.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 2.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 3.00 The Blacklist (R) (S). 4.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 5.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 6.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.30 The Big Bang Theory Conflict arises after the gang offers Raj a place to live (S). 6.55 Escape To The Chateau Dick and Angel set up a luxury campsite on the chateau grounds (S). 6.00 Stargate SG-1 A deadly spell is cast (R). 7.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.30 Modern Family Phil and Jay spend the afternoon together (S). 7.55 Grand Designs Kevin McCloud revisits a British woman who retired to southern Spain (S). 7.00 Stargate SG-1 The team rescues a stranded child (R) (S). 6.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.55 The Sopranos (R) (S). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.05 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 11.10 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 12.10 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 1.10 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 2.20 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 3.30 The Sopranos (R) (S). 4.40 The Sopranos (R) (S). 5.45 Ray Donovan (R) (S). Wings of Desire 1.15am, Film4 (Wim Wenders, 1987) A pair of lugubrious angels observe the daily lives of some 80s West Berliners and the C olombo actor Peter Falk (playing himself) with a touching mixture of curiosity and yearning. Wenders’ wonderfully rich and humane cinematic fantasy is among the most beloved of its era. Laurence Phelan Radio listings BBC Radio 1 6.57am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Greg James 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Rickie, Melvin And Charlie 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Dean And Vicky 3.30 Newsbeat 3.32 Going Home With Vick And Jordan 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1’s Future Sounds With Clara Amfo 7.00 Radio 1’s Hottest Records Of The Week 8.00 Radio 1’s Future Artists With Jack Saunders 10.00 Radio 1’s Essential Albums 11.00 Rock Show With Daniel P Carter 1am BBC Introducing Rock On Radio 1 With Alyx Holcombe 2.00 Radio 1’s Future Alternative 3.00 Radio 1’s Workout Anthems BBC Radio 1Xtra 6.50 Your Honor Crime drama, starring Bryan Cranston (R) (S). 7.55 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). BBC Radio 2 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30 Ken Bruce 12noon Jeremy Vine 2.00 Scott Mills 4.00 Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Wower 7.00 Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy Playlist 7.30 Jo Whiley 9.00 The Blues Show With Cerys Matthews 10.00 Trevor Nelson’s Magnificent 7 10.30 Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation 12mdn’t OJ Borg 2.30 One Hit Wonders With OJ Borg 3.00 Pick Of The Pops 4.00 Early Breakfast Show 6.30am Breakfast 9.00 Essential Classics 12noon Composer Of The Week: Bonis 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 Afternoon Concert 4.30 New Generation Artists 5.00 In Tune 7.00 In Tune Mixtape 7.30 Radio 3 In Concert 9.15 Northern Drift 10.00 Music Matters 10.45 The Essay: Science Notes 11.00 Night Tracks 12.30am Through The Night 8.00 Agatha Raisin Return of the mystery drama, starring Ashley Jensen (R) (S). 8.00 Below Deck Heather and the crew plan a 1980s-themed surprise party (S). 6am Battle Of The Mixes 6.30 Battle Of The Mixes 7.00 Nadia Jae 10.00 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 10.15 Ace 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Remi Burgz 3.45 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 4.00 Reece Parkinson 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Reece Parkinson 7.00 DJ Target 9.00 Sian Anderson 11.00 Snoochie Shy 1am Seani B 3.00 Amapiano To AfroHouse BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 4 9.00 The Last Of Us Postapocalyptic drama, starring Pedro Pascal. 9.00 Gogglebox The armchair critics review shows including Dynasties II and Pieces Of Her (S). 9.00 George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations The restoration of a former glassworks in Brighton (S). 10.00 Naked Attraction A 20-year-old virgin seeks a fairy-tale princess (S). 10.00 24 Hours In Police Custody (S). 11.00 Scott & Bailey A porn star is suspected of murdering her husband (S). 11.05 First Dates A dental nurse is set up on a date with a handsome tree surgeon (S). 11.05 24 Hours In A&E A chef is treated after accidentally stabbing himself while chopping tomatoes (S). 11.00 Road Wars Thames Valley Police combat vehicle crime (R) (S). 11.15 Big Little Lies Madeline gets under Renata’s skin in retaliation for snubbing Ziggy (R) (S). 12.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 2.05 Unwind With ITV (S). 2.30 Teleshopping 12.10 Gogglebox (S). 1.20 Gogglebox (S). 2.20 Below Deck (S). 3.10 Naked Attraction (S). 4.05 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 4.55 The Goldbergs (S). 5.20 The Goldbergs (S). 12.10 Emergency Helicopter Medics (S). 1.15 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (S). 2.20 24 Hours In A&E (S). 3.25 Food Unwrapped (S). 3.50 Close 12.00 The Force: North East (R) (S). 1.00 The Force: North East (R) (S). 2.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 4.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 5.00 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 5.30 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 12.20 Babylon Berlin (R) (S). 1.20 Der Pass (R) (S). 2.20 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 3.30 In Treatment (R) (S). 4.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 5.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 10.00 Scott & Bailey A man acquitted of rape and murder is found dead (S). plays Harding as a rough diamond in a world of diamanté, striving to make it on talent alone because the painted-on smiles and elegance her sport demands don’t come naturally. Well, her talent and assaulting competitors… 10.00 A League Of Their Own Road Trip: Dingle To Dover (R) (S). 10.05 Succession Kendall tries to find more allies (R) (S). 6am Today 9.00 Start The Week 9.45 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 10.00 Woman’s Hour 11.00 The Invention Of Russia 11.30 The Bottom Line 12noon News 12.04 You And Yours 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World At One 1.45 Buried 2.00 The Archers 2.15 This Cultural Life 3.00 Counterpoint 3.30 The Food Programme 4.00 Playing The Prince 4.30 Beyond Belief 5.00 PM 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.30 Just A Minute 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Front Row 8.00 The Boat Smugglers 8.30 Crossing Continents 9.00 Is Psychiatry Working? 9.30 Start The Week 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book At Bedtime: Act Of Oblivion 11.00 Word Of Mouth 11.30 Today In Parliament 12mdn’t News And Weather 12.30 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20 Shipping Forecast 5.30 News Briefing 5.43 Prayer For The Day 5.45 Farming Today 5.58 Tweet Of The Day BBC Radio 4 LW 9.45am Daily Service 12.01pm Shipping Forecast 5.54 Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Bitter Medicine 6.30 Find The Lady 7.00 Unsheltered 7.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 7.30 In And Out Of The Kitchen 8.00 Brothers In Law 8.30 Yes Minister 9.00 Genius 9.30 My Turn To Make The Tea 10.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 11.00 Bitter Medicine 11.30 Find The Lady 12noon Unsheltered 12.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 12.30 In 63 On Demand The Red Door All4 A teenage clairvoyant helps a maverick cop hunt a killer in this Italian drama series. King Shakir Recycle Disney+ Animated movie in which outraged aliens visit Earth to protest at our space junk. My Cornwall with Fern Britton My5 Fern Britton becomes the latest celebrity to traipse around England’s most south-westerly county. And Out Of The Kitchen 1.00 Brothers In Law 1.30 Yes Minister 2.00 Genius 2.30 My Turn To Make The Tea 3.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 4.00 Bitter Medicine 4.30 Find The Lady 5.00 Unsheltered 5.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 5.30 In And Out Of The Kitchen 6.00 Brothers In Law 6.30 Yes Minister 7.00 Jake Yapp’s Unwinding 10.00 Comedy Club: Just A Minute 10.30 Comedy Club: The Hudson And Pepperdine Show 11.00 Comedy Club: The News Quiz 11.30 Comedy Club: Lionel Nimrod’s Inexplicable World 12mdn’t Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 1.00 Bitter Medicine 1.30 Find The Lady 2.00 Unsheltered 2.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 2.30 In And Out Of The Kitchen 3.00 Brothers In Law 3.30 Yes Minister 4.00 Genius 4.30 My Turn To Make The Tea 5.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn BBC 5 Live 6am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Naga Munchetty 1pm Nihal Arthanayake 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport 9.00 5 Live Sport 10.00 Colin Murray 1am Dotun Adebayo 5.00 Wake Up To Money BBC 6 Music 7.30am Lauren Laverne 10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs 1pm Craig Charles 4.00 Steve Lamacq 7.00 Marc Riley 9.00 Gideon Coe 12mdn’t The xx: In Their Own Words 1.00 The xx – xx, Mercury Prize Winner 2010 2.00 The xx Live 3.00 The First Time With The xx 4.00 The xx Playlist 5.00 Chris Hawkins Classic FM 6am More Music Breakfast 9.00 Alexander Armstrong 12noon Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 John Brunning 7.00 Smooth Classics At Seven 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Bill Overton 4.00 Early Breakfast Absolute Radio 6am Dave Berry 10.00 Leona Graham 1pm Ben Burrell 4.00 Bush And Richie 7.00 Danielle Perry 10.00 Jay Lawrence 1am Dan Noble Heart 6.30am Heart Breakfast With Jamie Theakston And Amanda Holden 10.00 Pandora Christie 1pm Matt Wilkinson 4.00 JK And Kelly Brook 7.00 Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Dev Griffin 10.00 Fia Tarrant 1am Simon Beale 4.00 Early Breakfast With Lindsey Russell TalkSPORT 6am TalkSPORT Breakfast With Laura Woods 10.00 Jim White And Simon Jordan 1pm Hawksbee And Jacobs 4.00 TalkSPORT Drive With Andy Goldstein And Darren Bent 7.00 Monday GameNight 10.00 Sports Bar 1am Extra Time 5.00 Early Breakfast RADIO PICK Just a Minute 6.30pm, BBC Radio 4 Sue Perkins hosts the comedy panel game as Giles Brandreth (inset), Lucy Porter and Rhys James cover topics including the viral word game Wordle, which took the world by storm in 2022, as well as swing dancing and broken resolutions – which might be a pertinent subject at this time of year. As always, they have 60 seconds to ramble their way through each topic.
64 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Tuesday television CRITIC’S CHOICE Winterwatch 8pm, BBC Two Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan are back in Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk, updating us on the “weekend dramas” that have played out on the live cameras. They also revel in the rich habitat of nearby estuary the Wash, which draws thousands of avian migrants every winter and supports its own resident species all year round. Know Your S**t: Inside Our Guts 10pm, BBC Four Ahead of this Friday’s Holocaust Memorial Day there are a 6.00 The Simpsons Homer has a heart attack (R) (S). 6.30 Hollyoaks (R) (S). 6.00 Holiday Homes In The Sun (R) (S). 6.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 This Farming Life In Orkney, Sean and his family are faced with a sudden tragedy (R) (S). 7.30 Emmerdale Priya makes a big decision (S). 7.00 Channel 4 News (S). 7.00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors (S). 7.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 7.30 The Joy Of Painting (S). 8.00 Waterloo Road Amy’s drama workshop is in danger of Kelly Jo’s antics (S). 8.00 Winterwatch The rich habitat of the Wash in Norfolk, (S). 8.00 The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live (S). 8.00 Know Your S**t: Inside Our Guts Three more people visit Poo HQ for help with their gut issues (S). 8.00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Graeme meets a cheeky Beagle called Woody (S). 8.00 To The Manor Born Audrey pretends to be DeVere’s wife. First shown in 1981 (S). 8.30 The Mistress (S). 9.00 Silent Witness The Lyell return to the tunnel as another victim is targeted (S). 9.00 India: The Modi Question Part two of two (S). 9.00 Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad (S). 9.30 The Family Pile (S). 9.00 24 Hours In A&E A 20 year-old is rushed in after coming off her motorbike (S). 9.00 Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild (S). 9.00 A History Of Britain By Simon Schama The story of Henry II (S). 9.00 FILM: The Craft: Legacy (Zoe Lister-Jones 2020) Premiere. Horror drama, starring Cailee Spaeny (S). 9.00 Love Island The second week continues (S). 10.00 BBC News At Ten (S). 10.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 10.40 Bad Education (R) (S). 10.00 Detectorists Terry announces he is standing down as president (R) (S). 10.30 Newsnight (S). 10.00 ITV News At Ten; Weather (S). 10.30 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 10.45 The John Bishop Show (R) (S). 10.00 Belfast Midwives The midwives welcome three new babies into the world (S). 10.00 The Body In The Bag (R) (S). 10.00 Three Minutes: A Lengthening – Storyville (S). 10.50 FILM: Beast (Michael Pearce 2017) Thriller, starring Jessie Buckley (S). 10.05 Kavos Weekender David continues to isolate after catching coronavirus (S). 11.10 Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin Imogen throws a Halloween party to raise muchneeded cash (S). 11.15 FILM: Denial (Mick Jackson 2016) Fact-based drama, starring Rachel Weisz (S). 11.25 Made In Britain A look at Cornish pasties (R) (S). 11.05 Emergency Helicopter Medics (S). 11.30 Crimes That Shook Britain A profile of serial killer Colin Ireland (R) (S). 11.10 The Lost Libraries Of Timbuktu The literary tradition of the city in Mali (S). 12.00 Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (S). 12.55 BBC News (S). 1.00 Sign Zone: Tokyo Vice (R) (S). 1.55 Sign Zone: Surgeons: At The Edge Of Life (R) (S). 2.55 This Is BBC Two (S). 12.25 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (R) (S). 3.50 Unwind With ITV (S). 5.05 Lingo (R) (S). 12.10 In The Footsteps Of Killers (R) (S). 1.05 SAS: Who Dares Wins – Jungle Hell (R) (S). 2.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S). 2.50 Couples Come Dine With Me (R) (S). 12.25 Donald Neilson: Born To Kill (R) (S). 1.20 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.20 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.25 Around The World By Train With Tony Robinson (R) (S). 12.10 What’s Wrong With Our Weather? Horizon (S). 1.10 Hope Street (R) (S). 1.55 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 2.25 The Joy Of Painting (S). 2.55 A History Of Britain By Simon Schama (S). DAYTIME 6.00 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 6PM 7.00 The One Show (S). 7.30 EastEnders Felix and Bernie compete for a job at Jay’s stag do (S). Three Minutes: A Lengthening – Storyville 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (S). 12.45 George Clarke’s Build A New Life In The Country (R) (S). 1.40 5 News At Lunchtime (S). 1.45 Home And Away (R) (S). 2.15 FILM: Deadly Payback (Rolfe Kanefsky 2020) Drama, starring Jessica Morris (S). 4.00 BargainLoving Brits In The Sun (S). 5.00 5 News At 5 (S). 7PM 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (S). 6.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes (S). 9.30pm, ITV1 If I had one bit of advice to writer Brian Dooley and the production team behind this sitcom about an extended Liverpudlian family, it would be to slow it all down. The dialogue is too much of a gabble – some perhaps quite witty lines are lost in the process. This week the sisters uncover their late father’s guilty secret. 8PM 6.00 BBC News At Six; Weather (S). 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 9pm, Channel 5 The presenter is in South America this week to visit Rhona, a Britishborn actress who left the bright lights of Hollywood to live alone in a remote valley in Uruguay. Rhona is now committed to rehabilitating horses and the pair attend an animal auction looking to rescue any mistreated animals. And there is drama later that evening as a The Family Pile 9PM 6.00 Good Morning Britain (S). 9.00 Lorraine (S). 10.00 This Morning (S). 12.30 Loose Women (S). 1.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 1.55 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (S). 3.00 Lingo (S). 3.59 ITV Regional Weather (S). 4.00 Tipping Point (S). 5.00 The Chase (R) (S). 9pm, BBC Two The conclusion of this two-part documentary about Indian PM Narendra Modi focuses on the track record of his government following his re-election in 2019. A series of controversial policies have been accompanied by reports of violent attacks on Muslims by Hindus. Modi and his Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild violent storm hits while Fogle shelters in a fragile biodome. 10PM 6.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) (S). 7.15 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 8.00 Sign Zone: The Hairy Bikers Go Local (R) (S). 9.00 BBC News At 9 (S). 10.00 BBC News (S). 12.15 Politics Live (S). 1.00 Hardball (R) (S). 1.45 Celebrity Eggheads (R) (S). 2.15 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (R) (S). 3.15 Great Australian Railway Journeys (R) (S). 3.45 My Unique B&B (R) (S). 4.30 Saved And Remade (R) (S). 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S). India: The Modi Question government reject any suggestion that their policies reflect any prejudice towards Muslims – but these same policies have been repeatedly criticised by human rights organisations such as Amnesty International. 6.10 Countdown (R) (S). 6.50 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.15 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.40 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.30 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 9.00 Frasier (R) (S). 9.30 Frasier (R) (S). 10.00 Frasier (R) (S). 10.25 Undercover Boss USA (R) (S). 11.25 Channel 4 News Summary (S). 11.30 Come Dine With Me: The Professionals (R) (S). 12.30 Steph’s Packed Lunch (S). 2.10 Countdown (S). 3.00 A Place In The Sun (S). 4.00 A New Life In The Sun (S). 5.00 Junior Bake Off (S). LATE 6.00 Breakfast (S). 9.15 Morning Live (S). 10.00 Defenders UK (S). 10.45 Rip Off Britain: Holidays (R) (S). 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (S). 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 1.00 BBC News At One; Weather (S). 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 1.45 Doctors (S). 2.15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (S). 3.00 Escape To The Country (S). 3.45 The Repair Shop (S). 4.30 Bridge Of Lies (S). 5.15 Pointless (S). she eats visit “Poo HQ” for help from dietician Sophie Medlin and gastroenterologist Dr Rabia Topan. Twin presenters Lisa and Alana Macfarlane also visit the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to see some of the world’s worst parasites and learn about the rise in bowel cancer cases. 11PM ‘Three Minutes’ of footage are all that remain of one Polish Jewish community, 10pm, BBC Four 8pm, Channel 4 A nurse who can bloat from a size 16 to a size 24 in minutes, a fireman with the nickname “Stinky Grandad” and a woman from Jersey with crippling pain when radio Michaela Strachan is in coastal Norfolk 8pm, BBC Two Ben Fogle meets an actress now tending to horses in a remote part of Uruguay 9pm, Channel 5 A look at Indian PM Narendra Modi 9pm, BBC Two 6.40 FILM: Mortal Engines (Christian Rivers 2018) Fantasy adventure, starring Hera Hilmar (S). 6.00 World’s Funniest Videos (S). 6.35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records (S). 7.00 Secret Crush (S). 8.00 Dress To Impress (S). 9.00 Chuck (S). 10.00 One Tree Hill (S). 11.00 The O.C (S). 12.00 Secret Crush (S). 1.00 Dress To Impress (S). 2.00 Family Fortunes (S). 3.05 Chuck (S). 4.00 One Tree Hill (S). 5.00 The O.C (S). 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase With Bill Bailey, Kathy Burke and Gok Wan (S). 7.00 Ninja Warrior UK: Race For Glory More competitors take on the obstacle course (S). 8.00 Superstore Jonah finds himself in trouble with Sandra (S). 8.30 Superstore (S). 11.05 Family Guy Part one of two. The Griffins find themselves stuck in Springfield (S). 11.35 Family Guy (S). 1.00 FILM: Charlie Says (Mary Harron 2018) Drama, starring Hannah Murray (S). 3.15 Close 12.00 American Dad! (S). 12.30 American Dad! (S). 1.00 Superstore (S). 1.30 Superstore (S). 2.00 Plebs (S). 2.30 Plebs (S). 3.00 Teleshopping
culture number of programmes about the Nazi genocide, perhaps none more profoundly moving in its intimacy than Bianca Stigter’s poetic piece of historical detective work. Three minutes of footage is all that remains of the Jewish community of Nasielsk, a small town in Poland. Filmed in 1938 by photographer David Kurtz, a Jewish-American who was on a tour of Europe, the footage was discovered by his grandson, Glenn Kurtz, and subjected to a forensic examination to identify individuals who were destined for annihilation at Treblinka. Stigter is assisted by a rare survivor – one of the joshing, cheerful boys who feature in the footage. Gerard Gilbert FILM CHOICE Hellboy 9pm, ITV4 (Guillermo del Toro, 2004) Hellboy, a comic book character created in the 90s by Mike Mignola, was brought to Earth from another dimension by Nazi occultists while still just a cute baby demon. All grown up, he is winningly played by Ron Perlman as a scarlet-skinned, cigarchomping reluctant crime fighter with a prickly attitude. Last Night in Soho Thomasin McKenzie has a ‘Last Night in Soho’ , 10.40pm, Sky Cinema Sci-fi/Horror 10.40pm, Sky Cinema Sci-Fi/Horror (Edgar Wright, 2021) Director Edgar Wright conjures a vivid phantasmagoria of pre-swinging 60s London in this 6.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 7.55 Junior Bake Off (S). 9.00 The Goldbergs (S). 9.30 The Goldbergs (S). 10.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 10.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 11.00 Modern Family (S). 12.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 12.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 1.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 3.00 Modern Family (S). 3.30 Modern Family (S). 4.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 4.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 5.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 5.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 8.55 Kirstie’s House Of Craft (S). 9.15 A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (S). 10.05 A New Life In The Sun (S). 11.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 12.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 1.10 Heir Hunters (S). 2.10 Heir Hunters (S). 3.10 Four In A Bed (S). 3.40 Four In A Bed (S). 4.15 Four In A Bed (S). 4.50 Four In A Bed (S). 5.20 Four In A Bed (S). 5.55 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It (S). 6.00 Heartbeat Greengrass goes into business with a stranger (S). 6.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.55 Escape To The Chateau Angel transforms the attic into a studio (S). 6.00 Stargate SG-1 Teal’c stands trial for murder (R) (S). 7.00 Heartbeat A new inspector arrives (S). 7.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.30 Modern Family Alex goes head-to-head with a school rival (S). 7.55 Grand Designs Update on a couple’s relocation to the Creuse region of France (S). 7.00 Stargate SG-1 The team rescues a group of aliens (R) (S). 6.00 Classic Emmerdale (S). 6.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 7.00 Classic Coronation Street (S). 7.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 8.05 George And Mildred (S). 8.40 George And Mildred (S). 9.15 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 11.30 Heartbeat (S). 12.35 Heartbeat (S). 1.40 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.10 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.40 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.15 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.45 Inspector Morse (S). 8.00 Midsomer Murders (S). 6.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 7.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 8.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 9.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 10.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 11.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 12.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 1.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 2.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 3.00 The Blacklist (R) (S). 4.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 5.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 6.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.55 The Sopranos (R) (S). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.05 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 11.10 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 12.15 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 1.20 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 2.25 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 3.30 The Sopranos (R) (S). 4.35 The Sopranos (R) (S). 5.45 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 6.50 Your Honor Michael and his son Adam create an alibi for the day of the accident (R) (S). 7.55 Game Of Thrones Qhorin gives Jon a chance to prove himself (R) (S). 1am, Film4 (Mary Harron, 2018) The director of American Psycho and I Shot Andy Warhol takes on the Manson family. The former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith is impressively persuasive as the creepy/seductive cult leader, but the film’s main interest and sympathies lie with the women who murdered in his name, clinging to their rationalisations. Laurence Phelan Radio listings 9.00 Grand Designs A chef building a double-kitchen home in south London (S). 9.00 Flintoff: From Lord’s To The Ring Andrew Flintoff decides whether he should continue boxing (R) (S). 9.00 The Last Of Us Postapocalyptic drama, starring Pedro Pascal (R). 10.00 Scott & Bailey Janet moves a step closer to tracking down Veronica’s killer (S). 10.00 Naked Attraction (S). 10.00 Holidays From Hell: Caught On Camera (S). 10.00 Hold The Front Page Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe work at the Yorkshire Post (R) (S). 10.05 City On A Hill Decourcy comes up with a plan to get information out of suspects (R) (S). 11.00 Scott & Bailey Rachel narrowly avoids being run over by a car (S). 11.05 First Dates A reiki healer is set up on a date with a children’s entertainer (S). 11.05 24 Hours In A&E A severely underweight baby is rushed into resus (S). 11.00 S.W.A.T Hondo stumbles upon a wide-ranging heroin operation in Bangkok (R) (S). 11.10 The Tunnel: Sabotage Karl and Elise make their biggest breakthrough in the case yet (R) (S). 12.10 Gogglebox (S). 1.15 Gogglebox (S). 2.20 Below Deck (S). 3.10 Naked Attraction (S). 4.05 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 4.55 The Goldbergs (S). 5.20 The Goldbergs (S). 12.10 Grand Designs (S). 1.15 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (S). 2.20 24 Hours In A&E (S). 3.25 Food Unwrapped (S). 3.50 Close 12.00 Wolfe (R) (S). 1.00 Road Wars (R) (S). 2.00 Brit Cops: Law & Disorder (R) (S). 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 4.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 5.00 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 5.30 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 12.15 Watchmen (R) (S). 1.20 Lovecraft Country (R) (S). 2.30 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 3.40 In Treatment (R) (S). 4.10 Fish Town (R) (S). 5.05 Fish Town (R) (S). On Demand Harry: The Interview ITVX Tom Bradby interviewed the Duke of Sussex ahead of the publication of a certain book and the furore it triggered. Narvik Netflix Norwegian movie drama about the 1940 battle known as Hitler’s first defeat. The Steve Harvey Show Prime Video A failed R&B singer becomes a high-school teacher in this Noughties US sitcom. 6.57am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Greg James 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Rickie, Melvin And Charlie 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Dean And Vicky 3.30 Newsbeat 3.32 Going Home With Jordan 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1’s Future Sounds With Clara Amfo 8.00 Radio 1’s Future Artists With Jack Saunders 10.00 Radio 1’s Essential Albums 11.00 Annie Nightingale Presents 1am Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Mix 1.30 Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Mix 2.00 Radio 1 Playlist: Revision Mode 3.00 Radio 1’s Power Down Playlist With Sian Eleri Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 12.30 The Architects 1.00 The Goon Show 1.30 Little Blighty On The Down 2.00 The Motion Show 2.30 North East Of Eden 3.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 4.00 Father Brown Stories 4.30 Find The Lady 5.00 Unsheltered 5.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 5.30 The Architects 6.00 The Goon Show 6.30 Little Blighty On The Down 7.00 Jake Yapp’s Unwinding 10.00 Comedy Club: Phil Ellis Is Trying 10.30 Comedy Club: Cabin Pressure 11.00 Comedy Club: The Consultants 11.30 Comedy Club: The Mark Steel Solution 12mdn’t Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 1.00 Father Brown Stories 1.30 Find The Lady 2.00 Unsheltered 2.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 2.30 The Architects 3.00 The Goon Show 3.30 Little Blighty On The Down 4.00 The Motion Show 4.30 North East Of Eden 5.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn BBC Radio 1Xtra BBC 5 Live BBC Radio 1 6am Battle Of The Mixes 6.30 Battle Of The Mixes 7.00 Nadia Jae 10.00 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 10.15 Ace 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Remi Burgz 3.45 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 4.00 Reece Parkinson 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Reece Parkinson 7.00 DJ Target 9.00 1Xtra’s Alternative Selection With CassKidd 11.00 Snoochie Shy 1am 1Xtra’s Rap Show 3.00 Battle Of The Mixes 3.30 Battle Of The Mixes 4.00 Songs To Live By 4.30 Ace BBC Radio 2 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30 Ken Bruce 12noon Jeremy Vine 2.00 Scott Mills 4.00 Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Wower 7.00 Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy Playlist 7.30 Jo Whiley 9.00 The Jazz Show With Jamie Cullum 10.00 Trevor Nelson’s Magnificent 7 10.30 Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation 12mdn’t OJ Borg 3.00 Pick Of The Pops 4.00 Early Breakfast Show BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 4 9.00 Gogglebox The householders appraise Bridgerton and Dynasties II (S). 12.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 2.05 Unwind With ITV (S). 2.30 Teleshopping Charlie Says 6.30am Breakfast 9.00 Essential Classics 12noon Composer Of The Week: Bonis 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 Afternoon Concert 5.00 In Tune 7.00 In Tune Mixtape 7.30 Radio 3 In Concert 10.00 Free Thinking 10.45 The Essay: Science Notes 11.00 Night Tracks 12.30am Through The Night 8.00 NCIS: Los Angeles Callen and Kilbride get troubling news about a body found in Syria (R) (S). 8.00 Below Deck Heather feels like she is at a dead end with Jessica and decides to make a change (S). expressionistic psychological horror: Suspiria meets Absolute Beginners. Thomasin McKenzie plays a fashion student ingénue who is haunted by nightly visions of an aspiring nightclub singer. 65 6am Today 9.00 The Life Scientific 9.30 One To One 9.45 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 10.00 Woman’s Hour 11.00 The Curious Cases Of Rutherford & Fry 11.30 In Time To The Music 12noon News 12.04 Call You And Yours 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World At One 1.45 Buried 2.00 The Archers 2.15 Drama: Back Home 3.00 Short Cuts 3.30 A Thorough Examination With Drs Chris And Xand 4.00 Word Of Mouth 4.30 Great Lives 5.00 PM 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.30 Phil Ellis Is Trying 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Front Row 8.00 File On 4 8.40 In Touch 9.00 Inside Health 9.30 The Life Scientific 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book At Bedtime: Act Of Oblivion 11.00 Small Scenes 11.30 Today In Parliament 12mdn’t News And Weather 12.30 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20 Shipping Forecast 5.30 News Briefing 5.43 Prayer For The Day 5.45 Farming Today 5.58 Tweet Of The Day BBC Radio 4 LW 8.31am Yesterday In Parliament 9.45 Daily Service 12.01pm Shipping Forecast 5.54 Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Father Brown Stories 6.30 Find The Lady 7.00 Unsheltered 7.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 7.30 The Architects 8.00 The Goon Show 8.30 Little Blighty On The Down 9.00 The Motion Show 9.30 North East Of Eden 10.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 11.00 Father Brown Stories 11.30 Find The Lady 12noon Unsheltered 12.15 Curtain Down At Her 6am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Naga Munchetty 1pm Nihal Arthanayake 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport 8.00 5 Live Sport 10.00 Colin Murray 1am Dotun Adebayo 5.00 Wake Up To Money BBC 6 Music 7.30am Lauren Laverne 10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs 1pm Craig Charles 4.00 Steve Lamacq 7.00 Marc Riley 9.00 Gideon Coe 12mdn’t 6 Music Artist In Residence 1.00 Guitar Greats 2.00 Jeff Beck At The BBC 3.00 6 Music Live Hour 4.00 6 Music Goes Back To The 2010s – The Playlist 5.00 Chris Hawkins Classic FM 6am More Music Breakfast 9.00 Alexander Armstrong 12noon Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 John Brunning 7.00 Smooth Classics At Seven 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Bill Overton Absolute Radio 6am Dave Berry 10.00 Leona Graham 1pm Ben Burrell 4.00 Bush And Richie 7.00 Danielle Perry 10.00 Jay Lawrence 1am Dan Noble Heart 6.30am Heart Breakfast With Jamie Theakston And Amanda Holden 10.00 Pandora Christie 1pm Matt Wilkinson 4.00 JK And Kelly Brook 7.00 Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Dev Griffin 10.00 Fia Tarrant 1am Simon Beale 4.00 Early Breakfast With Lindsey Russell TalkSPORT 6am TalkSPORT Breakfast With Laura Woods 10.00 Jim White And Simon Jordan 1pm Hawksbee And Baker 4.00 TalkSPORT Drive With Andy Goldstein And Darren Bent 7.00 Kick Off 10.00 Sports Bar 12mdn’t Extra Time RADIO PICK In Time to the Music 11.30am, BBC Radio 4 In this new series, Andrew McGibbon (inset) researches the history of some of the world’s most re-recorded pieces of music. Here, he begins by looking at “My Funny Valentine” from the 1937 musical Babes in Arms, including recent variations from Justina Valentine and Hadassah. McGibbon also speaks to musicologists Laura Tunbridge and Richard Dumbrill.
