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FR

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR FREE NEWSPAPER

Stranding strip:
Hundreds of lorries
parked on runway
of former RAF airfield
at Manston in Kent
WILLIAM EDWARDS/GETTY

NO ROOM
AT THE INN SALLY ARMY FEEDS STRANDED TRUCKERS
STRANDED truck drivers facing their
third night with little to eat and nowhere
to stay except their lorries were given
Pining for Christmas cheer – by the Salvation Army.
home: Around 4,000 trucks lined the M20 and
Romanian local streets in Dover or parked in rows
drivers on a former RAF base. Drivers were mostly
decorate Europeans trying to get home.
temporary After EU pleas, France last night lifted
tree REX the ban on planes, trains and boats it had
by DOMINIC YEATMAN
brought in over fears they would bring
with them the highly infectious strain of
Covid-19 spreading across Britain.
It said all travellers must have PCR
tests, which take up to three days for
results. But sources last night said it had
agreed to allow hauliers through with
rapid lateral flow tests, which typically
come back within an hour. In each case,
travellers must show a negative result.
The agreement offered truckers hope
of getting home and helped ease fears of
food shortages here.
However, German Ronald Schroeder,
52, said he felt like ‘Robinson Crusoe on
an island’ when he realised he may miss
Continued on Page 4 »
2 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020
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MERRY CHRISTMAS PM PUT IN
Tuesday, april 7, 2020
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Friday, a 4, 2020

FIND
Heir hear: Charles and
Camilla, and staff at

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Hospital in London PA

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AND A HAPPY NEW INTENSIVE THE
Thursday, November 5, 2020 The world’s mosT popular free Newspaper

CLAPPIN’
MAKE
Applause-some: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 The world’s MosT popular free newspaper
Theo wears gloves.

CARE UNIT
to stop his hands.
stinging but.
his elbows and.
and shoulders

YEAR EVERYONE!
were soon sore.

GAP
Challenge:

FANTASTIC
RICHARD RAYNER/NORTH NEWS.
President
called for
Michigan
count to be
stopped AFP

AM
MERIC A
johnson’s symptoms worsen
11 days after testing positive
applaud
for killer virus
as millions around britain12 hours
carers, this lad did it for

Clappy days: y kerri muirhead

by
Theo in action rves a big hand
DETERMINED Theo Woods dese

TODAY is the last edition of Metro for 2020.

outside his home for 12 hours to
– after clapping continuously
raise money for the NHS.
Duke and Duchess
Millions of people, including the
leant out of their
of Cornwall, stepped outside or
applaud Britain’s
windows at 8pm yesterday to
carers for a fourth Thursday running.

WA
AIT
Theo began
But it was only 8am when 13-year-old
wore rubber gloves to
his challenge. The youngster, who

We would like to take this opportunity to

and elbows were
protect his hands, found his shoulders
workers do 12-hour
soon aching but kept on going. ‘NHS
decide on 12 hours,’ he
shifts so that is what made me
Continued on Page 4 »

Expert care: Mr Johnson was transferred

thank all of you, our loyal readers, for your

CORONAVIRUS patient Boris Johnson
wa last
was l t night
i h moved to intensive care
after taking a turn for the worse.
The prime minister remained ‘con-
scious at this time’ and had
been
moved as a precaution in case
he
needed to be put on a ventilator,
to the ICU at St Thomas’ Hospital in London
by DOMINIC YEATMAN
night: ‘Over the course of this
after-
noon, the condition of the prime
min-
ister has worsened and, on the advice
of his medical team, he has
been
around 7pm last night EPA
t i h @GSTTnhs has some of
tonight.
the
finest medical staff in the world,
and
he couldn’t be in safer hands.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer
tweeted: ‘Terribly sad news. All
the
country’s thought

support, and wish you and your families a

moved to the intensive care unit

AGAIN
No.10 announced. t

Crammed sCenes on the tube that

the hospital ’
He asked for his No 2 Domi i
wh

ProVed measures
ures Wer
Weren’t enough
Page 3 »

BRITAIN ON
peaceful Christmas and a much better and

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safer new year! FR

Bojoy!
lar free newspaper
‘Something specia al’: 30, 2020
Lewis Burton wi Thursday, april
Caroline Flack in phoith

LOCKDOWN
he posted on Instagraoto

It has been such a tough time for everyone

m

Monday, February
17, 2020
Bye, Don:
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Boris Back athealthy
Joe Biden and
# grief of carolin
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Boyy Page 3 » wife Jill in
carrie has a
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celebratory

and we truly appreciate the kind messages

Basking in the son: mood EPA
before
# love island ‘tribute star died A visibly delighted

by dominic yeatman ’ tonight PM arrives home

from hospital
CAROLINE FLACK’S after the birth
has said ‘my heart devastated boyfriend of his son with

you have sent our team throughout the year.

former Love Island is broken’ after
the
her north London
host took her own
life at
Carrie Symonds
home. ANDREW PARSONS/

# Pm saYs staY at # all gatherings # onlY one form

Lewis Burton, 27,
together online as
posted a photo
of them DOWNING STREET Desperate
calls
be axed amid claims grew for the show to Don: Mr
‘Biggest threat’:
over her arrest on
The tennis player
bosses abandoned
assault charges. her
Boris Johnson last
home, PoliCe get of more than tWo of exerCise a daY, Trump
PoWer to enforCe are noW banned basiC shoPs onlY
– who was the
assault victim but alleged yesterday

And be assured, your favourite commuter

had
to be dropped – wrote asked for the charges
is broken, we had
on Instagram: ‘My
heart
night imposed REUTERS
something so special.
will be your voice
baby. I promise I unprecedented A FULL lockdown of the UK was by DANIEL BINNS gyms and places of worship have also
all the questions I will ask
you wanted and ordered by Boris Johnson last night in been ordered to shut.
all the answers.
Nothing will bring
but I will try to make
I will get
you back
measures a dramatic escalation of efforts to slow two people – unless they live together Mr Johnson said the measures were
you proud every
love you with all
my heart.’
day. I ANDREW PARSONS/ the spread of coronavirus. – and said police would have powers to necessary to tackle what he described

ELECTION
paper will be back on Monday, January 4.
ITV dropped last
The prime minister told the nation to enforce the draconian new measures, as ’the biggest threat this country has
Biden COnFidenT
night’s 10 DOWNNG STREET
Island – and Saturday’s broadcast of Love JOE BIDEN was inching closer to the by AIDAN RADNEDGE than any candidate in history y –
spin-off show – stay at home for at least three weeks – including by issuing fines. seen for decades’.

2020
but the reality White House last night with a seemingly surpassing the 69,498,516 wh ho
series is due to
return tonight with
paying tribute to
a segment only venturing out for food shopping, All shops selling non-essential items In a TV address, he thanked the ‘huge desperate Donald Trump threatening votes needed, with victories in key states backed Barack Obama in 200 08.

OF Win AS Trump
Flack. ‘absolutely necessary work’, exercise must close after the UK death rate from numbers’ of people who have been
Meanwhile, it
emerged court action as the delayed US presiden- such as Arizona and Wisconsin. Mr Biden But Republican Mr Trump said he
paramedics were
called to once a day or medical needs. Covid-19 reached 335, up 54 in a single tial election result descended into chaos. declared at a press conference: ‘We would go to the US Supreme Cou urt
the home of the
star, 40, He banned gatherings of more than day. Libraries, playgrounds, outdoor Continued on Page 2 » The Democrat challenger’s campaign believe we will be the winners.’ over ‘fraud’ involving postal ballots

ClAiming FrAud
Meanwhile, if you are a puzzles addict,
on Valentine’s Day
– hours
before she killed team were increasingly confident he With counting still not over, it
herself.

SALMOND NOT GUILTY OF SEX ASSAULTS

The 999 crew assessed
would secure the 270 electoral college emerged Mr Biden had won more votes Continued on Pa
age 2 »
Continued on Page

‘MY HEART
2»

M
Page 13 »

don’t despair. The Metro app will continue to

publish across the festive period offering IS BROKEN’ CAPTAIN TO
NEL
crosswords, Sudoku and more. # storm dennis:
record flood
alerts across
uk Page 5 » # is downing
NOW COLO hero Nhs fuNdrais
is being given a
er is promoted
for his
by AidAn RAdnedge
CAPTAIN Tom Moore 100th birthday
oN his 100th Birthday

after misplacing
the
England football
and athletics star
captain Harry Kane
Dame Kelly Holmes.
Col Tom said last
extraordinary that
night: ‘It is quite
I am turning 100.
It
Stay at home: The first lockdown begins Don gone: Biden wins vote but tally is slow
st about to axe Defence Medal

Just download from the App Store or

special present to colonel. with for service that I am
the licence fee? today – promotion he was presented is even more extraordinary
who has one many well-wishers
Page 7 » The army veteran, World War II. doing so with this the response my
£30million during will be a flypast in his honour at
raised almost There and I am in awe
for the NHS by
walking of Britain Memorial walking has had.
is to be by the RAF’s Battle after him will has donated, sent
laps of his garden, and a train named ‘To everyone who
country Flight messages, sincerely
feted across the take to the tracks. birthday cards and
as he reaches his
century. birthday cards
More than 125,000 the 2»
As well as the upgrade including from Continued on Page
have been sent,

Google Play.
colonel, he of Cambridge, the
to honorary and Duchess
Rank and smile: a new Duke
will be awarded
The inspirational
Col Tom Moore

HAVE we had news for

you! As 2020 finally
FROM ROYAL SPLITS TO
approaches its end it’s VIRUS TRAGEDY... IT WAS
been 12 months of suffer-
ing and scandal – from coro-
A TIME LIKE NO OTHER
navirus to Brexit, royal familly FR
E E

CORONAVVIRUS
fallouts to celebrity tragedy. WIPES £660b
OFF THE FTS

GUILTY
Tuesday, February
25, 2020
The world

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pa
andemic: Pag

free neWspaper

news to brighten the gloom m

mosT popular
The World’s

They thought free

17, 2020
Wednesday, June

but this most irregular of WEINSTEIN

years did begin with a famill- IS LOCKED school meals were
all over,, they’re
iar tale of woe: swingeing g UPP AT LAS ST
rises in rail fares.
# rapist mogul
# campa faces up to 29 y
aigners hail huge
RAPIST movie m
ears in ja
#metoo momenil
t ...NOT
NOW!
ogul Harvey Wei
was behind bars nstein by
last AidAn RAdne
to 29 years in prison night – facing up dge