66 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Wednesday television CRITIC’S CHOICE 6.00 Good Morning Britain (S). 9.00 Lorraine (S). 10.00 This Morning (S). 12.30 Loose Women (S). 1.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 1.55 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (S). 3.00 Lingo (S). 3.59 ITV Regional Weather (S). 4.00 Tipping Point (S). 5.00 The Chase (S). 6PM 6.00 BBC News At Six; Weather (S). 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 6.55 Party Political Broadcast (R) (S). 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (S). 6.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes (S). 7PM 7.00 The One Show (S). 7.30 EastEnders It’s the day of Jay and Lola’s wedding (S). 8pm, Sky Arts A primary school teacher from Cork and a pastry chef from 9pm, BBC Two The idea of being conscious while a surgeon pokes around inside your head might seem horrific, but such is the case with a 63-year-old retired nurse undergoing brain surgery – a high-risk procedure that requires Next Level Chef 9pm, ITV1 This cooking show takes the stress of the kitchen to the next level – although not to any apparent end: the dishes produced in this contest have yet to prove significantly more appetising than those created in, say, MasterChef: The Professionals. This week the 10 contestants are challenged to create the perfect burger and chips, and Gordon Ramsay and 6.00 World’s Funniest Videos (S). 6.35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records (S). 7.00 Secret Crush (S). 8.00 Dress To Impress (S). 9.00 Chuck (S). 10.00 One Tree Hill (S). 11.00 The O.C (S). 12.00 Secret Crush (S). 1.00 Dress To Impress (S). 2.00 Family Fortunes (S). 3.05 Chuck (S). 4.00 One Tree Hill (S). 5.00 The O.C (S). 6.10 Countdown (R) (S). 6.50 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.15 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.40 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.30 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 9.00 Frasier (R) (S). 9.30 Frasier (R) (S). 10.00 Frasier (R) (S). 10.25 Undercover Boss USA (R) (S). 11.25 Channel 4 News Summary (S). 11.30 Come Dine With Me: The Professionals (R) (S). 12.30 Steph’s Packed Lunch (S). 2.10 Countdown (S). 3.00 A Place In The Sun (S). 4.00 A New Life In The Sun (S). 5.00 Junior Bake Off (S). 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (S). 12.45 George Clarke’s Build A New Life In The Country (R) (S). 1.40 5 News At Lunchtime (S). 1.45 Home And Away (R) (S). 2.15 FILM: Set Up By My Lover (Roxanne Boisvert 2021) Drama, starring Camille Stopps (S). 4.00 BargainLoving Brits In The Sun (S). 5.00 5 News At 5 (S). 6.00 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.25 Party Political Broadcast (S). 6.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 6.00 The Simpsons Marge tackles a conman (R) (S). 6.30 Hollyoaks (R) (S). 6.00 Holiday Homes In The Sun (R) (S). 6.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 This Farming Life Emma and Ewan head to Kelso Ram Sales in search of three new rams (R) (S). 7.30 Emmerdale David is determined to take control (S). 7.00 Channel 4 News (S). 7.00 You Are What You Eat (R) (S). 7.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 7.30 The Joy Of Painting (S). 8.00 The Repair Shop Items include a clockwork tractor and a beloved plate (R) (S). 8.00 Winterwatch Michaela Strachan celebrates Norfolk’s pink-footed geese (S). 8.00 Coronation Street Maria’s life depends on Max taking timely action (S). 8.00 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It (S). 8.00 Phone Scams: Don’t Get Caught Out New series. Alexis Conran exposes shocking phone scams (S). 8.00 Michael Palin’s New Europe Transdniester, Moldova and Romania (S). 9.00 Sort Your Life Out New series. Stacey Solomon helps the HarrisHawley family transform their home (S). 9.00 Surgeons: At The Edge Of Life A patient undergoes brain surgery while awake (S). 9.00 Next Level Chef The ten remaining cooks are challenged to create the perfect burger (S). 9.00 Grand Designs An underground home on a hill near Canterbury (R) (S). 9.00 The Catch New series. Psychological thriller, starring Jason Watkins (S). 9.00 The Beginning And End Of The Universe (S). 10.00 BBC News At Ten (S). 10.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 10.40 The Traitors US (R) (S). 10.00 Our Flag Means Death Blackbeard experiences an identity crisis (S). 10.30 Newsnight (S). 10.00 ITV News At Ten; Weather (S). 10.30 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 10.45 Peston (S). 10.00 The Caribbean: Billionaires’ Paradise Last in the series (S). 10.00 A&E After Dark Two people arrive after jumping from an upstairs window during a house fire (R) (S). 10.00 Angelou On Burns (S). 10.50 Beyond Burns (S). 11.25 The Traitors US After the first murder, the Traitors attempt to keep their cover (R) (S). 11.15 Digging For Britain (R) (S). 11.45 The Family Pile Clearing out their father’s shed, Nicole and Ursula uncover his guilty secret (R) (S). 11.05 First Dates Hotel More singletons try to find love at a luxury hotel (R) (S). 11.05 Skin A&E Four top dermatologists treat patients for cysts, lipomas and skin tags (R) (S). 11.50 Catching Britain’s Killers: The Crimes That Changed Us (S). 11.15 FILM: World War Z (Marc Forster 2013) Zombie thriller, starring Brad Pitt (S). 11.05 Family Guy Peter helps Joe to publish a book (S). 11.30 American Dad! (S). 12.20 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (R) (S). 1.25 BBC News (S). 12.15 Sign Zone: See Hear (R) (S). 12.45 Sign Zone: Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked (R) (S). 1.45 Sign Zone: The Travelling Auctioneers (R) (S). 2.30 Sign Zone: Ukraine: The People’s Fight (R) (S). 12.10 EFL Carabao Cup Highlights (R) (S). 1.10 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 Your Car: Time To Switch? Tonight (R) (S). 3.25 James Martin’s French Adventure (R) (S). 3.50 Unwind With ITV (S). 12.10 24 Hours In A&E (R) (S). 1.05 Belfast Midwives (R) (S). 2.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S). 2.50 Couples Come Dine With Me (R) (S). 3.45 Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites (R) (S). 12.05 Ambulance: Code Red (R) (S). 1.00 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.00 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.05 Around The World By Train With Tony Robinson (R) (S). 12.50 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 1.20 The Joy Of Painting (S). 1.50 The Beginning And End Of The Universe (S). 2.50 The Lost Libraries Of Timbuktu (S). 3.50 Close 1.30 FILM: Pride And Prejudice And Zombies (Burr Steers 2016) Comedy adventure, starring Lily James (S). 3.45 Close 12.00 American Dad! (S). 12.30 Superstore (S). 1.00 Superstore (S). 1.30 Shopping With Keith Lemon (S). 2.00 CelebAbility (S). 2.45 Unwind With ITV (S). 3.00 Teleshopping LATE 8PM DAYTIME 6.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) (S). 7.15 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 8.00 See Hear (S). 8.30 Sign Zone: A Countryside Winter (R) (S). 9.00 BBC News At 9 (S). 10.00 BBC News (S). 11.15 Politics Live (S). 1.00 Hardball (R) (S). 1.45 Celebrity Eggheads (R) (S). 2.15 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (R) (S). 3.15 Great Australian Railway Journeys (R) (S). 3.45 My Unique B&B (R) (S). 4.30 Saved And Remade (R) (S). 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S). Landscape Artist of the Year 2023 Surgeons: At the Edge of Life the patient to be awake for at least part of the time. It is all about the grey matter this week and another team operates on a 66-year-old man whose aneurysm has become diseased and could burst at any moment, with fatal consequences. 9PM 6.00 Breakfast (S). 9.15 Morning Live (S). 10.00 Defenders UK (S). 10.45 Rip Off Britain: Holidays (S). 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) (S). 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 1.00 BBC News At One; Weather (S). 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 1.45 Doctors (S). 2.15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (S). 3.00 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 3.45 The Repair Shop (S). 4.30 Bridge Of Lies (S). 5.15 Pointless (S). 8pm, Channel 5 The number of phone scams relieving Britons of tens of millions each year is bewildering. So-called dating scams alone apparently led to losses of £100m in 2021, so this report from Alexis Conran should make vital viewing as he exposes rackets from faux romances and rogue online shopping outlets to fake delivery texts – and shares his top tips on avoiding them. Galway are among the eight hopefuls setting up easels outside Castle Ward in Northern Ireland, a stately home with one Gothic and one Palladian façade. It is a murky morning with flat grey light and no shadows, but that is no problem for the contender whose style is described by judge Kate Bryan as “Hieronymus Bosch meets sci-film meets I know not what”. 10PM 9pm, More4 Following their separation last year, Amanda and Clive Owen, the stars of Channel 5’s hit agri-documentary Our Yorkshire Farm, have embarked on solo projects. While Clive and their teenage son Reuben front Beyond the Yorkshire Farm, Amanda is temporarily leaving Ravenseat to embark on a series of three-day visits to some “extraordinary farms”. Her first stopover is on the Shetland Isles at the northernmost tip of the UK, where two young sisters farm 1,500 acres with more than 600 sheep and various rare-breed cattle and pigs. Phone Scams: Don’t Get Caught Out 11PM Amanda Owen visits two young sisters in the Shetlands in ‘Farming Lives’, 9pm, More4 Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives radio Gordon Ramsay hosts ‘Next Level Chef’ 9pm, ITV1 Kate Bryan helps to judge the landscape artists at Castle Ward in Co Down 8pm, Sky Arts Surgeon Rishi Rallan treats more patients 9pm, BBC Two 6.20 FILM: Ghostbusters (Paul Feig 2016) Fantasy comedy, starring Kristen Wiig (S). 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase Stephen Mulhern hosts a celebrity special of the classic game show (S). 7.00 Ninja Warrior UK: Race For Glory (S). 8.00 Superstore Carol’s lawyer arrives at Cloud 9 to depose the employees (S). 8.30 Superstore (S). 9.00 FILM: Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg 1981) Action adventure (S). 9.00 Love Island Maya Jama presents all the latest action from the villa (S). 10.05 The Stand Up Sketch Show (S). 10.35 Family Guy Stewie and Brian use their time machine to help Chris (S).
culture his two fellow mentors, Paul Ainsworth and Nyesha Arrington, put on a masterclass. FILM CHOICE The Traitors US 10.40pm, BBC One Already available to stream on BBC iPlayer for the past fortnight, so presumably fans of the original British version will have already binged on it, the American version of the hit reality show is now broadcast in double-episode chunks. Alan Cumming lays on his Scottishness with a trowel as host, while the 20 contestants are a mix of ordinary folk and veterans of various US reality TV shows. It all takes place at the same Scottish castle as the UK version. Gerard Gilbert 6.00 Classic Emmerdale (S). 6.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 7.00 Classic Coronation Street (S). 7.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 8.05 George And Mildred (S). 8.40 On The Buses (S). 9.15 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 11.30 Heartbeat (S). 12.35 Heartbeat (S). 1.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.10 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.40 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.10 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.40 Inspector Morse (S). 5.55 Heartbeat (S). 7.00 Heartbeat Nick is drawn into a family feud (S). 8.00 Lewis A body is found on an Oxford tour bus (S). A Few Good Men 8pm, Sky Cinema Greats (Rob Reiner, 1992) The writer Aaron Sorkin’s first hit, adapted from his own Broadway play, was a slick courtroom drama that interrogates the ethics and conduct of the US military. It is given an extra frisson by the fact that the characters on trial were stationed at Guantanamo Bay. Tom Cruise plays the hotshot lawyer attempting a version of the “Nuremberg defence”. World War Z Viggo Mortensen stars in sci-fi horror ‘Crimes of the Future’, 11.45pm, Sky Cinema Premiere 11.15pm, Film4 (Marc Forster, 2013) Brad Pitt takes on a rare actionhero role, playing a special agent jetting around the world in search 6.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 7.55 Junior Bake Off (S). 9.00 The Goldbergs (S). 9.30 The Goldbergs (S). 10.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 10.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 11.00 Modern Family (S). 11.30 Modern Family (S). 12.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 12.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 1.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 3.00 Modern Family (S). 3.30 Modern Family (S). 4.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 5.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 5.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 8.55 Kirstie’s House Of Craft (S). 9.15 A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (S). 10.05 A New Life In The Sun (S). 11.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 12.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 1.10 Heir Hunters (S). 2.10 Heir Hunters (S). 3.10 Four In A Bed (S). 3.40 Four In A Bed (S). 4.15 Four In A Bed (S). 4.50 Four In A Bed (S). 5.20 Four In A Bed (S). 5.55 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It (S). 6.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 7.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 8.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 9.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 10.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 11.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R). 12.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R). 1.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 2.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 3.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 4.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 5.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 6.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.30 The Big Bang Theory Penny’s ex-boyfriend offers her a new job (S). 6.55 Escape To The Chateau Angel redesigns the rooms in one of the chateau’s turrets (S). 6.00 Stargate SG-1 O’Neill is stranded on an unknown planet (R) (S). 7.00 Hollyoaks John Paul convinces Goldie to attend Bobby’s court hearing (S). 7.30 Modern Family (S). 7.55 Grand Designs (S). 7.00 Stargate SG-1 The minds of the team are implanted into robotic bodies (R) (S). 6.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.55 The Sopranos (R) (S). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.05 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 11.10 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 12.15 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 1.20 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 2.30 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 3.35 The Sopranos (R) (S). 4.40 The Sopranos (R) (S). 5.45 Ray Donovan (R) (S). Crimes of the Future 11.45pm, Sky Cinema Premiere (David Cronenberg, 2022) A fleshy and squishy film set in a bio-technologically advanced future and open to the weird ideas and futures that humanity’s co-evolution with technology may throw up. Viggo Mortensen stars as a performance artist who grows spare neo-organs in his body then has them surgically removed in front of an audience. Laurence Phelan Radio listings BBC Radio 1 6.57am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Greg James 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Rickie, Melvin And Charlie 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Dean And Vicky 3.30 Newsbeat 3.32 Going Home With Vick And Jordan 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1’s Future Sounds With Clara Amfo 8.00 Radio 1’s Future Artists With Jack Saunders 10.00 Radio 1’s Essential Albums 11.00 Benji B 1am Radio 1’s Chillout Anthems 2.00 The Radio 1 Interview 2.15 Radio 1 Playlists 2.30 Radio 1’s Life Hacks-Adapt The World 2.45 Radio 1’s Life Hacks-Adapt The World 3.00 Radio 1 Relax In Love BBC Radio 1Xtra 6.50 Your Honor Michael continues to use his power to obscure details of the accident (R) (S). 7.55 Game Of Thrones Theon embarks on a hunt as he tries to prove his Ironborn status (R) (S). 8.00 S.W.A.T Hondo stumbles upon a wide-ranging heroin operation in Bangkok (R) (S). 8.00 Below Deck Captain Lee and Eddie grow weary by the deck crew’s performance (S). 6am Battle Of The Mixes 6.30 Battle Of The Mixes 7.00 Nadia Jae 10.00 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 10.15 Ace 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Remi Burgz 3.45 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 4.00 Reece Parkinson 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Reece Parkinson 7.00 DJ Target 9.00 DJ Edu – Destination Africa 10.30 DJ Edu’s DNA Mix 11.00 Snoochie Shy 1am Pressed 2.00 Sir Spyro 4.00 1Xtra @ 20-20 Years Of African Sounds 5.00 1Xtra Salutes.. BBC Radio 2 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30 Ken Bruce 12noon Jeremy Vine 2.00 Scott Mills 4.00 Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Wower 7.00 Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy Playlist 7.30 Jo Whiley 9.00 The Folk Show With Mark Radcliffe 10.00 Trevor Nelson’s Magnificent 7 10.30 Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation 12mdn’t OJ Borg 3.00 Radio 2 All Stars 4.00 Early Breakfast Show BBC Radio 3 9am Essential Classics 12noon Composer Of The Week: Bonis 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 Afternoon Concert 4.00 Choral Evensong 5.00 In Tune 7.00 In Tune Mixtape 7.30 Radio 3 In Concert 10.00 Free Thinking 10.45 The Essay: Science Notes 11.00 Night Tracks 12.30am Through The Night BBC Radio 4 9.00 Gogglebox The armchair critics sit down to Peaky Blinders, Made In Chelsea and Scam Interceptors (S). 9.00 Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives New series (S). 9.00 Hold The Front Page Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe work for Farming Life (S). 9.00 Big Little Lies Nathan invites Madeline to a dinner to discuss Abigail (R) (S). 10.00 Naked Attraction Featuring a 24-year-old martial arts instructor from Hull (S). 10.00 Best Year Ever...1994 Documentary delving into the songs, stories and trends of 1994 (S). 10.00 Strike Back: Vengeance Stonebridge faces a psychiatric assessment (R) (S). 10.05 The Last Of Us Postapocalyptic drama, starring Pedro Pascal (R). 11.00 Scott & Bailey Part two of two. The detectives face a wall of silence in their murder investigation (S). 11.05 Gogglebox The critics pass judgment on Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor and Britain Afloat (S). 11.05 24 Hours In A&E A girl is rushed into resus after slumping over her desk at school (S). 11.00 Brassic A woman hires the boys to kill her ex-husband’s prized koi carp collection (R) (S). 11.10 Devils Massimo’s traders disobey his orders (R) (S). 12.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 2.05 Unwind With ITV (S). 2.30 Teleshopping 12.10 First Dates (S). 1.15 Gogglebox (S). 2.15 Below Deck (S). 3.05 Naked Attraction (S). 4.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 4.50 The Goldbergs (S). 5.15 The Goldbergs (S). 12.05 Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives (S). 1.15 Best Year Ever...1994 (S). 2.15 24 Hours In A&E (S). 3.20 Food Unwrapped (S). 3.50 Close (S). 12.00 An Idiot Abroad (R) (S). 1.00 Road Wars (R) (S). 2.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 4.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 5.00 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 5.30 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 12.15 Britannia (R) (S). 1.20 Boardwalk Empire (R) (S). 2.25 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 3.35 In Treatment (R) (S). 4.05 Fish Town (R) (S). 5.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 10.00 Scott & Bailey Part one of two. The detectives investigate two murders (S). of an antidote to a viral zombie outbreak. The large-scale scenes of societal breakdown are well handled, though the human drama is scant and cursory, and the science bits are faintly ludicrous. 6am Today 9.00 More Or Less 9.30 Just One Thing With Michael Mosley 9.45 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 10.00 Woman’s Hour 11.00 The Shamima Begum Story 11.30 Oti Mabuse’s Dancing Legends 12noon News 12.04 You And Yours 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World At One 1.45 Buried 2.00 The Archers 2.15 Drama: Bottled 3.00 Money Box Live 3.30 Inside Health 4.00 Thinking Allowed 4.30 The Media Show 5.00 PM 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.30 Conversations From A Long Marriage 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Front Row 8.00 The Moral Maze 8.45 Four Thought 9.00 A Thorough Examination With Drs Chris And Xand 9.30 The Media Show 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book At Bedtime: Act Of Oblivion 11.00 What’s The Story, Ashley Storrie? 11.15 Darren Harriott: Black Label 11.30 Today In Parliament 12mdn’t News And Weather 12.30 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20 Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 LW 8.31am Yesterday In Parliament 9.45 Daily Service 12.01pm Shipping Forecast 5.54 Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Father Brown Stories 6.30 Sparkling Cyanide 7.00 Unsheltered 7.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 7.30 Women Talking About Cars 8.00 Hancock’s Half Hour 8.30 Flying The Flag 9.00 It’s Not What You Know 9.30 Tales From The Tower 10.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 11.00 Father Brown Stories 11.30 Sparkling Cyanide 67 On Demand Deep Fake Neighbour Wars ITVX Deepfake comedy replicates the likes of Greta Thunberg, Stormzy and Harry Kane as warring neighbours. Represent Netflix Comedy about a youth who reaches the final of French presidential elections. Teen Wolf: The Movie Paramount+ The supernatural drama’s stars return. 12noon Unsheltered 12.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 12.30 Women Talking About Cars 1.00 Hancock’s Half Hour 1.30 Flying The Flag 2.00 It’s Not What You Know 2.30 Tales From The Tower 3.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 4.00 Father Brown Stories 4.30 Sparkling Cyanide 5.00 Unsheltered 5.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 5.30 Women Talking About Cars 6.00 Hancock’s Half Hour 6.30 Flying The Flag 7.00 Jake Yapp’s Unwinding 10.00 Comedy Club: Conversations From A Long Marriage 10.30 Comedy Club: Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better 11.00 Comedy Club: Hamish And Dougal’s Burns Night Special 11.30 Comedy Club: Cutler The Lax 11.45 Comedy Club: I, Regress 12mdn’t Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 1.00 Father Brown Stories 1.30 Sparkling Cyanide 2.00 Unsheltered 2.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 2.30 Women Talking About Cars 3.00 Hancock’s Half Hour 3.30 Flying The Flag BBC 5 Live 6am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Naga Munchetty 1pm Nihal Arthanayake 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport 8.00 5 Live Sport 10.00 Colin Murray 1am Dotun Adebayo BBC 6 Music 7.30am Lauren Laverne 10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs 1pm Craig Charles 4.00 Steve Lamacq 7.00 Marc Riley 9.00 Gideon Coe 12mdn’t Freak Zone Playlist 1.00 6 Mix 3.00 6 Music Live Hour 4.00 6 Music Goes Back To The 2010s – The Playlist 5.00 Chris Hawkins Classic FM 6am More Music Breakfast 9.00 Alexander Armstrong 12noon Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 John Brunning 7.00 Smooth Classics At Seven 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Bill Overton Absolute Radio 6am Dave Berry 10.00 Leona Graham 1pm Ben Burrell 4.00 Bush And Richie 7.00 Danielle Perry 10.00 Jay Lawrence 1am Dan Noble Heart 6.30am Heart Breakfast With Jamie Theakston And Amanda Holden 10.00 Pandora Christie 1pm Matt Wilkinson 4.00 JK And Kelly Brook 7.00 Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Dev Griffin 10.00 Fia Tarrant 1am Simon Beale 4.00 Early Breakfast With Lindsey Russell TalkSPORT 6am TalkSPORT Breakfast With Laura Woods 10.00 Jim White And Simon Jordan 1pm Hawksbee And Jacobs 4.00 TalkSPORT Drive With Andy Goldstein And Darren Bent 7.00 Kick Off 10.00 Sports Bar 1am Extra Time RADIO PICK Free Thinking 10pm, BBC Radio 3 Presenter Rana Mitter (inset) considers the life and legacy of 18thcentury clergyman, physician and antiquarian William Stukeley. He was the first person to survey Stonehenge and other ancient monuments. Rana is also joined in conversation by historian Susan Greaney, author Rosemary Hill, historian Ronald Hutton and history professor Robert Iliffe.
68 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Thursday television CRITIC’S CHOICE Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes 6.30pm, BBC Two This week-long series (it started on Monday), in which the actor explores the North East of England in the company of family and famous friends, continues with former Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley – best known as Lost Voice Guy. Together, they hike to Weardale and Co Durham before Ridley takes Green to a favourite spot he used to walk as a child near his Consett home. Dragons’ Den 6.00 Good Morning Britain (S). 9.00 Lorraine (S). 10.00 This Morning (S). 12.30 Loose Women (S). 1.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 1.55 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (S). 3.00 Lingo (S). 3.59 ITV Regional Weather (S). 4.00 Tipping Point (S). 5.00 The Chase (S). 6PM 6.00 BBC News At Six; Weather (S). 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 6.55 Party Political Broadcast (R) (S). 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (S). 6.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes With Lee Ridley (S). 7PM 7.00 The One Show Live magazine show (S). 7.30 EastEnders Ricky Jr is interviewed by police (S). 9pm, BBC One It’s the round where the candidates have to race around collecting a variety of objects for the best price – the winning team being the one that secures the items at the lowest cost. Their destination on this occasion is Brighton and Hove Grayson Perry’s Full English 9pm, Channel 4 In his latest series, the artist travels around England to try to uncover what Englishness means today, while collecting objects for an exhibition on the subject. Perry begins in Dover, where he meets a man who patrols the English Channel looking for immigrants arriving from overseas. In the West Country, he explores older ideas of England, dressing as the spirit of a deer to participate in 6.10 Countdown (R) (S). 6.50 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.15 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.40 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.30 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 9.00 Frasier (R) (S). 9.30 Frasier (R) (S). 10.00 Frasier (R) (S). 10.25 Undercover Boss USA (R) (S). 11.25 Channel 4 News Summary (S). 11.30 Come Dine With Me: The Professionals (R) (S). 12.30 Steph’s Packed Lunch (S). 2.10 Countdown (S). 3.00 A Place In The Sun (S). 4.00 A New Life In The Sun (S). 5.00 Junior Bake Off (S). 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (S). 12.45 George Clarke’s Build A New Life In The Country (R) (S). 1.40 5 News At Lunchtime (S). 1.45 Home And Away (S). 2.15 FILM: Stolen By My Mother (Jeffrey W Byrd 2020) Premiere. Drama, starring Niecy Nash (S). 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits In The Sun (R) (S). 5.00 5 News At 5 (S). 6.00 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.20 Party Political Broadcast (S). 6.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 6.00 The Simpsons (R) (S). 6.30 Hollyoaks John Paul convinces Goldie to attend Bobby’s court hearing (R) (S). 6.00 Holiday Homes In The Sun With Amanda Lamb, JB Gill and Sam Pinkham (R) (S). 6.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 This Farming Life Pumpkin season arrives at the Girvans farm in Loch Ness (R) (S). 7.30 Emmerdale Priya makes a horrifying conclusion (S). 7.00 Channel 4 News (S). 7.00 Nick Knowles’ New Year Clearout Nick meets a retired couple (S). 7.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Great British Railway Journeys (S). 7.30 The Joy Of Painting (S). 8.00 Dragons’ Den A sparkly party wear business gets one of the Dragons off their feet (S). 8.00 Winterwatch Michaela Strachan celebrates pink-footed geese (S). 8.30 Botched? Inside The Beauty Business – Tonight (S). 8.00 The Dog House A 12-year-old terrier enjoys a makeover at the groomers (S). 8.00 Build Your Dream Home In The Country Mark Millar helps Suffolk couple Debs and Scott (S). 8.00 Elizabeth I’s Secret Agents Last in the series (S). 9.00 The Apprentice The candidates are sent to buzzing Brighton and Hove (S). 9.05 Marie Antoinette Marie is drawn into the tussle over the choice of prime minister (S). 9.00 Coronation Street Max faces the consequences of his recent actions (S). 9.00 Grayson Perry’s Full English New series. The artist sets out to uncover what Englishness means today (S). 9.00 The Madame Blanc Mysteries Jean has friends visiting Sainte Victoire, but they are plagued by problems (S). 9.00 FILM: Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg 1993) Fact-based Holocaust drama (S). 10.00 BBC News At Ten (S). 10.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 10.40 Question Time (S). 10.00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired An interview with the show’s freshly rejected candidate (S). 10.30 Newsnight (S). 10.00 ITV News At Ten; Weather (S). 10.30 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 10.45 Next Level Chef (R) (S). 10.00 In The Footsteps Of Killers The 1996 murder of Deborah Wood (S). 10.00 Million Pound Motorhomes (R) (S). 11.40 Newscast (S). 11.15 Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World (R) (S). 11.40 All Elite Wrestling: Rampage Hard-hitting, high-flying wrestling action (S). 11.05 Married To A Psychopath The hunt for a murderer who targeted wealthy women for their money (R) (S). 11.05 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders (R) (S). 12.10 Celebrity Mastermind (R) (S). 12.45 BBC News (S). 12.15 Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World (R) (S). 1.15 Sign Zone: The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild (R) (S). 2.15 Sign Zone: The Travelling Auctioneers (R) (S). 3.00 This Is BBC Two (S). 12.45 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 Maternal (R) (S). 3.50 Unwind With ITV (S). 5.05 Dickinson’s Real Deal (R) (S). 12.10 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S). 1.00 The Simpsons (R) (S). 1.50 Couples Come Dine With Me (R) (S). 2.40 FILM: Table 19 (Jeffrey Blitz 2017) (S). 4.05 Building The Dream (R) (S). 12.05 Police: Night Shift 999 (R) (S). 1.00 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.00 Entertainment News On 5 (R) (S). 3.05 Around The World By Train With Tony Robinson (R) (S). LATE 11PM 8PM DAYTIME 6.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) (S). 7.15 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 8.00 Sign Zone: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse (R) (S). 8.30 Sign Zone: Tom Kerridge: Lose Weight For Good (R) (S). 9.00 BBC News At 9 (S). 10.00 BBC News (S). 12.15 Politics Live (S). 1.00 Hardball (R) (S). 1.45 Celebrity Eggheads (R) (S). 2.15 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (R) (S). 3.15 Great Australian Railway Journeys (R) (S). 3.45 My Unique B&B (R) (S). 4.30 Saved And Remade (R) (S). 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S). The Apprentice on the Sussex coast, where they must secure and negotiate nine items synonymous with the area. We can probably all name one – it’s pink, sugary, cylindrical and tough on teeth. 9PM 6.00 Breakfast (S). 9.15 Morning Live (S). 10.00 Defenders UK (S). 10.45 Rip Off Britain: Holidays (R) (S). 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (S). 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) (S). 1.00 BBC News At One; Weather (S). 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 1.45 Doctors (S). 2.15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (S). 3.00 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 3.45 The Repair Shop (S). 4.30 Bridge Of Lies (S). 5.15 Pointless (S). hot pants, here is your chance. Suleyman does this impromptu modelling for an entrepreneur offering disco-inspired, genderneutral party gear. But is her business big enough to attract the investment of a Dragon? Another, more tongue-tied, entrepreneur is hoping it’s not a case of checkmate as he seeks funding for his pop-up paper travelling chess set. 10PM Grayson Perry travels round the country to explore Englishness today, 9pm, Channel 4 8pm, BBC One If you have ever wanted to witness Touker Suleyman dancing around the Den in a pair of sparkly radio a ritual with the British Druid Order, before visiting the country pile of musicians Pearl Lowe (mum of Daisy Lowe) and her husband Danny Goffey (former drummer with 90s Britpop outfit Supergrass). . The Madame Blanc Mysteries 9pm, Channel 5 For the first time, Jean (Sally Lindsay) has friends from England visiting Sainte Victoire. Fellow antiques dealer David and his new husband George are on their honeymoon, but all is not going well for the couple. Before they left England a mirror fell from the wall, narrowly missing David. What is going on? Touker Suleyman is dancing in the Den 8pm, BBC One Jean’s visitors are plagued by problems in ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’ 9pm, Channel 5 Lord Sugar sends the candidates to Brighton 9pm, BBC One 6.45 FILM: The Post (Steven Spielberg 2017) Drama, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks (S). 6.00 World’s Funniest Videos (S). 6.35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records (S). 7.00 Secret Crush (S). 8.00 Dress To Impress (S). 9.00 Chuck (S). 10.00 One Tree Hill (S). 11.00 The O.C (S). 12.00 Secret Crush (S). 1.00 Dress To Impress (S). 2.00 Family Fortunes (S). 3.05 Chuck (S). 4.00 One Tree Hill (S). 5.00 The O.C (S). 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase With Ade Adepitan, Clare Balding and Robert Webb (S). 7.00 Ninja Warrior UK With Ben Shephard, Rochelle Humes and Chris Kamara (S). 8.00 Superstore Jonah tries to build Sandra’s confidence (S). 8.30 Superstore (S). 9.00 FILM: Salt (Phillip Noyce 2010) Action thriller, starring Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber (S). 9.00 Love Island The second week continues (S). 10.55 FILM: Fight Club (David Fincher 1999) Drama, starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton (S). 10.05 Plebs The Crown and Toga is hit by a huge tax bill (S). 10.35 Plebs (S). 11.05 Family Guy Meg convinces Brian to take her SATs for her (S). 11.35 Family Guy (S). 12.05 FILM: Balloon (Michael Herbig 2018) Drama, starring Friedrich Mucke (S). 2.05 Around The World In 80 Treasures (S). 3.05 Close 1.45 FILM: First Love (Takashi Miike 2019) Crime drama, starring Sakurako Konishi (S). 4.00 Close 12.00 American Dad! (S). 12.30 American Dad! (S). 1.00 Superstore (S). 1.30 Superstore (S). 2.00 Hey Tracey! (S). 3.00 Teleshopping
culture In the Footsteps of Killers 10pm, Channel 4 Emilia Fox once again steps away from her role in long-running crime drama Silent Witness and into the realm of true crime as she joins Professor David Wilson and Dr Graham Hill to investigate the unsolved murder of Deborah Wood, who disappeared after leaving a city centre bar in Leeds in January 1996. Deborah’s body was found having been set on fire on a railway embankment at Burley Park train station, just two miles from where she was last seen. The team pieces together a number of chilling clues that help to narrow the investigation down to one suspect. Gerard Gilbert 6.00 Classic Emmerdale (S). 6.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 7.00 Classic Coronation Street (S). 7.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 8.05 On The Buses (S). 8.40 On The Buses (S). 9.15 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 11.25 Heartbeat (S). 12.30 Heartbeat (S). 1.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.05 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.05 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.35 Inspector Morse (S). 5.55 Heartbeat (S). 7.00 Heartbeat Nick goes undercover to investigate smuggling in Whitby (S). 8.00 Vera The detective investigates Newcastle’s drug underworld (S). FILM CHOICE The Ladykillers 7.05pm, TCM (Alexander Mackendrick, 1955) Ealing Studios’ blackly comic crime-caper classic is a thoroughly delectable moral fable with a precision plot. Alec Guinness plays a criminal mastermind whose plans are inadvertently spoiled by his landlady, a terribly sweet and innocent old woman (Katie Johnson) whom he and his gang just don’t seem able to bump off. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Brad Pitt runs a violent organisation in the 90s classic ‘Fight Club’, 10.55pm, Film4 6.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 7.55 Junior Bake Off (S). 9.00 The Goldbergs (S). 9.30 The Goldbergs (S). 10.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 10.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 11.00 Modern Family (S). 11.30 Modern Family (S). 12.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 12.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 1.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 3.00 Modern Family (S). 4.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 4.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 5.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 5.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 8.55 Kirstie’s House Of Craft (S). 9.15 A Place In The Sun (S). 10.05 A New Life In The Sun (S). 11.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 12.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 1.10 Heir Hunters (S). 2.10 Heir Hunters (S). 3.10 Four In A Bed (S). 3.40 Four In A Bed (S). 4.15 Four In A Bed (S). 4.50 Four In A Bed (S). 5.20 Four In A Bed (S). 5.55 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It (S). 6.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.30 The Big Bang Theory Jim Parsons stars (S). 6.55 Escape To The Chateau Dick and Angel endure a very hot summer (S). 7.00 Hollyoaks Mercedes has a shocking confession to make (S). 7.30 Modern Family (S). 10pm, Sky Cinema Comedy (Adam McKay, 2006) Will Ferrell satirises a specific strain of dumb arrogance, playing a moronic all-American champion 6.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 7.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 8.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 9.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 10.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 11.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R). 12.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R). 1.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 2.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 3.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 4.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 5.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 6.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 7.55 The Sopranos (R) (S). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.05 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 11.10 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 12.15 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 1.20 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 2.25 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 3.30 The Sopranos (R). 4.35 The Sopranos (R) (S). 5.45 Ray Donovan (R) (S). Fight Club 10.55pm, Film4 (David Fincher, 1999) Edward Norton plays an insomniac who feels emasculated and deadened by modern corporate life until he meets walking id Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and they set up a bare-knuckle fighting club that escalates into an anarcho-terrorist movement. A key, defining film of the 90s. Laurence Phelan Radio listings BBC Radio 1 6.57am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Greg James 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Rickie, Melvin And Charlie 12noon Radio 1’s Live Lounge 12.45 Newsbeat 1.00 Dean And Vicky 3.30 Newsbeat 3.32 Going Home With Vick And Jordan 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1’s Future Sounds With Clara Amfo 8.00 Radio 1’s Future Pop With Maia Beth 10.00 BBC Introducing Dance 11.00 Radio 1’s Residency 12mdn’t Radio 1’s Residency 1.00 Radio 1 Dance Presents 2.00 Radio 1’s Wind Down Presents 3.00 Radio 1’s Power Down Playlist With Sian Eleri 4.00 Radio 1 Dance 5.00 Radio 1 Early Breakfast With Arielle Free BBC Radio 1Xtra 7.55 Grand Designs Kevin McCloud returns to north Cornwall to see one of his favourite Grand Designs (S). 6.00 Stargate SG-1 Daniel enters an alternative reality (R) (S). 7.00 Stargate SG-1 Part one of three. The project faces closure (R) (S). 6.50 Your Honor Adam moves from one dangerous liaison to another (R) (S). 7.55 Game Of Thrones Robb Stark discovers he has been betrayed by one of his closest friends (R) (S). 6am Battle Of The Mixes 6.30 Battle Of The Mixes 7.00 Nadia Jae 10.00 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 10.15 Ace 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Remi Burgz 3.45 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 4.00 Reece Parkinson 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Reece Parkinson 7.00 DJ Target 9.00 Seani B 11.00 Snoochie Shy 1am Kenny Allstar 3.00 Future Wave With Complexion 4.00 If You Don’t Know 4.30 Ace BBC Radio 2 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30 Ken Bruce 12noon Jeremy Vine 2.00 Scott Mills 4.00 Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Wower 7.00 Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy Playlist 7.30 Jo Whiley 9.00 The Country Show With Bob Harris 10.00 Trevor Nelson’s Magnificent 7 10.30 Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation 12mdn’t OJ Borg 3.00 Tony Blackburn, Your Soul Mate 4.00 A Dance Through The Decades BBC Radio 3 6.30am Breakfast 9.00 Essential Classics 12noon Composer Of The Week: Bonis 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 Afternoon Concert 5.00 In Tune 7.00 In Tune Mixtape 7.30 Radio 3 In Concert 10.00 Free Thinking 10.45 The Essay: Science Notes 11.00 The Night Tracks Mix 11.30 Unclassified 12.30am Through The Night 8.00 An Idiot Abroad Karl Pilkington immerses himself in Mexican culture (R) (S). 8.00 Below Deck Captain Lee is frustrated with Eddie and the deck team’s mistakes (S). 9.00 Gogglebox The armchair critics share their opinions on shows including Bridgerton (S). 9.00 24 Hours In A&E A 20-year-old attacked outside a nightclub worries it may have affected his looks (S). 9.00 Rob & Romesh vs Superstar DJs Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan enter the DJ world (R) (S). 9.00 Watchmen Reclusive trillionaire Lady finally appears and makes a mysterious offer (R) (S). 10.00 Naked Attraction Charles and Lee each choose a date from a selection of six naked people (S). 10.00 999: What’s Your Emergency? Emergency services in South Yorkshire face a difficult night (S). 10.00 Hold The Front Page Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe work for Farming Life (R) (S). 10.05 Euphoria Cassie and Maddy decide to take drugs together (R) (S). 11.00 Scott & Bailey The duo investigate the murder of an eight-year-old boy (S). 11.05 First Dates Butler Kit wants to meet a man who shares his passion for the royal family (S). 11.05 24 Hours In A&E A woman has swelling on her brain following a random attack (S). 11.00 Never Mind The Buzzcocks With Maisie Peters and Lethal Bizzle (R) (S). 11.45 NCIS: Los Angeles (R) (S). 11.15 The Last Of Us Postapocalyptic drama, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey (R). 12.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 2.05 Unwind With ITV (S). 2.30 Teleshopping 12.10 Gogglebox (S). 1.15 Rick And Morty (S). 2.00 YOLO: Silver Destiny (S). 2.15 Below Deck (S). 3.05 Naked Attraction (S). 4.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 4.50 The Goldbergs (S). 12.05 Emergency Helicopter Medics (S). 1.10 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (S). 2.15 24 Hours In A&E (S). 3.20 Food Unwrapped (S). 3.50 Close 12.35 The Force: North East (R) (S). 1.30 Road Wars (R) (S). 2.00 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 2.35 Road Wars (R) (S). 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 4.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 5.00 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 5.30 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 12.20 Treme (R) (S). 1.25 Treme (R) (S). 2.30 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 3.30 In Treatment (R) (S). 4.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 5.00 Fish Town (R) (S). 10.00 Scott & Bailey Rachel helps DCI Murray on a rape and murder case (S). racing driver who is traumatised by the arrival on the circuit of an arrogant French champion (Sacha Baron Cohen). The cast’s semi-improvised clowning is intermittently hilarious, and the driving stunts are impressive. BBC Radio 4 6am Today 9.00 In Our Time 9.45 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 10.00 Woman’s Hour 11.00 Crossing Continents 11.30 Born In Bradford 12noon News 12.04 You And Yours 12.30 Sliced Bread 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World At One 1.45 Buried 2.00 The Archers 2.15 Drama: Nazis: The Road To Power 3.00 Open Country 3.27 Radio 4 Appeal 3.30 Open Book 4.00 The Curious Cases Of Rutherford & Fry 4.30 BBC Inside Science 5.00 PM 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.30 Prepper 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Front Row 8.00 The Briefing Room 8.30 The Bottom Line 9.00 BBC Inside Science 9.30 In Our Time 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book At Bedtime: Act Of Oblivion 11.00 Unsafe Space 11.30 Today In Parliament 12mdn’t News And Weather 12.30 Wise Gals 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20 Shipping Forecast 5.30 News Briefing BBC Radio 4 LW 8.31am Yesterday In Parliament 9.45 Daily Service 12.01pm Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Father Brown Stories 6.30 Sparkling Cyanide 7.00 Unsheltered 7.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 7.30 To Hull And Back 8.00 The Men From The Ministry 8.30 Simon’s Bug 9.00 Booked 9.30 Mary Wesley – The Vacillations Of Poppy Carew 10.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 11.00 Father Brown Stories 11.30 Sparkling Cyanide 12noon Unsheltered 12.15 Curtain 69 On Demand Poker Face Peacock Natasha Lyonne plays a casino worker on the run in this new crime comedy. Lockwood & Co Netflix Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes plays a teenager joining ghost hunters in an alternative London. Before We Die All4 Crime drama featuring Lesley Sharp as a police officer whose married lover has gone missing. Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 12.30 To Hull And Back 1.00 The Men From The Ministry 1.30 Simon’s Bug 2.00 Booked 2.30 Mary Wesley – The Vacillations Of Poppy Carew 3.00 Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 4.00 Father Brown Stories 4.30 Sparkling Cyanide 5.00 Unsheltered 5.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 5.30 To Hull And Back 6.00 The Men From The Ministry 6.30 Simon’s Bug 7.00 Jake Yapp’s Unwinding 10.00 Comedy Club: Fags, Mags And Bags 10.30 Comedy Club: The Remains Of Foley And McColl 11.00 Comedy Club: Athena’s Cancel Culture 11.15 Comedy Club: All Change 11.30 Comedy Club: Liam Williams – Ladhood 12mdn’t Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn 1.00 Father Brown Stories 1.30 Sparkling Cyanide 2.00 Unsheltered 2.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 2.30 To Hull And Back 3.00 The Men From The Ministry BBC 5 Live 6am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Adrian Chiles 1pm Nihal Arthanayake 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport: 5 Live Cricket 8.00 5 Live Sport 9.00 5 Live Sport: The Euro Leagues Podcast 10.00 Colin Murray BBC 6 Music 7.30am Lauren Laverne 10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs 1pm Craig Charles 4.00 Steve Lamacq 7.00 Marc Riley 9.00 Gideon Coe 12mdn’t New Music Fix With Steve Lamacq 1.00 New Music Fix With Mary Anne Hobbs 2.00 New Music Fix With Tom Ravenscroft 3.00 New Album Fix 4.00 New Music Fix Playlist 5.00 The Remix With Chris Hawkins 5.30 Chris Hawkins Classic FM 6am More Music Breakfast 9.00 Alexander Armstrong 12noon Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 John Brunning 7.00 Smooth Classics At Seven 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Bill Overton Absolute Radio 6am Dave Berry 10.00 Leona Graham 1pm Ben Burrell 4.00 Bush And Richie 7.00 Danielle Perry 10.00 Jay Lawrence 1am Dan Noble Heart 6.30am Heart Breakfast With Jamie Theakston And Amanda Holden 10.00 Pandora Christie 1pm Matt Wilkinson 4.00 JK And Kelly Brook 7.00 Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Dev Griffin 10.00 Fia Tarrant 1am Simon Beale 4.00 Early Breakfast With Lindsey Russell TalkSPORT 6am TalkSPORT Breakfast With Alan Brazil 10.00 Jim White And Simon Jordan 1pm Hawksbee And Baker 4.00 TalkSPORT Drive With Andy Goldstein And Darren Bent 7.00 Kick Off 10.00 Sports Bar 1am Extra Time RADIO PICK Radio 3 in Concert 7.30pm, BBC Radio 3 Kate Molleson (inset) presents Ryan Wigglesworth conducting the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers in a carefully curated concert of music by Stravinsky and Bach, live from the City Halls in Glasgow. During the interval, Molleson shines a light on recent recordings that explore themes behind this evening’s concert.