A more unexpected story y

fo
or sex crimes. Brave victims: Miriam
The disgraced sexual assault
Holly ywood producer is sexual assault,
was remanded matter what,’ Mr no Haley (below left) and
in cust
unanimously found tody after a jury rape whether Vance said. ‘Rape
is
hi
attacks on women im guilty of two in a dark alley
committed by a
stranger Jessica Mann
– or
degree and a criminal rape in the third ner in a working by an intimate part-
sexual assault. relationship.’
The verdicts were Weinstein faces
e
#MeToo campaigners welcomed by the criminal up to 25 years
for
as a vindication sexual assault
– a first

soon dominated discus-

of women who degree offence in
spoke e out against the the New York system
multi-millionaire. – of production
assistant Miriam
And prosecutors in 2006. The Haley
hai third degree rape
scape for survivors iled ‘a new land- actress Jessica of
of sexual assault’. Mann in 2013
Manhattan district could
s
earn him another Sex off
attorney Cyrus four years. ffender:

england’s marcu
Vance said the The mogul will
‘heroi Harvey Weinstein
W
who gave evidence ic’ eight women March 11 but be sentenced on
arrives at
an
aggainst Weinstein, was handcuffed a court

rashford gets
67, had ‘changed put behind bars and
yesterdayy before

sions, however – the Duke

the
in the fight against course of history after the jury’s for the first time
‘These are eight
sex xual violence’. guilty verdicts, being taken to jail
which followed

extra time u-turn

women who pulled five days of following verdict Page 5 » soar Page 4 »
# benefits claims
our justice system deliberations. Surrounded

TS
in
nto the 21st cen-
Page 2 »
by PICTURE: JOHN M MANTEL
tury by declaring
of bame victims

£5 DRUG CU
thatt rape is rape
and Continued on Pa
high number
y blamed for
ge 7 »
social inequalit
# racism and

and Duchess of Sussex

announcing they would
COVID DEATHS
quit their royal roles.
saved 5,000 lives
rough’ could have available – it’s on
almost

s say ‘major breakth

is very widely
against the virus.
The shelf in every hospital
use in the war every pharmacy
scientistrisk
britishthat by aidan radnedge prime minister’s
chief medical officer
it was ‘the most
and it’s extremely
cheap.
news that we’ve
got
reduces death Chris Whitty said ‘This is really good
A CHEAP drug by up to a third experts behind a for Covid-19 so far’ almost every patient
in coronavirus patients say Oxford university in hospitals. important trial result a treatment that

Also stepping back from

world’.
available following
a lives around the
major trial conducted and would ‘save 5»
is being made in Britain. 200,000 courses
of
The Oxford study’s
lead investigator Continued on Page
‘world-first’ breakthrough There are about and itself
could stockpile said: ‘The drug
The £5 steroid dexamethasone been the drug in a governmentfor immediate Prof Peter Horby
UK lives had it it has been approved
have saved 5,000
start of the outbreak,
used since the

public duties was the Duke e of York,

prompted by controversy over his
former friendship with sex offender Good with initial reports from Wuhan in
Jeffrey Epstein. news: China. The first confirmed British
After Epstein died, another notori- Weinstein cases came in February, with the first
ous US abuser, Harvey Weinstein, jailed, and recorded death the next month – and
was found guilty of rape in February a national lockdown declared by
(right)
in a landmark #MeToo victory. Boris Johnson on March 23.
Celebrities lost this year included
Covid The prime minister suffered his
national treasures such as singer
break- own Covid-19 ordeal – being rushed
Dame Vera Lynn, presenter Nicholas through, to hospital on April 5, then recover-
Parsons, movie stars Dame Diana as Marcus ing enough to joke about being
Rigg and Sir Sean Connery and enter- Rashford ‘mugged’ by the virus.
tainer Des O’Connor. fights for And the PM, who welcomed the
More shocking, however, was the school birth of son Wilfred by fiancée Carrie
February suicide of TV host Caroline meals Symonds in April, has also been
Flack at just 40. And last month, foot- dogged by criticisms over his han-
ball fans mourned 60-year-old Diego dling of the pandemic.
Maradona, possibly the most tal- Perhaps most damaging was his
ented player of all time. defence of Dominic Cummings, after
But of course it was coronavirus the aide defied his own virus symp-
dominating g front pag ges, starting
g toms to drive 250 miles to Durham

viENNa heard: depp

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shoved kate
FR

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TERROR moss down

aTTack the stairs

wElcomE
co
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 The world’s mosT popular free Newspaper Page 7 » Wednesday, July 22, 2020 The World’s mosT popular free neWspaper Latest court claim: Page 3 »

JOHNNY
ROTTEN LIBEL CASE
SENSATION:
dEpp dId # scandal of # cameron, # oligarch cash
BEAT HIS YO
U R DAILY SH
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blind
d eye to may, johnson laundered here,
Ex-wIfE
ET
interference all ignored lords linked to
BI
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by ru
ussians the threat moscow cronies
IX

AmBEr
12 TImES
Vlad influence:
Russian president
Vladimir Putin
Pa has his sights
ges
Page 3 » 8-9 » on Britain

CRON
NY
by dominic yeatman

BORIS JOHNSON was warned of a ‘cron ny

virus’ at the heart of Downing Stre eet
yesterday as furious MPs tore into his
plans for a second countrywide lockdown n.
The prime minister defended Test an nd
Trace boss Dido Harding, despite conta act
tracing falling to a record low, and rejecte
ed

VIRU
US
calls to sack the head of his vaccine tassk-
force, Kate Bingham, after she was accuse ed

by DOMINIC YEATMAN

BORIS JOHNSON N turned a blind eye to Vladimir Putin’s

efforts to influennce UK elections as a deluge of dodgy
roubles poured into ‘Londongrad’, according to a
bombshell reporrt on Russian interference.
The prime min nister – along with his predeces-
sors David Came eron and Theresa May – ‘actively
avoided’ lookin ng for evidence about the
Kremlin’s attem mpts to interfere in both the
of revealing confidential informa-
tion to US financiers. Neither
woman faced competition for
mps quESTION JOBS fOr pALS Brexit and Scotttish referendums, the Intel-
ligence and Secu
Corrupt mone
urity Committee found.
ey was ‘welcomed with
their jobs – both are married to Pair of prime son. Ms Bingham went to school with th he open arms’ to the ‘London laundromat’,
Tory MPs. Baroness Harding candidates: PM’s sister. ‘He (Mr Johnson) needs to where cronies of the Russian president
studied at Oxford with David Cam- Kate Bingham sack Baroness Harding,’ Labour MP Karin were embraced d by the establishment,
eron. Her husband, John Penrose, is (left) and Dido Smyth told the Commons. ‘I know she’s a including memb bers of the House of Lords,
Friends in
a member of a think-tank calling for Harding PA/GETTY friend, I know it is difficult, but it ha
as helped by an ‘industry of enablers’ –
the NHS to be replaced by an clearly been a failure.’ The SNP’s Richarrd
high places: lawyers, estate agents and accountants.
insurance system. Ms Thomson added: ‘What steps does the PM M
Boris And political in
nterference has become the ‘new
Bingham’s husband is plan to reassure people there isn’t a cron ny Johnson normal’, with Moscow an ‘immediate and urgent
Jesse Norman, who virus at the heart of his governmen nt yesterday threat to nation nal security’. Mr Johnson repeatedly
JESSICA TAYLOR/HOC
attended Eton at the
same time as Mr John- Continued on Page 5 » Continued on Page 5 »

Scand
dall: PM und
der fire for ‘job
bs for palls’’ Putiin on th
he Briits: Russiian interfference
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 3

12
20
0
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Free newspaper The wOrld’s mOsT pOpular
The world’s mosT popular free newspaper
Friday, June 19, 2020

SECOND
NDS
DEMO HERO
S
Son-day service:
Prince Andrew
attends church
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Pages 12-13 »

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with the Queen,
who announced
FR

FR

FR
Meghan and Harry

REVEALED
(on the left) will
not use their
HRH titles
PICTURES: PA/GETTY

Monday, June 15, 2020 The world’s MosT popular free newspaper Monday, January 20, 2020 20, 2020 The world’s MosT popular free newspaper

box
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 The world’s MosT popular free newspaper

Dame
METRO mEEtS tV’S faVOuritE brOthEr
aND SiStEr

popEE b l E ss E s
Vera gay wEddings
n
Lynn homosexuals are chil ren o
...they have a right to d
civ
f go d
vil unions
POPE FRANCIS has given his blessing
to same-sex civil partnerships
historic shift hailed as ‘immensely
powerful and moving’ by campaigners.
The 83-year-old Pontiff said
people had ‘the right to be in a
and should be protected by law,
in a
by DANIEL BIN

Gay rights camp

comments wou
gay fight for equality
family’ However, some
NNS

paigners said that his

uld help the ongoing
y.
e Christians accused the
# ‘I don’t regret what

out IN
in a Pope of going ag gainst the Bible’s teach-
major departure from the Catholic

I did’ says Cummings

ings and called foor him to be replaced.

1917-2020
Church’s traditional doctrine
that Pope Francis endorsed civil unions
homosexual acts are ‘sinful’.
when he was Archbishop of
He made his comments in an inter- Buenos
Aires, before beccoming Pontiff in Historic move:
view for a documentary, Francesco,

know where,
2013.

don t kn
But this is the fi

ain, do
don’t
premiered at the Rome Film Festival first time he has spoken

ggain
Pope Francis

We ll meet a
again,
out as head off the Catholic Church,

‘We’ll
yest d
yesterday. Th Pope told film-makers:
The Church
‘Homosexual people are children
which religiouss experts said
could at the Vatican

we’ll meett
of have a huge imp

# No thought of quitting
God. Nobody should be thrown out
God pact. yesterday AP

don’t know when, but I know

or be The Pope’s co omments are in stark
made e miserable over it.
contrast to a Vattican statement,
‘Wh
hat we have to have is a civil union signed
law – that way they are legally covered.’
Conttinu ed on Page 6 »

g in some sunny day’ sEctions

over breach of lockdown
ouR tWo GREat
EE + Thorny questions:
FR
# 260-mile drive to his
Stepping forward:
This is the moment for Dominic Cummings
our fantastic guide

EE
Patrick Hutchinson owners
house buyers and faces the press in

FR
parents ‘perfectly legal’
carried the injured
man through police insidEy the rose garden
lines to safety to da
Thursday, July
at No.10 yesterday
DYLAN MARTINEZ/REUTERS
meghan and harry’s hard exit as andrew joins queen at church for first time since he had to quit 9, 2020
The world’s free newspaper

GRAB
mosT popular mosT popular JONATHAN BRADY/AP
free newspaper The world’s

# And that trip out? It

THE Queen brought Prince Andrew in their HRH titles as part of a hardline life.’ Andrew – who has retained his HRH together this year, after they attended 14, 2020
by DOMINIC YEATMAN Tuesday, January
from the cold yesterday after she deal. ‘Harry, Meghan and Archie will title – went shooting on the Queen’s separate services over Christmas.

HE AIN’T
signed off Harry and Meghan’s exit paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, always be much loved members of my Sandringham estate in Norfolk over The Queen’s settlement with Harry
from the royal family. Harry is tipped to leave Britain within family,’ the Queen said in a statement. the weekend before joining her and and Meghan was unveiled just ten days Royal regrets:
by AidAn RAdnedge

A BLACK Lives Matter activist hailed a

Her Majesty grinned happily as she
arrived at church with the Duke of York
for the first time since he left public life
last year over his links to billionaire
days to embark on a new life in Canada
with his wife and baby Archie.
He and Meghan have surrendered
their royal income and will stop using
‘I recognise the challenges they have
experienced as a result of intense scru-
tiny over the last two years and sup-
port their wish for a more independent
Prince Philip, 98, for lunch.
The 59-year-old sat alongside his
mother, 93, on the car ride to church
yesterday in their first appearance
after they revealed their shock demand
to ‘step back’ as senior royals. The Duke

Continued on Page 4 »
But the Queen
supports her
grandson’s
desire for
‘was to test his eyesight’
hero for rescuing a ‘far-right’ protester
a new life
amid violent clashes has called for an

A £10
picture: pa DOMINIC CUMMINGS yesterday by doMInIc yeatMan
end to hatred, saying: ‘It’s not black v

STAY
refused to apologise and said he had
white, it’s everyone v the racists.’
Personal trainer Patrick Hutchinson not even thought about resigning as he night. But scientists warned his actions
picked up and carried the man, who insisted his 260-mile trip at the height had left the lockdown ‘trashed’ and

HEAVY
had been chased along London’s South of lockdown was within the rules. more than 20 Conservative MPs said
Bank before falling down steps amid a Boris Johnson’s chief adviser said he he should be sacked.
chaotic ‘stampede’. had no regrets about taking his wife Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth, the
He said he believed he had saved the and child to stay in a ‘not very nice’ cot- shadow health secretary, said millions
life of the demonstrator – and friends
tage on his parents’ farm on March 27. had made ‘extraordinary sacrifices’ by
who helped said they also wanted to

RISHI
prevent young black protesters from At the time, the official government staying at home.
landing in jail for assaulting him. message – now changed to ‘stay alert’ ‘It really is one rule for the PM and
Mr Hutchinson told Channel 4 News: – was ‘stay at home’. But Mr Cummings his elite friends and another for the
‘I just scooped him up, put him on my denied there was one rule for him and rest of us,’ he added as the official UK

shoulders and started marching towards
the police with him while the guys were
surrounding me and protecting me.
‘I could actually feel strikes and hits
as I was carrying him.’
ELITE
another for everyone else. death toll rose another 121 to 36,914.
He confirmed that, on his wife’s Mr Cummings said he had decided to
Personal trainer who carried Rejecting hate:
Mr Hutchinson
birthday during their stay near Dur-
ham, the family drove 30 miles to
head north to be near family after his
wife Mary developed symptoms of

‘far-right’ Protester to safety

He added: ‘I didn’t even think twice yesterday scenic Barnard Castle. Covid-19. He said he was worried

DISHI
CHANNEL 4 NEWS But he said it was only to there would be no one to look
Continued on Page 6 »
check that his eyesight, which after their four-year-old son if
had been affected by corona- they both became ill.
virus, would be OK for the Fighting to save his career
drive back to London. at a press conference in the
Starring role:
During the trip out they garden of No.10, he insisted he
# sadness of queen

you can
Amber Heard
waves as she stopped to play in the hadn’t broken the
he backs haRRy woods, he confided. stay at home
arrives at the
High Court as sh s exit
and meghan’s
The prime minis- rules because

Hero: BLM activist saves man from clashes Megxit: Harry’s gone, but Andrew spotted
yesterday
ter continued to
Defending Dom: Boris
the
VICTORIA JONES/PA

# eat out to help

# she wanted as
stand by Mr Continued on
# stamp duty thresh out vouchers are Cummings last Johnson at briefing Page 2 »
unveiled
old raised to £500,00 coup ple to stay

Go youR
# vat is cut to 0 fulll-time Royals
# £1,000 save-a-5% for hospitality industry they # IF PM’s aIde doesn’t go, I WIll, says doctor # scIentIsts: tHIs Has trasHed all oUr Hard WorK
# but she hints e
job bonus in £30bn Page 2 » Page 3 »
giveaway
DINERS can enjoy

may wave goodby

up to £10 a head

DEPP ‘WANTED
their bills in restaurants,
by dOminic Yeatman off
cafes and pubs

Ritain foR good

next month – thanks
to Rishi Sunak.
The chancellor
urged Britain to
out to help out’ ‘eat
as
dation and attractions.
of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls,
to bR
our support and,
with this meas-
ure, we can all moves as a ‘huge described the
eat out to help

WITCH AMBER
£30billion spending he served up a out. I know ‘We hope the public
bonus’. She added:
people are cautious
‘coronavirus budget’. package in his about going by Daniel binns

oWn Way
ready to welcome sees we are
out but, if we first
The 50 per cent follow the guidance, them back safely. publicly for the
maximum of a
discount – up to we can The future of many THEE Queen has confirmed Harry and Meghan
tenner – will apply a all enjoy summer safely.’ businesses not want
and jobs depends me that she does

sET ON FIRE’
Mondays, Tuesdays on In a further boost on it.’ tim
and Wednesdays royals.
throughout August. hospitality and
to the In a raft of measures
aimed to retire as full-time and supports
It covers food and tourism at getting the said she accepts
but Her Majesty ‘new life’ –

Eye didn’tt break rules: Cummings is blasted

soft drinks but not
alcohol. sector, the chancellor economy to embark on a
Eateries that want who later visited – A lot on his plates: going and saving
jobs, Mr herr grandson’s wish couple could
to hint that the
have to register online.to take part will Wagamama the
Chancellor helps
Sunak also suspended andd has appeared
restaurant move abroad.
Libel trial continues: to claim the money They will be able stamp duty on make a permanent Sussex
Page 3 »
in London’s
Royal out at Wagamama homes and Duchess of
government. ‘This back from the
Festival Hall – cut
under £500,000
and She said the Duke
has never been promised companies 2»
tried VAT from
Continued on Page
in the UK before 20 per
but we need to
# BOOhOO launches creative,’ Mr Sunak
told MPs. ‘They need
be cent to five per £1,000 bonuses
every furloughed
for
PrOBe intO sweat cent on meals, accommo- Page 9 »
shOP claims Continued on Page grow in tehran
in envoy as Protests
Page 2 » # racist rant 5»
Of tech BOss # no.10 calls
caught On videO Page 7 »
Page 7 » nominations
a hit in oscar
# brits score

and Barnard Castle. Mr Cum-

mings’ insistence he was merely
testing his eyesight was roundly
scorned, as was his refusal to quit.
Our ‘STAY ELITE’ front page summed EE

up the feeling there was one rule for

WIN
FR
FL CLuD
IN
Ig
HT ED
S

him, another for everyone else. 8-NIGHT

Monday, deceMber
7, 2020
The world’s
MosT popular
free newspaper

‘Crony virus’ barbs were also hurled LUXURY Deal or

SRI LANKA no deal:
at the government after top jobs HOLIDAY
battling Covid were handed to FOR TWO Lord Frost
BREXIT DEAL DE
Page 23 »

insiders such as Baroness Dido AD LOCK heads to

Harding and Kate Bingham.
But there has also been plenty to
FROSTY Brussels
for last-
THE
by AidAn RAdnedge
a NO-DEaL Brexit
was
Britain’s chief negotiatorlooming la arger as
to Brussels ‘working Lord Frosst raced

ditch
very hard’ forr a

cheer amid the tiers, tears and fears

minute deal – but last-
ready to say No
breached the government’s iff the EU
His talks with opposite red liness.
Barnier yesterday number Michel
– dubbed ‘the last
of the dice’ by insiders t throw
were put on ice – came after
in London on Friday they
y.

‘NO’
With ‘significant
differences’ be etween
the sides and only

– with the resilience and generosity

days left for a dea

Brexit
was intense activity al, there
despite the deaadlock.
allies of French
president Emm manuel
Macron insisted
he could still veto
– while a majority o a deal
of
Johnson’s cabinet prime ministe er Boris
were said to o have
indicated they would
deal decision. back him in any
no-

of millions of Britons shining

Mr Johnson and
European Comm

talks
president Ursula mission
von der Leye en are

MAN
Continued on Pa
age 7 »

Last train:
Lord Frost

through. These included carers

arrives at
St Pancras
to catch the
Eurostar train
to Brussels
yesterday PA

clapped on Thursdays, food donors, UK’s chief nego

on eU’s eleventiator holding oUt
th-hoUr deman
ds
fund-raisers such as Captain Tom
Moore and campaigners shaming the
EE
FR

government into U-turns. Thursday, december

3, 2020
The world’s
mosT popular
free newspaper

Pole position: One

his

Even before Covid struck, Britain

shopper straddles
scooter as crowds
clutching bags queue
at the door of JD Sports
in London’s Oxford
Street yesterday LNP

was still trying to negotiate a path

out of the European Union – officially
A jab
CRUSH
leaving on January 31. Yet the transi- HOUR
tion period and trade deal talks have well AT THE
meant this month was one of no-deal done: UK SHOPS
is the
open aGain
it’s chaos as stores

threats and extended deadlines.