70 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Friday television CRITIC’S CHOICE Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job 8.30pm, BBC One Fans of The White Lotus might be hearing alarm bells as Alan Carr is invited to a 300-year-old Sicilian palazzo, although nothing untoward happens here as Carr goes looking for inspiration for the “rustic chic” décor of his new bedroom. Amanda Holden, meanwhile, surprises Carr with a birthday boat trip along Sicily’s stunning Zingaro coast. Travel Man: 48 Hours in Salzburg 6.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) (S). 7.15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) (S). 8.00 Sign Zone: The Polar Bear Family And Me (R) (S). 9.00 BBC News At 9 (S). 10.00 BBC News (S). 12.15 Politics UK (S). 1.00 Hardball (R) (S). 1.45 Celebrity Eggheads (R) (S). 2.15 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (R) (S). 3.15 Great Australian Railway Journeys (R) (S). 3.45 My Unique B&B (R) (S). 4.30 Saved And Remade (R) (S). 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S). 6.00 Good Morning Britain (S). 9.00 Lorraine (S). 10.00 This Morning (S). 12.30 Loose Women (S). 1.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 1.55 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (S). 3.00 Lingo (S). 3.59 ITV Regional Weather (S). 4.00 Tipping Point (S). 5.00 The Chase (S). 6.00 BBC News At Six; Weather (S). 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (S). 6.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes (S). 7PM 7.00 The One Show (S). 7.30 Question Of Sport Hosted by Paddy McGuinness (S). 7.00 Monty Don’s Adriatic Gardens Monty explores Corfu. Last in the series (R) (S). 8PM 8.00 Would I Lie To You? (S). 8.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job Alan takes charge of a bedroom (S). 9pm, BBC One When the bride, waiting to cut the cake at her wedding, suddenly enquires about the whereabouts of the knife, you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to guess what’s coming next in a show like this. The man staggering across the dance floor with said implement protruding Jon & Lucy’s Odd Couples 9pm, Channel 4 Jack Whitehall appears via video link this week - his parents, Hilary and Michael Whitehall, being one of the couples submitting themselves to a lie-detector test and other relationshipprobing indignities. The other couple comprises Vicky Pattison and her fiancé Ercan Ramadan – Pattison revealing a Harry Potter fetish. All this and Lucy Beaumont learning to reverse a car under the couples’ supervision. Getting Away with Murder(s) 9pm, More4 Holocaust Memorial Day is marked with the first half of a two-part documentary exploring the death camp at Auschwitz, the Nazi planning and implementation process, and the post-war trials for its war crimes. Included is an interview with the 102-year-old Benjamin B Ferencz, the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials. The film also reveals some of the hidingin-plain-sight locations of the estimated 400 Nazi war criminals allowed to settle in Britain after the war – among them the former home of the only Nazi in the UK ever successfully brought 6.10 Countdown (R) (S). 6.50 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.15 3rd Rock From The Sun (R) (S). 7.40 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 8.30 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S). 9.00 Frasier (R) (S). 9.30 Frasier (R) (S). 10.00 Frasier (R) (S). 10.25 Undercover Boss USA (R) (S). 11.25 Channel 4 News Summary (S). 11.30 Come Dine With Me: The Professionals (R) (S). 12.30 Steph’s Packed Lunch (S). 2.10 Countdown (S). 3.00 A Place In The Sun (S). 4.00 A New Life In The Sun (S). 5.00 Junior Bake Off (S). 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (S). 12.45 George Clarke’s Build A New Life In The Country (R) (S). 1.40 5 News At Lunchtime (S). 1.45 Home And Away (S). 2.15 FILM: Who Stole My Daughter? (Nadeem Soumah 2019) Thriller, starring Samaire Armstrong (S). 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits In The Sun (R) (S). 5.00 5 News At 5 (S). 6.00 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 6.30 ITV News; Weather (S). 6.00 The Simpsons (R) (S). 6.30 Hollyoaks Mercedes has a shocking confession to make (R) (S). 6.00 Holiday Homes In The Sun (R) (S). 6.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Emmerdale (S). 7.30 Live FA Cup Football Manchester City vs Arsenal. Kick-off is at 8pm (S). 7.00 Channel 4 News (S). 7.00 Get The Most Out Of Your All-Inclusive Holiday (S). 7.55 5 News Update (S). 7.00 Top Of The Pops Featuring the Charlatans and Red Hot Chili Peppers (S). 7.30 Top Of The Pops (S). 8.00 Winterwatch Chris Packham talks to David Attenborough. Last in the series (S). 8.00 Food Unwrapped (S). 8.30 Travel Man: 48 Hours In Salzburg Roisin Conaty joins Joe Lycett (S). 8.00 Cruising With Susan Calman The comedian is on board a cruise (S). 8.00 Top Of The Pops Music by Rich Kids, Yellow Dog, Gallagher and Lyle (S). 8.30 Top Of The Pops (S). 9.00 Death In Paradise The team joins Naomi in Saint Barnabas (S). 9.00 QI XL Sandi Toksvig discusses facts about trundling (S). 9.45 Live At The Apollo (S). 9.00 Jon & Lucy’s Odd Couples (S). 9.00 Secrets Of The World’s Most Expensive Cruise Ship New series (S). 9.00 Wayfaring Stranger With Phil Cunningham (S). 10.00 BBC News At Ten (S). 10.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 10.40 The Graham Norton Show (S). 10.30 Newsnight (S). 10.15 ITV News; Weather (S). 10.50 ITV Regional News; Weather (S). 10.00 The Last Leg New series. Guests include Lucy Beaumont and MP Angela Rayner (S). 10.00 Tommy Steele: The Great Entertainer A profile of the singer and actor (R) (S). 10.00 Transatlantic Sessions Music by Emmylou Harris (S). 10.30 Transatlantic Sessions (S). 10.05 Don’t Hate The Playaz With Munya Chawawa and Aston Merrygold (S). 10.50 Family Guy (S). 11.30 FILM: Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott 1991) Drama, starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (S). 11.05 How The Holocaust Began (R) (S). 11.05 The NFL Show Highlights and previews of play-off matches (S). 11.05 Celebrity Gogglebox Shows including Love Island are appraised (R) (S). 11.30 Britain’s Favourite 70s Hits A look at some of the biggest pop bands of the seventies (R) (S). 11.00 Country At The BBC Featuring Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash (S). 11.15 Family Guy Brian becomes an estate agent (S). 11.45 American Dad! (S). 1.35 That’s My Jam (R) (S). 2.40 BBC News (S). 12.05 Surgeons: At The Edge Of Life (R) (S). 1.05 Sign Zone: Dogs, Dealers And Organised Crime – Panorama (R) (S). 1.35 Sign Zone: Marie Antoinette (R) (S). 2.30 Sign Zone: Our Flag Means Death (R) (S). 12.10 Shop: Ideal World 3.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (R) (S). 3.50 Unwind With ITV (S). 5.05 Lingo (R) (S). 12.10 Everyone Else Burns (R) (S). 1.05 FILM: Thoroughbreds (Cory Finley 2017) (S). 2.40 Come Dine With Me (R) (S). 4.50 Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites (R) (S). 5.15 Sunday Brunch (S). 1.25 The LeoVegas Live Casino Show (S). 3.25 Entertainment News On 5 (S). 3.30 Around The World By Train With Tony Robinson (R) (S). 4.20 OMG: Rise Of The Insta-Babes (R) (S). 12.00 Arctic Monkeys At Glastonbury 2013 (S). 12.40 Wayfaring Stranger With Phil Cunningham (S). 1.40 Top Of The Pops (S). 2.10 Top Of The Pops (S). 2.40 Top Of The Pops (S). 3.10 Top Of The Pops (S). LATE 9PM 6PM DAYTIME 6.00 Breakfast (S). 9.15 Morning Live (S). 10.00 Defenders UK (S). 10.45 Rip Off Britain: Holidays (R) (S). 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) (S). 12.15 Bargain Hunt (S). 1.00 BBC News At One; Weather (S). 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather (S). 1.45 Father Brown (S). 2.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) (S). 3.00 Escape To The Country (R) (S). 3.45 The Repair Shop (S). 4.30 Bridge Of Lies (S). 5.15 Pointless (S). Death in Paradise from his back is the bride’s father, who just manages to utter the name of his killer before dying. Gamba Cole (Christian in The Outlaws) plays the groom. 10PM 8.30pm, Channel 4 Travel Man seems to have started recycling its guests, Roisin Conaty having accompanied former host Richard Ayoade to Berlin in 2016. The comedian and Man Down actress now joins Joe Lycett in another German-speaking destination, Salzburg in Austria. Unavailable for preview but if there isn’t a skit about The Sound of Music, which was filmed here, then my name’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (whose birthplace this is). 11PM Nazi prosecutor Benjamin B Ferencz features in ‘Getting Away with Murder(s)’, 9pm, More4 radio Claire Foy talks to Graham Norton 10.40pm, BBC One Alan Carr takes charge of a bedroom and visits designer Marie at her 300-year-old palazzo 8.30pm, BBC One Joe Lycett heads to the city of Salzburg 8.30pm, Channel 4 6.15 FILM: The Martian (Ridley Scott 2015) sci-fi drama, starring Matt Damon (S). 6.00 World’s Funniest Videos (S). 6.35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records (S). 7.00 Secret Crush (S). 8.00 Dress To Impress (S). 9.00 Chuck (S). 10.00 One Tree Hill (S). 11.00 The O.C (S). 12.00 Secret Crush (S). 1.00 Dress To Impress (S). 2.00 Family Fortunes (S). 3.05 Chuck (S). 4.00 One Tree Hill (S). 5.00 The O.C (S). 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase With Richard Blackwood, Julia Bradbury and Roman Kemp (S). 7.00 Ninja Warrior UK A special celebrity edition of the obstacle-course challenge (S). 8.00 Superstore The employees get their hands on worrying inside information (S). 8.30 Superstore (S). 9.00 FILM: Saving Private Ryan (Steven Spielberg 1998) Second World War drama (S). 12.20 FILM: The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (André Øvredal 2016) Thriller, starring Brian Cox (S). 2.05 FILM: Buried (Rodrigo Cortes 2010) Thriller, starring Ryan Reynolds (S). 4.00 Close 9.00 Love Island The second week in paradise draws to a close (S). 12.10 American Dad! (S). 12.40 Superstore (S). 1.10 Superstore (S). 1.35 Georgia Toffolo: In Search Of Perfect Skin (S). 2.35 Unwind With ITV (S). 3.00 Teleshopping
culture to justice for his crimes – and examines why more prosecutions didn’t follow. FILM CHOICE The Graham Norton Show 10.40pm, BBC One On the promo circuit this week are singer-songwriter Sam Smith, who chats and performs the single “I’m Not Here to Make Friends”, Claire Foy talking about the critically acclaimed drama Women Talking, and former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar discussing her supernatural teen drama Wolf Pack. Also crowded on to the sofa are horror-movie director and writer M Night Shyamalan and the comedian Rob Beckett. Gerard Gilbert 6.00 Classic Emmerdale (S). 6.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 7.00 Classic Coronation Street (S). 7.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 8.05 On The Buses (S). 8.40 On The Buses (S). 9.15 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 11.25 Heartbeat (S). 12.30 Heartbeat (S). 1.35 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.05 Classic Emmerdale (S). 2.35 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.05 Classic Coronation Street (S). 3.35 Inspector Morse (S). 5.55 Heartbeat (S). 7.00 Heartbeat Gina is assaulted. Nick Berry stars (S). Saving Private Ryan 9pm, Film4 (Steven Spielberg, 1998) The 25-minute opening salvo of Steven Spielberg’s film depicts the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach with a visceral intensity the likes of which had not been seen before on screen. But if the opening assaults the senses, the rest of the film is only a little less impressive for the effect it has on the emotions. Tom Hanks and Matt Damon star. Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, 10.05pm, Sky Greats 10.05pm, Sky Cinema Greats (Blake Edwards, 1961) There are things in Truman Capote’s 1958 novella that the film dared not say. And then there is the problem of Mickey Rooney’s 8.55 Kirstie’s House Of Craft (S). 9.15 A Place In The Sun (S). 10.05 A New Life In The Sun (S). 11.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 12.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (S). 1.10 Heir Hunters (S). 2.10 Heir Hunters (S). 3.10 Four In A Bed (S). 3.40 Four In A Bed (S). 4.15 Four In A Bed (S). 4.50 Four In A Bed (S). 5.20 Four In A Bed (S). 5.55 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It (S). 6.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 6.55 A Place In The Sun Jasmine Harman shows a woman and her daughter five holiday homes in Spain (S). 6.00 Stargate SG-1 Part two of three. The team takes an unauthorised trip through the gate (R) (S). 6.50 Your Honor Jimmy and Gina Baxter remain committed to avenging their son’s death (R) (S). 7.45 The Great Pottery Throw Down Siobhan McSweeney hosts Retro Week (S). 7.00 Stargate SG-1 Part three of three. Earth is threatened with destruction (R) (S). 7.55 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 7.00 Hollyoaks (S). 7.30 Modern Family Pilot episode of the comedy about an extended family (S). 6.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 7.00 Stop, Search, Seize (R) (S). 8.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 9.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 10.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 11.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R). 12.00 NCIS: New Orleans (R) (S). 1.00 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 2.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 3.00 Quantum Leap (R) (S). 4.00 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (R) (S). 5.00 Supergirl (R) (S). 6.00 Urban Secrets (R) (S). 7.00 Urban Secrets (R) (S). 7.55 The Sopranos (R). 9.00 The Sopranos (R) (S). 10.05 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 11.10 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 12.15 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 1.20 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 2.25 Six Feet Under (R) (S). 3.30 The Sopranos (R) (S). 4.40 The Sopranos (R) (S). 5.45 Ray Donovan (R) (S). 6.00 Hollyoaks (S). 6.30 Hollyoaks (S). 7.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 7.55 Junior Bake Off (S). 9.00 The Goldbergs (S). 9.30 The Goldbergs (S). 10.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 10.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 11.00 Modern Family (S). 11.30 Modern Family (S). 12.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 12.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 1.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 1.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). 2.30 The Big Bang Theory (S). 3.00 Modern Family (S). 4.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S). 4.30 Brooklyn NineNine (S). 5.00 The Big Bang Theory (S). buck-toothed Japanese stereotype, providing entirely unwanted comic relief. But Audrey Hepburn is just radiant, so that this is still a wonderful movie, about a fragile and damaged good-time girl having to learn how to love. Thelma & Louise 11.30pm, BBC One (Ridley Scott, 1991) Thelma (Geena Davis), a housewife, and Louise (Susan Sarandon), a waitress, head off for the weekend in Louise’s convertible and wind up as outlaws in this buddy movie about the exhilarating freedom of the open road and the liberating feeling of not doing what you’re told. Laurence Phelan Radio listings BBC Radio 1 6.33am Radio 1’s Best New Pop 6.57 Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Greg James 10.00 Radio 1 Anthems 10.30 Newsbeat 10.32 Radio 1 Anthems 11.02 Katie Thistleton 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Matt And Jamie 3.00 Radio 1’s Party Anthems 4.00 The Official Chart On Radio 1 With Jack Saunders 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1’s Dance Party With Danny Howard 8.00 Radio 1’s Future Dance With Sarah Story 10.00 Pete Tong 12mdn’t Radio 1’s Essential Mix 2.00 Radio 1 Dance Presents 2.30 Radio 1 Dance Presents 3.00 Danny Howard 4.00 Radio 1’s Wind Down Presents 5.00 Radio 1 Relax BBC Radio 1Xtra 8.00 Doc Martin Dr Ellingham visits an elderly patient, but ends up having to contend with her irate son (S). 8.00 Below Deck Rachel continues to struggle with the primary’s requests (S). 9.00 Doc Martin Louisa’s chances of promotion lie in the medic’s hands (S). 9.00 Gogglebox: Celebrity Special For SU2C A special celebrity edition for Stand Up to Cancer (S). 9.00 Getting Away With Murder(s) Part one of two. Documentary examining Nazi war crimes (S). 9.00 Strike Back: Vengeance (R) (S). 10.00 Scott & Bailey Janet interviews Geoff Hastings, who has vowed to reveal the full extent of his crimes (S). 10.00 Celebrity Gogglebox 2020 A chance to catch-up with the moments from 2020’s episodes (S). 10.35 24 Hours In A&E An elderly woman has difficulty breathing (S). 10.00 Fantasy Football League New series. Hosted by Matt Lucas and Elis James. 10.35 Banshee (R) (S). 10.00 Der Pass Ellie and Gedeon meet a cult leader with links to their killer (R) (S). 11.00 Scott & Bailey Rachel meets Sean’s son, putting her even further off the idea of marriage (S). 11.05 Naked Attraction Singletons from London and Wigan choose dates from six naked people (S). 11.40 24 Hours In A&E A man is treated for serious injuries sustained in a car crash (S). 11.45 Wolfe A colossal fatberg holds the remains of a seemingly sadistic ritual killing (R) (S). 11.00 The Wire Proposition Joe continues to court Marlo (R) (S). 12.00 Agatha Christie’s Marple (S). 2.05 Unwind With ITV (S). 2.30 Teleshopping 12.10 Naked Attraction (S). 1.15 Celebrity Gogglebox 2020 (S). 2.15 Below Deck (S). 3.10 Naked Attraction (S). 4.05 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (S). 4.55 The Goldbergs (S). 5.20 The Goldbergs (S). 12.45 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (S). 1.50 24 Hours In A&E (S). 2.50 24 Hours In A&E (S). 3.55 Close 12.45 Road Wars (R) (S). 1.40 Road Wars (R) (S). 2.10 Brit Cops: Law & Disorder (R) (S). 3.05 Hawaii Five-0 (R) (S). 4.00 S.W.A.T (R) (S). 5.00 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 5.30 Highway Patrol (R) (S). 12.05 The Wire (R) (S). 1.10 Devils (R) (S). 2.15 In Treatment (R) (S). 2.50 Game Of Thrones (R) (S). 4.00 Urban Secrets (R) (S). 5.00 Urban Secrets (R) (S). 8.00 Hold The Front Page Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe work for Farming Life (R) (S). 6am Battle Of The Mixes 6.30 Battle Of The Mixes 7.00 Nadia Jae 10.00 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 10.15 Nick Bright 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Remi Burgz 3.45 1Xtra’s Pull Up Mix 4.00 Sian Anderson 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Sian Anderson 7.00 Jeremiah Asiamah 8.30 Jeremiah Asiamah’s Get Lit Mix 9.00 Kenny Allstar 11.00 Sir Spyro 1am 1Xtra Salutes.. 2.00 1Xtra @ 20-20 Years Of Dancehall 3.00 1Xtra @ 20-20 Years Of Dancehall BBC Radio 2 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30 Ken Bruce 12noon Jeremy Vine 2.00 Scott Mills 3.30 Scott Mills’ Wonder Years 4.00 Sara Cox 7.00 Michelle Visage 8.30 Michelle Visage’s Handbag Hits 9.00 The Good Groove With DJ Spoony 11.00 The Rock Show With Shaun Keaveny 12mdn’t Romesh Ranganathan: For The Love Of Hip-Hop 1.00 Happy Birthday Tony Blackburn: 80 Poptastic Years 2.00 The Best Of Radio 2’s Piano Room 4.00 Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco BBC Radio 3 9.00 Babylon Berlin Kardakov seeks help in retrieving the Sorokins’ gold. In German (R) (S). 6.30am Breakfast 9.00 Essential Classics 12noon Composer Of The Week: Bonis 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 Afternoon Concert 4.30 The Listening Service 5.00 In Tune 7.00 In Tune Mixtape 7.30 Radio 3 In Concert 10.00 The Verb 10.45 The Essay: Science Notes 11.00 Late Junction 1am Composed With Emeli Sandé 2.00 Piano Flow With Tokio Myers 3.00 Through The Night BBC Radio 4 6am Today 9.00 Desert Island Discs 9.45 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 10.00 Woman’s Hour 11.00 Is Psychiatry Working? 11.30 Thanks A Lot, Milton Jones! 12noon News 12.04 AntiSocial 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World At One 1.45 Buried 2.00 The Archers 2.15 Drama: The Incident At Ong’s Hat 2.45 Understand: The Economy 3.00 Gardeners’ Question Time 3.45 Short Works 4.00 Last Word 4.30 More Or Less 5.00 PM 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O’Clock News 6.30 The News Quiz 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Screenshot 8.00 Any Questions? 8.50 A Point Of View 9.00 The Reith Lectures 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book At Bedtime: Act Of Oblivion 11.00 Americast 11.30 Today In Parliament 12mdn’t News And Weather 12.30 Book Of The Week: Wise Gals 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service BBC Radio 4 LW 8.31am Yesterday In Parliament 9.45 Daily Service 12.01pm Shipping Forecast 5.54 Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4 Extra 6am Father Brown Stories 6.30 Sparkling Cyanide 7.00 Unsheltered 7.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 7.30 Ellie Taylor’s Safe Space 8.00 Parsley Sidings 8.30 The Weekend Starts Here 9.00 The Museum 71 On Demand You People Netflix Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy join an all-star cast of this relationship comedy. The Legend of Vox Machina Prime Video Season two of the animated fantasy follows a band of unlikely heroes. Shrinking Apple TV+ Harrison Ford in a comedy about a grieving therapist who starts telling clients exactly what he thinks. Of Curiosity 9.30 Millport 10.00 In A Summer Season 11.00 Father Brown Stories 11.30 Sparkling Cyanide 12noon Unsheltered 12.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 12.30 Ellie Taylor’s Safe Space 1.00 Parsley Sidings 1.30 The Weekend Starts Here 2.00 The Museum Of Curiosity 2.30 Millport 3.00 In A Summer Season 4.00 Father Brown Stories 4.30 Sparkling Cyanide 5.00 Unsheltered 5.15 Curtain Down At Her Majesty’s – A Play In Five Acts 5.30 Ellie Taylor’s Safe Space 6.00 Parsley Sidings 6.30 The Weekend Starts Here 7.00 Jake Yapp’s Unwinding 10.00 Comedy Club: Believe It! 10.30 Comedy Club: Beauty Of Britain 11.00 Comedy Club: Lewis Macleod Is Not Himself 11.30 Comedy Club: James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds 12mdn’t Ray Bradbury: The Illustrated Man 1.00 In A Summer Season 2.00 Father Brown Stories 2.30 Sparkling Cyanide BBC 5 Live 6am Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Chiles On Friday 1pm The Footballers’ Football Podcast 606 2.00 Elis James And John Robins 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 The Friday Football Social 9.00 5 Live Sport 10.00 Stephen Nolan 1am Anna Jameson BBC 6 Music 7.30am Lauren Laverne 10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs 1pm Craig Charles 4.00 Steve Lamacq 7.00 The People’s Party With Afrodeutsche 9.00 Tom Ravenscroft 11.00 The Ravers Hour 12mdn’t 6 Music’s Indie Forever 1.00 6 Music’s Emo Forever 2.00 Focus Beats Classic FM 6am More Music Breakfast 9.00 Alexander Armstrong 12noon Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 John Brunning 7.00 Smooth Classics At Seven 10.00 Smooth Classics 1am Katie Breathwick Absolute Radio 6am Dave Berry 10.00 Leona Graham 1pm Ben Burrell 4.00 Bush And Richie 7.00 Absolute 80s Greatest Hits With Claire Sturgess 10.00 Sophie K 4am Ross Buchanan Heart 6.30am Heart Breakfast With Jamie Theakston And Amanda Holden 10.00 Pandora Christie 1pm Matt Wilkinson 4.00 JK And Kelly Brook 7.00 Heart’s Club Classics With Toby Anstis 11.00 Rezzy Ghadjar 1am Heart’s Feel Good Weekend With Katrina Ridley TalkSPORT 6am TalkSPORT Breakfast With Alan Brazil 10.00 Jim White And Simon Jordan 1pm Hawksbee And Jacobs 4.00 Andy Goldstein And Darren Bent 7.00 GameDay Countdown 10.00 Sports Bar 1am Extra Time With Martin Kelner RADIO PICK Drama: The Incident at Ong’s Hat 2.15pm, BBC Radio 4 Drama by Jon Frechette, inspired by the work of Joseph Matheny. Sarah Larsen (Avital Ash), a yoga instructor, and her friend Charlie (Corey Brill, inset) have gone in search of Ong’s Hat, a fabled gateway to another dimension. Now Sarah is missing, and maybe this urban legend isn’t a legend at all.
72 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 gardening Jobs for the weekend …winter garden birds B irds are the most frequent visitors to our gardens – particularly in winter– and what is more delightful than the company of a robin while clearing and digging? Providing safe nesting sites and food are sure ways to help all sorts of birds at this time of year. Clean, unfrozen water is also important. Nest-box entry holes are important in preventing birds such as blue tits from being ousted by larger starlings and house sparrows, but both of these formerly common species are considered at risk by the British Trust for Ornithology due to “longterm breeding decline” – possibly attributable to improved houses, with less accessible eaves – so providing them with nest sites, too, is now equally important. Recommended hole sizes are 25mm for blue tits (right) and coal tits, 28mm for great tits, 32mm for house sparrows and 45mm for starlings. Open-fronted boxes are favoured by robins and wagtails. Old sheds, especially allotment ones, often accommodate bird nests – blackbirds and robins, for example – so be ready to work around these. Blackbirds mostly nest in vegetation and trees, large shrubs and hedges. Aim to prune these after nesting is over in September. Unlike mammals, birds carry little fat reserves and much of Provide safe nesting sites, food and clean, unfrozen water GUY BARTER is the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) chief horticulturalist every day is spent searching for food, meaning they benefit from supplementary feeding using special feeders or scattered on the ground or bird tables. Foods they enjoy include berry cakes (finches), cheese, chopped (wrens), fruit past its best (thrushes and blackbirds), nyger seeds (goldfinches), mealworms (robins) and peanuts (starlings). Unfortunately, birds are sometimes prone to diseases, notably avian flu. Avoid bird concentrations by using several feeding stations in rotation, leaving some unused, and cleanse them at intervals. Feed little and often so stale food does not accumulate. A garden planted with many kinds of plant and style provides a habitat rich in food resources and cover similar to woodland glades or forest margins. For seeds, eryngiums, sunflowers and thistle-like cardoons are good choices; berried shrubs include berberis, cotoneaster, pyracantha and Rosa rugosa, while berrying trees include crab apples and sorbus. Native trees provide food for the insects that can feed birds in addition to berries, not least crataegus (hawthorn) and sorbus (mountain ash and whitebeam). Hedges will provide berries if not too severely cut – every two or three years rather than annually. Hawthorn, hazel, holly and yew make good native hedges. Ivy’s flowers support bees and berries provide latewinter bird food. Teasels and Devil’s-bit scabious are attractive seed-bearing wildflowers. Gardening practices that help birds include growing cover crops or green manures rather than leaving veg plots bare over winter. Mulching with well-rotted compost and straw or leaving plant debris as long as possible before clearing enhances foraging opportunities. @GuyBarter The RHS is a charity inspiring everyone to grow via its research, advisory, outreach, shows and gardens. For more information, visit: rhs.org.uk


i travel For all the latest travel news and advice, see inews.co.uk/travel Do you have a question about travel? Send them to us asktravel@inews.co.uk itravel 75 In association with You’ll warm to this... From the Maldives to Malaysia, these destinations are considerably cheaper than you might expect this winter. By Sophie Lam A s another cold snap reminds us that we are in the midst of winter, notions of palm trees swaying in a warm breeze or the sun beating on arid plains are appealing. The world is now almost entirely unshackled from the restraints of the pandemic, with long-haul destinations firmly back on the map – but its legacy means that travel is more expensive than before. Economy air fares are on average 36 per cent more expensive than a year ago. However, chasing the sun is not an impossible task. While flights to Australasia are now up to 81 per cent more expensive than last year (a result of suppressed capacity and high demand), there are still several destinations you can reach before spring that won’t blow a hole in your budget. According to the Flight Centre travel agency’s head of aviation, Justin Penny, there are some surprising winners this winter, alongside places that are falling out of favour. These include the Maldives, where air fares are now 14 per cent cheaper, on average, than last year – a result of waning demand – and Barbados, to which Flight Centre has seen bookings drop by more than 56 per cent compared with February 2022. Destinations that are now more expensive to reach – Asia, for example, where Flight Centre has noted an average 50 per cent rise in air fares year on year – won’t necessarily cost a fortune. Some countries offer excellent value once you are there, and flight capacity continues to build in Asia after a slow reopening. With that in mind, here are some of the destinations you will find are cheaper to reach in the coming weeks…
76 life 21 – 22 JANUARY 2023 Continued from p75 The Maldives Flight Centre data has shown that fares to this typically high-end holiday archipelago are 14 per cent lower than a year ago. Justin Penny notes that the islands “saw an initial influx of visitors coming out of the pandemic, with few other destinations having opened up, and are now needing to work harder to entice those people to return for a second year”. It was not uncommon to see return fares of £1,000 in 2022, and while that is still true of direct routes, Etihad has one-stop services via Abu Dhabi for around £670pp later this month. November to April is the optimal time to visit this tropical island chain, before the monsoon rains start in spring. On Hanimaadhoo, in the northern reaches of the archipelago, Barefoot Eco Resort has B&B doubles from $162 (£131) this month, as well as diving facilities, its own farm and bike tours to nearby villages, thebarefoot.com. Crown & Champa Resorts is offering discounts at several of its hotels for stays this month and next, including Kuredu Island Resort, Kudadoo Private Island, Kagi Spa Island and Meeru Island Resort, crownandchamparesorts.com. Vietnam According to Flight Centre, this is currently the cheapest of the most popular Asian destinations for travel next month. The UK is now the top European market for visitors to Vietnam. New services launched from Gatwick to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Bamboo Airlines last year. Skyscanner data shows the average cost of a hotel in the historic coastal city of Hue to be just £18 this month, rising slightly to £25 in the resort of Phu Quoc. Flights cost from around £580 return next month. New hotels include Wink Saigon Centre (doubles from £64, wink-hotels.com) and Maia Resort Quy Nhon (villas sleeping five from £150, quynhon. maiaresorts.com). G Adventures currently has two Vietnam tours on sale. They include its 10-day Classic Vietnam itinerary down the country, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City via Hue and Hoi An, costing £729pp this month and next, excluding flights, gadventures.com. Okinawa, Japan While the northern reaches of Japan won’t feel unlike the UK at present, its southern, subtropical Okinawa Islands bask in warmer winter temperatures, rarely dipping below 20°C (68°F). Sometimes referred to as the “Hawaii of Japan”, many of the 160 islands are fringed by coral reefs and white sand beaches such as Busena, Manza and Nirai. Shinto shrines rub up against an enduring American influence – a legacy of the US Army presence here during the Second World War – but there are also rare, endemic species of wildlife to be spotted in the mangroves and forests of Yanbaru (visitokinawajapan.com). Japan is also one of the few countries where sterling remains powerful, meaning it is cheaper to visit than before the pandemic. Inside Japan Tours can build an itinerary around the islands, insidejapantours.com. Argentina A surge of interest in trips to this southerly South American nation followed its World Cup win last month. Those who have made the commitment will be delighted not only by its many splendours (from the wilderness of Patagonia to the fertile pampas and lively Buenos Aires), but also by the excellent value for money it offers to British visitors: £1 will now buy 226 pesos compared with 142 pesos a year ago. Penny also notes that Argentina is a destination to which visitors are keen to return, thanks to its varied offering beach resorts at Diani Beach – well placed for visits inland to Shimba Hills National Reserve – with more clustered around Malindi and Watamu further north. Tsavo East and West National Parks are both within reach. The value of sterling has held steady against the Kenyan shilling in the past two years, and visitors will find local prices relatively low. Resorts in Diani and Malindi can cost as little as £80 per night. Gane & Marshall offers eight-day packages to Diani Beach from £2,730pp, ganeandmarshall.com. Malaysia Previous page: Palolem Beach in Goa, southern India; this page, from top: Kudadoo Private Island, Maldives; Nahuel Huapi Lake in Patagonia, Argentina; Yanbaru forest, Okinawa, Japan; Hanoi, Vietnam GETTY of adventure, cities, wine-making areas, wilderness and beaches. Its vast geography means that temperatures vary, ranging this week from 35°C in Salta in the north, to 30°C in Buenos Aires and 15°C in Ushuaia, the world’s most southerly city and the capital of the Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) archipelago in Patagonia. British Airways brought forward the resumption of its direct route from Heathrow to Buenos Aires to last November, improving connectivity from the UK. Intrepid offers several small group tours in Argentina, from long touring itineraries to shorter add-on breaks, such as a four-day Perito Moreno Glacier adventure in Patagonia, from £543pp next month, excluding flights, intrepidtravel.com. Kenya The southern portion of Kenya’s coast is deemed safe for travellers by the Foreign Office (north of Malindi, it warns against non-essential travel with the exception of Lamu island), and the seemingly endless white beaches, warm water and proximity to national parks and nature reserves make it a winning winter destination. Visitors to Mombasa will note Arabic and Indian influences, its old town an absorbing picture of Islamic, Swahili and colonial Portuguese architecture, while the labyrinthine coral stone streets of Lamu’s Old Town are protected by Unesco. Around 20 miles (30 kilometres) south of Mombasa is a smattering of tropical This is one of few destinations in Asia where flight capacity is close to 2019 levels, with Malaysian Airlines again operating the same number of seats to Kuala Lumpur. Return fares are currently around £560pp in February. Costs on arrival are also relatively low, with hotel rates from around £50 per night in Kuala Lumpur and on tropical islands such as Tioman. One of a clutch of new mid-range hotels is the DoubleTree by Hilton Damai Laut, overlooking Pangkor island on the west coast, where doubles start at MR351 (£66), hilton.com. Southern India While flight prices to India remain higher than before the pandemic, the cost of living is much lower than in the UK. Air India will launch direct flights from Gatwick to Goa and Kerala from late March, reconnecting these two palmfringed southern states to the UK for the first time since charters were suspended as a result of the pandemic. Returns are currently available for £556pp. The exchange rate is roughly the same as two years ago, with beach hotels available in Goa for as little as £20 per night, rising to £100 at the boutique end of the market. In northern Goa, on the laid-back Ashwem beach, Larisa is a new luxury resort with doubles from £150 next month (larisaresort.com). In the historic town of Kochi, Kerala, you can stay in handsomely restored heritage hotels such as Amritara the Poovath Beachfront Heritage from £70 per night (amritara. co.in). Meals are as cheap as Rs200 (£2), with overnight train travel between the two states costing around R3,000.