V-DAY!
Pages 6-7 »

Ahead of a Christmas like no other, first to

at the end of a year of upheaval, approvee
more twists lie ahead – but, hope- Pfizerr to approve vaccine
# UK is the first to start next weeK
# roll-oUt is dUe
reached a historic
THE war on Covid-19
moment yesterday
by DOMINIC YEATMAN
– on the day Britain
to from Tuesday.
Prime minister
Boris

fully, happier news too.

and

vaccinee
Special country in the world the ‘huge moment’ if
became the first Johnson hailed TV
delivery: and 800,000 doses vaccinated live on
approve a vaccine said he would be
Lorry leaves by lorry. people to get a jab.
were shipped here it encouraged other
Pfizer’s plant 95 per cent effective been waiting and briefing
He said: ‘We have
REutERS
Batches of the their Johnson at historic
in Belgium
Pfizer/BioNTech
jab were on 2» Huge moment: Boris
yesterday in Belgium last Continued on Page
way from a factory
with doses to vulnerable people
night to be given
of the jab
on board AP

AIDAN RADNEDGE

v11

RIISHI: IT’S
EE

GoING To
FR
EE
FR

Thursday, November 26, 2020 The world’s mosT popular free Newspaper
BE TouGH Spending review: pages 2-5 »
Friday, May 29, 2020 The world’s MosT popular Free newspaper

MEGHAN: MY
Silenced: BBC’s
Laura Kuenssberg
was cut off by the
PM as she asked

MISCARRIAGE
about Dominic
Cummings (right)
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

HEARTBREAK page 9 »

# boris clashes with the speaker in commons # wait for easter to relax rules, say scientists

MARARADONA
page 6 » page 7 »
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17
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Rattled pRime ministeR gags bbc’s

IN THE
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political editoR afteR she daRes to

1»
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ask questions about dominic cummings

30
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s
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Page 2 »
Pa

FORM an
by dominic yeatman

YOU can invite your friends to come

round for a barbecue, Boris Johnson

HANDS S
announced last night. The world at his
Gatherings in gardens of up to six feet: Maradona
people will be allowed but not until
Monday, just after the weekend when holds the World
glorious sunshine is forecast. Cup aloft in
Guests must stay out of the house

ORDERLY
Mexico in 1986
except to use the loo – and should avoid
EL GRAFICO
that if possible due to infection risk.
Mr Johnson admitted that only an
‘incredibly scrupulous barbecue’ would
be possible under the rules. But he said
easing of lockdown had to be ‘limited

OF GODD
and cautious’ at this stage.
‘I have to warn you in all frankness
there will be further local outbreaks so
we will put on the brakes as required

baRbEcuE*
Continued on Page 3 »

argentina’s football legend dies aged

d 60
TRIBUTES poured in last night for foot- by Daniel binns
ball legend Diego Maradona after it was
Handful: announced he had died from a heart England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-
Scoring with attack at the age of 60. final when Maradona score ed his infa-
his hand

*not till Monday, only six of you, avoid the loo

Among those paying their respects mous ‘Hand of God’ goal. He said: ‘By
against to the Argentinian – whose life was some distance, the best playyer of my
England in the marked by glory on the pitch and generation and arguably the greatest
quarter-final controversy off it – was Gary Lineker.
BOB THOMAS The Match of the Day host played for Continued on pag
ge 8 »
# track and farce: tracing gets off to a tricky start Pages 2-3 » # a final salute with the claP for carers Pages 4-5 »

Cue celebrations: Restrictions relaxed Legend: Footballer Diego Maradona dies

4 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Vaccine is
‘very likely’
to fend off
fresh strain
by FRANK JORDANS
In it for long haul: Aerial view of lorry queue near Dover SKY NEWS

■ THE coronavirus death toll in

THE head of German drug company
BioNTech is confident its coronavirus
vaccine – the one that is already in use
in Britain – will work against the
mutant variant that has emerged here.
Ugur Sahin said further studies were
needed to confirm his prediction.
But he added: ‘Scientifically, it is
highly likely that the immune response
by this vaccine also can deal with the
new virus variants.’
He said the proteins on the UK vari-
ant are 99 per cent the same as on the
prevailing strains.
‘But we will know it only if the exper-
iment is done and we will need about
two weeks from now to get the data,’
he said. ‘The likelihood that our vac-
cine works is relatively high.’
BioNTech’s vaccine, which was devel-
oped together with US pharmaceutical
company Pfizer, has been authorised
for use in more than 45 countries
including Britain, the US and the EU.
Hundreds of thousands of people
have already received the shots which
are up to 95 per cent effective in pre-
England and Wales has fallen for
the second week running. There
were 2,756 deaths registered in
the week ending December 11
where Covid was mentioned on
the death certificate, the Office
for National Statistics said. The
total – 22 per cent of all deaths –
was 79 fewer than the previous
week. The Covid toll fell for the
first time in three months in the
week ending December 4 as the
four-week national lockdown
was lifted. Overall, the ONS
figure says 84,198 people have
died from coronavirus in the UK.
that a possibly dangerous virus variant
Not set for take off:
spreads to continental Europe.’ Trucks could be at
But Lothar Wieler, head of Germany’s RAF Manston
national disease control centre, said it
was very likely the UK variant is airfield for days GETTY
already circulating there.
A leading virologist sceptical about
reports the strain was much more con-
tagious has since voiced concern.

venting infection.
Germany is among the countries that
have banned flights from the UK in an
effort to keep out the virulent strain –
feared to be up to 70 per cent more
infectious than the original.
Health minister Jens Spahn said: ‘We
want to avoid for as long as we can
Johnson: I’ll be out ringing the bells
Call: Ms Symonds and Mr Johnson talk to Ms Beggs-Reid ANDREW PARSONS/10 DOWNING ST
BORIS JOHNSON and his fiancée
Carrie Symonds will take part in
Christmas Eve bell-ringing in a
campaign to help combat loneliness.
People across the UK were asked to
Prof Christian Drosten, of Berlin’s
Charite hospital, tweeted that ‘unfor-
tunately it doesn’t look good’.
But he added: ‘Cases with the muta-
tion so far only increased in areas where
the overall incidence was high or rising.
So contact reduction also works against
the spread of the mutation.’
‘nobody feels alone’. The campaign’s
organiser, Mary Beggs-Reid, 41, of
Harrogate, Yorkshire, spoke to the
PM yesterday. ‘He said him, Carrie
and Wilfred will be out ringing bells
A LORRA LOR
‘NOW YOU KNOW WHAT LEAVING THE EU MEANS’, SAYS BREXIT
» Continued from Page 1
Christmas. He had teamed up with oth-
ers to hire scarce hotel rooms. ‘Three
are renting just one room to have a toi-
let and a shower,’ he said.
‘The situation becomes more and
more worse every hour.’
A Romanian driver said he tried to
explain to his seven-year-old daughter
why he would not be home. ‘She says,
“You have to come, I wait for you. We
have to make the tree for Christmas.”’
Kent council had earlier been criti-
cised for offering each driver a cereal
bar. Road Haulage Association director
Rod McKenzie called it ‘a pretty poor
effort, I think in terms of maintaining
their morale and their spirits.’
But one exasperated council source
insisted it was not their job to feed
truckers who had been warned to stay
away, adding: ‘Perhaps he can bring his
own f***ing cereal bars.’
Instead Kent’s Sikh community deliv-
ered 800 hot meals and the Salvation
36,804 NEW CASES IN 24hrs
691 NEW DEATHS
68,307 DEATHS IN TOTAL
77,783,803 GLOBAL CASES
1,711,805 GLOBAL DEATHS
Army helped police distribute food.
‘Salvation Army volunteers have been
pleased to roll up their sleeves to sup-
port drivers,’ a spokesman said.
More than 50 countries have still
closed their borders to Britain in fear
of the new strain, which yesterday
helped push the UK death toll up 691.
Andrew Opie, British Retail Consor-
tium director of food, warned borders
would need to be running freely by this
morning ‘to assure us that there won’t
be any disruption to supplies of salads,
fresh fruit groceries.’
Although lorries are still arriving in
Dover from France, the main problem
was empty lorries stuck in Kent unable
to head back to the continent to reload
and resupply UK stores, he said.
Logistics UK chief executive David
Wells, said: ‘I think there is an element
of this which is political.
‘The French are able to demonstrate
they are going to flex their muscles.
This is an opportunity for the French
to show this could be difficult.
‘You would be naïve to think discus-
sions about fishing quotas were not in
the back of Macron’s mind when he
made the decision on Sunday night to
shut the border.’
And, as frantic last minute negotia-
tions on a Brexit trade deal continued
ahead of the December 31 deadline,
veteran EU politician Guy Verhofstadt
had a dig – warning that border chaos
could be the new normal.
‘We forgot what borders look like,’
the former head of the EU parliament’s
Brexit committee gloated. ‘They will
now start to understand what leaving

Irish airlift starts as Dublin bans

ring bells at 6pm on December 24 so to help Santa on his way,’ she said.

1 in 4 of us confess: We’ve broken lockdown rules

IRELAND started repatriating its
STARS Rita Ora and Kay Burley are in good company – a quarter of us admit residents stuck in the UK yesterday
breaking Covid-19 rules to see family and friends or for our mental health. Six as it extended a travel ban against
in ten rule-breakers went inside someone’s house. Eight per cent went to a Britain until December 31.
dinner party. A huge 87 per cent criticised singer Ora and Sky News host Two flights and ferries were
Burley after they were caught out – with only 16 per cent expressing any chartered by the Irish government
sympathy for them, according to a poll for Covid-19 test firm Medicspot. after passenger flights were halted
in response to the new Covid variant
in the UK. The Irish foreign office
said: ‘There will be no access to
people living in Great Britain who
were planning short trips to Ireland
for Christmas.’
Those arriving in Ireland from the
UK will be required to self-isolate for
14 days. The Northern Ireland
Executive has also recommended
against all but essential travel to and
from Great Britain.
A Tier 5 lockdown is to be imposed
in Ireland from tomorrow after a 70
per cent surge in Covid cases last
week. Irish prime minister Micheál
Martin, who admitted the variant may

Sail la vie: Stranded lorries are so close to Channel at Dover Marina REX
RRA LORRIES
CRITIC AS FRENCH LIFT BAN... BUT ONLY AFTER NEGATIVE TEST
Turk your time: Turkish drivers set up table for breakfast at M20 truck stop AFP
the EU really means.’ Announcing the
lifting of the travel ban last night,
French transport minister Jean-Baptiste
Djebarri said: ‘Planes, boats and Euro-
star trains will resume service tomor-
s UK visitors until the New Year
have already arrived, said there was
‘light at the end of this tunnel’ with
10,000 vaccine doses due to be rolled
out next week.
Turkey has identified and
quarantined 4,603 airline passengers
who arrived from the UK on and after
December 14. Flights from Britain,
row morning. French nationals, people
living in France and those with a legiti-
mate reason will have to be carrying a
negative test.’
Transport secretary Grant Shapps
South Africa, Denmark and the
Netherlands were suspended on
Sunday evening in response to a new
strain of coronavirus said to be
circulating there.
More than 40 countries have banned
UK flights because of fears regarding
the spread of the coronavirus variant.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 5
Bute holiday
pad... but it
risks a fine
for marquess
MAIN PICTURE: WILLIAM EDWARDS, AFP/GETTY
Scot-free?: Marquess may be fined just £30 for travel to Isle of Bute home PA
by AIDAN RADNEDGE
A MARQUESS has been charged with
breaking coronavirus legislation after
reportedly travelling from London to
his namesake Scottish island.
But the Marquess of Bute – worth an
estimated £125million – could face a
fine of just £30 for the Covid breach.
John Crichton-Stuart and his social-
ite daughter Lady Lola were among a
group said to have travelled to the Isle
of Bute, Argyll and Bute, on Sunday
after the capital was put into Tier 4.
The 62-year-old, once ranked 616th
in the Rich List, shares a home in Lon-
said there had been ‘good progress’ and don with his 57-year-old fashion
added: ‘France had agreed to accept designer wife Serena.
the results of “lateral flow” Covid tests On Bute, he has his ancestral home
which have been used in other mass Mount Stuart House, which can be
testing programmes.’ hired out for £24,000 for weddings.
Richard Burnett, of the Road Haulage The former F1 driver, who raced
Association, warned: ‘Drivers who test under the name Johnny Dumfries, also
positive will be unfit to drive but where has a cottage there. That was where
will they go? Lola, a model whose friends include Christmas cheer: Lady Lola INSTAGRAM
‘They will be unable to quarantine Sadie Frost, isolated over summer.
with their families in Europe. In April Vogue cover girl Adwoa man said: ‘On Monday we received a
‘It’s exacerbating the very situation Aboah, 28, and Ruby Boglione, the report of a group of people travelling
it was supposed to prevent.’ youngest daughter of Petersham Nurs- to the Isle of Bute in alleged breaches
The backlog near Dover could take eries founders Gael and Francesco, of the coronavirus legislation.’
three days to clear and the number of were with her. There is no suggestion Inquiries were carried out and three
lorries could reach 8,000 by Christmas. these two were present this time. men aged 32, 62 and 69 years, and four
County council leader Roger Gough Police Scotland launched an investi- women aged 21, 29, 60 and 90, have
said 3,000 lorries were parked up gation following reports on Monday been charged and will be subject of a
on the M20 motorway, the Manston that the marquess and six others trav- report to the procurator fiscal.’
Airfield emergency depot, the town’s elled to the island on Scotland’s west Police have the power to issue £60
seafront and nearby roads. ‘Clearly the coast. A ban on travel to and from Tier punishments to rule-breakers, which
longer anything goes on, the more dif- 4 areas in England, including London, are halved if they are paid quickly.
ficult it becomes,’ he added. came into force just after midnight on But any repeat offenders can face
And the Food and Drink Federation Sunday, a day after Scottish leader higher fines of £960.
said another 4,000 trucks would arrive Nicola Sturgeon announced a ban on The Bute family has been contacted
as soon as sailings started. cross-border travel. A police spokes- for comment.
160 revellers fined for travelling into York for a pint
POLICE in York said some people ‘believe their pint is more important than
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has joined someone’s life’ after they issued a ‘shocking’ number of fines to revellers
British Airways and Delta in agreeing travelling to the Tier 2 city’s pubs from areas under stricter Covid rules.
to test passengers for Covid before More than 160 tickets were issued at the weekend with the ‘vast majority
they board New York-bound flights. (going) to Tier 3 residents who visited York to mix and socialise indoors’, said
State governor Andrew Cuomo said Supt Mike Walker, of North Yorkshire Police. ‘Proactive’ visits were made by
the new strain was ‘another disaster police and council enforcement officers to licensed premises in York, which
waiting to happen and all efforts must is only a short drive from towns and cities in West and South Yorkshire.
be placed into averting another crisis’.
 December 23, 2020
6
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 7

EU ‘willing to BUSINESS BITES

■ EASYJET has agreed a deal to delay
delivery of 22 new planes from Airbus.
■ DFS Furniture has seen online
sales soar by more than three-
Economy ‘bounced back
faster than expected’
THE economy recovered from the

keep talking’
The airline’s shares rose after it said
the aircraft would arrive between 2027
and 2028, instead of from 2022 to
2024, allowing it to defer payment.
quarters. The retailer, which has coronavirus crash faster than
shut 52 stores in Tier 4 areas, was thought in the last quarter.
up 76 per cent online in the 24 weeks Gross domestic product grew
to December 13 compared with 2019. by a record 16 per cent from July
to September, up from a previous

as sides inch
■ SALES of Walkers crisps, Doritos
and Pringles have soared amid the
pandemic. The ‘bagged snacks’
category is up £113million year-on-
estimate of 15.5 per cent, figures
■ MORE than 800,000 private renters
show. This did not make up for a
in England and Wales – about one in 14
18.8 per cent slump during the
– are in arrears since the first
lockdown in the second quarter.
lockdown, the National Residential
Capital Economics, a

to Brexit deal
year as shoppers take comfort in
trusted brands, reports The Grocer.
■ SALES of Aldi’s Kevin and Katie the
Carrot toys raised £27,000 for NHS
Charities Together and the Teenage
Cancer Trust. Almost 11,000 bids were
placed on eBay for the medic-themed
soft toys. One bidder pledged £142.
Landlords Association says. Average
consultancy, said a double-dip
debt is between £250 to £500.
recession was a clear possibility
if the latest Covid-19 restrictions
TOURIST RATES continue into 2021. The UK
Australia (A$)....................................................................... 1.69
Canada (C$) ..........................................................................1.65 borrowed a record £241billion in
Euro (€)................................................................................. 1.05 the first eight months of 2020.
New Zealand (N$) ................................................................ 1.77
Poland (zloty).......................................................................4.36 Faced with tax rises, chancellor
Singapore ($) ........................................................................1.67
South Africa (rand) ...........................................................18.48
Rishi Sunak said: ‘When our
US ($)..................................................................................... 1.28 economy recovers, it’s right we
take the necessary steps.’

‘Final push’: EU’s Michel Barnier (left) warned colleagues differences remain GETTY
BREXIT trade talks could drag on into
2021 – but the UK and EU are inching
towards a deal, sources have claimed.
Diplomats insisted that Brussels was
willing to keep talking up to New Year’s
Eve and beyond, even after Britain’s tran-
sition period ends on January 1, but said
both sides were keen to wrap up an
agreement by Christmas Eve if possible.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier told
reporters talks were in their final stages
as he arrived in Brussels last night to
update the bloc’s 27 national envoys.
‘We are really in a crucial moment. We
are giving it a final push,’ he said.
But Mr Barnier later told the closed-
door gathering that differences over fish-
ing remained, and that the UK’s latest
offer on sharing out the catch from 2021
was ‘totally unacceptable’.
He also reportedly said that EU nego-
tiators were prepared to keep talks going
indefinitely until an agreement was
reached, with neither side apparently
willing to pull out. This is despite offi-
by DANIEL BINNS
cials warning it may now be too late for
any deal to come into force in time, even
if one is agreed before the new year.
The Confederation of British Industry
told the BBC that even if a last-gasp deal
is struck it would not be enough to avoid
further problems at borders. A spokes-
man said that ‘final preparations are cur-
rently impossible for most businesses
(and) disruption is now inevitable’.
Earlier, European Commission presi-
dent Ursula von der Leyen and Boris
Johnson reportedly held at least two
unscheduled phone calls in an attempt
to break the deadlock.
At a press conference on Monday, Mr
Johnson insisted the UK will thrive even
if a deal is not reached. He said: ‘It’s vital
that everyone understands that we’ve got
to be able to control our own laws and
our own fisheries... and we can certainly
cope with any difficulties thrown in our
way. Not that we don’t want a deal.’

MPs demand NS&I explain soaring customer complaints

SAVINGS giant NS&I is being asked by MPs to explain a string of complaints.
The Treasury-backed institution has seen consumer satisfaction dive and a
43 per cent rise in complaints after ‘dramatic cuts’ to saving products and a
decision to stop paying Premium Bond winners with warrants. Mel Stride, the
Treasury Committee head, said its actions ‘caused a great deal of anxiety’.

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 December 23, 2020
8
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 9

Grace’s murderer raped METRO BITES

■ A GRANDMOTHER who won a
£3.8million Lotto jackpot plans a
‘normal’ Christmas ahead of a

another Brit tourist in NZ

spend-up next year. Diane Bate,
70, wants a bigger house in Rhyl,
Denbighshire, and will help family.

■ HOUSE sales rose by nearly a

fifth (19.3 per cent) in November
compared with a year earlier as
buyers rushed to beat a stamp
duty holiday deadline, said HM
Revenue and Customs. Some
115,190 transactions took place.

■ ANGLER Chris Bird had no need

CCTV: Footage shows Kempson on a date in
Auckland with Ms Millane but later alone in lift
to go into a Cornwall supermarket
for fish – after a large salmon
washed up in the Trago car park,
near Liskeard. The 36-year-old
released it into the river Fowey.