i travel In association with A PLACE TO STAY The Nest Treehouse at Sleepy Owl, Devon WHY? Sleepy Owl is a 20-acre estate tucked into a beautiful valley below the Hartland Peninsula in North Devon. Owners Jay and Mike fell in love with the area and, in 2019, embarked on their dream to create boutique wilderness retreats. What they have achieved is stunning: two hand-crafted treehouses (which opened last autumn) and a converted cowshed that are as homely as they are luxurious. Unusually, dogs are actively encouraged to stay. LOCATION Set within the Unesco North Devon Biosphere Reserve, the estate feels delightfully cut off from the world, yet remains in walking distance of local pubs. Beaches are within a 20-minute drive. The closest train station is Barnstaple. AMBIENCE A pure, unadulterated catch-yourbreath experience. A secluded sanctuary to recoup and relax, to look at the stars or listen to the birds. And to enjoy some good old-fashioned fun, too – think homemade pizza in your garden or movie nights in bed. ACCOMMODATION The Nest Treehouse is one of three properties on site (there is another treehouse, Hideout, plus the Cosy Cowshed). Each property is unique, 77 all created using local craftsmanship, resources and design. Nest is accessed via a large enclosed private courtyard with a wood-fired hot tub and pizza oven, seating area and hammock. Dogs get their own outside bath. The treehouse sleeps two adults in a large bedroom with a super kingsized bed, complete with cinema projector and drop-down screen, plus a gold roll-top bath with exquisite views. Children have their own treehouse-within-the-treehouse, with bunk beds and a telescope. Dogs are welcomed by a bed, bowls, treats, toys and blankets. A cleverly designed open-plan living space includes a kitchen, dining area and vast sofa along with a wood-burning stove; drinks can be enjoyed on the terrace. WHAT TO DO FOOD AND DRINK The experience of being in a treehouse. Nest has been designed with pleasure in mind. Inside, it is big enough to relax yet comfy enough to want to stay in. Which means you can do as much or as little as you want – guilt-free – and enjoy your stay no matter the weather. The kitchen is superbly set up for self-catering, and quite the pleasure to cook in. To make the most of your experience, pre-order the pizza package (£30 for two people) and cook your dinner outside one night. For those celebrating, renowned local company Coastal Cooks offers a bespoke dining experience with a private chef in your treehouse, or you can order ready-to-go roasts. Pattard’s Restaurant is a fiveminute walk and the village pub is just 10 minutes away. With all those acres to roam on your doorstep, you do not need to go far. Stroll through the wildflower meadow, follow the river and enjoy the woods. It’s doggy heaven. The surrounding area offers the best of coast and countryside. Nearby Hartland Quay is on the edge of the Atlantic, offering dramatic scenery and good clifftop walks. The picturesque fishing village of Clovelly is a 15-minute drive. Follow the cobbled high street down the hillside past 16th-century whitewashed cottages, dropping 400ft in the half mile down to the small harbour. There is a fine selection of beaches within the area, including Sandymouth, Crooklet or Saunton Sands. YOU’LL LOVE… TO BOOK Nest Treehouse at Sleepy Owl sleeps up to four humans and two dogs, from £351 per night, through pawsandstay.co.uk. Hanna Tavner
78 life 78 life Where slopes are steep but prices aren’t As snow returns to the mountains, Nicola Iseard reveals five resorts linked to key destinations where you can stay and ski for a lot less this winter Les Menuires, France Links to: Three Valleys Think of the Three Valleys and your mind no doubt goes to Val Thorens, Courchevel and Méribel. The chances are Les Menuires is not on your radar. Yet the resort has the same access to the vast acres of on- and off-piste terrain as the rest of the Three Valleys resorts – and it costs a fraction of the price to stay there. Much of this is to do with the aesthetics of the resort – its plentiful supply of stark concrete self-catering accommodation means it will never be as fashionable as its neighbours. But if you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of Alpine charm, you will find that accommodation and ski school lessons all tend to be cheaper here. For example, six full-day group lessons with ESF Les Menuires in February cost from £228; the same lessons in Courchevel 1850 cost from £369. Skiers in the know swear that the best skiing in the whole Three Valleys is found in Les Menuires. Last season, La Masse ski area was completely rejuvenated with one of the fastest and most efficient cable cars in the Alps. Now skiers have even quicker access to the pacy reds and blacks in La Masse area, which trickle down from the 2,804m (9,200ft) Pointe de la Masse. With north- and east-facing slopes, these runs hold their snow well. Meanwhile, beginners will find some mellow blues beneath the Roc des Trois Marches. When it is time to venture beyond Les Menuires, you have access to the Three Valleys’ entire 600km network. lesmenuires.com St Christoph am Arlberg, Austria Links to: Arlberg This idyllic, off-the-beaten-track village feels a world away from the party scene of its famous neighbour, St Anton – yet both share the same Arlberg ski system. For visitors who are here for the skiing more than the après, St Christoph makes for a great-value base. You can stay in a central four-star hotel here this month for as little as £74 a night – almost a third of a comparable room in St Anton. After finding your legs on St Christoph’s gentle, crowd-free blues, ski into the neighbouring valley of St Anton for confidence-boosting red runs in abundance. The north face of the Valluga, at 2,811m, is a must-ski peak for experts. If you are keen to sample St Anton’s infamous après, stop at the Mooserwirt on the last corner of Blue 1. An institution since 1989, it serves up a good-value goulash and, from 3.30pm, classic Austrian dancing-on-tables-to-oompah après. Then you can retreat back to the tranquillity of St Christoph. stantonamarlberg.com Nendaz, Switzerland Links to: Four Valleys Verbier is one of the most popular resorts in the world, with good reason – it has world-class skiing, a cosmopolitan ski community, some of the best ski schools in Switzerland and brilliant nightlife. But all of this comes at a price – accommodation here is among the most costly of any ski resort. Richard Branson’s The Lodge will set you back £112,000 a week. However, stay at neighbouring low-key Nendaz and you can save hundreds of pounds, with a centrally located apartment for a family of four available this month for just £700. You still have direct access to the Four Valleys’ 410km of runs, and the link was significantly improved two winters ago thanks to a new gondola that takes skiers from Prarion up to Plan du Fou in one go. Beginners and less-confident intermediates who aren’t looking for the mega mileage of the whole Four Valleys area can save money by buying a Printse Sector ski pass that covers Nendaz, Thyon-Les Collons and Veysonnaz, but excludes Verbier. That still amounts to 220km of pistes and 50 lifts. Nendaz’s local slopes are north-facing, with snow-sure nursery areas and a handful of wide, motorway-style blues and reds. nendaz.ch Cervinia, Italy Links to: Zermatt In Zermatt, you will find an idyllic car-free village, fine-dining restaurants, Les Menuires (above) is in the Three Valleys region of France; Cervinia, Italy (above right), is close to Zermatt in Switzerland; Vaujany, France (below), links up with Alpe D’Huez VINCENT LOTTENBERG; ENRICO ROMANZI/ REGIONE AUTONOMA VALLE D’AOSTA; JULIA GUERRE
i travel In association with views of the Matterhorn and some of the longest runs in the Alps. You will also find sky-high prices. A week in a chalet or a basic three-star hotel can cost thousands of pounds, even in low season. Stay on the Italian side of the Matterhorn in Breuil-Cervinia and you get to experience Zermatt’s world-class ski area and views for a fraction of the cost – food and accommodation prices are significantly lower than on the Swiss side. For example, this month, you can find an apartment sleeping five, within walking distance of the lifts, costing just £590 for a week. Breuil-Cervinia has miles of long, wellgroomed runs, ideal for beginners and intermediates – you will find some of the finest red-rated pistes in the Alps here. You also have direct access to acres of challenging terrain over in Switzerland; simply take the gondola to the top of the Plateau Rosa and ski down into Zermatt on the same joint ski pass. In fact, buying your Cervinia/Zermatt pass in Cervinia, rather than in Zermatt, saves up to £130 – even if you buy it online via the tourist board website. cervinia.it Vaujany, France Links to: Alpe d’Huez With its 1,000-year-old church and clusters of ancient barns and farmhouses, Vaujany is a village first and a ski resort second – and all the more characterful for it. In the late 1980s, the village unexpectedly struck gold when it sold a 79 huge plot of its land to France’s largest hydro-electric scheme. Savvy locals used the money to invest in a cable car (the largest in the country at the time) to link to the slopes of neighbouring Alpe d’Huez. The result is a satellite resort that has world-class skiing on its doorstep but remains wonderfully free of commercialism – and is great value, too. A family of four can stay in an apartment within walking distance of the lifts – with ski-to-door access – for just £380 for a week this month. Ski accommodation doesn’t get any cheaper. There is a huge amount of skiing on offer here, spread across Vaujany’s own Montfrais area – best suited to novices and early intermediates – and that of neighbouring Alpe d’Huez and the infamous Grandes Rousses massif. Advanced powder-hunters also have plenty of easy-access free-ride terrain to get stuck into, both above Vaujany itself and over in Alpe d’Huez. oz-vaujany.com
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i travel In association with 81 W NTER WEEKEND Ludlow This medieval Shropshire market town is dedicated to its colourfully eclectic ambience, from its boutiques to its parlour pubs, writes Emma Featherstone Why Ludlow? Ludlow is fortified by a curve of the River Teme in the border land of the Welsh Marches. Proud residents preserve its heritage with the care of white-gloved curators. The cobbled streets and listed buildings are a reflection of the wealth of Shropshire’s wool, cloth and glovemaking trades. Along and within them are independent shops and restaurants and cafés that favour local produce. Antique stores, delis and countryside views complete its appeal. The ruins that overlook Ludlow were once home to Arthur, the Prince of Wales (son of Henry VII) and his wife, Catherine of Aragon. Arthur and Catherine took up residence in the castle after their wedding, but Arthur died six months later. Catherine claimed they had never consummated the union, which enabled her match with Arthur’s younger brother, Henry VIII. Today, Ludlow Castle (ludlowcastle. com) is a family attraction that hosts events, which this year includes gigs from Bastille and the Kaiser Chiefs. Climb the towers to survey the town and miles of surrounding fields. Its position, chosen in 1086, was strengthened with the addition of town walls from the 13th century. How to get there and around The rail station is within 10 minutes’ walk of the town centre and is served by Transport for Wales (tfw.wales), with connections to GWR (gwr.com) routes for travel on to other parts of England. Drop your bags The Townhouse Ludlow (townhouseludlow.co.uk) is a guest house just off Broad Street, one of the main thoroughfares. Rooms are generously sized with traditional décor. High ceilings are embellished with beams and the colour scheme of cream, red and green is accented with floral and flock-patterned bedspreads and curtains. Four-poster or heavy-framed beds, high-backed armchairs and deep sofas complete the look. Tea, hot chocolate and biscuits are well stocked and amenities include a fridge and coffee machine. During winter, doubles start from £110 midweek or £120 over weekends. The Townhouse doesn’t offer breakfast, but there are plenty of options within five minutes’ walk. Browse the shops Rotary telephones, rainbowstriped faux-fur gilets, dog bandanas: a gift haul sourced from Ludlow boutiques should answer the pickiest of recipients. Bodenhams, which was founded in 1860 and sells menswear, womenswear, homeware and lingerie, is the longest-running. Pottery, gins, plants and more are available at the open-air market in the town square on Castle Street. More than 40 stalls set up here each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday throughout the year. There is also a market most Sundays. Head to Eclectica for colourful outfits, The Silver Pear for ornaments and Mousetrap Cheese Shop for hunks of smelly treasure. Castle Bookshop has a strong selection of titles, including literature about the town. There are two delis in the centre: Harp Lane, run by the team behind The Townhouse Ludlow, and Broad Bean. Stray into Ludlow’s back streets to dig through the collection at Mod Lang vinyl records, then amble around Old Street for antiques. Cosy cafés Kin Kitchen (kinludlow.co.uk) is Ludlow’s newest independent café. Its menu features produce grown in its kitchen garden and sourced from local suppliers. Sunlight floods into the back room, with a sofa, a coffee table made from the trunk of a felled tree and clapboard walls creating a stylish, but homely, setting. It is open for breakfast and dinner, with a Sunday brunch menu featuring dishes such as a Full Ludlow butcher’s breakfast (£10.50) and devilled mushrooms on toasted beer bread (£7). Customers can also book into one of its stylish apartments. If a pastry and cappuccino is all you’re craving, stop by Local to Ludlow Café (localtoludlow.org.uk) on the Square. Rainy day refuges Ludlow Museum (ludlowmuseum. co.uk, £1.10 adults, under-16s free) is in the 18th-century Buttercross building. It Ludlow THREE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT LUDLOW… 1) It was the Norman precursor to the likes of Milton Keynes; a planned new town, built on a grid. 2) The castle became the administrative centre of the Marches of Wales in the 16th century. 3) John Betjeman wrote that it was “probably the loveliest town in England”. 1670. The half-timbered facade, suits of armour and uneven rooms lend a spooky atmosphere and its accommodation has been known to attract “ghost hunters”. Ludlow Brewery, a venue for local bands and a two-minute walk from the rail station, also has a wood-burning stove by which to enjoy the house brews. From top: the ruins of Ludlow Castle overlook the town; Harp Lane Deli; St Laurence’s Church and the Buttercross LET’S GO LUDLOW, ROB SCAMP, GETTY details local history from the Stone Age through to the World Wars, with fossils, a medieval chasuble and audio accounts from among its collection. Ludlow Assembly Rooms (ludlowassemblyrooms. co.uk) has a programme of films, theatre and art exhibitions. St Laurence’s Church (stlaurences.org. uk), or “The Cathedral of the Marches”, dates back 800 years. Take a look at its stained-glass windows, misericords and the spot where Prince Arthur’s “heart” (likely a colloquial term for his intestines) were buried. A 15-minute bus ride will take you to The Ludlow Farm Shop (ludlowfarmshop.co.uk). A drink by the fire Ludlow’s parlour pubs are a novel post- or pre-dinner stop, devoid of phone calls, arcade games or televisions. Try The Blood Bay and The Dog Hangs Well; the latter could easily be mistaken for a private sitting room from the street and it has an open fire within. Along the same road as The Dog Hangs Well is The Feathers hotel, which was built in 1619 and opened as an inn in Dinner time CSons at The Green Café (thegreencafe.co.uk) is a Ludlow favourite that uses local, seasonal produce. West Midlands mushroom tamales and rum and dark chocolate mousse cake are among its Friday night dinner fare. The same family (CSons is taken from four brothers with the surname Crouch) are behind Sourced Pizza (sourcedpizza.co.uk) on Quality Square, where sourdough serves as a base to such options as Shropshire Shrooms and Shroppy Giuseppe. Winter walks For a light stroll, try the “Whitcliffe & Breadwalk” Beginning at the castle entrance, walk along Dinham (through the castle gardens), follow the road downhill and cross the river via Dinham Bridge. Take the footpath along the left for a view across to the castle and town, before passing a mini waterfall and the weir. Alternatively, the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is less than 25 minutes away by car and has more strenuous hikes. Find out more at visitshropshire.co.uk, theludlowguide. co.uk and letsgoludlow.com.
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SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 business@inews.co.uk money BANKING Lloyds and Halifax branches to close Lloyds and Halifax have announced a series of branch closures in England and Wales. Lloyds Banking Group, which owns both banks, is to close 18 Halifax and 22 Lloyds sites between April and June. Lloyds said it needed branches “where they are well-used”. Barclays and TSB have also announced branch closures this month. ECONOMY Forecast improved for UK contraction The UK economy will contract by 0.1 per cent this year, less than originally forecast, the US banking group JP Morgan said. The global bank said that the smaller decline, down from the previously forecast 0.3 per cent, could be attributed to a recent drop in natural gas prices, which should help to bring down inflation faster than expected. BANKING £90m set aside for bad Novitas loans Merchant bank Close Brothers said it will set aside an additional £90m against bad loans from its litigation funding firm, Novitas Loans. Novitas, one of the UK’s largest legal-finance groups, has ceased lending to new customers and is “reviewing its options”. Close Brothers’ loan book rose to £9.2bn, but total client assets fell to £16.3bn from £16.6bn. CONSUMER Confidence falls back to historic low UK consumer sentiment fell for the first time in three months in January, returning to a historic low as concerns about the economy and the cost of living tightened household finances, research showed. GfK said its consumer confidence survey highlighted the impact of rising prices and uncertainty, as more people reported a deterioration in their personal finances. 87 business CONSUMER How different countries are coping with the energy crisis From one-off payments to pledges to cut heating in public buildings, Grace Gausden looks at the ways Europe is tackling rising gas prices C systems in state-owned buildings as part of a major energy upgrade. It has asked for people to switch lights and devices off in public buildings after hours, as well as turn off heating in empty spaces, such as corridors, foyers and stairwells. Reducing consumption has become mandatory in all public services. ountries around the world have been forced to change the way they use energy as we all feel the pinch of rising costs – but they have also received differing levels of support. This ranges from one-off energy payments to asking households to turn their heating off for an extra hour a day. The UK Government has recently revealed a new campaign with energy saving tips designed to lower bills and reduce usage – as well as imposing the Energy Price Guarantee which caps typical household usage at £2,500. But what are other countries doing to cut bills? The Netherlands Since November, electricity and gas prices for households in the Netherlands have been capped at January 2022 levels – up to a certain amount of consumption. Any extra use will be charged at market rates. The government has also offered a discount of €190 on energy bills in November and December last year to all households. There was also a one-off energy allowance of €1,300 to those on lower incomes. VAT on energy bills and tax on petrol and diesel have also been cut. France France has a plan to cut its energy use by 10 per cent in the next two years, launching an “energy sobriety” plan to find solutions to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. As part of this strategy, it has developed an “every gesture counts” campaign which covers simple everyday changes people can make – including shorter showers, switching off idle electrical equipment and not heating rooms above 19°C. The 19°C cap stretches to public buildings while France is also cutting the temperature of public sports facilities by 2°C and in public swimming pools by 1°C. There are also speed limits on ski lifts and plans to produce less artificial snow. France has offered financial gains for those willing to cut down, with civil servants paid an extra €2.88 per day to work from home, if this allows government buildings to close. Last year, it also announced a one-off €100 (£84) payment to 5.8 million households. And in 2022, the government forced the stateowned energy provider, Électricité de France (EDF), to cap price rises at 4 per cent. It says it will cap rises at 15 per cent for 2023. Spain and Portugal Spain reduced VAT on energy bills initially to 10 per cent and then to 5 per cent from July 2022 to the end of December. Both Spain and Portugal introduced a price cap for gas which will last for one year and aims to halve gas bills for 40 per cent of customers in the two countries. Poland France has imposed speed limits on ski lifts AFP There is also a one-off payment of €200 for people in Spain who earn less than €14,000 a year and are not already receiving benefits. Spain has imposed temperature limits in public and commercial spaces. This includes train stations and airports, which cannot be cooled to below 27°C in summer or heated to more than 19°C in winter. Croatia Croatia has opted for information measures to save energy in the shortterm. Households are encouraged to use appliances during off-peak times, utilise LED lighting and use public transport. The Government also recommends the maximum indoor temperature during winter should be 21°C and the cooling temperature in summer no lower than 25°C. Germany Germany is the European country most reliant on Russian gas in recent years, and it plans to replace the energy from Russian with fuel generated by coal power plants. All taxpayers have received a oneoff energy payment of €300 with extra help for people on benefits. In October last year, the German parliament approved a “defensive shield” package worth €200bn (£175bn) which includes a cap on gas and electricity prices for households and some businesses. The government also paid December’s monthly gas bill for all households and small-to-medium businesses. Around 200 sites in Berlin will no longer be lit at night including the Reichstag parliament building, Berlin City Hall, the Jewish Museum Berlin and opera houses. Greece Greece is also highly dependent on Russian gas and has confirmed measures to reduce consumption. The government announced a $640m programme to renew windows along with heating and cooling Poland announced plans for an energy price support package for households, worth 26.8bn zlotys (£4.8bn), which includes freezing energy prices for 2023 at 2022’s level, with a limit of 2,000 kWh per year for most households. The price cap rises to 2,600kWh for households with a disabled person and 3,000kWh for farmers and families with at least three children. The Government has also reduced VAT on energy bills. Norway Norway has set a maximum price that households should pay for their energy – anything over this, the government will pay 80 per cent of the bill. The government has also proposed new taxes on onshore wind and hydropower energy, to redistribute some of the huge increase in profits over the past year. Italy Italy gave a €200 (£169) one-off payment to people earning €35,000 (£29,600) a year or less and a 20 per cent tax credit for all energy-intensive companies experiencing a 30 per cent rise in prices. The government is also asking people to turn central heating down by 1°C and off for an extra hour a day. How to start a pension if you don’t have one p88 l Best savings deals p89 l Money watch p91
88 MONEY PENSIONS CLINIC ‘Saving for retirement has not been a priority’ Tatjana Andersen does not qualify for auto-enrolment into a pension. So what are her options? By Imogen Tew T atjana Anders has very little saved for her retirement. The 33-year-old, from Windsor, has primarily worked as a freelance actor and model, and three years ago started her own tea subscription company called Teapro. As she is self-employed, she has never qualified for auto-enrolment – government rules that require employers to automatically enrol most full-time staff into a pension. It is how the majority of people begin to build their pension savings. She began working part-time for a marketing company during the pandemic, taking home about £18,000 a year, but she is unsure whether she built up a pension pot during this time. If she did, it would not be a large sum. Tatjana, who estimates that her yearly earnings fluctuate between £35,000 and £40,000, has about £30,000 in savings, which she hopes to use as a house deposit within the next two years. She currently rents a two-bed flat with her fiancé, who she is marrying in July. Other than the money for a house deposit, she has no other investments or savings. Any extra money has gone back into the business, so her pension has not been at the top of her list. In retirement, Tatjana estimates that she will need at least £20,000 a year to spend, after tax and any housing costs (although she hopes to be mortgage-free). She and her fiancé enjoy holidays, playing tennis and producing art and would like to be able to continue these hobbies once retired. “I haven’t really thought much about my retirement goals as I’m still so young, it’s only in the past year or so that I started thinking about it all. “It would be good to know how to get started, and how much I would need to save,” said Tatjana, who can start saving £100 a month towards a pension now and increase this once she is on the property ladder. We asked two experts for their thoughts. TOM SELBY Pensions expert from AJ Bell “It’s important to be realistic about what you might be able to afford to save. Although buying a house might mean you no longer have to save towards the deposit, there will be mortgage and other costs you need to consider. “If Tatjana contributes £100 a month into a pension, doubles this Tatjana has primarily worked as a freelance actor and model to £200 a month after two years and then increases her contribution by 2 per cent a year (in line with the Bank of England’s inflation target), by age 60 she could have a fund worth around £180,000. “A dose of realism is important here. A 60-year-old with a fund worth £135,000 (£180,000 minus 25 per cent tax-free cash) who takes £22,860 a year from their pension (roughly enough for £20,000 spending after tax), would run out of money well before state pension age. “If Tatjana can work for longer, and continues to contribute until age 68 – her projected state pension age – her fund could be worth £298,000. All these figures assume annual investment growth after charges of 4 per cent per year. “This puts her in a better spot. A 68-year-old with a £223,500 pension fund (post tax-free cash) and a full Tatjana would like to continue her hobby of art during her retirement GETTY
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 i SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 89 The I paper chart_Layout 1 19/01/2023 11:45 Page 1 Smart saving state pension could generate a total income of £22,860 until about their 90th birthday. “A lifetime Isa (Lisa) could also be useful for Tatjana. A Lisa is a government-run initiative that tops up your savings by 25 per cent, providing you are using it for a house deposit or retirement. You can pay in up to £4,000 a year. “As Tatjana is a basic-rate taxpayer, the 25 per cent bonus she gets on her first £4,000 of pension contributions is exactly the same as the 25 per cent Lisa bonus. “But while only 25 per cent of pension withdrawals are tax-free, Lisa withdrawals are 100 per cent tax-free from age 60. “Tatjana could pay into a Lisa instead until age 49, and then pay into a pension from age 50 until age 68. This would leave her with the same sized total fund, but split in two: a Lisa pot, available tax-free from age 60 and worth around £162,000 at age 68, and a pension pot, with 25 per cent available tax-free and 75 per cent taxed as income, worth around £136,000 at age 68. “She could then use the Lisa pot to provide her income in the early years of retirement, making the most of the tax-free money, before turning to her pension. Anything leftover in her pension would be IHT-free, too.” KATE SMITH Head of pensions at Aegon “As Tatjana is self-employed, she is likely to want to be flexible in how she saves for retirement. She may be unable to rely on a regular income, so she may wish to vary how much she saves monthly. “She also won’t benefit from an employer’s pension contribution. This means that she needs to be self-reliant when it comes to pension saving – the key is to start saving early and save as much as she can, while having realistic retirement income aspirations. This may include working and saving longer. “Tatjana should try to find out whether she does have a pension from when she was employed. If she can’t find her paperwork, she should contact the employer or try the Government’s Pension Tracing Service. She may find that her pension is worth more than she thought, and getting this information will help her understand how much she needs to save in the future to achieve her retirement income aspiration. “Saving £100 a month is a good start, but unfortunately won’t be nearly enough to achieve the retirement income of £20,000 a year from age 60 or 65. Realistically, she will need to save substantially more than this, or delay taking her retirement income, or both. “The state pension will make up just under half of her retirement income aspiration of £20,000 a year from age 68. If she wanted to meet the rest of her income requirements with an annuity, an insurance product which pays an income for life, she would need to save around £220,000. “To do this, £304 a month would need to be saved into her pot, increasing by 3 per cent each year. If you want to start a pension but are not already enrolled in a workplace scheme, you can start saving with a private company. You can also open one if you want to save extra money for later in life. Unlike a workplace pension, where an employer contributes, a private scheme is entirely funded by the money you put into it, though you will benefit from added tax relief too. The trade-off is that you receive far more control over who runs your pension, the funds and investments that it is held in, and the options you have at retirement. There are a wide variety of private pensions that are available, so you will need to research all of the different features of each and the different providers available. They broadly come in two forms: a personal or a stakeholder pension. While a personal pension is a broad name given to most privately funded pension plans, stakeholder pensions are more tightly regulated. They can be a good choice for people who need a more flexible option because they allow you to vary the amount you pay and when you make payments. It is important to compare products from different providers: many will offer different investments or features, and funds will differ in how they invest. Ask for the key facts document from each pension plan you are considering, as this will summarise all the key information. It is also crucial to make sure you can afford the contributions you need to make, as some plans may have a minimum monthly payment. This is particularly important if you have a variable income. This also applies to the charges you may have to pay for your pension. These can include administration fees, transfer charges, charges for managing your investments and penalties. One great way to get a lay of the pension landscape is to speak with an independent financial adviser, who will be able to tell you about the best options depending on your circumstances. As with any important financial decision, be sure not to sign anything until you are completely happy. This may seem a lot to save, but the good news is that she will get tax relief from the Government on her pension contributions. “As she is currently a basic rate taxpayer she’ll receive 20 per cent tax relief on her pension contributions. For an overall contribution of £304, she would only need to pay in about £243.20 to make a total of £304. “Tatjana will need to choose a pension provider. This can be challenging for the self-employed, so she may need help with this.” Provider Account Notice or Term Deposit AER Yorkshire Building Society Online Rainy Day 2 None £1 3.35% Tipton & Coseley BS Limited Access (2) None £25,000 3.20% HSBC Online Bonus Saver None £1 3.00% Monmouthshire BS Premium Instant ­ 3 Instant £25,000 3.00% Cynergy Bank Online Easy Access (55) None £1 2.90% (A) Provider Account Notice or Term Deposit AER Habib Bank Zurich plc HBZ Sirat eDeposit (B) 12­mth bond £5,000 4.33% (F) FirstSave Fixed Bond (Dec 22) 1­yr bond £1,000 4.30% (F) SmartSave Fixed Rate Saver 1­yr bond £10,000 4.26% (F) QIB (UK) (B) Raisin UK ­ Fixed Deposit 18­mth bond £1,000 4.25% (F) Vanquis Bank Vanquis Bank Savings £1,000 4.20% (F) 1­yr bond Provider Account Notice or Term Deposit AER Close Brothers Savings Fixed Rate Bond 5­yr bond £10,000 4.55% (F) Monmouthshire BS Fixed Rate Bond ­ 6 5­yr bond £1,000 4.50% (F) Isbank Raisin UK ­ Fixed Deposit 5­yr bond £1,000 4.50% (F) Atom Bank Fixed Saver 5­yr bond £50 4.45% (F) Gatehouse Bank (B) Fixed Woodland Saver 4­yr bond £1,000 4.45% (F) Provider Account Notice or Term Deposit AER Virgin Money Access ISA Exclusive 2 Instant £1 3.00% Mansfield BS 180 Day Notice ISA (2nd) 180 Day £1 3.00% Furness BS 45 Day Notice Cash ISA 45 Day £1,000 3.00% Hinckley & Rugby BS 90 Day Notice Cash ISA 90 Day £500 2.95% Aldermore 30 Day Notice ISA 12 30 Day £1,000 2.80% Provider Account Min Funding (pm) Account fee Reward Halifax Reward Current £1,500 Nil Nationwide BS FlexDirect £1,000 Nil 5.00% (A) TSB Spend & Save None Nil £5.00pm (A) Virgin Money M Plus Account None Nil 2.02% Kroo Bank Ltd Current Account None Nil 2.00% £5.00pm (C) (A) = Introductory rate for a limited period. (B) = Provider/account operates under Islamic nance principles, rate shown is expected prot rate. (C) = Paid net of income tax. (F) = Fixed rate. All rates are shown as AER variable unless otherwise stated. Methods of opening and operating accounts will vary. Current account interest rates paid up to a specied level, terms may apply to qualify for rates shown. Provider Rate Period Max LTV Fee first direct 4.74% for 2 years 60% £490 HSBC 5.54% to 31.5.25 90% ­ Coventry BS 4.60% to 30.6.26 75% £999 Nationwide BS 4.44% for 5 years 60% ­ Yorkshire Building Society 4.74% to 31.5.28 90% ­ Provider Rate Period Max LTV Fee rst direct 5.44% for term 75% £490 rst direct 5.59% for term 75% ­ rst direct 5.89% for term 80% £490 rst direct 6.04% for term 80% ­ rst direct 6.54% for term 90% £490 ArrEAR UnarrEAR 0% overdraft limit Provider Account Starling Bank Current Account 15.0% 0.0% Nil rst direct 1st Account 39.9% 39.9% £250 Virgin Money M Plus Account 19.9% 19.9% Nil Lloyds Bank Club Lloyds 27.5% 0.0% £50 TSB Spend & Save Plus 39.9% 39.9% £100 Provider Card Type Rate PM APR Min income TSB Advance Credit Card MC 0.800% 9.9% ­ Bank of Scotland Credit Card Mastercard 0.869% 10.9% ­ Halifax Credit Card Mastercard 0.869% 10.9% ­ Tesco Bank Low APR Credit Card MC 0.869% 10.9% £5,000 NatWest Credit Card Mastercard 1.016% 12.9% £10,000 All borrowing rates and availability of products are subject to individual credit ratings. All rates and terms subject to change without notice and should be checked before finalising any arrangement. This information is provided by moneyfacts.co.uk on 8.00am 19th January 2023 in good faith. For full details visit moneyfacts.co.uk. Neither Moneyfacts nor can be responsible for its accuracy. No liability can be accepted for any direct or consequential loss arising from use of, or reliance upon, this information. Readers who are not finance professionals should seek expert advice.
90 BUSINESS ENERGY SSE raises profit forecast despite mild weather By David Connett SSE, one of the UK’s biggest energy companies, forecast higher profits as its gas-fired power stations were boosted by higher prices – even as its wind turbines were quieted by mild weather this winter. The Perth-based firm said electricity production from its gas-fuelled plants rose 27 per cent in the nine months to the end of December compared with the previous year. It said power from its renewable sources had been hit by “unseasonably calm and dry weather”, which together with delays to the Seagreen project – Scotland’s largest wind farm, off the Angus coast – had also contributed to power-generation targets being missed. It confirmed it still expected the Seagreen wind farm would be completed this summer. Britain broke its wind power record in December. Over the past year, 36 per cent of Britain’s power has come from renewables, and 41 per cent from gas. SSE said it produced 10 per cent less renewable electricity in the period as a result. The generator said it would invest any additional profit it makes into low-carbon electricity infrastructure, as it plans to expand into hydrogen, carbon capture, solar and batteries. RETAIL Shoppers rein in festive spending as inflation bites By David Connett Inflation-hit shoppers cut spending by record amounts last month, dashing hopes of a Christmas boost for the country’s flagging retail sector. A 1 per cent drop in sales volumes mirrored November’s 0.5 per cent fall, when Black Friday failed to produce a boost in sales, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). December’s volumes were down by 5.8 per cent compared with December 2021, the biggest fall for that month in records going back to 1997. Retail sales volumes for last year also had their biggest-ever fall. They fell by 3 per cent between 2021 and 2022, which is the largest decline since ONS records began. Retailers told the ONS that “consumers are cutting back on spending because of increased prices and affordability concerns”. Heather Bovill, an analyst at the ONS, said that shoppers stocked up early, resulting in food sales falling back again in December. “Online sales dipped, with feedback indicating postal strikes were leading people towards purchasing more goods in-store,” she said. Non-food stores’ sales volumes fell by 2.1 per cent in December as consumers cut back on spending deemed non-essential. Online shopping fell to 25.4 per cent from 25.9 per cent in November, with some online retailers reporting that they were hit by Royal Mail strikes last month. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the association expects the squeeze on households to improve in the second half of the year: “The high cost of household bills – particularly for energy – and rising food inflation made for a difficult Christmas backdrop, with falling consumer confidence. “Nonetheless, increased discounting helped boost gift-giving, with stronger sales growth for clothing and furniture.” Olivia Cross, an economist at Capital Economics, said the surprise fall suggested that some of the resilience seen in the UK economy in late 2022 petered out in December. “What’s more, we think the bulk of the drag-on activity from high inflation and rising interest rates is yet to be felt,” she said. Consumer price inflation eased slightly to 10.5 per cent last month, after hitting a 41-year high of 11.1 per cent in October – but food and non-alcoholic beverage prices in particular remain badly affected. Smith opts for some rug couture British fashion designer Paul Smith said his collection at Paris Fashion Week yesterday took inspiration from old rugs he found in Milan. “We got a lot of inspiration from the patterns. They were all slightly UNITED STATES The Business Matrix The day at a glance weird colours because they were hand-dyed,” he said. He also took a trip down memory lane: “We went to the archives to use fabrics I did in the past – I remade them for modern times.” RICHARD BORD/GETTY TECHNOLOGY Musk set to testify over funding tweet Apple to appeal competition inquiry Tesla boss Elon Musk is to be called to testify in a US jury trial over his 2018 tweet saying he had “funding secured” to take the electric carmaker private. Shareholders allege that the post cost them millions in trading losses. Mr Musk is expected to explain why he insisted he had Saudi investor backing and whether he knowingly made a misleading statement. Apple is to appeal a decision by the UK competition watchdog to investigate the tech firm’s dominance through its mobile browsers in the cloud gaming market. Apple said November’s decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to launch a full investigation should be reviewed. The CMA said it would continue the inquiry. PEOPLE FASHION PRINTING RETAIL ECONOMY Netflix co-founder steps down as CEO Seraphine to go private in £15m deal De La Rue aware of India investigation Losses increase at The Works Tesco boss: UK needs durable growth plan Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has stepped down as chief executive of the firm that upended Hollywood by delivering movies and TV shows online. Mr Hastings will become executive chairman, Netflix said. The company announced that it added 7.7 million new subscribers in the final three months of 2022. Maternity brand Seraphine is to be taken private by its largest shareholder, Mayfair Equity Partners, in a £15.3m deal. The brand was valued at £150m when it was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2021. Sharon Flood, the chairwoman of Seraphine, said the company has faced “an extraordinary convergence of challenges since listing”. Banknote maker De La Rue said it has been implicated in an investigation by Indian police. The London-listed firm said it was aware of reports that it featured in an investigation into India’s former finance secretary Arvind Mayaram. The company said it has not been contacted by police and has not served India’s central bank or government since 2016. Losses at the stationery and books retailer The Works widened after online sales dropped off over Christmas. The firm reported pre-tax losses of £10.7m despite sales increasing by 2.4 per cent to £118.9m. The performance of its shops was offset by the 14 per cent decline in online sales, which the company put down to postal strikes. Ministers must come up with a longterm growth strategy, according to John Allan, the Tesco chairman and a former Confederation of British Industry president. “What we’d love to see from Government is a really serious, thought-through, longterm growth plan,” he told the BBC. “Long-term growth is the only way in which we’re actually going to be able to raise standards of living.”