Callous: Jesse
Kempson
denied murder
but was found
guilty and jailed
in February GETTY

THE man who murdered backpacker by JOHN BESLEY

Grace Millane in New Zealand raped
another British tourist months earlier Essex. He strangled her in a hotel in
and terrorised a girlfriend. Auckland after meeting her via Tinder
Jesse Kempson – who buried Grace’s on December 1, 2018 – the day before her
body in a suitcase in a forest – can finally 22nd birthday. Her body was found on
be named after being convicted of the December 9 in a shallow grave in west
other offences, New Zealand’s supreme Auckland bushland.
court has ruled. The killer, from Wellington, had
The 28-year-old was found guilty in appealed his sentence for murder in
November of raping the other Briton on August, but the New Zealand court of
their first and only date early in 2018. appeal ruled against him last week.
She had gone to police after recognising Judges said the crime was ‘committed
him from initial media coverage on the with a high degree of callousness’ due to
day he was charged with the killing. Kempson failing ‘to call for assistance,
The victim, who like Grace met him on searching on the internet for methods of
Tinder, had kept the attack secret while body disposal... taking steps preparatory
suffering ‘flashbacks and nightmares’. to disposing of the body and going on
He raped her when she refused to have another date while Ms Millane’s body
sex. ‘Every time I went to sleep, I’d see remained in his room’. The sentence
your eyes popping out of your head, was not ‘manifestly unjust’.
staring at me in anger,’ she told him Grace’s father David Millane
in court. died last month from cancer
Kempson was convicted at a aged 62, New Zealand
trial in October of abusive behav- Police said.
iour towards the ex-girfriend, who The force issued a state-
said he terrorised her for several ment from the Millane family,
months in 2017. He was found who said they were ‘pleased’
guilty of threatening to kill, two Kempson had lost his appeal.
charges of assault with a They said that Grace’s
weapon, three assaults ‘sense of fun, her sense
and two counts of sex- of adventure, her love
ual violation by of travel and explor-
unlawful sexual ing, along with her
connection. ability to light up
Kempson was
Sense of fun: Grace any room... are
jailed for at least 17 Millane at her memories we as a
years in February graduation PA family cherish and
for the murder of how we will forever
Grace, of Wickford, remember her’.
10 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Shell-sh
hocked! Angler
reels in 19 grenades
A FISHERMAN was stunned when he
went to a favourite spot on the river –
and pulled out 19 hand grenades.
Che Williams, 42, was trying to find a
lost lure with a new £15 recovery
magnet at the river Tame near Sutton
Coldfield, West Midlands.
Instead he found himself reeling in a
succession of World War II explosive
.A reel blast: Che
.Williams holds.up
one of the.explosives
he fished out of river.
.Right, full haul SWNS.
by JACK EVANS
devices – two of which still had pins
intact. After police were called, the area
was cordoned off as Army bomb
experts established the grenades were
safe. Mr Williams, a professional fish-
erman from Coleshill, Warwickshire,
said: ‘When I found the first one, I
thought it was a door knob covered in
dirt. But when I looked closer I thought,
“bloody hell, that’s a hand grenade”. I
couldn’t believe it.
‘I tossed it to one side, which might
not have been the brightest idea, then I
just kept pulling them up one after the
other. I got them in about half an hour.’
Mr Williams admitted he was ‘disap-
pointed’ that the Army disposed of his
haul of historic wartime relics.
‘I was told I could get £150 for them,’
he said. ‘I would have preferred to find
the old lure, to be honest, because it
cost me £20 and I didn’t get the
grenades back. My mates say I’m lucky
at catching fish and now I’m lucky at
pulling up bombs.’
PM overrules
watchdog for
Tory peerage
BORIS JOHNSON is facing cronyism
claims after he defied a watchdog
to make a Tory donor a life peer.
The PM ignored the House of
Lords Appointments Commission’s
concerns to elevate Peter Cruddas.
Mr Cruddas resigned as the
Conservative party’s co-treasurer
in March 2012 after secretly-filmed
footage by undercover reporters
appeared to show him offering
access to then-PM David Cameron
Secretly
filmed: Peter
Cruddas, who
appeared to
offer access
to the PM for
cash in 2012
PICTURE: REX
for a £250,000-a-year donation. Mr
Cruddas later said he regretted ‘any
impression of impropriety arising
from my bluster’, while the party
insisted no donation was made or
access offered.
The government said Mr Johnson
‘considered the commission’s
advice and wider factors and
concluded that, exceptionally, the
nomination should proceed’.
Meanwhile, the Lord Speaker
Lord Fowler has voiced concern
after the PM added 52 Lords in
2020, taking the total past 830.

Carer stole
client’s £3k
to buy gifts
on Amazon
by SEAN AXTELL
A CARER stole a severely disabled
woman’s bank card to splurge more
than £3,000 on Christmas presents.
‘Deeply dishonest’ Nicola Beddows,
53, made friends and built up trust
with Chereen Adams, who has quadri-
plegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy,
while at Sandgate Manor care home in
Folkestone, Kent, in April last year.
After swiping her client’s card, Bed-
dows ordered £3,137.69 of goods on
Amazon. Ms Adams’ relatives became
suspicious when they saw a letter from
her bank and, when police raided Bed-
dows’ home in October, they discov-
ered presents, bought with stolen
money, neatly gift-wrapped.
Among the items were a TV, £250 of
video games, £100 Amazon gift cards, a
multi-grill and a large amount of meat.
Ms Adams still feels ‘heartbroken
and shocked’ by the betrayal, Canter-
bury crown court heard. Beddows, who
I’m talon you officer, there’s
nothing funny going on here
Betrayed
by her
‘friend’:
Chereen
Adams
PICTURE: SWNS
admitted fraud but has not repaid any
cash, was given a 16-month suspended
sentence, 200 hours unpaid work and
ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.
Ms Adams’ sister Danielle, said Bed-
dows had ‘destroyed’ her sibling, add-
ing: ‘She feels nervous about trusting
new people. She’s scared to go out in
case she bumps into her. It’s made my
sister not even be able to live her life.’
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 11
IN BRIEF
THIS pet owl landed
on a PC’s head during
a ‘bizarre’ inquiry.
Oscar Finney was
called to reports of a
man being ‘walked on
a lead’ by another.
But the ‘lead’ was on
the owl – perching on
one of the pair in
Brierley Hill, West
Midlands. SWNS
Helen’s Law ‘not enough
to stop killers going free’
KILLERS who refuse to reveal
where they hid their victim’s body
could still be freed from jail
despite new laws introduced in a
bid to deny them parole.
Helen’s Law, named after
insurance clerk Helen McCourt,
who vanished on her way home
from work in 1988, comes into
force next year.
But Martin Jones, head of the
parole board, said prisoners must
still be released if it is decided
they are not a risk to the public.
‘It’s described as “no body, no
parole” – that’s not what this
legislation does, at all,’ he said.
Oat dear me! Porridge
blunder boosts appeal
A CHRISTMAS food appeal was
given a huge boost – after Pepsi
accidentally donated ten times as
much porridge as planned.
The Newbury Weekly News Over
80s’ Parcel Fund has handed out
essentials in Berkshire since the
1800s. And every year drink giant
PepsiCo donates 1,900 boxes of
oats – but this time it sent 19,000
to the paper in error.
The extra supply has now been
given to food banks, charities and
schools. Newbury Weekly News
editor Andy Murrill said: ‘We said
we’d do our best to try to find an
appreciative home for them.’
12 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

WATER SET TO! POSH AND BECKS’S RESERVOIR DOGGED ANDREI HARMSWORTH
HARMSWORTH’S
S
THE Beckhams’ neighbours are
waging war on the couple’s plans for
a large lake – because they fear the flood
risk will make it an eyesore.
Posh and Becks have already started
work on a 32,033sq ft water hole at their
Grade II-llisted Cotswolds pad aftfteer fighting
to win planning g permission in Aug gust.
But now they have sparked more local
anger by asking West Oxfordshire district

TIKTOK STAR
council if they could make it bigger.
Victoria, 46, and David, 45, want the
pond in Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, boats zooming up and down
to be 44,885 sq ft, with the addition of a and shattering the peace?’

DERULO HAS
1,313sq ft island. That would make the lake The council will decide in
a similar size to a football pitch, where the new year but there is a
David – aka Goldenballs – made his name. race against time for the
Country pursuits:
Sue Jones, who lives nearby, told the Beckhams as original Posh and Becks and
council she objected ‘in the strongest rules only permit work

GOT LIFE ALL

(inset) plans for the
terms’. She wrote the bigger lake ‘could between August and
increase the chances of flooding’ and lake INSTAGRAM/TRIANGLE
February, to protect
wondered what would be next. ‘Motor nesting birds.

WRAPPED UP
BUT IF CELEBS CHOOSE TO ‘SELL SEX’
ON ONLYFANS, JASON’S COOL WITH IT
ASON DERULO has
defended the
growing trend of
celebrities joining
OnlyFans.
His TikTok clips
earn him millions
but he won’t go
the
h ffull
ll monty andd sign up to the
raunchy pay-per-view site.
With the likes of Cardi B, Michael B
Jordan and Chris Brown having joined,
Derulo – who left little to the
imagination last year with his
‘anaconda’ boxer shorts Instagram
post – told Guilty Pleasures: ‘Each to lead with happiness. Whatever it
their own. If you find happiness in is that makes you happy, it is
selling sex, then do your thing.’ easier to work hard at that thing.
For now he is distracted by his ‘It’s about knowing your self-
blossoming lockdown romance with worth and being educated. If
girlfriend Jena Frumes. music makes you happy I want
He pulled the 26-year-old model in you to do that at the highest level.’
the gym this year and moved her The Savage Love singer knows all
straight in to his pad. too well about contentment after his
Derulo, 31, said: ‘It is going really fallout with the Warner Records label
good. We are taking it one day at a few years back.
a time. In this time, you spend He is now the biggest unsigned
so much time with the people artist in the world, and recently
you care about, so it can go released new single Love Not
really well or really badly War, produced by Nuka.
really quickly. Fortunately for He said of, er, Ridin’ Solo:
us it has been awesome.’ ‘The last couple of years,
It’s got him thinking about not being able to release
becoming a dad ‘one day’. music the way I wanted to,
‘It will find me, for sure,’ he was difficult for me.
said of fatherhood. ‘I felt I was
And he has some working at the
paternal advice intensity that I
lined up should his always have
offspring follow
Full package: Derulo but I had my
him into hands tied
showbiz. won’t strip, well, only behind my
‘I would for lover Jena Frumes back.
always instil in MARTIN ‘DEPICT’ MURILLO ‘It was a
my children, tough time
you have to for me.’