NEWS 2-41 EMPLOYMENT Google owner to axe 12,000 jobs worldwide OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 Money watch Weekly change Google’s parent company, Alphabet, said it is cutting about 12,000 jobs, or six per cent of its workforce, its chief executive said in a memo to staff. Sundar Pichai said the redundancies decision “weighed heavily” on him, but that it followed a “rigorous review” of the business. “We’ve undertaken a rigorous review across product areas and functions to ensure that our people and roles are aligned with our highest priorities as a company,” he said. “The roles we’re eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across Alphabet product areas, functions, levels and regions.” He said it followed a hiring spree during the pandemic. “Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today,” he said. “I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here.” The cuts are the latest to hit the technology sector, following on from Microsoft’s announcement this week that it is cutting 10,000 staff. Susannah Streeter, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said Alphabet’s advertising business, which underpins Google’s search engine and YouTube, was not immune to economic turbulence. “Advertising growth has come off the boil, a sharp contrast from the busy days of the post-pandemic reopening which saw a surge in consumer spending,” she said. EURO Year high Year low FINANCE Outlook ‘less bad’ than first feared The head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said the global economic outlook was “less bad” than originally feared, with increasing signs that inflation is retreating. She warned against going from “too pessimistic to too optimistic”, but said that the IMF may upgrade its 2.7 per cent growth forecast for 2023. SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 91 Friday’s FTSE 100 up 0.30% at 7,770.6 Weekly change Year high Year low CHINESE YUAN 1.36 1.84% ¥8.39 1.04 2.06% 8.74 7.51 0.86% 1.26 1.02 SWISS FRANC €1.14 1.22 1.12% CHF1.14 1.08 THE MARKETS THIS WEEK FTSE 100 FTSE 100 7,900 7,850 7,800 7,750 Mon Tue Wed Thu 7,700 Fri Weekly change Week intraday 73.48 0.94% High: 7,875.58 Low: 7,726.23 7,770. 59 The index looked set to reach record highs before it tumbled on Thursday as consumer sentiment fell. Riser in the news Dow* 33,138.83 1,163.78 3.39% Nasdaq* 11,010.09 69.06 0.62% S&P* 3,931.70 67.39 1.69% Nikkei 26,553.53 434.01 1.66% CAC 40 6,995.99 27.51 0.39% DAX 15,033.56 52.96 0.35% Faller in the news 765p, +2.89% 864.2p, -2.61% The retailer snapped up office space in Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire – previously used by Studio Retail – to cap off a fortnight of acquisitions. Analysts at Jefferies warned that the financial services firm is losing customers to the likes of US competitor Vanguard. THE ECONOMY CORE INFLATION Core inflation, ignoring food, energy, alcohol and tobacco, grew more quickly than expected in December. 15 Annual % change in consumer price index Food Property firm Land Securities has appointed the chairman of Channel 4, Sir Ian Cheshire, as its next chairman, as the commercial landlord streamlines its retail assets. Sir Ian, a former chief of the retailer Kingfisher and an ex-chairman of department store group Debenhams, takes over as commercial property values fall. MONEY 87-91 The week in numbers US DOLLAR $1.24 C4 chair to join Land Securities TRAVEL 75-81 CURRENCIES (relative to sterling) By Jeffrey Dastin PROPERTY TV 58-71 10 5 Services ONS Core 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 0 2023 GOOD WEEK 3.7% UK unemployment rate for September to November grew from the previous quarter. 20.3% Supermarkets’ budget ranges rose in price in December versus last year, according to Which? 6.4% Average pay grew in the three months to November compared with a year earlier. £295,00 The average UK house price fell in November, but is still £28,000 higher than a year ago. BAD WEEK ▼ HANNAH ▼ MATTHEW ▼ JOHN Ocado Retail’s boss sees shares in the firm dive as she reveals basket volumes fell this year. THG’s chief executive had to issue his third profit warning in a year due to contract delays. The Boohoo boss said sales fell at Christmas because shoppers had returned to the high street. GIBSON ▲ MICHAEL ▲ JULIE ▲ STUART Ryanair’s chief executive hails January record of two million bookings in one weekend. Burberry’s head of finance said European tourists had helped the luxury firm log higher sales. The M&S boss unveils £500m plans to build 20 new large stores and create 3,400 new jobs. O’LEARY BROWN MACHIN SUPER STAT $230m This week’s changes SOURCE: ONS, GOV.CO.UK *VALUE AT 6PM FRIDAY LYTTLE SHOCK STAT The amount that sales of Taylor Swift’s album, Midnights, generated for Universal last year – £185m – despite only coming out in October. KEY COMMODITIES MOULDING 101.7m Oil 86.97 $/barrel +2.04 Global demand for oil, measured in barrels per day, is expected to reach a record high in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. Company Price Chg % High Low 3i Group abrdn Admiral Airtel Africa Anglo Amer Antofagasta AB Foods Ashtead Group AstraZeneca Auto Trader Group Aviva BAE Systems Barclays Barratt Dev BAT Beazley Berkeley Grp Hldgs B&MEurValRtl BP British Land BT Bunzl Burberry Centrica Coca-Cola HBC Compass Convatec CRH Croda Intl DCC Diageo Endeavour Mining Entain Experian F&C Inv Trust Flutter Entrtmt Frasers Group Fresnillo Glencore GSK Haleon Halma Hargrve Lans Hiscox HSBC Hldgs IAG Imperial Brands Informa IntCont Htls Intertek JD Sports Fashion Johnson Matthey Kingfisher Land Secs Legal & Gen Lloyds Bk Gp Lon Stock Ex M&G Melrose Ind Mondi National Grid NatWest Group Next Ocado Group Pearson Pershing Square Persimmon Phoenix Prudential Reckitt Ben RELX Rentokil Initial Rightmove Rio Tinto Rolls-Royce RS Group Sage Sainsbury(J) Schroders Scot Mort Inv Tst Segro Severn Trent Shell Smith&Neph Smith (DS) Smiths Gp Smurfit Kappa Grp Spirax-Sarco Eng SSE Stan Chart St James Place Taylor Wimpey Tesco Unilever Unite Group United Utilities Vodafone Weir Group Whitbread WPP 1462.5 204.4 2095.0 115.4 3566.0 1730.0 1826.5 4995.0 11200.0 583.6 439.0 853.2 178.4 445.1 3121.5 642.5 4175.0 438.3 475.9 433.8 129.3 2924.0 2358.0 98.7 1916.5 1913.0 246.2 3598.5 7044.0 4512.0 3679.5 1980.0 1508.0 2936.0 930.0 12565.0 765.0 916.4 575.9 1406.8 315.9 2105.0 864.2 1123.5 592.6 162.8 2052.0 664.8 5638.0 4289.0 157.0 2135.0 261.2 698.6 254.9 49.3 7490.0 205.7 143.2 1483.5 1035.0 295.5 6436.0 707.8 921.8 2910.0 1373.5 625.4 1302.0 5802.0 2360.0 506.0 572.8 6213.0 106.6 930.5 760.4 243.4 470.7 734.0 811.0 2817.0 2363.0 1142.5 346.3 1705.0 3427.0 11430.0 1750.5 700.0 1235.0 113.0 247.9 4089.5 980.5 1056.5 91.9 1814.0 3021.0 913.4 +3.32% +1.69% -0.99% +2.67% +0.07% +0.41% +0.69% +1.32% -1.93% +1.92% +0.64% +1.16% +0.59% -0.09% +0.43% -0.54% -0.33% +1.18% +0.24% -0.41% +1.73% +0.24% +2.39% +1.15% -0.65% +0.79% +0.74% -0.04% +1.62% +1.37% -0.34% +1.80% +1.75% -0.88% +1.09% +2.45% +2.89% -0.24% +2.09% -0.83% +0.81% -0.14% -2.61% +0.22% +1.21% +1.84% +0.05% +0.67% +1.40% -0.09% +2.78% -0.23% +0.89% +0.34% +0.67% +0.96% -0.11% +1.88% -1.75% +0.10% —% +0.92% +0.53% —% -2.17% +0.17% -0.40% +0.64% +1.48% -0.65% -0.72% +0.52% +2.32% +1.01% +1.45% +1.14% +0.96% +0.95% +0.86% -0.97% -1.15% +0.54% +0.11% +1.02% +1.08% -0.15% +1.39% +0.13% +2.85% +0.66% +0.45% -0.09% -0.12% -0.05% -0.15% +1.54% +1.79% +1.26% +1.99% -0.24% 1464.0 254.0 3301.0 173.1 4292.5 1822.5 2181.0 5556.0 11886.0 707.4 606.6 872.6 209.4 682.8 3645.0 690.5 4505.0 617.6 504.4 563.8 201.4 3249.0 2371.0 99.5 2661.0 1970.5 256.0 3869.0 8378.0 6508.0 4067.0 2176.0 1729.2 3222.0 952.0 12650.0 1001.7 996.8 584.5 3408.2 337.4 2601.6 1374.5 1142.0 598.0 180.1 2185.0 682.2 5646.0 5506.0 196.6 2536.0 338.1 812.8 301.9 54.5 8612.0 230.0 169.2 1953.0 1271.5 300.4 7646.0 1560.0 1006.3 3038.2 2596.0 702.2 1336.0 6824.0 2474.0 565.4 702.2 6343.0 124.9 1169.0 823.0 300.0 574.7 1154.0 1408.0 3228.0 2557.0 1344.0 391.9 1733.5 4150.0 13759.2 1935.5 797.4 1646.0 163.4 304.1 4249.5 1209.0 1186.9 141.6 1936.5 3253.0 1231.5 1042.0 131.0 1691.5 106.5 2487.5 971.2 1223.0 3269.0 8214.0 479.8 341.9 565.8 132.1 313.0 2915.0 365.3 3120.0 289.0 341.6 317.8 110.5 2542.0 1473.5 65.8 1403.5 1494.0 165.3 2736.5 5862.0 3986.0 3282.5 1435.0 994.6 2242.0 767.2 7340.0 523.5 610.6 382.1 1280.9 241.2 1855.3 735.6 769.4 434.7 90.5 1434.2 488.0 4174.0 3485.0 88.4 1650.0 198.6 459.3 201.4 38.1 6230.0 159.3 94.8 1233.5 844.3 196.9 4306.0 380.3 591.0 2295.0 1113.5 501.0 782.4 5400.0 2056.0 441.2 437.8 4424.5 64.4 790.0 587.2 168.7 348.0 670.6 669.2 2167.4 1833.4 959.2 238.1 1323.0 2415.0 9008.0 1405.0 431.3 904.6 80.6 194.3 3267.5 773.0 813.2 83.2 1312.0 2245.5 713.0 Gold 1,923.46 $/oz +10.94 For enquiries call +44 (0)20 7825 8300
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97 Today’s Weather Today’s high Temp Rain Sun (Midday yesterday) (mm) Aberdeen Aberporth Aberystwyth Aviemore Belfast Birmingham Bournemouth Bridlington Bristol Cardiff Cromer Durham Eastbourne Edinburgh Eskdalemuir Glasgow Holyhead Hove Hull Huntingdon Ipswich Isle of Man Isle of Wight Kinlochewe Kirkwall Leeds Lerwick Leuchars Lincoln Liverpool London Manchester Margate Milford Haven Morecambe Newcastle Norwich Nottingham Okehampton Oxford Plymouth Portland Portsmouth Prestwick Rhyl Sheffield Shrewsbury Skegness Southend Stoke Stornoway Swansea Tiree 3 5 5 -1 2 5 5 6 5 6 5 5 6 3 3 2 7 6 5 6 4 8 6 1 4 5 3 5 5 7 5 5 5 6 5 3 4 5 4 6 5 7 5 2 6 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 6 S S S S S S S C S S C F S S S S S S S S F S S S S F C S F S F S S S S S H S S F F S S S F S S SH S S S S S (hrs) 2.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.4 2.6 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.4 0.0 3.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.4 3.4 7.0 5.6 5.5 6.6 5.4 6.8 3.4 6.2 7.1 4.3 3.0 6.4 6.3 6.5 6.6 7.0 6.4 4.6 6.8 6.4 6.8 6.8 5.4 5.2 4.6 0.0 6.0 5.2 6.1 5.3 6.8 6.2 5.5 5.9 3.1 4.3 7.0 5.2 6.6 3.7 7.4 7.7 5.6 4.3 5.4 5.3 5.5 6.9 4.8 4.6 6.1 5.6 Global City 22 34 18 1 14 29 11 -3 1 2 3 4 18 24 5 1 -1 0 17 15 26 16 14 12 °C S F S SL SH S S S C SH C DR S F S F F C C F F F DR S 27 1 3 27 0 6 10 11 2 -1 6 30 6 1 4 20 20 10 1 6 1 2 7 23 DR M C S SN R S C SN C R SH S SH S R F S R C F C R F Key: C=Cloudy, DR=Drizzle, F=Fair, FG=Fog, H=Hail, M=Mist, R=Rain, S=Sunny, SH=Showers, SL=Sleet, SN=Snow, SS=Sandstorm, TH=Thunderstorm Wind speed 6 Highlands North East Scotland Central Scotland Scottish Borders Northern Ireland North West & Mersey North East Yorkshire & Humber North Wales West Midlands East Midlands South Wales South West South East Eastern Greater London Today Tomorrow 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 8 17 15 Moderate Kirkwall Rough 15 mph 7 Inverness 5 4 Lerwick 40 25 7 Aberdeen 7 10 1 Fort William 7 Dundee 6 10 SUNDAY Mainly dry but cloudy with a threat of rain or drizzle, mostly across northern and western areas. Moderate to brisk southerly winds. Edinburgh Glasgow Atlantic Ocean 5 North Sea Dumfries Derry/Londonderry 17 Newcastle Carlisle 9 Belfast 4 4 9 York Galway 10 Liverpool 7 Sheffield Llandudno 4 Nottingham 6 Norwich Birmingham 11 7 Cambridge 17 Oxford Swansea Celtic Sea Cardiff Bristol 7 London Reading 4 Channel Islands 6 Alderney Exeter 11 Southampton Portsmouth Brighton 5 7 English Channel Jersey 10 GENERAL SITUATION An area of high pressure will be centred to the east of the UK and will extend across much of England and Wales bringing a chilly day. Early mist and low cloud will clear to reveal a fine day as it will be dry with lots of winter sunshine. An area of low pressure will be located to the north of the UK and a trailing warm front will become situated across Scotland and Northern Ireland bringing cloudy skies and patchy rain. NE Scotland, NW Scotland: A cold and cloudy start to the day with a band of rain that will track eastwards. This may be wintry bringing sleet and snow which will be most frequent during the morning. Turning drier during the afternoon,however howevercloudy cloudyskies skies afternoon will persist. Moderate to brisk southerly winds and a threat of gales. Max temp: 6C. Tonight, risk of rain. by rain. Min Min temp: temp: -2C. -2C. It will will be be rather rather N Isles, W Isles: It dull and grey with overcast skies which will bring patches of light rainfall throughout much of the day. Drier during the afternoon and evening. Fairly consistent and moderate temperatures, with strong winds which are expected to intensify in particular throughout the evening. Max temp: 9C. Tonight, risk of rain. Min temp: 5C. HIGH LOW 1000 992 SEScotland, Scotland,N NIreland, Ireland,Republic Republicof of SE Ireland:ItItwill willbe beaamilder milderday day, Ireland: however there there will will be be more more in in the the however way of of cloud cloud and and there there will will be be way outbreaks of of patchy patchy light light rain rain and and outbreaks drizzle which which will will be be most most frequent drizzle in the south. Spells of Spells rain will frequent in the south. of rain spread intointo the west during the will spread the west during evening andand overnight. There will the evening overnight. There be moderate to brisk southerly will be moderate to brisk southerly winds. Max Max temp: temp: 11C. 11C. Tonight, Tonight, winds. threat of of rain. rain. Min Min temp: temp: 2C. 2C. threat NEEngland, England,NW NWEngland, England,N NWales, Wales, NE Wales,SW SWEngland, England,IoM, IoM,SE SE SSWales, Scotland:AA cold cold start start to to the the day day Scotland: with early early patches patches of of mist mist and and low low with cloud which which will will soon soon lift lift and and clear clear cloud during the the morning. morning. It It will will then then be be during dry during during the the day day with with lengthy lengthy dry HIGH LOW C 1016 984 1008 HIGH 992 1000 1008 LOW 1024 1032 HIGH LOW Warmest: St. Mary’s, Isles 968 9C1016 of Scilly, Coldest: Co. 1024 976 Katesbridge, Down, -7C 984 1032 Wettest: Kinlochewe, Wester 7.6mm 992 Ross, 1040 Sunniest: Yeovilton, 1048 1000 Somerset, 7.9hrs 1008 1024 1016 HIGH 1024 Isobars: air pressure in millibars Warm front Cold front HIGH Occluded front 1008 TUESDAY Another cloudy day with a threat of rain. There will be brighter spells in the south initially. Moderate to brisk south-westerly winds. 17 9 9 9 9 WEDNESDAY Cloudy witha Cloud with athreat threatofofrain rainwhich whichwill will clear to sunny spells and showers in the north. Moderate to brisk westerly winds may be strong. rotate: -5 HIGHS AND LOWS (Yesterday, up to X 2pm) LOW X HIGH 1032 periodsof ofwinter wintersunshine sunshineand and periods justsome somepatchy patchycloud cloudcover cover just around.AAdry dryevening eveningtoo. too. around. Moderateto tobrisk brisksouth-easterly south-easterly Moderate winds.Max Maxtemp: temp:7C. 7C.Tonight, Tonight, winds. cloudwill willbuild. build.Min Mintemp: temp:-3C. -3C. cloud England,EEAnglia, Anglia,SE SEEngland, England, EEEngland, London,Cen CenSSEngland, England,Midlands, Midlands, London, ChannelIs: Is:AAcold coldstart startto tothe theday day Channel withearly earlypatches patchesof ofmist mistsoon soon with clearing.ItItwill willthen thenbe befine fineduring during clearing. theday dayas asititwill willbe bedry dryand andbright bright the withlengthy lengthyperiods periodsof ofwinter winter with sunshineand andjust justsome somepatchy patchy sunshine fair-weathercloud cloudcover coveraround aroundat at fair-weather times.AAdry dryevening. evening.Moderate Moderateto to times. briskeasterly easterlyand andsouth-easterly south-easterly brisk winds.Max Maxtemp: temp:6C. 6C.Tonight, Tonight, winds. cloudwill willbuild. build.Min Mintemp: temp:-4C. -4C. cloud SYNOPTIC PRESSURE High pressure A will expand from the south-west, slowly moving northwards and consolidating over the south of the UK, where it will remain for the next few days. Low-pressure C will develop over the Greenland sea, sending a cold front eastwards. This will approach Northern Ireland and western Scotland. LOW HIGH A 1016 Key: 11 Plymouth FRANCE Sark 8 MONDAY A generally dry day, day however it will be cloudy with a few spots of rain or drizzle. Moderate southerly winds may be strong in the north. 3 Cork 10 3 Hull Manchester Irish Sea Dublin 11 Leeds 15 levels Air PollutionLowAir(1)pollution Very high (10) uk-air.defra.gov.uk Index Region Five-day outlook Shetland Calm Slight Temp Cond (in C) Miami Milan Moscow Mumbai Munich New York Nice Palma Paris Prague Reykjavik Rio Rome Stockholm Strasbourg Sydney Tenerife Tokyo Toronto Vancouver Vienna Warsaw Washington Wellington 07:53 16:30 Orkney Guernsey Temp Cond City (in C) Abu Dhabi Abuja Alicante Amsterdam Athens Bangkok Barcelona Beijing Berlin Brussels Budapest Chicago Delhi Dubai Dublin Frankfurt Geneva Helsinki Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Lisbon Los Angeles Madrid 17 Sea state Sunset Weather City Temperature Sunrise Moon Phase 11º -4º Cold with mist clearing to reveal sunshine across England and Wales. cloudyskies skiesand andrain rainacross acrossScotland Scotlandand andNorthern NorthernIreland. Ireland. Milder with cloud Around Britain Today’s low HOURS OF DARKNESS Aberdeen 16.11-08.28 Birmingham 16.33-08.03 Bristol 16.40-08.02 Cardiff 16.42-08.04 Glasgow 16.26-08.28 Hull 16.21-08.02 Inverness 16.15-08.38 Liverpool 16.33-08.12 London 16.30-07.52 Manchester 16.30-08.09 Stornoway 16.22-08.51 Swansea 16.44-08.08 York 16.23-08.06 Scale: x = 35 y = 32 17 9 8 8 8 THURSDAY Drier and brighter with spells of sunshine but also a chance of a few showers. Brisk northerly winds will be strong in the east.
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S1 NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 iSportsQuiz Liverpool v Chelsea 1 Who scored Liverpool’s winning penalty in last year’s FA Cup final? 2 Who scored Liverpool’s winning penalty in last year’s Carabao Cup final? 3 Who won the Super Cup shoot-out between the sides in 2019? 4 Which defender was sent off in last season’s top-flight meeting at Anfield? iPaperSport @iPaperSport (below) making positive noises having signed a new deal, travel to moneybags City, who really should be doing better. 11.30AM BT SPORT 1 Football Liverpool v Chelsea What to watch from getting up on Saturday to bedtime on Sunday Well, this is quite a gigantic midtable derby. And just like in the finale of the Motley Crue Netflix docudrama The Dirt, where Vince Neil is barely able to walk, Nikki Sixx is barely able to function and Tommy Lee is barely able to keep his trousers on, you feel something has got to give here. 12.30PM BT SPORT 2/ITV1 Rugby union Champions Cup SATURDAY 8AM DISCOVERY+ Tennis Australian Open Andy Murray goes another round, this time against Roberto Bautista Agut. By the way, if you were ever in doubt about how much of a nice guy the Scot is, read his post-match concern after his 4am epic win on Thursday over ball-kids being kept up until dawn. What a dude. 11AM SKY SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE Football Manchester City Women v Aston Villa Women Villa, with manager Carla Ward 99 5 Name the last player to score a winner inside 90 minutes in this fixture? 6 How many different scorers were there in the July 2020 Premier League meeting? 7 The last hat-trick in this fixture came at Anfield in October 1997. Who scored it? 8 Whose winner won a Champions League spot for Chelsea in May 2003? 9 How many times did the sides meet between October 2004 and April 2009? 10 In which season did the teams last meet in the Champions League? Answers: 1 Kostas Tsimikas. 2 Caoimhin Kelleher. 3 Liverpool. 4 Reece James. 5 Mason Mount. 6 Eight. 7 Patrik Berger. 8 Jesper Gronkjaer. 9 24. 10 2008-09. inews.co.uk/sport SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 6PM SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE Boxing Eubank Jr v Smith OK, the trash-talking headliners, Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith, won’t enter the ring until 10pm, but there is a whole stack of high-quality punching action before that, so you can get your 20 quids’ worth. SUNDAY 12.15PM BBC TWO Football Chelsea Women v Liverpool Women Chelsea know they have to win this if they want to maintain daylight between them and the chasing pair of Arsenal and Manchester United. Crikey, five matches in a day. ITV has Northampton v La Rochelle, while BT has four in a row, bookended by marine predators. First up are Harlequins hosting a South African prison gang, the Cell C Sharks, while Sale version of the Sharks travel to Ulster in the final fixture of the day. 5PM SKY SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE Because the Gunners are almost certain to beat Brighton (6.30pm, Sky Sports Football), and United are unlikely to have much trouble at Reading in the afternoon. 12.30PM BT SPORT 1 Rugby union Champions Cup Three more matches. And the final one is the most interesting, it’s Edinburgh v Saracens. 1PM SKY SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE Football Super Sunday Leeds is well-known for many things: the Sisters of Mercy, the Corn Exchange, Kevin Sinfield (right, even though he’s from Oldham). But Brentford, not so much. It does have the head office of the pharmaceutical giant Glaxo SmithKline though. Anyway, Leeds v Bees is merely the hors d’oeuvre for Arsenal v Manchester United. Older readers may remember when this was a marquee game. Well, after a fallow decade or so, it is again. 2.40PM BBC TWO Football Crystal Palace v Newcastle Bowls Indoor World Championships Eddie Howe’s sportswashing juggernaut travels to south London, where Palace have not won in five games. One feels it will be six after this match. This is the sporting equivalent of doom metal: slow, unchanged for aeons (except updates in technology and clothing) and deeply unfashionable. But when it is done right, it is oh-so satisfying. Think “Empress Rising” by Monolord. Or this, the world singles final, live from Hopton-on-Sea. 7.30PM SKY SPORTS NFL American football NFL play-offs The Bengals face the Bills then the Cowboys smash themselves into the 49ers. Yes, it is the divisional playoffs. And if you are still awake after that, you can switch over to BT Sport for the T20 Super Smash, live from Wellington’s Basin Reserve (where they’d call it the Super Smesh). Or you could watch the Australian Open. That’s on all night. @mattbutler503 RESULTS SERVICE THE SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Burnley (0)........................2 Tella 75 Twine 87 Sheff Utd (1)..................... 1 Jebbison 4 West Brom (1).....................1 Furlong 7 Hull (0)........................................ 0 Att 29,271 CYCLING SANTOS TOUR DOWN UNDER, AUSTRALIA, Stage 3 (118.5km): 1 P Bilbao (Sp) Bahrain Victorious 2hrs 48mins 10secs, 2 S Yates (GB) Team Jayco-AlUla, 3 J Vine (A) UAE Team Emirates at same time, 4 M Matthews (A) Team Jayco-AlUla at 28secs, 5 SE Bystrom (Nor) Intermarche-Circus-Wanty, 10 E Hayter (GB) INEOS Grenadiers both at same time. Overall: 1 J Vine 10hrs 32mins 50secs, 2 P Bilbao at 15secs, 3 S Yates (GB) at 16secs, 6 E Hayter at 50secs. GOLF WOMEN’S HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, Orlando, Florida, Second round (US unless stated, Par 72): 133 B Henderson (Can) 67 66; 137 N Korda 68 69; 138 C Hull (GB) 69 69; W Ling Hsu (Taiw) 69 69; 139 N Hataoka (Japan) 71 68; M Stark (Swe) 71 68; 140 L Maguire (Rep Ire) 71 69; D Kang 71 69; 141 A Furue (Japan) 71 70; G Lopez (Mex) 73 68; M Jutanugarn (Thai) 74 67; 142 J Ewart (GB) 70 72; G Dryburgh (GB) 69 73; R O’Toole 72 70; M Castren (Fin) 72 70; 143 Y Saso (Japan) 70 73; P Reto (SA) 74 69; A Nordqvist (Swe) 71 72; P Anannarukarn (Thai) 71 72; 144 C Boutier (Fr) 71 73; A Buhai (SA) 69 75; N Koerstz Madsen (Den) 72 72. HOCKEY FIH ODISHA MEN’S WORLD CUP, INDIA, Group A: Australia 9 South Africa 2, France 5 Argentina 5. Group B: Belgium 7 Japan 1, South Korea 2 Germany 7. HORSE RACING RESULTS Newcastle - Standard to slow 3.45 1. CALCUTTA DREAM (S Gray) 4-1; 2. Bobby Shaftoe 25-1; 3. First Snowfall 7-2 jt-fav. 8 ran. 7-2 jt-fav Hildenley (6th). nk, nk. (M & D Easterby). 4.15 1. HERETIC (R Coakley) 9-1; 2. Whatwouldyouknow 9-2; 3. End Zone 7-2 fav. 9 ran. 11/2l, 11/4l. (H Palmer). 4.45 1. MINT EDITION (P J McDonald) 2-1 fav; 2. Henzar 13-2; 3. Champagny 7-2. 6 ran. 31/2l, 1l. (E Bethell). 5.15 1. GLORIOUS ANGEL (Billy Loughnane) 85-40; 2. Sugar Hill Babe 10-1; 3. Brownlee 11-8 fav. 4 ran. nk, 41/2l. (G Tuer). 5.45 1. PAPA DON’T PREACH (P Mulrennan) 16-1; 2. Dusky Prince 10-1; 3. Motawaazy 7-1. 9 ran. 5-2 fav Modular Magic (8th). shd, 1/2l. (K Frost). Following a stewards’ inquiry, Dusky Prince who finished 1st was disqualified and placed 2nd. 6.15 1. MAN OF EDEN (P J McDonald) 2-5 fav; 2. Latest Edition 12-1; 3. Melwood Boy 7-1. 8 ran. 1/2l, 1/2l. (H & R Charlton). 6.45 1. SEESAWING (M Crehan) 4-1; 2. Mumcat 13-2; 3. King Of Speed 13-2. 8 ran. 2-1 fav Highjacked (7th). nk, 2l. (I Furtado). Jackpot: £10,000.00. Placepot: £358.00. Quadpot: £83.70. Place 6: £216.98. Place 5: £114.11. Southwell - Standard 12.50 1. NELLIE FRENCH (P Dennis) 6-1; 2. Ustath 11-4 fav; 3. Stroxx 22-1. 11 ran. 1/2l, nk. (K Scott). 1.20 1. LIBERATED LAD (B Sanderson) 7-2; 2. Isle of Wolves 8-1; 3. Ship To Shore 6-1. 12 ran. 10-3 fav Funky Town Pinkie (7th). 61/2l, 1/2l. (I Williams). 1.50 1. CIAO ADIOS (S M Levey) 25-1; 2. Lhebayeb 17-2; 3. International Law 11-2. 12 ran. 3-1 fav Rock Chant (8th). nk, 1/2l. (R Hannon). 2.20 1. DUBAI JEANIUS (T Eaves) 5-2 fav; 2. Destinado 10-1; 3. Hammy End 7-1. 11 ran. 1/2l, 21/2l. (M Herrington). 2.50 1. REGAL EMPIRE (Rossa Ryan) 22-1; 2. Land Legend 50-1; 3. Golden Speech 2-5 fav. 12 ran. 21/2l, nk. (J Tate). 3.20 1. RUN TEDDY RUN (C Lee) 11-10 fav; 2. Velma 16-1; 3. Pessoa 9-1. 14 ran. 13/4l, 3l. (K R Burke). 3.50 1. TWO DESSERTS (K O’Neill) 9-1; 2. Ray Vonn 11-4; 3. Sea The Buckthorn 15-8 fav. 9 ran. 11/2l, 13/4l. (Alice Haynes). 4.23 1. BREEZYANDBRIGHT (Rossa Ryan) 11-2; 2. Jems Bond 9-4 fav; 3. Tricky Business 8-1. 11 ran. 13/4l, 3/4l. (M Murphy & M Keady). Placepot: £80.70. Quadpot: £20.80. Place 6: £78.97. Place 5: £44.03. RUGBY UNION EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP POOL ONE Lyon (24)................................... 31 Blue Bulls (0).........................7 P W D L F A B Leinster 3 3 0 0 148 24 3 Sharks 3 3 0 0 90 50 2 Saracens 3 3 0 0 106 74 2 Exeter 3 2 0 1 99 65 3 Edinburgh 3 2 0 1 91 71 3 Blue Bulls 4 2 0 2 102 139 2 Lyon 4 1 0 3 115 125 4 Harlequins 3 1 0 2 74 79 3 Racing 92 3 1 0 2 50 85 1 Gloucester 3 1 0 2 36 123 1 Bordeaux-Begles 3 0 0 3 36 73 2 Castres 3 0 0 3 53 92 0 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP POOL TWO Leicester (13)....................... 26 Ospreys (13)......................... 27 EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP POOL 1 Bristol (33)............................. 33 Perpignan (7).....................19 Glasgow (14).........................19 Bath (13)...................................19 Toulon (14).............................14 Zebre (0)......................................5 Pts 15 14 14 11 11 10 8 7 5 5 2 0 RFU CHAMPIONSHIP Nottingham .........................17 Caldy .........................................29 SKIING FIS MEN’S WORLD CUP, KITZBUEHEL, AUSTRIA, Downhill: 1 V Kriechmayr (Aut) 1min 56.16secs, 2 F Schieder (It) at 0.23secs, 3 N Hintermann (Swi) at 0.31, 4 J Goldberg (US) at 0.35, 5 D Paris (It) at 0.39. FIS WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY, Downhill: 1 S Goggia (It) 1min 33.47secs, 2 I Stuhec (Slo) at 0.13secs, 3 K Weidle (G) at 0.36, 4 M Shiffrin (US) at 0.50, 5 L Gut-Behrami (Swi) at 0.53. SNOOKER WORLD GRAND PRIX, CHELTENHAM, QUARTER-FINALS: S Murphy (Eng) bt A McGill (Sco) 5-4; J Trump (Eng) bt X Guodong (Chn) 5-3. Semi-final: M Allen (NIrl) bt N Saengkham (Tha) 6-1. SQUASH J.P MORGAN TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, New York, Men’s 2nd rd: N Mueller (Swi) bt J Makin (Wal) 9-11 11-6 12-10 5-11 11-9; V Crouin (F) bt N Wall (Eng) 9-11 11-6 6-11 11-9 11-8; MA Rodriguez (Col) bt Mo El Shorbagy (Eng) 6-11 12-10 11-9 11-5; M Asal (Egy) bt P Rooney (Eng) 11-6 8-11 11-4 11-3. Women’s 2nd rd: J King (NZ) bt E Whitlock (Wal) 7-11 11-8 11-8 3-11 11-3; S-J Perry (Eng) bt S Hany (Egy) 7-11 14-12 6-11 11-6 11-3. TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Men’s Third round: (31) Y NISHIOKA (Japan) bt M McDonald (US) 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2; (18) K KHACHANOV (Rus) bt (16) F TIAFOE (US) 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (11-9); (10) H HURKACZ (Pol) bt (20) D SHAPOVALOV (Can) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 1-6 4-6 6-3; (29) S KORDA (US) bt (7) D MEDVEDEV (Rus) 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4); (3) S TSITSIPAS (Gr) bt T Griekspoor (Neth) 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-3; (15) J SINNER (It) bt M Fucsovics (Hun) 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-0; J Lehecka (Cz Rep) bt (11) C NORRIE (GB) 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-4; (6) F AUGER-ALIASSIME (Can) bt (28) F CERUNDOLO (Arg) 6-1 3-6 6-1 6-4. Women’s Third round: (1) I SWIATEK (Pol) bt C Bucsa (Sp) 6-0 6-1; (22) E RYBAKINA (Kaz) bt (13) D COLLINS (US) 6-2 5-7 6-2; (17) J OSTAPENKO (Lat) bt K Baindl (Ukr) 6-3 6-0; (7) C GAUFF (US) bt B Pera (US) 6-3 6-2; (3) J PEGULA (US) bt M Kostyuk (Ukr) 6-0 6-2; (20) B KREJCIKOVA (Cz Rep) bt A Kalinina (Ukr) 6-2 6-3; (24) V AZARENKA (Bela) bt (10) M KEYS (US) 1-6 6-2 6-1; L Zhu (Chin) bt (6) M SAKKARI (Gr) 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 6-4. Men’s Doubles First round: (6) L GLASSPOOL (GB) & H HELIOVAARA (Fin) bt N Lammons (US) & J Withrow (US) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3; A Bolt (Aus) & L Saville (Aus) bt F Coria (Arg) & D Sebastian Schwartzman (Arg) 6-2 6-4; A Goransson (Swe) & M Huesler (Swit) bt Q Halys (Fr) & A Mannarino (Fr) 6-4 6-4; S Doumbia (Fr) & F Reboul (Fr) bt (9) S BOLELLI (It) & F FOGNINI (It) 6-3 6-3; J Chardy (Fr) & F Martin (Fr) bt M Cressy (US) & A Olivetti (Fr) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4; A Erler (Aut) & L Miedler (Aut) bt (10) R BOPANNA (India) & M EBDEN (Aus) 6-3 7-5; (3) M AREVALO (Esa) & J ROJER (Neth) bt D Hidalgo (Ec) & E Ruusuvuori (Fin) 6-1 7-6 (7-1); B Bonzi (Fr) & A Rinderknech (Fr) bt J Millman (Aus) & A Vukic (Aus) 6-2 7-6 (7-3); M Purcell (Aus) & J Thompson (Aus) bt G Duran (Arg) & P Oswald (Aut) 6-3 6-4; M Polmans (Aus) & A Popyrin (Aus) bt F Bagnis (Arg) & R Galloway (US) 6-4 6-3. Second round: T Brkic (Bih) & G Escobar (Ec) bt (11) J MURRAY (GB) & M VENUS (NZ) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4; (16) R HAASE (Neth) & M MIDDELKOOP (Neth) bt J CASH (GB) & H PATTEN (GB) 6-4 7-6 (8-6); (12) J SEBASTIAN CABAL (Col) & R FARAH (Col) bt A Golubev (Kaz) & A Nedovyesov (Kaz) 4-6 6-3 6-1. Women’s Doubles First round: L Fruhvirtova (Cz Rep) & A Riske-Amritraj (US) bt N Dzalamidze (Geor) & A Panova (Rus) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5; (15) C LIU (US) & S SANTAMARIA (US) bt J Fourlis (Aus) & A Sharma (Aus) 2-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4; (12) A MUHAMMAD (US) & T TOWNSEND (US) bt N Podoroska (Arg) & M Sherif (Eg) 6-1 6-2; (4) S HUNTER (Aus) & E MERTENS (Bel) bt V Kudermetova (Rus) & L Samsonova (Rus) 2-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1; (9) N MELICHAR (US) & E PEREZ (Aus) bt E Alexandrova (Rus) & V Heisen (Ger) 6-2 6-1; M Kolodziejova (Cz Rep) & M Vondrousova (Cz Rep) bt A BARNETT (GB) & O NICHOLLS (GB) 3-6 6-3 7-5; (7) B HADDAD MAIA (Br) & S ZHANG (Chin) bt L Annie Fernandez (Can) & B Mattek-Sands (US) 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3; (10) S AOYAMA (Japan) & E SHIBAHARA (Japan) bt M Linette (Pol) & X Wang (Chin) 7-5 3-6 6-3; A Potapova (Rus) & Y Sizikova (Rus) bt (13) K FLIPKENS (Bel) & L SIEGEMUND (Ger) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4; B Bencic (Swit) & J Belen Teichmann (Swit) bt M Brengle (US) & R Marino (Can) 6-2 6-2; (3) G DABROWSKI (Can) & G OLMOS (Mex) bt I Begu (Rom) & S Rogers (US) 4-6 6-2 6-2; C Bucsa (Sp) & M Ninomiya (Japan) bt S Kenin (US) & Y Putintseva (Kaz) 6-2 6-3. Second round: V Golubic (Swit) & M Niculescu (Rom) bt A Bondar (Hun) & G Minnen (Bel) 6-4 6-1; (16) M KATO (Japan) & A SUTJIADI (Indo) bt M Bouzkova (Cz Rep) & M Camila Osorio Serrano (Col) 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-3. Mixed Doubles First round: J Ostapenko (Lat) & D Vega Hernandez (Sp) bt H Chan (Taipei) & M Venus (NZ) 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 10-6; (3) D KRAWCZYK (US) & N SKUPSKI (GB) bt S Hunter (Aus) & J Peers (Aus) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (14-12) 10-8; T Townsend (US) & J MURRAY (GB) bt K Flipkens (Bel) & E Roger-Vasselin (Fr) 6-2 3-6 10-7; M Inglis (Aus) & J Kubler (Aus) bt (7) A ROSOLSKA (Pol) & J ROJER (Neth) 7-6 (10-8) 1-6 11-9; K Birrell (Aus) & R Hijikata (Aus) bt L Kichenok (Ukr) & G Escobar (Ec) 6-1 7-6 (7-5); (8) G DABROWSKI (Can) & M PURCELL (Aus) bt Z Yang (Chin) & J Zielinski (Pol) 6-2 7-5; L Cabrera (Aus) & J Smith (Aus) bt K Zimmermann (Bel) & T Puetz (Ger) 7-5 6-3; L Stefani (Br) & R Matos (Br) bt X Han (Chin) & Z Zhang (Chin) 6-2 6-0; B MattekSands (US) & M Pavic (Croa) bt (2) J PEGULA (US) & A KRAJICEK (US) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 10-8. TODAY’S FIXTURES CRICKET SECOND ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL: India v New Zealand (Raipur, 8am). ICE HOCKEY ELITE LEAGUE: Fife v Coventry, Guildford v Cardiff, Manchester v Dundee, Nottingham v Belfast, Sheffield v Glasgow. RUGBY UNION HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 1 (3.15): Bordeaux-Begles v Gloucester, Exeter v Castres (5.30), Harlequins v Sharks (1.0), Leinster v Racing 92. POOL 2 (8.0): Northampton v La Rochelle (1.0), Stormers v Clermont Auvergne (5.30), Ulster v Sale. EUROPEAN RUGBY CHALLENGE CUP POOL 1 (5.30): Brive v Cardiff Rugby (3.15), Newcastle v Connacht. POOL 2 (3.15): Bayonne v Scarlets (1.0), Benetton Treviso v Stade Francais. RFU CHAMPIONSHIP (3.0): Ampthill v Coventry (2.0), Bedford v Cornish Pirates, Hartpury RFC v Ealing Trailfinders (2.30), Jersey Reds v London Scottish, Richmond v Doncaster. TOMORROW’S FIXTURES BASKETBALL BBL CHAMPIONSHIP: Bristol v Newcastle, Cheshire v Manchester, London Lions v Sheffield. ICE HOCKEY ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry Blaze v Guildford Flames, Dundee Stars v Fife Flyers, Sheffield Steelers v Manchester Storm. RUGBY UNION HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 1 (3.0): Edinburgh v Saracens (5.30). POOL 2 (3.0): Montpellier v London Irish (1.0), Toulouse v Munster (3.15). P W D L F A B Pts Leicester 4 3 0 1 116 89 2 14 Ospreys 4 3 0 1 100 88 2 14 Toulouse 3 3 0 0 90 37 1 13 La Rochelle 3 3 0 0 89 44 1 13 Stormers 3 2 0 1 76 52 2 10 Munster 3 2 0 1 57 47 1 9 Montpellier 3 1 0 2 71 83 3 7 Clermont A 3 1 0 2 69 81 2 6 Sale 3 1 0 2 63 72 1 5 Ulster 3 0 0 3 32 82 3 3 London Irish 3 0 0 3 55 94 1 1 Northampton 3 0 0 3 41 90 1 1