I’ll be a little Raye

RAYE hopes Santa will gift her the
ability to go back on tour – because
sh
he hates performing live stream gigs.
The Secrets singer says music is meant
to
o ‘vibrate’ through fans, not be watched
at home on a laptop.
‘For Christmas I would love just to know
that I am able to do a tour again,’ she said.
Lure of the tour:
The 23-year-old admits she will stream
Raye and (right) ex gigs ‘if I have to’, but added: ‘I think it’s
Drake GETTY awful. I’m like, “This is not how this is
supposed to be”. I am just praying by
 Wednesday, Decemb 2020 | METRO | 13

I’d Faith in Santa

AFTER
being forced to
experience his rise to
international stardom through
FaceTime, PAUL MESCAL now has
to face Christmas alone. The
Normal People actor says he
won’t be able to join his family in
Ireland over the festive period.
Explaining why there is no Christmas
turkey for famous folks, the 24-year-old
told GP: ‘I am not going to be with them this
Christmas. I am going to be with work.
Christmas presents are in the post. There
will be a FaceTime on Christmas Day. We
kind of had an early Christmas.’
into my teens...
PALOMA FAITH believed in Santa Claus
until she was a teenager.
She was in denial – refusing to accept
the stocking truth.
‘I love Christmas. I found out
about Santa when I was about
ten but didn’t want to accept it,
so I pretended he was real until
my teens,’ the mum-to-be said.
And Father Christmas was always
disappointed when he dropped off
gifts at her childhood home – as she
never left any port or wine out with his
mince pies.
‘We used to leave a soft drink, because we
didn’t want Santa to develop a drinking
problem,’ the 39-year-old added.

of sunshine when I hit the road

summer we can get back on it.’ As
for Christmas Day, she said: ‘I
love it. I live with my sister and
some of my best friends, so at
least will be able to spend it
together. I have so much exciting
stuff planned for 2021. It’s really
keeping me up.’
Drake’s ex also insisted
she is the real deal.
‘I am not a temporary
thing. I work hard. I’m
capable of making good music. When
you are hot property people start
calling again,’ she said.
As for being snubbed by music
execs, Raye – whose contacts book
boasts the numbers of
Beyoncé, Cardi B and
Mabel – said: ‘I’m a
very out there
person. If they say
no I say, “Take my
number”.’
14 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020
TALK
METRO
Brits can’t compete
n Gordon is quite correct in
saying that the UK is not going to
become a great manufacturing
nation (MetroTalk, Mon).
The reasons he gives are all
correct – lack of infrastructure and
suitable land for factories,
concerns over pollution and
sourcing raw materials – but the
most important factor is labour
costs. Unless we have a minimum
wage of £1 or £2 an hour, we can
never hope to compete against
other countries that exploit their
workers.
This, of course, does not stop
many in the UK buying goods
made under such horrendous
conditions – probably the same
people who are so concerned
about historical slavery.
John Daniels, Redhill
SEND US YOUR VIEWS
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T&Cs on metro.co.uk/terms Metro is a member of the Independent Press Standards
Organisation. Comments may be edited for reasons of legality, clarity or space.
The EU will never
survive so now is
the time to leave
n Prime Minister Boris Johnson has
dismissed calls to extend the Brexit
transition period in light of the mutant
coronavirus (Metro, Tue). We should be
walking away from the EU right now.
Anyone who understands the
mentality of its hierarchy will know the
east versus west and north versus south
divides within the EU will result in the
eventual collapse of the whole edifice.
I’m not blaming Germany but its
continual economic dominance due to
the weak euro and its strong exports
results in it being able to control the
others, even though Germany has
enjoyed massive surpluses that are
ignored by Brussels.
You then have the German electorate
fighting against the idea of Germany
lending to other countries such as Greece
at competitive rates. Not very friendly
and very similar to the treatment they
wish to give the UK.
JR Horsfall, Holmfirth
n The mistaken concept that Brexit will
be the best thing that can happen will
result in widespread chaos.
The working class will lose their jobs
and homes, while the well-off will make
more profit without paying tax on their
offshore banking.
When will the public realise how they
have been taken for a ride to their own
destruction?
Ted Evans, An 88-Year-Old Voter Who
Knows That A Working-Class Person
Who Voted Tory Should Be Certified
n A Christmas message for the prime
minister. Dear Mr Johnson, you have
only eight days left to deliver an easy
peasy, ‘oven-ready’ trade deal with the
European Union.
We are all anxiously waiting on our
doorsteps to catch sight of the long-
promised delivery. But we’ve been
We should lead the way
in vaccinating the world
n While a lot is said about whether the
UK’s foreign aid should be tied by law
to 0.7 per cent of GDP, few people
believe there should be no foreign aid
at all. What is of concern, though, is
whether or not it is given to the right
people and causes.
However, there’s one clear
worldwide cause that needs our
financial support. Next year, vaccines
for Covid-19 will be widely available but
many poor countries will not be able to
afford them – and, perhaps more
importantly, afford the logistics
involved in making sure all their
citizens get it.
After Brexit, the UK is ideally placed
You are
more likely to be
published if you
provide your name
and location
with your
comment
waiting for such a long time that our
collective patience is beginning to wear
a bit thin.
Please can you inform us whether the
tasty meal is on its way by express
delivery? Or is it still deep-frozen, buried
somewhere so deep that it’s unlikely to
ever see the light of day?
If you’re a man of your word and not
just a windbag full of hot air, please can
you guarantee a Brexit transition and
delivery deal by January 1?
Thank you so much and best wishes
for a Covid-free Christmas.
Alan Jensen, West Hampstead
n Looking at the dreadful scenes on
Kent’s motorways after France closed its
borders with the UK over the faster-
spreading Covid variant has led me to
ask two questions of our woeful
government.
First, how are we going to get portable
toilets through such gridlock to be put in
place for the drivers?
And second, if we can’t get British
workers to pick fruit and vegetables,
how on earth are we going to get them
to clean toilets amid the chaos and the
traffic fumes?
Remember, this is only a dress
rehearsal for the no-deal Brexit debacle
next year.
Robert Boston, Kent
French say, ‘Non’: The M20 on Tuesday
to take a leading position to ensure
that this is done.
We should establish which of the
richer countries would be prepared to
give financial aid to this project, then
identify the poorer countries that
would be unable to afford the Covid
vaccine.
A mammoth task, yes, but Britain has
led the world many times before and
now is time to take a leading position
once again.
This project is so vital that all aid
money for 2021 should be spent on
this one project. To do less would
demonstrate our lack of humanity.
Ken Shuttleworth, St Albans
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 15

RASHFORD IS THE PEOPLE’S PERSONALITY

@MetroUKNews @MetroFeatures @metrosportHQ

AND ANOTHER THING...

n It’s annoying to hear people saying
they don’t believe in the Covid
vaccine because they’re not sure
what’s in it. I have complete trust in it
because it is made by Pfizer – the
same company that makes Viagra. If
Pfizer can raise the dead, I’m quite
sure it can save the living.
Ersire, London
n That nurses aren’t paid enough is
a truism you can’t argue with
(MetroTalk, Mon). But care workers
deal with a lot of medical issues in
addition to everything else a person
would need, many barely scraping
minimum wage. Perhaps this
pandemic will shine a spotlight on
this sector and make people realise
how essential it is. Dave, Worksop
n Well done to geography teacher
Pippa Head for quitting alcohol after
15 years (Metro, Mon). I will be 30
years alcohol-free because I was
a drunk and had to stop. So I did. In
my opinion, it takes about five years
of abstinence not to miss it but as
the years move by and the reliance
on friends diminishes, after about
ten years it’s easy. I avoided many
parties and get-togethers for years.
I even avoided a few family weddings.
No one knows how hard it is to do
this except yourself.
Patrick, via email
n Hello folks, I wish to thank all the
Metro staff for providing us with the
latest news throughout the year –
well done. With much gratitude.
Adrian Appley, Bromley

England’s heroic lion: The footballer won a special prize at the BBC Sports
Personality Of The Year awards on Sunday for his poverty campaigning work
n While the BBC’s decision to we really want a young man like this
exclude everyone’s favourite in the England team? A man who has
sportsman, Marcus Rashford, from neither stubbed out a cigar on a
its main Sports Personality Of The player, been fined £220,000 for
Year competition further underlines racist abuse, tried to smuggle women
the continued relevance of this oh-so into the team hotel during Covid
shining jewel in the BBC schedule, lockdown nor gone out to a ‘Covid
a more pressing concern is the party’. Nor has he been jailed for
reputation of English football – drink-driving or had a gambling/
the beautiful game, as some out drink/drug problem. Come on, Gareth
there continue to call it. Southgate, you know the right thing
With Euro 2020 reset for 2021, do to do. Paul King, Sidcup

She saw I was in pain and she gave me mince pies

n There is undoubtedly much more
kindness around. I have problems walking
so use a trolley for help in the street.
Walking home, pushing the trolley, a lady
stopped to ask if she could help. I think
my pain must have been noticeable.
I thanked her and said it was very painful
today but that I was nearly home. One
minute later, she came after me with a
box of mince pies. At least something
good may be happening at this dreadful
time. Corinne Glaser, via email

It’s not the season to be

out, crowding together
n I visited Meadowhall shopping
centre in Sheffield this week and it was
busy with lots of people scavenging
the remains of Debenhams and the
Arcadia empire. I was shocked at the
number of young people not wearing
masks (apologies to those with a valid
reason).
I’ve seen this on several occasions.
I know it is not all of the young but it
seems to be predominantly the
younger generations. Even when told,
they would comply for just a few
minutes but then revert to type. Given
younger people are more susceptible
to this new strain, I hope they get a
dose! Cynical Steve, Barnsley
n In the summer, people went en
masse to parks and beaches around
the country but deaths from Covid
decreased from the springtime high.
Now, in winter, the UK and a number
of other countries in the northern
hemisphere are experiencing an
increase in cases.
Would it be a coincidence, then, that
Australia had a high rate of infection in
August, its winter, but has a lower rate
now, in its summer?
And if not, how much of the spread of
the coronavirus is really down to
behaviour, given the majority are
following the rules and viruses spread
quicker in winter? Sharon, Surrey
 SIXTY
16 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Hosting a game show like The

Wall, as well as an acting,
THE ACTOR, 43,
must be a huge buzz. TALKS SOCIALLY
There’s a lot of adrenaline involved…
DISTANCED GAME
How have you found filming SHOWS, BEING AN
The Wall during Covid?
There’s two of us on the stage and EASTENDERS LUVVIE

SECONDS
the other contestant goes into
isolation so they’re not around.
AND THE HEALING
Everyone’s wearing masks. It’s been POWER OF LEGO
very well thought-out but as a game
it does work. It just means I can’t
cuddle and high-five. INTERVIEW BY PAUL SIMPER

Did you miss not filming With Danny Dyer

The Wall in Warsaw?
No, if anything good came
from corona it’s that they
actually built The Wall here
in Wembley. It was difficult
out there. The audience didn’t
really know who I was. It
was a lot of living in hotels.
It’s a beautiful place,
Warsaw, but there’s not that of the state of the world? but questioning our own mortality has
much to do. What we’re finding is the behaviour been drummed into us this year. We’re
of contestants now is completely all slightly damaged from the worry and
Have The Wall’s different from the first series. This we’re seeing that with the contestants.
money prizes felt lockdown has done something to all They’re making some crazy decisions.
.Energetic:. even more life- our brains. Some people go their
.Stacey Dooley. changing because whole life not worrying about dying Has there been one point where
a sum of money made a big
difference to your life?
Just having any money. I was brought
up with nothing in a single-parent
family in Custom House [east London],
a very deprived area. I’m very proud of
where I’m from. It shaped me. I love the
fact that I’m living proof that if you
dream enough and you have enough
ambition, it doesn’t matter where you
come from. In any job. I know that’s
a lot more difficult at the moment
because of what’s going on. I just got
used to having no money. It was free
school dinners. I don’t take money
for granted.