100 SPORT SPORT IN BRIEF CRICKET Sponsors leave ECB looking for new deals English cricket is on the lookout for new sponsors after two major commercial partners opted not to renew their deals. Online car retailer Cazoo will no longer serve as title sponsors for The Hundred after reaching the end of a two-year arrangement, while LV= Insurance’s stint as backers of Test and first-class cricket ends this summer. With Royal London also concluding its sponsorship of the 50-over game at the end of 2022, it promises to be a busy time as the England and Wales Cricket Board, the game’s governing body, attempts to attract fresh interest and commercial partners. GOLF Molinari revival continues apace in Abu Dhabi Francesco Molinari’s welcome resurgence gathered pace as the former Open champion claimed a share of the lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. A second consecutive 67 at Yas Links gave Molinari a halfway total of 10 under par, matched only by compatriot Guido Migliozzi, who birdied his final three holes to return a 69. Molinari (left) won three times in 2018, including the Open at Carnoustie and BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, before becoming the first European player to compile a perfect 5-0 record in that year’s Ryder Cup. The 40-year-old has not had a top-three finish in a strokeplay event since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2019. MOTORSPORT Ogier takes Monte Carlo lead in Alps Eight-times world champion Sebastien Ogier enjoyed a commanding lead in the seasonopening Monte Carlo Rally in the French Alps yesterday. Ogier, who is competing only part-time in this year’s championship, won four of the day’s six stages to build a 36 second buffer to Toyota team mate and reigning champion Kalle Rovanpera. The Frenchman won both of Thursday’s night stages and is chasing a ninth Monte Carlo win, one more than the record he shares with compatriot Sebastien Loeb. Loeb, a nine-times world champion and last year’s Monte Carlo winner, is absent this time. EXCLUSIVE Katherine Lucas “I ’m pissed off.” Tonight it will be 349 days since Chris Eubank Jr last entered a ring. The man he holds responsible for that hiatus, Conor Benn, believes he is days away from a drugs ban being lifted after October’s grudge match between the two warring families was called off. “I didn’t want to fight once last year,” sighs Eubank. “That is disgusting. For somebody of my age I can’t be fighting once a year. It’s pathetic. Conor Benn put me in that situation and I need to be as active as possible. I’ve got a good two, three, four years of solid fighting left in me so I need to be fighting as many times as possible, not once a year – it’s unacceptable.” i sits down with Eubank while Benn’s camp is making considerable noise – they insist he will be vindicated any time now over his positive tests for fertility drug clomifene, administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada). Benn remains under investigation by the WBC, who have dropped him from their rankings. “Been through hell and back,” Benn writes. “Thank God for science. The evidence doesn’t lie. No holes in the truth.” The 26-year-old has always maintained his innocence and has the full backing of his promoter Eddie Hearn, who wants to rearrange the Eubank fight later this year. If the suspension is overturned, will he be vindicated? Not in Eubank’s world. “It doesn’t matter what lawyers and scientists and documents they can pull out of their arses to try and exonerate this guy, he got caught with illegal substances in his system – twice. “So as far as I’m concerned and as far as the general public are concerned, he’s a cheater and he will never ever shake that stigma for the rest of his career.” Since then, Eubank has heard “not a word” from Benn or his team. That will have to change soon if the catchweight bout is ever to be resurrected – and despite everything, Eubank admits he would still take the fight. “The fight’s huge, the fight’s twice as big as it was before – and it was already a massive fight,” he says. “I’m never going to say no to that, I’m never going to turn the opportunity down. “I’m in a strange situation where my head wants to fight still. It’s a massive fight, the fans want it, it’s a huge money fight and it’s for legacy – I get to uphold my family name against my father’s arch rival. “But on the flip side, my heart wants him to have a ban. My heart wants him to pay for what he’s done and to be an example. “They need to make an example of this kid so people coming up, the youngsters coming up in the sport, don’t think that they can cheat and get away with it.” From one British boxing dynasty to another then, from the Benns Chris Eubank Jr is still keen on the Conor Benn showdown GETTY Eubank Jr feels his chances slipping away TALE OF THE TAPE C EUBANK JNR L SMITH 33 AGE 34 NICKNAME Beefy Next Gen FIGHTS 36 34 WINS (BY KO) 32 (19) 32 (23) DEFEATS (BY KO) 3 (1) 2 (0) STANCE Orthodox Orthodox HEIGHT 5ft 9in 5ft 11in REACH 69in 73in WEIGHT 11st 5lb 11st 5lb to the Smiths, as former British and world light-middleweight champion Liam awaits. It is hard to know what to expect in Manchester tonight. In Cardiff last February, Liam Williams was dominated, put down four times, but a year out has given Eubank even more chance to evolve under the stewardship of Roy Jones Jr. The biggest change, he admits, is about “mindset”. Eubank is more tactical than he once was, an approach he concedes may be “thrown out the window” against Smith (below), whom he recently irked by calling him a “dirty fighter”. “From how this guy fights, he’s a come-forward, rough, inside fighter so I don’t know how tactical I’m going to be,” he says. “I might get drawn into a fight, I might bring the fight to him – or I may box and see what I can get away with.” The build-up has been fiery; Smith caused anger at Thursday’s press conference by insinuating Eubank Jr is gay, asking: “You go on about girls, has anybody in this room ever seen you with a girl? You got something to tell us?” He later apologised and the British Boxing Board of Control said it will be “considering the conduct” of both fighters. Eubank retaliated by wearing a rainbow armband at yesterday’s weigh-in. Smith, meanwhile, expanded on a taunt familiar to Eubank: that his career has taken place in the shadow of Chris Eubank Sr. “The Eubank name lives through his dad,” Smith said. “He’s trying his best to make a name for himself and do it in a different way, but his dad was a special fighter – Chris is far from a special fighter.” Smith, who revealed Eubank has inserted a rematch clause into the contract, was amused to hear of his opponent’s ambitions to fight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, having felt at first hand how dangerous the Mexican can be. “He couldn’t lace Canelo’s gloves,” Smith says. “Canelo would wipe the floor with him. He’ll never get that opportunity because he’s not good enough, and that’s why. “He’s called Canelo and [Gennady] Golovkin out for about four years and he’s never fought either of them because he’s not good enough to earn it and he doesn’t bring nothing to the table, he’s not valuable.”
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 SPORT 99-112 101 RACING Al Agaila can carry weight of expectation By Jon Freeman RACING EDITOR It was clear for all to see that Al Agaila had an edge on the handicapper as she waltzed to her first win out of maiden company at Lingfield last month without breaking sweat. But how much of an edge? Handicappers don’t enjoy having their judgement mocked and Simon and Ed Crisford’s filly was immediately hammered with an 11lb rise. Too much? Unlikely. Al Agaila is back at the Surrey venue today for the £100k Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap, taking on the horses who finished closest to her in December, Makinmedoit and Tequilamockingbird, on massively worse weight terms. Significantly, though, the Crisfords have also entered her for Lingfield’s Winter Derby next month when every potential rival bar one is rated much higher than her, including two LINGFIELD 12.27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ascot Group One winners (Lord North and Pyledriver). That’s a fair indication of how good they think she is, or will become, and even if they’re only half right, Al Agaila should be good enough to take today’s task in her stride. It’s probably fair to say that Epatante wasn’t an outstanding Champion Hurdle winner in 2020 when she was up against nothing of the calibre of this year’s chief protagonists, Honeysuckle and Constitution Hill. But Nicky Henderson’s mare was the best then and is still among the best of the rest now, good enough to win the The New One Hurdle at Haydock en route to a likely Cheltenham Festival spar with stablemate Marie’s Rock in the Mares’ Hurdle. Bristol De Mai has been winning Grade Ones for almost a decade, including three Betfair Chases at Haydock, and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ bold-jumping grey has nothing left to STANDARD TALKSPORT POWERED BY FANS HANDICAP (CLASS 4) 3YO £22,000 added 6f 60111116-31 018217123-2 22-1 3321-3 66443- HUBERTS DREAM (CD) S C Williams 9 10....... D Muscutt 3 POCKET THE PACKET (CD) G Boughey 9 9.. R L Moore H 2 ROCKING ENDS (C)(D) B Johnson 9 9........................ W Carson 5 TENJIN (D) M Botti 9 9................................................................D Probert 1 THE X O (D) J Ryan 9 4.....................................................................L Morris 7 HARRY BROWN D M Simcock 9 4..................................H Turner 6 ROYAL MARINER (CD) J Tate 8 5................................F Norton B 4 - 7 declared BETTING: 2-1 Huberts Dream, 9-2 Pocket The Packet, 5-1 Rocking Ends, 6-1 Tenjin, Harry Brown, 7-1 The X O, 16-1 Royal Mariner. 1.37 HUGE DAILY BOOSTS ONLY AT BETUK HANDICAP ITV3 (CLASS 4) £22,000 added 1m 2f Al Agaila wins at Lingfield ahead of today’s Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap prove as retirement approaches. But a second win in this afternoon’s Peter Marsh Chase would be pretty neat – his first was back in 2017. Now 12, he’s not quite the force of SPREADEX SPORTS 300 SPREAD BETTING CASHBACK HANDICAP (CLASS 5) £15,000 added 1m 1 3113-1 STARSHIBA (CD) D O’Meara 6 9 13.......................D Muscutt V 6 2 2551-5 VALENTINKA (CD) M Botti 5 9 11..............................J Mitchell B 2 3 9249-1 MILLTOWN STAR (D) J Osborne 6 9 11.....................S W Kelly 4 4 41-121 ASDAA (D) Charlie Johnston 7 9 8...................................J Hart C 10 5 60999- GOLDEN MAYFLOWER (C) A Murphy 4 9 7... S Cherchi T 5 6 3220-3 ALCAZAN (C) R Teal 5 9 6........................Billy Loughnane (7) 12 7 8413-2 SUPER DEN (D) T Kent 6 9 5.........................................T Marquand 1 8 41226- ENGLISH SPIRIT H Main 5 9 5.....................Mollie Phillips (3) 3 9 56194- COVERT MISSION (CD) K P De Foy 5 9 4........D Probert T 8 10 2243- CARPE FORTUNA R Brisland 4 9 4..............................W Carson 7 11 4077-3 BEAUTIFUL CROWN (C) B Johnson 5 9 3...... H Burns (3) 11 12 8/315- GURKHA GIRL (CD) R Teal 5 9 1..................................Rossa Ryan 9 - 12 declared BETTING: 10-3 Starshiba, 5-1 Asdaa, 6-1 Super Den, Milltown Star, 10-1 others. 3.57 HAYDOCK HEAVY (INSPECTION 8AM) PATRICK COYNE MEMORIAL ALTCAR NOVICES’ CHASE (GRADE 2) (CLASS 1) £52,000 added 2m 4f 1 1-2134 GRAND VOYAGE (D) W Coltherd 7 11 2......................S Coltherd 2 111-1U LAC DE CONSTANCE (BF) D Skelton 7 11 2..............H Skelton 3 PP-121 STAGE STAR (D) P Nicholls 7 11 2........................................H Cobden - 3 declared BETTING: 10-11 Lac De Constance, Evens Stage Star, 20-1 Grand Voyage. SIMON MARSH MEMORIAL HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 3) £16,400 added 2m 1 164-27 HEARTBREAK KID (D) D McCain 8 12 0..................B Hughes B 2 3521-2 DESTINED TO SHINE (C)(D) Kerry Lee 11 12 0..R Patrick T 3 /116-F SHOLOKJACK (D) D Skelton 7 11 13..................................H Skelton 4 543P31 NOT AVAILABLE (D) M Sheppard 8 11 12...S Sheppard B,T 5 -14263 JOKE DANCER (CD) Sue Smith 10 11 12............R Chapman C 6 4-3365 SAO (D) R Menzies 9 11 11.............................................N Moscrop H,T SPREADEX SPORTS GET 40 IN BONUSES 7 12-611 WHEELBAHRI (D) W Coltherd 9 11 4...........................S Coltherd ITV3 8 51332- OUT ON THE TEAR (D) S Allwood 9 11 3....................F Gregory HANDICAP (CLASS 4) £22,000 added 7f 9 U13-3P OSCARS LEADER (CD) J Candlish 10 11 3..Sean Quinlan V 1 14235- MILLION THANKS K P De Foy 4 9 9................ D Muscutt T 10 10 /P46P- EST ILLIC (D) S-J Davies 9 10 9...............................W T Kennedy C 2 3/136- BARGING THRU (D) A Watson 4 9 9......................... L Morris C 3 - 10 declared 3 17435- HIGH VELOCITY J Tate 4 9 9..................................Rossa Ryan H 11 BETTING: 7-2 Not Available, 4-1 Wheelbahri, Sholokjack, 5-1 others. 4 49611- LORD RAPSCALLION (D) S C Williams 7 9 8..................................... ROSSINGTON MAIN NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE 2) ..............................................................................................................................S M Levey T 7 ITV3 (CLASS 1) £50,000 added 2m 5 3550-0 SHOOT TO KILL (CD) R Brisland 6 9 7................T Marquand 1 6 8518-7 REVOLUTIONISE (D) S C Williams 7 9 5.....................J Hart T 6 1 11-11 CHASING FIRE (D) O Murphy 6 11 4.............................A Coleman 7 /3157- ALL THE KING’S MEN (D) G Boughey 5 9 4.......R L Moore 4 2 1-1 DOYEN STAR (D) E Williams 5 11 4.....................................A Wedge 8 23208- SECRET STRENGTH J Boyle 4 9 2...................................H Crouch 9 3 1-122 MATATA (D)(BF) N Twiston-Davies 5 11 4...............D Jacob H 9 5612-3 DANCINGINTHEWOODS (D)(BF) Miss A Murphy 6 9 1........ 4 F1-711 PEMBROKE (D) D Skelton 6 11 4..........................................H Skelton ........................................................................................................................F Larson (3) V 5 5 6F5-1 TOOTHLESS (D) P Nicholls 5 11 4........................................H Cobden 10 7346-1 POETIC FORCE (CD) A Carroll 9 8 12....Mollie Phillips (3) 8 6 17-411 WAR SOLDIER (CD) A M Thomson 6 11 4......................R Mania 11 3541-2 MISS BELLA BRAND (CD) Mrs I G-Leveque 5 8 12..................... 7 116-13 POETIC MUSIC (D) F O’Brien 5 10 11..................................... C Brace .........................................................................................................................................G Wood 2 - 7 declared BETTING: 13-8 Pembroke, 11-4 Chasing Fire, 9-2 Toothless, 10-1 others. 12 88750- MOUNT MOGAN (CD) Mrs L Mongan 6 8 11...W Carson 12 - 12 declared THE NEW ONE UNIBET HURDLE (GRADE 2) BETTING: 4-1 Lord Rapscallion, 9-2 All The King’s Men, 7-1 Poetic Force, (CLASS 1) £75,000 added 2m ITV3 8-1 Million Thanks, Miss Bella Brand, Dancinginthewoods, 10-1 Secret Strength, 12-1 Shoot To Kill, High Velocity, 14-1 others. 1 520-16 I LIKE TO MOVE IT (D)(BF) N Twiston-Davies 6 11 8...S Twiston-Davies 2 414-24 NELLS SON (D) N Richards 8 11 7. . ...................D McMenamin C TALKSPORT WINTER OAKS FILLIES’ HANDICAP ITV3 3 4-3440 FOR PLEASURE (D) A Hales 8 11 4..................................K Woods T (CLASS 2) £100,000 added 1m 2f 4 U7/3-4 JASON THE MILITANT (D)(BF) P Kirby 9 11 4.....J Williamson T 42-431 MINELLA DRAMA (C)(D) D McCain 8 11 4.................B Hughes 1 21/42- PURPLE RIBBON (D) C Fellowes 5 9 12.............J Mitchell H 3 5 6 213-22 EPATANTE (D) N Henderson 9 11 3...............................A Coleman 2 51512- MAKINMEDOIT (CD)(BF) Harry Eustace 4 9 8................................ - 6 declared .....................................................................................................................P-L Jamin (3) T 7 BETTING: 8-13 Epatante, 5-2 I Like To Move It, 10-1 Minella Drama, 3 32311- AL AGAILA (CD) S & E Crisford 4 8 13.............James Doyle 2 16-1 others 4 22371- MORGAN FAIRY (C) W Haggas 4 8 11.................T Marquand 1 5 22210/ AT A PINCH Harry Eustace 5 8 4..............................................T Ladd 5 HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 2 LIMITED ITV3 6 25513- TEQUILAMOCKINGBIRD (CD) C Fellowes 4 8 3............................ HANDICAP) (CLASS 1) £75,000 added 3m 2f ...................................................................................................................................... L Morris 6 1 P31P-4 BRISTOL DE MAI (CD) N Twiston-Davies 12 11 12.D Jacob 7 4664-1 AIMING HIGH (D) D M Simcock 4 8 2....................H Turner H 8 FP12-7 EMPIRE STEEL A M Thomson 9 11 1...................................R Mania 8 8470-3 THE FLYING GINGER (D) R Fell 5 8 2...........................F Norton 4 2 3 112-20 DR KANANGA (D) Ben Clarke 9 10 11.........................B R Jones T - 8 declared 4 141-14 FONTAINE COLLONGES (CD) V Williams 8 10 9...C Deutsch BETTING: 6-5 Al Agaila, 7-2 Morgan Fairy, 5-1 Purple Ribbon, 6-1 5 P0-0P4 BLAKLION (CD) D Skelton 14 10 6.................................H Skelton T Makinmedoit, 14-1 Tequilamockingbird, 16-1 Aiming High, 33-1 At A 6 P-2132 COOPER’S CROSS W Coltherd 8 10 6.....................S Coltherd C Pinch, 50-1 The Flying Ginger. - 6 declared BETUK OVER 40,000 LIVE STREAMED RACES BETTING: 9-4 Fontaine Collonges, 11-4 Bristol De Mai, 7-2 Empire Steel, ITV3 6-1 Dr Kananga, 10-1 Cooper’s Cross, Blaklion. HANDICAP (CLASS 3) £35,000 added 5f RACING TV CLUB DAY HANDICAP HURDLE 1 11/1-5 THE BELL CONDUCTOR (D) P Midgley 6 9 9..................................... ITV3 (CLASS 3) £18,600 added 3m .........................................................................................................................P Mulrennan 2 2 51734- STRONG POWER (CD) Alice Haynes 6 9 9.........K O’Neill B 1 1 4PP-46 ITCHY FEET O Murphy 9 12 0....................................... L Stones (5) C 3 04234- LORD RIDDIFORD (CD) J J Quinn 8 9 8............................... J Hart 7 2 P44-P2 STELLAR MAGIC (D) P Hobbs 8 11 11......................T J O’Brien C 4 5242-2 SILKY WILKIE (D) K R Burke 4 9 6..........................S Feilden (7) 5 3 -42232 BELLS OF PETERBORO (D) T Vaughan 8 11 2.............A Johns 5 46626- STONE OF DESTINY (D) M Appleby 8 8 11............................................ 4 22-241 SILVER FLYER (D) D McCain 7 11 2...............................B Hughes C ............................................................................................................................D Muscutt C 6 5 2/7-3P CORRIEBEN REIVER Ewan Whillans 9 11 1.Sean Quinlan 6 1105-0 EMBOUR (C)(D) R Carr 8 8 8...............Billy Loughnane (7) B 3 6 3P2F-0 ALNADAM (D) D Skelton 10 11 1......................................H Skelton T 7 1114-4 POP DANCER (CD) A Carroll 6 8 8...............................L Morris C 4 7 /P-P0P JIMMY JIMMY S-J Davies 8 10 12.........................W T Kennedy C 8 04210- LA ROCA DEL FUEGO (CD) G Deacon 7 8 4.......................................... 8 4-2122 SALVINO A M Thomson 7 10 11............................................R Mania T .................................................................................................................... Rose Dawes (7) 8 9 221 BROADWAY BOY N Twiston-Davies 5 10 9..... S Twiston-Davies - 8 declared 10 1-11 DE LEGISLATOR (D) L Russell 6 10 7.................P W Wadge (7) BETTING: 5-2 Silky Wilkie, 4-1 The Bell Conductor, 5-1 Strong Power, - 10 declared Lord Riddiford, 8-1 Pop Dancer, Stone Of Destiny, 12-1 La Roca Del BETTING: 5-2 De Legislator, 3-1 Broadway Boy, 8-1 Bells Of Peterboro, Salvino, Silver Flyer, Stellar Magic, 10-1 others. Fuego, 20-1 Embour. 1 0142/ STEPNEY CAUSEWAY M Harris 6 10 0.......A Keeley (5) C 4 2 93514- TARBAAN (D) Miss A Murphy 4 9 13.....F Larson (3) B,T 10 3 55111- DREAM HARDER (D) I Williams 4 9 12.............James Doyle 3 4 0063-7 PISTOLETTO (C)(D) J Ryan 6 9 12.. Billy Loughnane (7) C 9 5 34214- SWEET FANTASY R Beckett 4 9 11....................Rossa Ryan C 7 6 /5781- PARIS LIGHTS (CD) G Boughey 4 9 11................R L Moore T 6 7 9443-4 YOUNG FIRE D O’Meara 8 9 9....................................S M Levey C 11 8 31323- BABY STEPS D Loughnane 7 9 8..............................D Muscutt C 1 9 30113- NIGHT BEAR (D) A Carroll 6 9 6...................................H Crouch C 2 10 8052-3 MARION’S BOY (CD) R Teal 6 9 5..........................D Probert B 12 11 9142-2 OBSIDIAN KNIGHT (CD) T Kent 5 9 5..................T Marquand 5 12 28126- FORGE VALLEY LAD (C)(D) D M Simcock 6 9 3.L Morris 8 - 12 declared BETTING: 4-1 Paris Lights, 9-2 Dream Harder, 6-1 Sweet Fantasy, 7-1 Tarbaan, 8-1 Obsidian Knight, Baby Steps, 10-1 Night Bear, 12-1 Marion’s Boy, 14-1 others. 12.20 12.55 2.12 1.30 2.05 2.47 2.40 3.22 3.10 old, of course, and vulnerable to improving young stayers like Fontaine Collonges, whose gutsy course and distance victory in November looks better still in light of the subsequent efforts of runner-up The Big Breakaway (who then almost won the Welsh Grand National) and third, Rapper, who then dotted up at Cheltenham. But the handicapper has given the veteran a chance and if he gets into that relentless rhythm out front, there might be another famous win. From Sea Pigeon to Jonbon, the Rossington Main Hurdle has been won by some top-notchers – today’s renewal could be another cracker. Five of the seven were successful last time and it’s hard to know just how good Chasing Fire, Pembroke and Toothless are, so easily did they beat vastly inferior opponents. The vote goes to Olly Murphy’s Chasing Fire, who has particularly impressed with his jumping. START YOUR RACINGTV FREE TRIAL NOW HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 4) £11,100 added 2m 1 6-5431 THEREISNODOUBT (D) L Russell 10 12 3(7ex)....P W Wadge (7) H,T 2 20529P GUIRI B Haslam 8 12 2...................................................................A Coleman 3 1/15-2 HARTUR D’OUDAIRIES (D) D Skelton 6 11 11........H Skelton 4 P1-551 QUICK SHARPENER (D) Dr R Newland 6 11 10....C Hammond T 5 3-164U VOCAL DUKE (D)(BF) J Moffatt 7 11 10.........W Shanahan (7) 6 P1-433 HOLD UP LA COLMINE (BF) P Hobbs 6 11 8.........T J O’Brien 7 /36-21 GARDENER (D) A Hales 7 11 7.....................................................K Woods 8 1-F320 SERGEANT WILSON (D)(BF) N Twiston-Davies 5 11 6......... .........................................................................................................................................D Jacob H 9 9250-4 CHTI BALKO (CD) D McCain 11 11 6..............Abbie McCain (5) 10 47-210 CHAPEL GREEN (D) L Russell 6 11 4........................ S Mulqueen 11 522P/4 LUNAR JET M Mullineaux 9 10 13................................H Cobden H 12 405271 HENRY BOX BROWN (D) E Williams 6 10 7..............A Wedge 13 44-539 SERIOUS EGO (CD) N Richards 10 10 5............. Sean Quinlan - 13 declared BETTING: 9-2 Hartur D’oudairies, 5-1 Gardener, Thereisnodoubt, 7-1 Hold Up La Colmine, 8-1 Quick Sharpener, 10-1 others. 3.40 SUNDAY LINGFIELD HEAVY (INSPECTION 4PM SAT) WINTER MILLION OPEN NH FLAT RACE (AWT) (CLASS 2) £40,000 added 2m 1 41 LEDDERS (CD) N Gifford 5 11 8................................... N F Houlihan 2 412 ZONISTY (CD)(BF) Sir M Prescott 5 11 8.......................S Bowen 3 BABY SPICE O Sherwood 5 10 11...........................................J J Burke 4 1 ELOGIO T Lacey 4 10 9.................................................................S Sheppard 5 1 SHINJI (D) M Keighley 4 10 9.................................................A Coleman 6 7 CLOUD DANCER G L Moore 4 10 5..........................Jamie Moore 7 36 DOTTIES STAR P Phelan 4 10 5...............................Sean Houlihan 8 ELPOLOGREG Seamus Mullins 4 10 5........................M G Nolan 9 24 MR MACKAY N Twiston-Davies 4 10 5.S Twiston-Davies 10 PUSH THE BUTTON N Twiston-Davies 4 10 5...T Bellamy 11 6 WAR BONNET Matt Crawley 4 10 5..................Lilly Pinchin H - 11 declared BETTING: 15-8 Elogio, 5-1 Mr Mackay, 11-2 Ledders, 6-1 Zonisty, 8-1 Shinji, 12-1 Dotties Star, 16-1 others. WINTER MILLION NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 3) £20,000 added 2m 3f 110yds 1 2-101P RATHMACKNEE (D) N Henderson 7 12 1......N De Boinville 2 1-1611 TWINJETS M Harris 6 11 10........................................................H Cobden 3 350-22 GEORGES SAINT (D)(BF) V Williams 7 11 6............C Deutsch 4 242 EQUINUS N Twiston-Davies 5 11 4............ S Twiston-Davies 5 7-741 NO TACKLE (CD) S Drinkwater 6 11 4......................R T Dunne T 6 2F-292 HEAVEN SMART G L Moore 6 11 3..........................Jamie Moore 7 7P-337 GODOT A Irvine 6 10 6....................................................N F Houlihan (3) 8 111433 LOCK OUT D Pipe 6 10 5.......................................................T Scudamore - 8 declared BETTING: 2-1 Twinjets, 5-1 Equinus, 11-2 Heaven Smart, 6-1 Georges Saint, 7-1 No Tackle, 8-1 Rathmacknee, 10-1 Lock Out, 25-1 Godot. CAZOO BEGINNERS’ CHASE (CLASS 2) £35,000 added 2m 1 P0495/ CALGARY TIGER W De Best-Turner 8 11 0....B Ffrench-Davis 2 2260-2 CHRISTOPHER WOOD (D) V Williams 8 11 0........C Deutsch 3 16-427 HUDSON DE GRUGY (CD) G L Moore 6 11 0..Jamie Moore 4 4P-422 LLANDINABO LAD (D)(BF) T Symonds 8 11 0......D Noonan 5 22P/3P QUEL DESTIN (D) P Nicholls 8 11 0.............................. H Cobden C 6 /116-F SHOLOKJACK (D) D Skelton 7 11 0.....................................H Skelton - 6 declared BETTING: 2-1 Christopher Wood, 9-4 Quel Destin, 7-2 Llandinabo Lad, 6-1 Hudson De Grugy, 8-1 Sholokjack, 100-1 Calgary Tiger. WINTER MILLION CONCETTA HARKIN MEMORIAL NOVICES’ HURDLE (CLASS 2) £30,000 added 2m 7f 1 1-221 HEEZER GEEZER D Skelton 6 11 3....................................H Skelton 2 -13835 HIGH STAKES (D) W Greatrex 9 11 3................T Scudamore T 3 1-13 IDALKO BIHOUE N Twiston-Davies 5 11 3........................................... ................................................................................................................. S Twiston-Davies 4 222-13 PHANTOM GETAWAY (BF) K Bailey 6 11 3..................D Bass C 5 U1-21 WELL DICK (D) C Longsdon 6 11 3.......................................B Hughes 6 05-7 HURRICANE LE DUN N Henderson 6 10 12...N De Boinville 7 34 THE BIG REVEAL G Harris 5 10 12.............................................. C Ring - 7 declared BETTING: 7-4 Idalko Bihoue, 5-2 Heezer Geezer, 4-1 Phantom Getaway, 7-1 High Stakes, 8-1 Well Dick, 33-1 The Big Reveal, Hurricane Le Dun. FLEUR DE LYS CHASE (CLASS 2) £165,000 added 2m 6f 1 341-U2 STOLEN SILVER S Thomas 8 11 10........ S Twiston-Davies T 2 P31P-4 BRISTOL DE MAI N Twiston-Davies 12 11 6.................D Jacob 3 2P1-35 SAM BROWN (C) A Honeyball 11 11 6.............. A Coleman C,T 4 13F-10 BRAVE SEASCA V Williams 8 11 2....................................C Deutsch 5 7234/6 KALASHNIKOV Miss A Murphy 10 11 2.............J Quinlan B,T 6 112P-5 TWO FOR GOLD (CD) K Bailey 10 11 2................................D Bass V - 6 declared BETTING: 5-2 Two For Gold, 3-1 Brave Seasca, 4-1 Sam Brown, 5-1 Bristol De Mai, 6-1 Stolen Silver, 12-1 Kalashnikov. 12.00 12.30 1.00 1.30 2.00 BEST BET Obsidian Knight (1.37pm, Lingfield) Has remained in good form since October course and distance victory. NEXT BEST Chasing Fire (1.30pm, Haydock) Impressive winning Bumper and two hurdles. Ready for this Grade Two test. SUNDAY BEST Brave Seasca (2pm, Lingfield) Never got involved carrying top-weight in hot Cheltenham handicap last time. Worth sticking with. SOVEREIGN HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 2) £110,000 added 2m 1 1232-8 MIGHT I (D)(BF) H Fry 7 12 0..........................................L Murtagh (3) 2 2343-8 MARTATOR V Williams 6 11 10.....................Shane Quinlan (3) 3 4131-2 HACKER DES PLACES (D) P Nicholls 6 11 9...A Cheleda (5) 4 /1-421 PLAYFUL SAINT (D) D Skelton 8 11 7.........................H Skelton T 5 112-12 JUNGLE JACK (D)(BF) D McCain 7 11 5..........................B Hughes 6 1-123 DJELO (BF) V Williams 5 11 2...................................................C Deutsch 7 11P0-1 LEBOWSKI (D) M Scudamore 8 11 1.......................Luca Morgan 8 311-12 KNICKERBOCKERGLORY (D)(BF) D Skelton 7 11 1..................... ...................................................................................................................Bridget Andrews 9 3-2431 GALICE MACALO (D) Mrs J Williams 7 11 1(7ex)............................ ...................................................................................................................................D Noonan T 10 20-213 TEDDY BLUE (BF) G L Moore 5 11 0.......................Jamie Moore 11 860-31 THOR DE CERISY (D) M Scudamore 9 10 7.......... R Patrick C - 11 declared BETTING: 4-1 Playful Saint, 9-2 Galice Macalo, 6-1 Might I, 8-1 Hacker Des Places, Lebowski, 10-1 others. SURREY NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 3) £30,000 added 3m 5f 1 4-3524 POPPA POUTINE N Twiston-Davies 7 12 0......................................... ............................................................................................................ S Twiston-Davies T 2 UPP-22 SHANTY ALLEY B Case 9 11 12.......................................C O’Farrell C 3 1111-5 MOVETHECHAINS (C) G L Moore 9 11 10........Jamie Moore 4 -42232 BELLS OF PETERBORO T Vaughan 8 11 6......................A Johns 5 0U-7U0 ACHILLE V Williams 13 11 3..........................Shane Quinlan (3) C 6 111-P1 FAIRLAWN FLYER P Bowen 7 11 2..................................S Bowen C 7 15-111 COOLVALLA (C) C Gordon 7 11 0....................................... R Dingle C 8 141-54 DON HERBAGER (C) V Williams 9 10 11.....................C Deutsch 9 5-2U24 ECHO WATT R Hobson 9 10 3...........................Lilly Pinchin (3) T - 9 declared BETTING: 11-4 Coolvalla, 4-1 Shanty Alley, 9-2 Fairlawn Flyer, 6-1 Bells Of Peterboro, 8-1 Poppa Poutine, 12-1 others. WEATHERBYS CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL BETTING GUIDE HURDLE (CLASS 2) £100,000 added 2m 3f 110yds 1 11-312 GOSHEN (D) G L Moore 7 11 8...................................Jamie Moore C 2 414-24 NELLS SON N Richards 8 11 8.............................................B Hughes C 3 325-13 FIRST STREET (D) N Henderson 6 11 4...........N De Boinville 4 1P8-13 MOLLY OLLYS WISHES (D) D Skelton 9 11 1.....H Skelton T 5 U7/3-4 JASON THE MILITANT (BF) P Kirby 9 11 0.J Williamson T 6 P417-P METIER (C) H Fry 7 11 0...............................................................S Bowen T 7 7-1304 THIBAULT (C)(D) A West 10 11 0......................................T Cannon T - 7 declared BETTING: 11-8 Goshen, 7-2 First Street, 5-1 Jason The Militant, 6-1 Molly Ollys Wishes, 8-1 Metier, 14-1 Nells Son, 50-1 Thibault. GODSTONE HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 2) £50,000 added 2m 1 0-1295 SIZING POTTSIE (D) D Pipe 9 12 0......................T Scudamore T 2 P122-3 ECLAIR D’AINAY (D) D Skelton 9 11 13....................H Skelton T 3 1-U211 HADDEX DES OBEAUX (D) G L Moore 6 11 12(7ex).................... ...............................................................................................................................Jamie Moore 4 323-15 SHAKEM UP’ARRY (D)(BF) B Pauling 9 11 8........K Woods T 5 2U1F-5 RED ROOKIE (D) E Lavelle 8 11 7.........................................T Bellamy 6 39-243 FRERO BANBOU (CD)(BF) V Williams 8 11 7........C Deutsch 7 116-26 HASANKEY (D) L Morgan 7 11 6.......................................L Dobb (7) V 8 13P-15 GUNSIGHT RIDGE (D)(BF) O Murphy 8 11 5.........S Bowen T 9 1-0185 ONE TRUE KING (D) N Twiston-Davies 8 10 13.............................. ............................................................................................................S Twiston-Davies C 10 3-5491 FAST BUCK (CD) Mrs J Williams 9 10 10..............D Noonan T - 10 declared BETTING: 5-2 Haddex Des Obeaux, 5-1 Shakem Up’arry, Fast Buck, 8-1 Red Rookie, 10-1 others. 2.30 3.00 3.30 4.00 THURLES YIELDING TO SOFT COOLMORE N.H. SIRES MOGUL IRISH EBF MARES NOVICE CHASE (GRADE 2) (CLASS 1) E42,017 added 2m 4f 1 /311-1 ALLEGORIE DE VASSY W P Mullins 6 11 3....P Townend T 2 P3-F32 BRIDES HILL G Cromwell 6 10 12...................................L Dempsey 3 347-P3 CARRIGEEN KONINI Miss E Lalor 7 10 12............C M Quirke 4 614723 GRANNY LOWRIE (D) P M J Doyle 8 10 12.................. J J Doyle 5 412312 MALINA GIRL (D) G Cromwell 6 10 12.................... K E Buckley 6 17F-65 SIX FEET APART J P O’Brien 5 10 6...................................J J Slevin - 6 declared BETTING: 2-5 Allegorie De Vassy, 4-1 Malina Girl, 7-1 Brides Hill, 25-1 Six Feet Apart, 33-1 Granny Lowrie, 50-1 Carrigeen Konini. HORSE & JOCKEY HOTEL CHASE (GRADE 2) (CLASS 1) E30,672 added 2m 4f 1 51U2-3 CHACUN POUR SOI (BF) W P Mullins 11 11 12.P Townend 2 2115-2 FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES (D) J P O’Brien 8 11 12.............J J Slevin 3 12P1-7 ROYAL RENDEZVOUS (C)(D) W P Mullins 11 11 8...................... .............................................................................................................................D E Mullins H 4 13-125 FRENCH DYNAMITE (CD) M F Morris 8 11 6....D J O’Keeffe C,T 5 12-423 LIFETIME AMBITION (D) J Harrington 8 11 6................................... .............................................................................................................Rachael Blackmore 6 1F65-4 HAUT EN COULEURS W P Mullins 6 11 3...............B J Cooper - 6 declared BETTING: 5-4 Chacun Pour Soi, 2-1 Fakir D’Oudairies, 7-1 French Dynamite, 10-1 Lifetime Ambition, 12-1 others. 1.10 1.40
102 SPORT TENNIS Murray battling to be fit for Bautista Agut Andy Murray was back at Melbourne Park just four hours after going to bed on Thursday night as he started his preparations for his third-round Australian Open clash with Roberto Bautista Agut. After spending more than 10 hours on court over two rounds and finishing at 4.05am against Thanasi Kokkinakis, Murray found himself in a race against time to be fit to face the 34-year-old Bautista Agut, just 39 hours after last walking off court. The former world No 1, who is into the third round in Melbourne for the first time in six years, arrived on site at 9.30am yesterday morning to see the tournament podiatrist before returning to his accommodation to catch up on some sleep. He was spotted again on site at 6.30pm, when he hit on Margaret Court Arena with the Australian 21-year-old Cihan Akay. Murray (right) spent just 20 minutes on court with Ivan Lendl, moving gingerly in a light session before walking off with his coach and his physio, Shane Annun. In many ways, Murray has been here before. When he played Bautista Agut in Australia four years ago, it was in the aftermath of his famously tearful press conference and organisers at Melbourne Park played a farewell montage on court after Murray had been beaten in – again – five gruelling sets. “It was like a Davis Norrie denies busy schedule contributed to surprise loss By Eleanor Crooks AT MELBOURNE PARK Cameron Norrie denied that a hectic schedule contributed to his defeat against Jiri Lehecka. The British No 1 was bidding to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time but from two sets to one up, he was beaten 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 by Lehecka, a 21-year-old Czech ranked 71 in the world. With Norrie’s top-20 status comes various earning opportunities, and he played exhibitions James Gray Cup atmosphere,” remembers Bautista Agut. “It was very loud, very crowded. A lot of people supporting him. I think all the court was supporting him.” No one, perhaps not even Murray himself, expected that he would be back in 2023 to face anyone, never mind Bautista Agut. “He is playing well. He is during the off-season in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong. The No 11 seed (below) played three matches at the United Cup to begin the season, beating Rafael Nadal and Taylor Fritz, before reaching the final of the ATP event in Auckland. He arrived the day before his first match and admitted he struggled to find his rhythm, but still believes his preparation was the right one. “It’s the best preparation I’ve ever had to play matches,” he said. “The best start to the year I’ve ever had. To play in the final in Auckland, and I came in here with a load of confidence. “Maybe I just peaked a little bit too early in the United Cup. But I think I came in here and gave enjoying again,” Bautista Agut added. “He looks fit. He is a good fighter.” Murray has certainly had to fight. He sacrificed a two-set lead against Matteo Berrettini and then started slowly against Kokkinakis, coming within two points of defeat in the third set before mounting an unlikely comeback. “He is certainly getting his money’s worth, isn’t he?” his mother, Judy, told Australian broadcaster Channel Nine, having watched every point from his box, alongside coach Lendl and Davis Cup captain Leon Smith. “It is incredibly stressful, whether it is a five-setter or not,” she added. “Watching your kids perform in anything, your gut instinct is that you always want things to go right for them. And you know perfectly well that you are sitting there and you cannot influence it in any way or all. “What he has gone through to get back to this level is quite remarkable. What he is doing out there, to survive five sets in five hours against Berrettini, who is 14 in the world, the other night and then to come back from two sets and 5-2 down against Kokkinakis last night in the early hours of the morning – I didn’t get to bed till about 5.30am – is really remarkable what he is doing. “He is just an incredible fighter and his resilience is second to none.” myself the best chance. I didn’t play a very good match, and I almost won in five sets. “I don’t think I would change my decision. I still could have won today, regardless of if I played Auckland or not.” Elsewhere, Sebastian Korda stunned Daniil Medvedev, 25 years after his father Petr won the Australian Open. Sebastian won the junior title five years ago and while it may be too soon to talk about the 22-year-old as a potential champion, he was superb in his 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory over the No 7 seed and beaten finalist for the last two years. “My dad always loved coming here and playing. Hopefully I can do one better than the juniors and do it in the pros,” he said. RUGBY UNION I had this itch to try something new, says Skinner But forward has taken cider from Exeter to his new Edinburgh home T hese are exciting times for Edinburgh, with qualification for the last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup already in the bag, and English aristocrats Saracens in town tomorrow for the final pool match to decide the destiny of the home and away ties. And exciting times living in the city for the team’s dynamic Scotland lock forward, Sam Skinner. Catching up with Skinner on a call to his flat, 10 minutes from Murrayfield, is a chance to talk comparisons between the URC and the Premiership, the ongoing exodus from Exeter Chiefs – his only senior club until last summer – and players switching national allegiance in the wake of the sometime England wing Ruaridh McConnochie swapping red rose for Scottish thistle this week. “If you asked Joe Public what their thoughts are, their tendency is towards the Premiership, the way it is glamourised by BT Sport,” says Skinner. “But the URC is a proper, tough league – I’d happily say it’s a harder competition to win. There is the number of teams, for starters, then you’ve got the top South African sides, and Leinster, who at the minute are the best thing since sliced bread. I just hope the URC gets more positive attention.” Edinburgh are doing their bit – a team who won at Saracens in the Challenge Cup last season, and were Hugh Godwin RUGBY UNION CORRESPONDENT edged out 30-26 in this season’s reverse Champions Cup fixture in December. It might have been different if James Lang hadn’t been held up by Saracens’ Nick Tompkins, the Wales centre who once played with Skinner for England’s under-20s. “It epitomises where Edinburgh can be. If we have that consistent mental attitude, we can compete at the top. But it’s classic human psychology, isn’t it? “At Castres last week, we showed that mental resilience, and the big challenge now for us is to back it up. Saracens never give you anything easy. They build pressure and they force mistakes, so we want to not only match it, but win that area.” In the period in which Skinner won two Premierships with Exeter, and the Champions Cup in the double-winning year of 2020, Saracens were their nemesis. “I’ve got some great friends in
S1 NEWS 2-41 their squad,” he says, “I grew up playing rugby with Tom Woolstencroft, played Scotland with Sean Maitland and Duncan Taylor. I haven’t met a Saracens player that I disliked. “There was the salary cap business, obviously. But the way I always called it, we were 15 men playing against 15 other men, and they beat us fair and square. I’ll enjoy having a beer with a couple of their players. We’re playing late Sunday evening, as well, so we’ll know what we need to do to get that home game in the last 16.” As for Exeter, that wonderful squad is continuing to break up, with Joe and Sam Simmonds, Dave Ewers, Luke Cowan-Dickie and possibly Jack Nowell due to follow Skinner, Jonny Hill and Tom O’Flaherty out of the door. “It’s tough,” Skinner says. “I was a born and bred Exeter lad, I went to university there, I got really lucky that I was part of an Exeter Chiefs club that had incredible coaching, incredible players, and extremely strong ownership. I felt like I experienced everything I could possibly experience. “I had this itch to experience something new. Obviously, the [reduction in the] salary cap was another reason – I’m not going to say that wasn’t the case. Also, being an exile in Scotland camp was challenging. It was Edinburgh for me for so many reasons. “I’ve got no doubt in my mind, Exeter have got a plan, whether or not it’s in the short term, they won’t struggle OPINION 27-32 because they’ve got solid ownership. I have huge respect for [chairman] Tony Rowe because he looked after his own [during Covid] – he was completely open with us about what was going to happen and he stuck to his word. “I’m now an Exeter supporter and the Edinburgh lads will always laugh – any time Exeter concede points, they’ll start cheering.” LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 Sam Skinner (above) in Scotland action against France during last year’s Six Nations and (below) in Edinburgh mode GETTY; ROSS PARKER/ SNS TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 In two weeks’ time England host Scotland in the Six Nations, and Skinner, a fine carrier and rock of the set-piece, is back in a 40-man squad for Twickenham after breaking a bone in his foot against Australia in the autumn. “It’s probably our most competitive Scotland squad we’ve ever had,” he says. McConnochie changed countries thanks to the new three-year stand-down regulations, while Skinner’s own switch came after his under-20 days. “My gut says if you’re going to a second-tier team, it’s probably quite good,” says Skinner. “Across top tiers, it does seem like a strange one. But then someone like McConnochie, he’s got two caps for England, his family are strong Scots, I’ve met him and he’s a great dude and he’ll be a great addition to our squad. It doesn’t really bother me.” Skinner has a sideline speaking to Scottish wholesalers as a representative of a cider named Rib Tickler from the south-west of England. “We’re in the middle of winter, in Scotland, and cider isn’t the go-to drink,” he smiles. “But it is a fantastic product and I’m seeing if we can get it stocked up here.” A sell-out crowd is expected at Edinburgh’s 7,774-capacity Dam Health Stadium, which opened in 2021. “They’ll see a side that isn’t just happy to win the odd game here or there, but looking to back up some fun rugby with serious results,” he says. “Wrap up warm, though. That’d be my only suggestion.” The URC is a proper, tough league – I’d happily say it’s a harder competition to win than the Premiership SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 103 Late tryscorer Jac Morgan evades Dan Cole GETTY Morgan’s late score ends Tigers’ run LEICESTER TIGERS 26 Tries: Van Poortvliet, Simmons; Cons: Pollard (2); Pens: Pollard (4) OSPREYS 27 Tries: Lake, Giles, Morgan; Cons: Evans, O Williams (2); Pens: O Williams (2) Ospreys won with the final kick of the match to deny Leicester Tigers an unbeaten European Champions Cup pool stage campaign in the 92nd minute last night. England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet (right) scored the first of Tigers’ two tries four minutes after Dewi Lake’s opener, the other coming from wing Harry Simmons. After an 86th-minute sin-binning for Dan Richardson, Ospreys crossed and the TMO awarded a try in the 91st for Jac Morgan. Former Tiger Owen Williams sealed the win with a conversion, to loud boos.
S1 104 SPORT EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Tangerine dream is music to McCarthy’s worldly ear The 63-year-old had been enjoying life with the grandkids, then a call from Blackpool came out of the blue T his is an interview of two parts. The first, a relaxed hour and a bit over Zoom on Monday morning from the office of his South London home, takes in everything from Declan Rice’s declaration for England to Marcelo Bielsa’s sacking and ends with Mick McCarthy saying he hasn’t retired from football but “football might have retired me”. Three days later and we pick it up again. McCarthy is on speakerphone this time, his voice battling with the sat nav directions as he drives up the M40 to start a new job at Blackpool, the eighth managerial posting of his 32-year career. “This came totally out the blue. I had no clue at all on Monday, no idea,” he says. “It’s unbelievable how quickly things change in football, absolutely ridiculous the nature of it all.” McCarthy first heard from ­Blackpool on Wednesday. He’d said on Monday he was enjoying the time off, had spent a year with his four beloved grandkids and wasn’t “desperate” to take a job u ­ nless it was the right one. Applications for jobs at Wigan, Rotherham and ­Sunderland hadn’t gone anywhere. The phone hadn’t rung for a while. Enter the Tangerines, 23rd in the Championship and with no league win since 8 October. It’s a salvage job but the offer – a five-month initial contract with the task of galvanising the squad and keeping the club in the Championship – was just too good to turn down. “I’m really excited about it. It’s great to be back in the game and great that someone thinks you can do a job,” he says. A raft of speaking Mark Douglas NORTHERN FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT engagements and a trip to Florida have been cancelled. On Monday we had spoken at length about that weird twilight zone of spending 12 months out of ­management, the strange emotions of a ­Saturday afternoon without a game to manage and how he’d ­spotted that “familiar blankness” on the face of Frank Lampard and one or two others under pressure the ­previous week. “Journalists get that bit braver when you’re losing games, you know,” he’d said of that “awful feeling” of being unable to reverse a losing run. Now he is opening the door to that world again – the stress, the tension, the late nights, early starts, the surreal life of the long-distance manager. He can’t wait. “It’s the same every time you get a new job, that buzz. I’ve loved spending time with my family but you miss being around it and Blackpool is a great club. Besides, on Sunday I jet-washed my drive and I think it was a case of jet-washing the jet-wash. “That probably told me it was time to get back in.” McCarthy (left) told friends o n T h u r s d ay that Blackpool is either his “swansong” or – if it goes as he hopes – might just end up being the start of another managerial journey. You suspect McCarthy will relish the fact that his managerial I’m really excited about it. It’s great to be back in the game and great that someone thinks you can do a job c­ areer is not ending with the run of eight defeats which brought the ­curtain down on his time at Cardiff City in 2021. “I’m still surprised and shocked by that, it’s not normal,” he said. “I made a few mistakes in that run. I think I went a bit too negative, but there were mitigating circumstances. I’d have sacked myself after eight games without a win.” McCarthy returns to a game that has, he admits, changed immeasurably in the past four or five years. “Everyone has two centre-halves in the 18-yard box getting the ball, everyone seems to play the same way and the best teams do it really well and will win more games because they keep the ball. It’s not a bad thing, as teams are playing some great football, but sometimes I’m watching it and thinking, ‘Someone please put a cross in!’ As a centreforward you’d be doing your head in. Mick McCarthy has been tasked with keeping Blackpool up BLACKPOOL FC I think there’s more than one way to skin a cat. There has to be.” He also chuckles at the changing terminology of the game. “I was watching my nephew play the other week and spotted a goalkeeper who used to play for me,” he recalls. “I went over to chat to him and there’s a kid with a bag, so I said to him: ‘Are you the physio?’ He said ‘No, I’m the head of health, medical, physiology and something else and something else and wellbeing’. I said to him, ‘How wide is your f**king office door? You’ll never get that title on there!’ “When he went away, the goalkeeper said to me: ‘Yeah, he’s the physio’ but they just can’t call him that any more.” Blackpool are getting a good manager, proud member of the 1,000game club and even better man. He’s as fired up as he was as a 33-year-old at Millwall all those years ago, determined to justify the faith of Blackpool’s board and supporters rather than proving doubters wrong. On Monday, we spoke at length about his reputation and he settled on the following sentence: “I do what I can to win a football match but I don’t always do it to please everybody.” That is exactly what his new club need. CHAMPIONSHIP Late Twine strike keeps Clarets clear at the top Leaders Burnley came from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at Turf Moor and maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table. Vincent Kompany’s side trailed from the seventh minute when Darnell Furlong put the Baggies ahead. Burnley dominated but did not equalise until Nathan Tella rifled in a low shot after 75 minutes. Substitute Scott Twine scored the late winner with a superb free-kick. Sheffield United remain second after a 1-0 home victory over Hull City. Daniel Jebbison marked his return to the Blades’ starting line-up by slotting home the only goal after four minutes. Earlier it was confirmed by the EFL that United have been placed under a transfer embargo, but they put that aside to win their third match in a row, aided by Benjamin Tetteh’s late sending off for Hull.
S1 NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 15 PitchBattles Liverpool 4-3-3 Bournemouth 4-4-1-1 Alisson AlexanderArnold Gomez Keïta Konaté Robertson Christie Leicester City 4-3-3 Havertz Ziyech Hall Badiashile Silva Chalobah Mepham Senesi Lerma Pearson Castagne Amartey Zemura Anthony Mangala Freuler Kepa Praet Mitoma L L C L L C D D L L West Ham United 4-3-3 Zouma Soucek Rice Cresswell Paqueta Gray Calvert-Lewin Mykolenko Estupinan Gueye Tarkowski Mina Onana Coleman Coady Everton 3-5-2 Bailey Luiz Kamara Mings Konsa Buendia Webster Gross Dunk Moreno Mitchell Ayling Zaha Eze Aaronson Kick-off Today, 3pm (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 9-5 Draw 9-4 Away 7-5 Referee M Salisbury 1 36 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions S D S S S S A S A A Manchester City 4-3-3 Joelinton S Longstaff Willock Cooper Roca Adams Wober Stones Laporte Cancelo Walker De Bruyne Rodri Gundogan Gnonto Harrison Rodrigo Henry Trippier Schar Ederson Koch Janelt Pinnock Mahrez Haaland Foden Hwang Podence Jensen Norgaard Mee Hwang Moutinho Neves Nunes Roerslev Bueno Ajer Kilman Raya Newcastle United 4-3-3 Young Aston Villa 4-4-2 Toney Mbeumo Saint-Maximin Wilson Almiron Ramsey Martinez Leeds United 4-2-3-1 Pope Pickford March Watkins Meslier Guéhi Botman Adams L L D L L L B L D B Ayew Burn Lallana WalkerPeters Lavia Elyounoussi Ward-Prowse A Armstrong Barnes Brighton & Hove 4-2-3-1 Doucouré Hughes Olise Daka Kick-off Today, 3pm (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 5-2 Draw 14-5 Away Evens Referee T Bramall 0 14 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions Crystal Palace 4-2-3-1 Clyne Richards Caleta-Car Salisu Sanchez B D B N N B D B B B Bowen Antonio Benrahma Iwobi Aurier McKenna Worrall Guaita Aguerd Lyanco Caicedo Mac Allister Kick-off Today, 3pm (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 6-4 Draw 11-5 Away 8-5 Referee A Madley 2 41 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions Fabianski Coufal Yates Nottingham Forest 4-3-1-2 Kick-off Today, 12.30pm, BT Sport 1 (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 3-4 Draw 11-4 Away 11-4 Referee M Oliver 1 48 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions Thomas Ferguson Hennessey Chelsea 4-3-3 Faes Tielemans Ndidi Dewsbury-Hall Gibbs-White Johnson MONEY 87-91 Bazunu Diallo Moore Lodi TRAVEL 75-81 Ward Scarpa Kovacic Jorginho Gallagher TV 58-71 Southampton 4-2-3-1 Billing Gakpo Nunez Mount Smith PUZZLES 51-56 CRYSTAL PALACE’S LAST 13 MEETINGS WITH NEWCASTLE HAVE RESULTED IN JUST 15 GOALS – INCLUDING THREE 0-0S AND SIX 1-0S Neto Bajcetic Thiago Salah LIFE 45-81 Semedo Collins Sa Brentford 3-5-2 Wolverhampton 4-2-3-1 Kick-off Today, 3pm (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 4-5 Draw 5-2 Away 15-4 Referee S Attwell 2 42 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions Kick-off Today, 5.30pm, Sky Sports PL (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 10-3 Draw 12-5 Away 10-11 Referee C Pawson 0 47 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions Kick-off Tomorrow, 2pm, Sky Sports PL (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 11-8 Draw 5-2 Away 9-5 Referee P Bankes 0 42 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions Kick-off Tomorrow, 2pm (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 2-11 Draw 7-1 Away 11-1 Referee D Coote 1 33 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions W E E D E W E WW E D C N C N C D N D N B B L D B L D D L B M D MWWMMMMM Arsenal 4-3-3 Ramsdale Saliba White Gabriel Odegaard Partey Saka Zinchenko Xhaka Nketiah Martinelli Weghorst Rashford Eriksen Fernandes McTominay Fred Shaw Fulham 4-2-3-1 PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Martinez Varane Wan-Bissaka De Gea Manchester United 4-2-3-1 Kick-off Tomorrow, 4.30pm, Sky Sports PL (H­ighlights BBC One, 10.30pm) Odds Home 4-5 Draw 11-4 Away 13-5 Referee A Taylor 5 54 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions D M A D A A D M A M Arsenal Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Tottenham Hotspur Fulham Brighton & Hove Albion Brentford Liverpool Chelsea Aston Villa Crystal Palace Nottingham Forest Leeds United Leicester City Wolverhampton Wdrs Bournemouth West Ham United Everton Southampton P 18 19 19 19 20 20 18 19 18 19 19 19 19 18 19 19 19 19 19 19 W 15 13 12 10 10 9 9 7 8 8 7 6 5 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 D 2 3 3 8 3 4 3 8 4 4 4 5 5 5 2 5 4 3 6 3 L 1 3 4 1 7 7 6 4 6 7 8 8 9 9 12 10 11 12 10 12 F 42 50 30 33 39 32 35 32 34 22 22 18 15 26 26 12 18 15 15 17 A 14 20 22 11 31 29 25 28 25 21 27 27 34 33 33 27 41 25 26 34 Pts 47 42 39 38 33 31 30 29 28 28 25 23 20 17 17 17 16 15 15 15 Leno Tete Diop Ream Reed Palhinha De CordovaReid Robinson Willian Pereira Mitrovic Kane Richarlison Sessegnon Kulusevski Hojbjerg Bentancur Lenglet Dier Royal Romero Lloris Tottenham Hotspur 3-4-3 Kick-off Monday, 8pm, Sky Sports PL (H­ighlights Sky Sports PL, Tuesday midnight) Odds Home 9-4 Draw 5-2 Away 11-10 Referee P Tierney 2 50 LAST 10 MEETINGS All competitions T F T T T T T D T T SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 SPORT 99-112 105 WEEKEND FOOTBALL FIXTURES 3.0 unless stated TODAY 2 3 5 7 8 Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest.... Crystal Palace v Newcastle (5.30) TV ..... Leicester v Brighton............................................ Liverpool v Chelsea (12.30) TV ..................... Southampton v Aston Villa.......................... West Ham v Everton.......................................... 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 Birmingham v Preston..................................... Blackpool v Huddersfield............................... Bristol City v Blackburn.................................. Cardiff v Millwall................................................... Coventry v Norwich (12.30) TV .................... QPR v Swansea........................................................ Stoke v Reading....................................................... Watford v Rotherham....................................... Wigan v Luton.......................................................... P W D L F A Pts Burnley Sheff Utd Watford Middlesbrough Blackburn West Brom Norwich Millwall Luton Sunderland Swansea QPR Preston Reading Coventry Hull Bristol City Birmingham Rotherham Stoke Cardiff Huddersfield Blackpool Wigan 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 8 6 7 6 0 8 6 6 9 8 8 7 7 4 8 7 8 8 9 6 8 5 8 7 2 5 8 9 13 9 10 9 7 9 9 10 10 12 9 12 11 11 11 13 12 14 13 14 55 48 33 42 30 38 36 32 33 39 39 30 24 31 27 33 36 29 32 29 21 25 28 27 26 24 28 33 34 30 29 27 29 32 37 33 30 38 27 44 37 33 39 37 30 33 40 47 62 57 43 42 42 41 39 39 39 38 38 37 37 37 35 34 32 32 30 30 29 26 26 25 27 26 26 25 26 24 25 26 27 26 25 26 25 25 23 25 25 25 24 25 25 25 26 26 17 16 14 12 12 12 12 11 10 9 10 8 8 9 7 6 6 8 6 5 7 6 5 5 7 7 9 8 8 4 2 5 7 8 5 10 8 5 10 12 11 4 7 9 3 4 7 6 3 3 3 5 6 8 11 10 10 9 10 8 9 11 6 7 8 13 11 11 15 15 14 15 47 46 48 36 33 30 41 33 42 39 27 40 31 27 29 24 29 21 23 26 22 23 32 22 27 18 26 19 20 23 31 27 45 37 34 36 28 29 30 30 27 30 38 35 41 36 54 50 58 55 51 44 44 40 38 38 37 35 35 34 32 32 31 30 29 28 25 24 24 22 22 21 Barrow v Salford City........................................ Bradford v Carlisle............................................... Colchester v Gillingham.................................. Crewe v Stockport County............................ Doncaster v Tranmere...................................... Grimsby v Harrogate Tn.................................. Hartlepool v Rochdale....................................... Newport County v AFC Wimb’don........ Northampton v Mansfield............................. Stevenage v Leyton Orient........................... Sutton Utd v Crawley Tn................................ Walsall v Swindon................................................ P W D L F A Pts Leyton Orient Stevenage Northampton Carlisle Salford City Swindon Bradford Barrow Mansfield Stockport C Walsall Doncaster AFC Wimbledon Sutton Utd Tranmere Grimsby Crewe Newport C Colchester Harrogate Tn Crawley Town Rochdale Hartlepool Gillingham - 18 17 12 12 14 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 11 9 9 8 8 7 8 7 7 6 6 Barnsley v Accrington...................................... Bristol Rovers v Wycombe.......... /Panel Derby v Bolton......................................................... Forest Green v MK Dons................................. Lincoln City v Burton Albion...................... Morecambe v Port Vale.................................... Oxford Utd v Ipswich.......................................... Peterborough v Charlton................................ Plymouth v Cheltenham................................. Portsmouth v Exeter.......................................... Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood....... Shrewsbury v Cambridge Utd.................... P W D L F A Pts Plymouth Sheff Wed Ipswich Derby Bolton Barnsley Peterborough Wycombe Bristol Rovers Exeter Port Vale Charlton Oxford Utd Shrewsbury Portsmouth Lincoln City Fleetwood Tn Cheltenham Accrington Morecambe Cambridge Utd MK Dons Burton Albion Forest Green 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 28 28 27 27 27 28 27 26 26 27 27 27 27 27 26 28 27 27 27 27 27 26 27 27 26 25 26 25 25 26 25 26 26 24 24 25 26 27 26 24 24 26 26 25 24 26 25 24 17 15 13 11 12 11 11 12 11 11 10 11 9 10 9 8 7 6 7 6 5 5 4 3 6 7 7 9 5 8 7 4 6 4 7 4 9 6 8 6 9 8 5 6 7 5 7 8 3 3 6 5 8 7 7 10 9 9 7 10 8 11 9 10 8 12 14 13 12 16 14 13 36 36 40 39 34 33 31 32 36 35 30 30 29 27 28 26 20 24 26 32 26 22 24 9 13 18 28 25 24 25 25 30 35 23 22 35 28 35 23 32 28 30 33 40 39 39 47 28 57 52 46 42 41 41 40 40 39 37 37 37 36 36 35 30 30 26 26 24 22 20 19 17 Peterhead v Clyde................................................. P W D L F A Pts Dunfermline 20 13 6 1 32 11 45 Falkirk 20 11 5 4 42 23 38 FC Edinburgh 22 12 2 8 43 32 38 Alloa 21 10 5 6 39 29 35 Airdrieonians 21 9 6 6 40 31 33 Montrose 22 9 6 7 31 27 33 Kelty Hearts 22 8 4 10 23 30 28 Queen of South 22 7 5 10 34 37 26 Clyde 21 2 4 15 24 46 10 Peterhead 21 1 5 15 10 52 8 - Annan Athletic v Bonnyrigg Rose.......... East Fife v Stranraer.......................................... Stirling v Forfar...................................................... P W D L F A Pts 19 12 4 3 32 18 40 Dumbarton Stirling 18 11 3 4 39 21 36 Elgin 20 8 5 7 35 33 29 East Fife 20 7 5 8 29 31 26 Forfar 20 7 4 9 22 27 25 Annan Ath 20 6 6 8 30 34 24 Stenhousemuir 20 6 6 8 33 38 24 Albion 20 6 5 9 26 26 23 Stranraer 20 6 5 9 28 38 23 Bonnyrigg R 19 5 5 9 23 31 20 SCOTTISH CUP FOURTH ROUND - Alloa v Falkirk............................................................ 42 Arbroath v Motherwell..................................... - Celtic v Morton (12.15) TV ................................ - Cove Rangers v Ayr.............................................. 43 Dundee Utd v Stirling University........... - Elgin v Drumchapel Utd.................................. 44 Hamilton v Ross County................................. 46 Kilmarnock v Dumbarton............................... - Linlithgow Rose v Raith................................... - Partick v Dunfermline....................................... 48 St Johnstone v Rangers (5.30) TV .............. 49 St Mirren v Dundee............................................. 47 Stenhousemuir v Livingston...................... - Boreham Wood v Torquay............................ Bromley v Aldershot.......................................... Chesterfield v Notts County (5.20) TV .. FC Halifax v Wealdstone................................ Maidstone Utd v Wrexham.......................... Oldham v Southend............................................. Solihull Moors v Scunthorpe..................... Yeovil v Altrincham............................................. P W D L F A Pts Notts County Wrexham Woking Chesterfield Barnet Southend Dag & Red Bromley Wealdstone Altrincham Eastleigh Boreham Wd Solihull Moors York FC Halifax Dorking W Aldershot Maidenhead Utd Yeovil Oldham Gateshead Torquay Maidstone Utd Scunthorpe 27 25 26 23 24 25 24 25 25 26 26 24 25 26 25 27 26 27 25 24 25 26 27 27 18 18 16 15 12 10 11 10 10 9 10 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 5 6 4 5 5 4 8 5 4 4 5 8 5 7 7 9 5 9 6 8 5 6 2 5 12 6 10 7 6 7 1 2 6 4 7 7 8 8 8 8 11 7 10 10 11 13 15 14 8 12 11 14 16 16 69 64 47 49 44 33 39 37 32 40 32 28 37 32 24 44 34 29 21 30 31 29 31 32 25 21 25 27 41 21 38 32 36 47 33 25 36 30 32 64 45 40 26 40 41 49 59 55 62 59 52 49 41 38 38 37 37 36 35 33 33 32 32 30 29 29 27 24 22 22 21 19 FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE - Man City v Aston Villa (11.30) TV .............. P W D L F A Pts 11 9 1 1 32 9 28 Chelsea Man Utd 10 8 1 1 30 6 25 Arsenal 10 8 1 1 26 6 25 Man City 10 7 1 2 22 10 22 Everton 10 5 0 5 13 12 15 West Ham 11 5 0 6 15 19 15 Aston Villa 10 5 0 5 15 20 15 Tottenham 10 3 0 7 12 19 9 Liverpool FC 10 2 2 6 11 22 8 Reading 11 2 1 8 14 26 7 Brighton 9 2 1 6 11 32 7 Leicester 10 1 0 9 5 25 3 VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH: Banbury Utd v Darlington, Buxton v Hereford FC, Chester FC v Peterborough Sports, Chorley v Boston Utd, Farsley Celtic v Brackley, Gloucester v Blyth Spartans, Kettering v Curzon Ashton, Kidderminster v Bradford P A, Scarborough Athletic v AFC Fylde, Southport v Alfreton Tn. SOUTH: Braintree Tn v Bath City, Chippenham v Worthing, Concord Rangers v Oxford City, Dover v Havant and W, Eastbourne Borough v Hungerford Tn, Farnborough v Ebbsfleet United, Hampton & Richmond v Tonbridge Angels, Slough v Dulwich, St Albans v Cheshunt, Welling v Hemel Hempstead, Weymouth v Chelmsford. GERMAN LEAGUE Cologne v Werder Bremen (5.30), Eintracht Frankfurt v Schalke (2.30), Stuttgart v Mainz (2.30), Union Berlin v Hoffenheim (2.30), VfL Bochum v Hertha Berlin (2.30), Wolfsburg v Freiburg (2.30). DUTCH LEAGUE Cambuur v Sparta (7.0), NEC Nijmegen v Emmen (5.45), PSV Eindhoven v Vitesse (7.0), RKC v Go Ahead Eagles (8.0). SPANISH LEAGUE Atletico Madrid v Valladolid (5.30), Espanyol v Real Betis (3.15), Rayo Vallecano v Real Sociedad (1.0), Sevilla v Cadiz (8.0). ITALIAN LEAGUE Fiorentina v Torino (7.45), Salernitana v Napoli (5.0), Verona v Lecce (2.0). TOMORROW PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Arsenal v Man Utd (4.30) TV .......................... 4 Leeds v Brentford (2) TV .................................... 6 Man City v Wolves (2)......................................... SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 15 Sunderland v Middlesbrough (12) TV ... SCOTTISH CUP FOURTH ROUND 45 Hibernian v Hearts (2) TV ................................. FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE - Brighton v Arsenal (6.45) TV ......................... - Chelsea v Liverpool FC (12.30) TV ............. - Everton v West Ham (1).................................... - Reading v Man Utd (2)........................................ - Tottenham v Leicester (2)............................... GERMAN LEAGUE B Dortmund v Augsburg (2.30), Borussia M’gladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (4.30). DUTCH LEAGUE AZ Alkmaar v Fortuna Sittard (3.45), Feyenoord v Ajax (1.30), Heerenveen v Groningen (11.15), Twente v Utrecht (1.30). SPANISH LEAGUE Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid (8.0), Barcelona v Getafe (5.30), Elche v Osasuna
106 SPORT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SPECIAL REPORT Clubbing together to make it through hard times This Spurs side is still making progress, insists Conte By John Derek Antonio Conte has admitted his Tottenham Hotspur side are currently defending like a relegation-threatened team. Spurs suffered a 4-2 defeat at Manchester City on Thursday to continue a humbling week after a derby day defeat at home to Arsenal last Sunday. It means Tottenham have conceded 21 goals in their last 10 Premier League matches to lose ground in the top four race but Conte (below) is adamant progress continues to be made. “The progress is for what I see and what the team produces,” he said ahead of Monday’s trip to Fulham. “Progress doesn’t depend on the result because during a process you start on one level and start work. “In this season we are up and down, against the top six we never won. We lost all the games apart from Chelsea. Compare to last season, we are doing less and to concede 21 in the last 10 games, is usually a team that fight relegation. We have to find balance.” “I dream, I want to play Champions League, there are 18 games in the Premier League, another competition in the FA Cup and we need to dream of something important.” ASTON VILLA Duran needs time to make mark: Emery Jhon Duran must be given time to make his mark in the Premier League, according to Aston Villa boss Unai Emery. The Colombia striker is joining Villa for £18m from Chicago Fire as Danny Ings heads to West Ham for £15m. Emery is revamping his forward line but insisted Duran is not expected to replace Ings – with Villa also after another striker - and patience is required with the 19-year-old. “He has potential as a striker if he can develop like we are thinking he will do,” said Emery, ahead of the trip to Southampton. “We can’t give him the responsibility, as a 19-yearold, to play as a striker in the Premier League against the best teams in the world.” Across the football landscape the game has reached out to the local community to help people in their time of need I t is a Wednesday morning in January and it is five degrees in the milky sunshine. On the ­Astroturf pitches next to ­Burton Albion’s Pirelli ­Stadium, youth teams train together, most of them ­wearing gloves, their exhalations creating a cloud of steam that briefly hangs eight feet above the ground. After five straight days of grey skies, pale blue has returned and brought with it a drop in temperatures. Across the car park, in a room on the North Stand Terrace of the stadium, more than 40 members of the local community have formed into a hive of activity, fuelled predominantly by cups of tea and chatter. Some play table tennis on two blue tables; others sit in groups of four or five and put the world and their football club to rights. They have just played bingo. Soon, a quiz will begin, chaired by health and wellbeing coordinator Amy Lewis, who teases the teams with mock accusations of cheating. Burton Albion’s Community Trust has run these sessions for 11 years, but over the past few years they have become increasingly vital. After the grimness of Covid-19 isolation, they provide a weekly spot where local people can make and maintain friendships. This winter, with its fuel and cost-ofliving crises, it is also a place of literal as well as emotional warmth. The UK is the sixth largest economy in the world, but if a society is only as healthy as its most vulnerable and its least financially Daniel Storey CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER secure, that economy is broken. The rise in inflation, financial impact of Covid-19, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and post-Brexit trade issues have combined to make the UK’s cost-of-living crisis the most severe of any advanced economy; 92 per cent of adults reported an increase in their cost of living in November-December 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates the biggest post-tax fall in real household income since records began in 1956. These numbers can often feel intangible; the better proof lies in individual stories than in national averages. Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, calculated in September that 2.5 million renters are behind or constantly struggling to pay rent. Millions of people in the UK feel as if their heads are being plunged below the water. The supposed hacks – putting on an extra jumper, buying an air fryer, leaving the curtains closed – aren’t enough. People don’t need tips, they need help. Fifty miles away from the Pirelli, Rotherham United launched a campaign specifically to combat the cost-of-living crisis, working with their own Community Sports Trust on “Every Miller Matters”. Five days a week, split into sessions for 11 to 17-year-olds, 18-35s, over-35s, over-55s and families with children, the club opens rooms in New York Stadium where anyone is invited to use its heating, power and Wi-Fi, to have a hot drink or a bowl of soup, charge their mobile, watch television or simply sit and talk to others. “As a club, we felt like we had to take action to try and help out and the Every Miller Matters campaign encapsulates all the ways in which we thought we could alleviate some of that pressure,” community programme manager Jonny Allan said. “We have already hosted a couple of sessions and it has been really eye-opening to speak to people and understand just how hard certain individuals have been hit. We believe there are more people out there who could benefit from what we are offering and I would implore those individuals or families to come down and see us. There is absolutely no judgement.” Across the country, professional football clubs have opened their doors. Manchester United’s Red Café was open for three hours every Monday and Wednesday in December, for people to get warm, enjoy hot drinks and snacks, and socialise. Brentford Community I would implore ­individuals or ­families to come down and see us. There is absolutely no judgement
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 107 EVERTON Lampard confident ahead of Hammers showdown By Richard Tanner Burton Albion’s health and wellbeing coordinator Amy Lewis (second from right) and some regulars at the club’s warm bank INEWS Brentford Community Trust’s Emily Donovan hopes for more visitors Sports Trust’s “warm space” is open every Monday morning to offer unlimited internet access and hot drinks. i spoke to Northampton Town and Sheffield Wednesday about similar schemes. Across the football pyramid, clubs have done their bit. Not all of these warm spaces are full. At Brentford, one of 30 warm hubs created in the London borough of Hounslow this winter, attendance is still low. But that’s not the point: the idea is not necessarily to have these spaces full, but to have them available and for people to know that they are there so that when they have a need, it is answered. “We are hoping, as word-ofmouth spreads in the New Year, that we will start to see more people through our doors every week,” Brentford Trust’s health and wellbeing manager Emily Donovan explains. A Refugees Welcome Hounslow Christmas party was attended by 55 refugees from across the Middle East and Africa. The idea is to be a pillar of the community and a safe space: open doors, friendly faces, practical help. Football clubs are well-placed to help out. Like libraries, museums and community halls, they are large spaces that are typically staffed throughout the working week (and therefore are heated accordingly). Unlike the other three, they are private rather than public spaces, but football clubs have a vested interest in community engagement. At elite level, clubs can often feel separate from the community: vast palaces of entertainment erected at enormous cost and home to enterprises that command loyalty from global fanbases. But at their heart, each share a common theme. Although to many supporters, a football club is relevant only on match day, even that is significant: these are usually the place in every town or city where the most people congregate regularly. For others, match day is less important than a Wednesday morning. During the week, a club is a place of support and companionship. It might sound twee, but that makes a greater difference to a greater number than what happens from 3pm to 5pm on a Saturday. Football’s creeping gentrification A club is about a great deal more than what happens on a Saturday. We’re here to ­support the whole community over the past 30 years has made attending matches a luxury experience, which in turn threatened to freeze out working-class support. Lower down the pyramid, ticket prices are lower but when money is tight, attending is not a possibility for many. If a club loses those traditional supporters, helping them when times are hard is the right choice. It flips the definition of “supporter” on its head – club supporting people rather than people supporting club. At Rotherham, Allan is keen to point out that their schemes are not simply a reaction to the recent crisis. They have recognised that deprivation is – and always will be – an issue in some communities and they are determined to help alleviate some of that pressure. It’s more important this winter. “We are open to anyone for two hours every Monday,” says Phill Smith, CEO of Northampton Town Community Trust. “There are people in our community, particularly the elderly, who don’t have a regular income beyond their pension, who may be unable to react to the cost-of-living crisis. The cost of putting the heating on is a challenge for them. They may be choosing between having a heater on and eating a hot meal. “It doesn’t have to be a fancy, complicated programme. It just needs to provide an answer to that problem. We’re here to support the whole community. A club is about a great deal more than what happens on the pitch on a Saturday.” There is a vaguely karmic element to all of this. As with any social institution, a symbiotic relationship exists between the organisation and the people who rely on it. If the community appreciates that the club supported them in a time of need, a lasting bond will go beyond buying match tickets. The club moves closer to the bosom of the local area. But on a cold Wednesday morning, and on many other days like it across the hardest winter in a generation, nobody is thinking about the bigger picture and they’re certainly not planning how the football club they work for might benefit in the long run. At Burton, Amy is telling people that the first iPhone was released in 2007, to groans from the quizzers. Emily is working out how best to spread the message through word of mouth. All of those we speak to say the same thing: it’s about putting smiles on the faces of people who need one. That is how you make a difference. If Frank Lampard loses his job at Everton this weekend, he will walk out of the club with his head held high, insisting he has given it everything. Lampard (below) accepts that the pressure he is under will only intensify if his team lose to fellow strugglers West Ham at the London Stadium in a game jokingly labelled “El Sackio”, with Hammers coach David Moyes’ future also on the line. The club’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, gave him a vote of confidence before last week’s home defeat to Southampton. But another loss today may well change Moshiri’s stance. Lampard kept Everton up last season – just – but has won only nine of 37 Premier League games since taking charge last year. “I’ve absolutely given it everything and it’s not one for me to analyse circumstances,” he said. “I’ve been given an opportunity to work at a great club. “Some things I can’t control so I just work. You want to help the squad with new signings. And it would help me as a coach, no doubt. Recruitment to help players you’ve already got are generally what will help you have relative success.” WEST HAM Moyes: We are still a united club David Moyes insists West Ham remain a united club ahead of their pivotal home meeting with fellow strugglers Everton. Moyes’ former club are deep in crisis and things have not gone to plan this season for West Ham either. “It’s a huge game for us both, yes,” said Moyes. “But one you look forward to, I’ve got to. “I remember when I came here, I was only here three or four games, we had supporters running on the pitch. It was a terrible time for us and I think one of the biggest things that needs to happen as a football club is for it to come together. “That needs the supporters, the players, the directors, all to be together. It’s the one thing that happens here at West Ham, I don’t see a divided club.”
108 SPORT PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL Mid-table tussle with echoes of fading powers W elcome to the mid-table derby, a ­s urreal landing for a couple of Deloitte richl i s t e rs . T h i rd plays eighth in the world money league reads rather better for Liverpool and Chelsea than ninth plays 10th in the Premier League. If we follow that old Medici paradigm, money never loses and we should expect the fortunes of the great houses of Anfield and Stamford Bridge to rise again, if not quite to mirror the Florentine power family that lorded over Italy for more than 400 years. For now we are witness to the episodic downturn to which wealthy barons are vulnerable should the margins turn against them in an ultra-competitive environment, as in Liverpool’s case, or an act of force majeure threatens the foundations, which was Chelsea’s fate when Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine to end peace in Europe and bust the ring of Moscow’s outreach oligarchs. Both clubs sit 10 points outside the qualification zone for the Champions League. The world’s premier club competition doubles not only as a pot worth winning, but as a base measure for doing business among the game’s superpowers. Liverpool’s rise from seventh to third in the 2021-22 Deloitte list was built on the 2022 Champions League final run, worth £102m, and a season in which gate receipts hit €100m (£87m) for Kevin Garside CHIEF SPORTS CORRESPONDENT the first time in the club’s history. With the Anfield expansion continuing, that figure will grow larger. Though Chelsea banked £24m less than Liverpool from their run to the quarters, the Champions League still pumped £79m on to the ­Stamford Bridge balance sheet. Such bullion is central to the capacity of both clubs to operate in the manner we have seen in the summer and winter transfer windows. Liverpool spent £104m in the summer and a further £40m so far this winter. Chelsea sploshed a record £278m in the ­summer, ­reinforced by a further £160m in this window. Yes, Chelsea have lost their minds, but, thanks to the offer of absurdly long contracts, the deals meet FFP regulations. The money has to drip through the ­accounts by some distant date, eight years down the line in the example of Mykhailo Mudryk, by which time Todd Boehly and his fellow prospectors trust their purchasing power will leave them on the right side of the top-four equation more often than not. The imperative to share in the Champions League riches raises the temperature considerably at today’s lunchtime fixture at Anfield. You imagine anything other than a win would be disastrous for both. Jürgen Klopp, noticeably brittle already, is giving off that short tempered, “what-kind-of-stupid-question-is-that” energy with which we have become so familiar when the sun doesn’t shine on his patch. The addition of yet another striker-forthe-future, Cody Gakpo, has hardly placated a coach dealing with an ailing midfield in need of nourishment. Questions about Liverpool’s transfer policy and the prospects of further additions in this window are guaranteed to trigger the appearance of “Bad Klopp”. No team has created more chances in the Premier League, which is a t­ estament to Liverpool’s attacking structure. Equally few cough up as many scoring ­opportunities to the opposition. Klopp wishes, of course, that Liverpool’s American ownership had the same unhinged capacity for risk as Chelsea’s, not that Graham Potter has been able to harness his resources to any meaningful effect. Potter has none of Klopp’s heft on which to fall back. Sunday’s narrow victory at home to Crystal Palace was only the second in the last 10 Premier League fixtures. At this elevation, exposed to the elements in a way he never was at his cosy base camp in Brighton, the questions are as much about his suitability to lead as it about the performance of his players. Reports from Spain have Boehly offering Medici money to Zinedane Zidane to rescue Chelsea’s season. Liverpool v Chelsea Which big gun can arrest their slide? OU T OF F ORM Both sides have lost five more matches than at the same stage last season and sit seven places further down the table. Both have also scored significantly less and conceded more 2 6 DE C ’2 1 D L 1 Man City 19 15 2 2 Liverpool 18 12 5 3 Chelsea 19 12 5 P W 2 50 12 47 F A PTS 1 50 15 41 2 42 13 41 2 1 JA N ’2 3 P W 8 Brentford 19 7 D L F 8 4 32 28 29 A PTS 9 Liverpool 18 8 10 Chelsea 19 8 4 6 34 25 28 4 7 22 21 28 C OM I NG F ROM B E HI ND The Reds have conceded first in five of their seven matches since the World Cup 22 Dec Man City (a) 26 Dec Aston Villa (a) 30 Dec Leicester (h) 2 Jan Brentford (a) 7 Jan Wolves (h) 14 Jan Brighton (a) 17 Jan Wolves (a) L 10 mins W W 4 mins L 19 mins D 26 mins L 47 mins W JÜRGEN A W A Y DA Y B L U E S Chelsea are winless in six on the road 29 Oct Brigh Brighton on n L 4-1 M an Cit Man City C L 2-0 L 1-0 9 Nov ov v 12 Nov Nov o v Newcastle ew as ewcast ewc ew astl stl tll ttle 1 Jan an n Forest Nott’m ott’ ott ott’m o tt’m m Fo F Fores est es stt D 1-1 8 Jan n Man M an n Cit City C it i L 4-0 12 Jan Fulham lh h L 2-1 4 PL clean sheets this season for Liverpool – only three teams have kept fewer This would be risible were it out of step with Chelsea’s scattergun approach to player acquisition. It is not. Potter has served Chelsea’s new ownership for 21 matches, three times as many as predecessor Thomas Tuchel. These guys shoot KLOPP Liverpool manager 2 Clean sheets kept by Liverpool in their last 10 matches (all comps) from the hip with the same disregard for sentiment as a Tudor monarch. Potter has adopted the continental tic of recalibrating defeats as a kind of suffering, part of a process towards salvation. Even with a win at Anfield you would not be sur- FOOTBALL IN BRIEF CHAMPIONSHIP LEEDS UNITED Female referee Welch Rutter unfazed by £36m transfer fee breaks new ground Rebecca Welch (left) will become the first woman to referee a men’s Championship match when she takes charge of Birmingham versus Preston today. Welch, 39, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, already holds the honour of being the first woman to referee an English Football League match – Harrogate versus Port Vale in April 2021. Last year she became the first woman to referee an FA Cup third-round tie, also at Birmingham, as the Blues lost 1-0 to Plymouth. Leeds’ new record signing Georginio Rutter insists he will not be weighed down by his £36m price tag. The France Under-21 striker signed a five-anda-half-year deal at Elland Road after arriving from Hoffenheim, his fee eclipsing the £27m paid for Rodrigo in 2020. Rutter, 20, who will be in Jesse Marsch’s squad to face Brentford tomorrow, said: “It’s not something that puts any pressure on me at all. I concentrate on playing my football, doing stuff I know how to do. “It’s the clubs who negotiate, I just get on with my football.” NEWCASTLE UNITED Forest to welcome new Wood Chris Wood has become Nottingham Forest’s 24th signing of the season after joining on loan from Newcastle. The 31-year-old (right) will spend the rest of the campaign at the City Ground and the move will become a permanent one until the summer of 2024 if certain conditions are met. He leaves St James’ Park after 12 months, having joined from Burnley for £25m and played a big part in Newcastle’s survival. But he has fallen down the pecking order behind Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak and will get regular action under Steve Cooper at Forest following a longterm injury to Taiwo Awoniyi. “It’s a great feeling and I am very thankful to be here,” the New Zealand international said. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is hopeful he can replace Wood, warning that the striker’s move could leave the team “dangerously short of players”. “He’s really been a huge player for us,” Howe said. FULHAM Silva: Premier League survival is our goal Marco Silva insisted Fulham’s main target for the season remains Premier League survival despite their impressive first half of the campaign. Fulham host Tottenham at Craven Cottage on Monday and go into the weekend in sixth place on 31 points, just two points behind their London derby opponents – and 16 clear of relegation. However, Silva said: “Our ambition is to remain in the Premier League, it’s our goal and we are not going to change,” the Fulham boss (above) said.
V1 NEWS 2-41 GRAPHIC: MATT COLES RESEARCH: JAMES MARINER OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 LIVERPOOL Thousand games for Klopp – and never a dull moment By Richard Tanner GRAHAM POTTER Chelsea manager 2 Clean sheets kept by Chelsea in their last 13 matches (all comps) prised to see him smuggled along the Thames to the Tower. Mercy in Tudor times came in the shape of an axe. These days he would get a penthouse suite with a river view and a few mill to invest in a keep of his own until the next post comes along. Jürgen Klopp celebrates the 1,000th game of his managerial career today by admitting he could have been finished after the first seven of them. Klopp was appointed as boss of relegation-threatened Mainz – where he had spent his entire playing career – in late February 2001 and won six of his first seven games to save them from the drop to Germany’s third tier. “If we had lost one more of those seven games, we would’ve been relegated,” he said. “If we’d won five from seven, it would have been an outstanding number, but no one would’ve recognised that if you go down to the third league – which would be the equivalent of League One in England. “And a very promising coaching career could’ve been finished before it started. I was lucky that didn’t happen.” Klopp went on – after two near misses – to steer Mainz to promotion to the Bundesliga and into Europe for the first time before being lured to Borussia Dortmund. There he broke Bayern Munich’s domestic domination to win backto-back Bundesliga titles and the German Cup, and reach a Champions League final. Since taking over at Liverpool in October 2015 he has lifted six trophies – Champions League, Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup – and, at 55, insists he still feels “blessed” to be a manager despite all the frustrations and setbacks, with never a dull moment. “Not all of the 1,000 games were good and not all the phases were good, but most of the time it went in the right direction,” he added. “What you learn in those difficult times is you solve football problems with football. There is a way out of SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 109 CHELSEA ‘Mudryk will bring speed to our attack’ – Potter » Continued from back page Jürgen Klopp stopped Mainz from dropping into Germany’s third tier GETTY each situation in football. That’s how it is, and I didn’t know that 22 years ago. I learned it the hard way. “For me, it is the best job in the world. It’s not a relaxing job, it’s not a job where you have a lot of holidays or whatever, but I love it. I feel really blessed I can do it, because it is the only thing I really can do. “It would be a very calm life if I was not a manager but I am absolutely fine with the excitement, the pressure, the outstanding moments and the less good moments. It’s part of the deal, nobody wins all the time. I knew that early, so I don’t expect it You have to always develop. It is not for one second boring. That’s the best thing you can say about your working life but I still try to do it [win] as often as possible.” Asked what advice he would give to himself if he was starting out at Mainz, he said: “The advice would have been to be open, work hard, be curious, ‘nosey’, look around the corners and try to find solutions for problems you don’t have at the moment but will have in the future. “The most important thing is to be busy. Learn the game. With coaching, it is a bit the same as with golf – when you think you’ve got it, the game will tell you differently. “You have to always develop and that’s what I like the most about the job. It is not for one second boring. That’s the best thing you can say about your working life. It is the best thing I can imagine to do.” Today’s home clash with Chelsea will be Klopp’s 411th in charge of Liverpool following 270 at Mainz and 319 at Dortmund. He boasts an impressive 53.9 per cent win rate from his spells at those three clubs. Liverpool are boosted by the return of striker Darwin Nunez after a minor hamstring injruy. who is another winger, also in the pipeline. “He brings speed, he brings directness, he brings one-vone ability to just eliminate an opponent, “ Potter (below) said. “Sometimes with all the noise around him you have to focus on helping him settle in, not put too much pressure on him. “It doesn’t matter how much the price tag says, it’s about how a human being goes from one country and one league to this country and this league, and help him understand about us and us as a club. If we do that well then he will be a huge success.” Potter admitted he faced a headache at the end of the month however in trying to shoehorn new faces into his Champions League squad, especially as Reece James, N’Golo Kanté and Ben Chilwell are nearing returns from injury. Chelsea’s third round FA Cup exit means he will have a rare opportunity for team bonding before then however. Potter made his players perform ballet when he was at Ostersunds but won’t go for a Stamford Bridge sequel. “There’ll be no Swan Lake here,” he said. “It’s not that they wouldn’t respond to it, I just think you have to be mindful of the environment first and the context.”
110 SPORT PREMIER LEAGUE ARSENAL v MANCHESTER UNITED FOR TEN HAG, ‘GOOD’ E rik ten Hag’s face told its own story. When Michael Olise’s injury time free-kick cannoned off David de Gea’s crossbar and snapped Manchester United’s winning streak at Selhurst Park on Wednesday, the manager’s clenched teeth and thousand-yard stare summed up a denouement drenched in frustration. With nine wins behind them, it’s natural to assume an off-day was in the post for the Premier League’s form team. But excuses like that jar with the culture being built at Old Trafford by the impressive Ten Hag (below). It has eaten him up all week. “I look in the mirror,” he said afterwards when offered the get-out of some iffy officiating in South London. “I look to my team, to my own management and coaching and say, invest more in the second goal and you avoid situations that are dependent on the referee and VAR.” Ten Hag has a saying that his players now know well: “Good is not good enough, it has to be better every day.” It is not just an empty slogan, it is the philosophy that drives his management and the basic standard expected of his squad. His players learned of those standards quickly as Ten Hag imposed his will on a team of well-paid but underperforming stars. Some considered previously undroppable have fallen foul of them and have found themselves out of the team for prolonged periods. Cristiano Ronaldo, a bona Mark Douglas NORTHERN FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT fide club icon, was expelled from the group permanently. No one, not even those signed for huge fees on Ten Hag’s personal recommendation, have been spared. That fierce drive for improvement is what has transformed Manchester United from what Jesse Lingard admits was a “free for all, everyone doing things for themselves” into a unified, disciplined side that are on the fringes of the title race. In many ways it is a triumph of reasserting the basics. Ten Hag believes the basis for everything lies in attitude on the training ground, where sessions are packed with detail and can be gruelling but keep the squad on their toes. His players, in Ten Hag’s words, must “work hard” and “show the right attitude”. He has entrusted a cadre of senior leaders in the dressing room to police standards, only stepping in when he feels he needs to, and it is working. The briefings and leaks to the media have stopped. Players appreciate the certainty he has brought and his man management has impressed too, especially the way he has handled Jadon Sancho in recent weeks. In a symbolic move he requested that the players’ briefing room at Carrington be refurbished and it was, at no small cost. It was no coincidence: players are better drilled, know their roles and have more information than they did under his predecessors. Marry all of this with a manager who has impressed his players and peers with his ability to read games and make impactful changes during matches (assistant Steve McClaren says he reads a game better than anyone he has worked with) and you have a recipe for long-term success. Those familiar with his style say his work ethic is formidable. Ten Hag has lived in Manchester for five months now but friends say he hasn’t set foot inside the city centre once. He is frequently the first one into the Carrington training ground and often, during the long winter months, the last one to depart. This is McClaren again, speaking to Dutch publication Tubantia in a recent profile of United hope lightning strikes twice All you need to know about tomorrow’s clash PREM IER L EAGUE F INISHES SI NC E ARSE NAL’ S LAST T I T LE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Arsenal Manchester United 8 20 03 20 -04 04 20 -05 05 20 -06 06 2 0 - 07 07 20 -08 08 20 09 09 20 10 10 -1 20 1 1 11 20 2 12 -1 20 3 13 -14 20 14 20 15 15 2 0 16 16 2 0 17 17 -1 8 20 18 2 0 19 19 20 20 20 -2 20 1 21 -2 2 Dutch manager has Manchester United flying again with discipline, symbolism and trusted deputies TURN IT UP TO 11 M A RV E L L OU S M A RC U S United looking to extend unbeaten run Rashford’s eight games since the World Cup: 10 Nov Aston Villa (h) W 4-2 13 Nov Fulham (a) W 2-1 21 Dec Burnley (h) W 2-0 27 Dec Nott’m Forest (h) W 3-0 L E A DI NG S C ORE RS ALL C OMP S 31 Dec Wolves (a) W 1-0 Arsenal 3 Jan W 3-0 M Odegaard Bournemouth (h) 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 – 8 SAKA Arsenal 7 W 3-1 G Martinelli, E Nketiah, B Saka 10 Jan Charlton (h) W 3-0 Man Utd 14 Jan Man City (h) W 2-1 18 Jan C Palace (a) D 1-1 6 Jan Everton (h) BUKAYO 16 M Rashford 5 Antony, B Fernandes, A Martial, GL O RIO US GUN NE RS P L F ORM 2 0 2 2 -2 3 4 Sept United inflict Arsenal’s only loss, Rashford scoring twice in 3-1 win W W W W W L W W W W 2017-18 D W W W W W No side has done the double in this fixture for five seasons Ten Hag: “Erik has put an end to the chaos. Player behaviour has totally changed, discipline is back. “The unrest is gone and everywhere you notice that he is respected – and believe me, it is not easy to achieve that at such a big club. “He chats with everyone here on the training complex, gives everyone attention, but he is the boss. With Erik there is no but, why or if. Grey does not exist, it is black or white. You run and if you can’t or don’t want to, you go.” Ten Hag does not give the impression of a man who is easily impressed and he isn’t prepared to indulge talk that he has already changed the club’s direction. “It is a bit too early to say I have things on track,” he said recently. “But we are on the right track.” Arsenal tomorrow continues a run of games that will tell us much 1 D W Year since Arsenal last went successive home matches without scoring (20 Jan 2022: lost 2-0 v Liverpool, 23 Jan: drew 0-0 with Burnley) about whether he is re-establishing the Red Devils as a genuine force capable of battling for the biggest honours in the game. Manchester City were dispatched but Palace illustrated the danger of United playing the percentages, as they sometimes do. They have won seven games by a single goal margin and have scored The unrest is gone and he is respected everywhere – and believe me, it is not easy to achieve that at such a big club the fewest goals of any team in the top half of the table. There remains plenty of room for improvement and this season’s Premier League has proved the foolishness of snap judgements. In October Erling Haaland was the goal machine who made Manchester City virtually unstoppable; the last week has been dominated by speculation that his signing has broken Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled unit. Ten Hag and his players were roundly written off after the Brentford debacle in August, after which he made the players run 13km in searing Manchester heat – the distance their opponents outran them on the day. Famously he joined them on their punishment run, in a highly symbolic move. A few months on, the pace of Ten Hag’s revolution is picking up.
NEWS 2-41 OPINION 27-32 LIFE 45-81 PUZZLES 51-56 TV 58-71 TRAVEL 75-81 MONEY 87-91 SPORT 99-112 SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 111 ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH GRAPHIC: MATT COLES RESEARCH: JAMES MARINER PR OBABLE TEAMS Kick-off Tomorrow, 4.30pm Venue Emirates Stadium Television Sky Sports Premier League Referee A Taylor (Cheshire) Trossard is no Mudryk, but he is precisely what Arsenal’s attacking trio need right now AR S EN AL 4-3-3 Ramsdale White Gabriel Zinchenko Saliba Odegaard Partey Xhaka Saka Nketiah Martinelli Weghorst Rashford Shaw Eriksen Fernandes McTominay Fred Martinez Varane WanBissaka De Gea MAN CH ES TER U N ITED 4-2-3-1 BRUNO FERNANDES Arsenal wins Manchester United Man United wins 85 99 H EAD -TO-H EAD A L L CO MPE T I T I ONS Draws 53 9 Premier League clean sheets this season for Aaron Ramsdale, one more than David de Gea 2 Points dropped at home by Arsenal since losing to Brighton last April Gunners ‘deserve to be top’ By Simon Peach Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United can frustrate Arsenal again as his side look to do the double over the Premier League leaders. Gunners fans are beginning to dream of a first league crown since 2004 but third-placed United will attempt to chip away at an eightpoint gap tomorrow. Ten Hag’s improving side head to north London buoyed by a superb unbeaten run and the knowledge that they are the only team to have beaten Mikel Arteta’s side in the league this season. “It is obvious they are in a really good run and I think they deserve the position where they are now,” said the United boss, who oversaw September’s 3-1 Old Trafford win. “It’s a really good structure, how they play. There’s a really good mentality, winning attitude in that team. That’s why they are top. “They are in a great run but it is up to us to beat that run and we will do everything to do that.” Asked if he was surprised to see Arsenal top, Ten Hag said: “No. You see really good structures in the team and I think they even improved during the first half of the season. “There is a really good spirit as well, so we know what to do. We have to be really good. We need a really good performance.” Oliver Young-Myles Arsenal may have missed out on securing their top transfer target this month after being Todd Boehly’d in their pursuit of Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, but they have moved swiftly on from that disappointment by signing Leandro Trossard from Brighton instead. And for a significantly cheaper fee than the £88.5m Chelsea splashed out on Mudryk. The 28-year-old has joined for an initial £20m transfer fee potentially rising to £27m if performance-related add-ons are met, and has signed a three-anda-half-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months. He will wear the No 19 shirt for his new club. It looks like an astute piece of business. Trossard’s Premier League experience, versatility and history of working alongside Mikel Arteta’s assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg during their brief time together at Genk, should ensure a relatively speedy adaptation. Arsenal are adding proven quality to a squad chasing a first league title since 2004. “He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence and a great deal of experience in the Premier League and at international level,” Arteta said. “Leandro strengthens our squad as we head into the second part of the season and we’re all looking forward to working with him.” Trossard, whose final appearance for the Seagulls came in a 4-2 defeat to Arsenal on New Year’s Eve, now faces the unenviable task of breaking up one of the most settled and in-form attacking units in the division. Although he was used in a variety of positions for Brighton, including at centreforward and wing-back, Trossard is most accustomed to playing as a wide forward, usually on the left, or else as a No 10, positions currently occupied at Arsenal by Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Only once this season has Arteta not named that trio Leandro Trossard will be seeking to disrupt Arsenal’s attacking trio GETTY together in his starting line-up for a Premier League match, back in September when Odegaard missed a 3-0 win against Brentford due to a calf injury. Martinelli and Saka have started all 18 Premier League games this season. Although Trossard may struggle to break up the triumvirate, he will be a useful option should injury, fatigue or a dip in form affect any of them during the second half of the season. Arsenal’s attack is both efficient and cohesive. Each player is completely tuned in to the movements and traits of the others, which is why Arsenal have been so difficult to stop this season and such potency has limited Arteta’s (right) capacity to rotate his attacking trio. Arsenal’s understudies in those attacking roles – Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe – have featured for a combined 358 minutes in the Premier League this campaign. He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence and a great deal of experience The benefit that Trossard has over Arsenal’s current backups, though, is that he is already in his peak, rather than in a developmental phase. Over the past 18 months, Trossard’s goalscoring output has noticeably increased: after scoring five goals in his first two seasons at Brighton, he contributed eight last season and seven in only 16 games this term. He was one of the most in-form players in the league prior to the World Cup. His arrival marks a break from Arsenal’s recent transfer policy that has prioritised players with potential over more established names. Since the start of last season, Arsenal have signed 13 outfielders, all of whom were 25 or under at the time of their arrival – including 22-year-old Poland centre-back Jakub Kiwior who is joining from Spezia – with the exception of Trossard. That additional experience can be beneficial to a dressing room that is short of it. After excelling in a Brighton side renowned for pressing high and with intensity, he should be a natural stylistic fit for Arteta’s system too. Trossard may not be as exciting a recruit as Mudryk would have been, but he is a plug-in-and-play option that improves Arsenal’s squad depth. And with a Premier League title to contest, that could be all important.
V1 112 SPORT Sport inews.co.uk/sport iPaperSport @iPaperSport HARD TIMES WARM HEARTS Mick McCarthy on his surprise appointment at struggling Blackpool P104 Special report on how Rotherham, Burton, Brentford and others are opening their doors to keep their communities comfortable during cost of living crisis LIVING THE TANGERINE DREAM P106 RUGBY UNION Scotland via Devon Skinner speaks to i on hopes for Europe, Six Nations ... and Exeter An £88m guess Potter admits Chelsea have taken a punt on Ukrainian winger Mudryk By Jon West Graham Potter admits Chelsea have made an “educated guess” when it comes to Mykhailo Mudryk and his eight-year contract. Ukraine winger Mudryk (right) is set to make an instant debut – almost certainly off the bench – at Liverpool this lunchtime after the Blues pipped Arsenal to sign him. They paid Shakhtar Donetsk £88m to do so, with the player’s lengthy contract designed to avoid falling foul of Financial Fair Play regulations. P102 Manager Potter admitted it represented a big gamble considering plenty of previous stars in their own homeland had found the Premier League too hot to handle. “There is no guarantee anywhere,” he said. “No magic formula that says this is going to work and this is how we see the future.. “With every decision you’ve got to make the best educated guess that you can. “If you identify the right player and the right person there’s huge upsides to it because you are developing and investing in him. “If things go well you have a fantastic asset, and the club is secure in terms of the contract length. It’s a direction the club wants to go down and obviously I am supporting that as best I can.” Potter is not short of wide men but believes the 22-year-old nevertheless added a missing ingredient to a squad that has also seen Joao Felix, Benoît Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos added this month, with a deal for PSV Eindhoven’s Noni Madueke, Continued on P109