Campaigning actors get

this sort of backlash,
‘Well, why don’t you
fund the theatres?’

Stacey Dooley is taking part in

The Wall Versus Celebrities and
she interviewed you for
EastEnders: Secrets From The

Square. Are you a fan?
I love Stacey. She’s a very intelligent kid.
She makes shows that raise debate and
she’s not frightened to really get
amongst it. She’s a good energy and
a fan of the show as well.
What was the hardest part of
lockdown for you?
I did do a lot of Lego, to be honest.
There’s boxes and boxes of it. I don’t
know what to do with it. The first three
weeks of the first lockdown, we didn’t
know what to expect. Stay in. Hide.
Once that all settled down it was
actually a joyous experience for me not
having anything in the diary. Lying
around with the kids and spending real
time with each other. When it got to
month three it started getting difficult.
You start running out of dialogue with
your partner. Because you are
round each other all day every
day, what do you talk about?
You’ve managed
to keep doing two
jobs. This and
EastEnders…
Yeah, two high-pressure
jobs as well. It’s a completely
different gig, going from .Stage sage:. What do you think
Walford to shiny game-show
host. I feel very grateful to say
.Harold Pinter. yourself this year?
I’ve got one job, let alone two.
Are you proud of the way the
soaps have led the field in
getting TV productions back to
work and made it all the way to
Christmas?
Yeah, but I don’t think we can keep it up
forever. Acting is about relationships
and human contact and interaction. You
can only cheat that so much. We’re
GETTY
called luvvies for a reason. We’re all
touchy-feely. We’re all rooting for each
other. EastEnders is an ensemble piece.
Now there’s no green room to socialise
in. We don’t catch up with each other’s
days. All that stuff can be quite tiring
and quite depressing, actually.
Theatres have suffered so badly
this year. As someone who
worked so much on stage with
Harold Pinter, what does that
mean to you?
It’s absolutely devastating. It’s the root
of what acting is, theatre. Live
performances. It’s very difficult for us
celebrities to talk about it because we’re
presumed to have lots of money. So
with the appeal you put out
there, you get this sort of
backlash, ‘Well, why don’t
you fund the theatres?’
We’re just trying to save
an industry that is on
the verge of dying out
forever. You can’t just put
industries in hibernation.
you’ve learned about
I’ve learned to be grateful for things we
take for granted. I did a lot of reflecting
about what’s important in our lives and
appreciating stuff that we’d never
appreciated before.
The Wall Versus Celebrities is on
BBC1 at 6.55pm on Christmas Eve
and 6.40pm on New Year’s Eve.
EastEnders is on Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday and BBC iPlayer
December 23, 2020

17
 December 23, 2020
18
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 19

YEA
AR
METRO’S CARTOONISTT HAS HAD
PLENTY TO KEEP HIM BUSY...
HERE ARE HIS TOP
P PICKS
20 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Spudding offence... driver threw

potatoes at cop car chasing him Model’s drug
A BANNED motorist hurled potatoes
at police as they chased him along
country roads.
Shaun Davies, 31, had a bag of
Dangerous:
Police pursue
banned Shaun
Davies (inset)
party before
260ft plunge
spuds in his Peugeot when he was WALES NEWS SERVICE
pulled over by officers.
He also had a bag of drugs
and – fearing he’d had his
chips – put his foot down

at selfie spot
and sped off.
When officers drove after
him, he hurled potatoes
and then tools out of the
window at them in
Llandovery, west Wales, police pursuing him.’ A jailed for 18 months after admitting
Swansea crown court heard. stinger was eventually a string of offences including
PC Oliver West said: ‘He was used to stop Davies’s car dangerous driving, driving while
driving in an outright and he was found hiding disqualified and possession of Class
dangerous manner to stop in brambles. He was B drug amphetamine.

Famed: Diamond Bay is selfie favourite

by AIDAN RADNEDGE

A MODEL on a dream holiday in Australia

fell 260ft to her death from cliffs while
taking selfies at sunrise after an all-night
party where she drank and took drugs.
Briton Madalyn Davis, 21, and her
friends climbed over a barrier at beauty
spot Diamond Bay near Sydney.
As they walked on, a man was heard
shouting: ‘She’s gone. She’s fallen. She’s
gone,’ an inquest heard.
Madalyn, from Lincoln, was found
dead in the sea after a four-hour search.
She had suffered multiple injuries.
Tests revealed traces of vodka, MDMA,
ketamine and cocaine in her system.
A white flip-flop was found on the cliff
edge and police spoke to witnesses who
said they had crossed to ‘the wrong side
of the barriers to take great photos’ at
the popular selfie location.
Coroner Gordon Clow said drink and
drugs ‘impaired Madalyn’s decision-
making, balance and co-ordination’, and
recorded a conclusion of death by mis-
adventure at a hearing in Nottingham.
He said: ‘This is a great trauma and
tragedy of a young person’s life cut short
by alcohol and illicit drugs.’ Killed: Model Madalyn on holiday INSTAGRAM
Madalyn was on a year-long trip to
Thailand, Bali and Australia when she friends read out to the court said she
died in January. liked ‘to let loose a bit when travelling’
The talented artist had thousands of and had taken drugs before.
followers on Instagram. But her parents Her mother Rebecca Smith said: ‘Mada-
revealed they had been ‘hounded’ by lyn was an introverted extrovert. She
internet trolls after her death. struggled with a world that could be so
They said she wasn’t ‘a massive unkind, and was a good person that
drinker’, but a statement by one of her always saw the best in people.’

Four convicted of stabbing Online pics proved ‘injured’

teens during birthday party
TWO young men and two teenagers
were yesterday convicted of murdering
a pair of 17-year-olds in a ‘ferocious’
ambush at a birthday party.
Dom Ansah and Ben Gillham-Rice
were stabbed to death by members of
the B3 gang in Emerson Valley, Milton
Keynes, on October 19 last year.
Charlie Chandler, 22, Clayton Barker,
20, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old
were found guilty of both murders and
two counts of wounding with intent by
a jury at Luton crown court.
handyman’s £72,000 fraud
A HANDYMAN who pocketed more than
£72,000 from insurers by pretending he
had suffered knee and elbow injuries
was caught after posting pictures of
himself jet-skiing and lifting weights.
Richard Charles, 37, who claimed he
injured himself tripping on a step, also
made four insurance claims for ‘stolen’
tools and was set to receive another
£35,000 when he was rumbled. Charles,
of Bromley, south London, was jailed for
a year after admitting seven counts of
fraud at Woolwich crown court.

IN BRIEF
Poison in pants claims
rubbished by Kremlin
RUSSIAN opposition politician
Alexei Navalny has been labelled
insane by the Kremlin after
claiming to have tricked a secret
agent into revealing how he was
poisoned with novichok in August.
The campaigner, 44, released a
recording of a man saying that the
deadly toxin had been put in his
underpants. He said he gained the
man’s confidence by posing as an
aide to a top security official.
President Vladimir Putin’s
spokesman Dmitry Peskov said
Mr Navalny, who recovered from
the poisoning after treatment in
Germany, has a ‘pronounced
persecution mania’. The Kremlin
denies being behind the attack.
China in tit-for-tat visa
battle with US officials
CHINA has imposed visa
restrictions on unnamed
American officials in response to
a similar move from the US.
Beijing announced the move
after the US said it would deny
visas to Chinese Communist
Party officials whose policies or
actions are aimed at repressing
religious groups, ethnic
minorities, dissidents or others.
China’s foreign ministry said it
had acted against Americans who
are ‘primarily responsible for
recent interference in China’s
internal affairs’.
It also called on president
Donald Trump, an outspoken
critic of China, not to sign an act
offering US support to rival Tibet.
Three kids ‘murdered’
per day in South Africa
THREE children every day are
murdered in South Africa – and
the figure could be higher as
killings are missed, investigated
poorly or never go to court.
Pathologists examined bodies of
711 children and found 15 per cent
died through homicide – Britain’s
official figure is one per cent.
Shanaaz Mathews, who did the
research at Cape Town university,
said: ‘Violence is entrenched.
Numbers are not going down – if
anything, they’re going up. How
do we break that cycle?’
Street crime and family killings
have made homicide the second
biggest cause of death for kids in
Cape Town and Durban.
Rio mayor arrested over
corruption allegations
OUTGOING Rio de Janeiro mayor
Marcelo Crivella has been
arrested in Brazil over alleged
corruption.
The 63-year-old former pastor,
who is due to leave office on
January 1, is said to have close
links to businessman Rafael
Alves who reportedly promised
government contracts in
exchange for payments.
Crivella, an ally of president Jair
Bolsonaro, told reporters upon
his arrival at the Rio police
headquarters: ‘I am the mayor
who most fought corruption.’
Five former Rio state governors
have been jailed in recent years
amid corruption charges.
Hundreds of camels die in
agony after eating plastic
by MICHAEL HAVIS
PLASTIC pollution is killing Dubai’s
wild camels in their hundreds, con-
demning them to agonisingly slow
deaths, researchers have warned.
The sun-bleached bones of five of
the hardy animals have been found
lying with mounds of waste that they
died trying to digest.
Bags, bottles, ropes and other plastic
litter strewn across the desert had built
up in their stomachs
and calcified into a
solid mass.
One of the victims
had devoured a 10st
‘trashberg’, recovered
by Dr Marcus Eriksen,
from the non-profit
research organisation
5 Gyres Institute.
‘We found five skel-
etons of camels bur-
ied in the sand with
masses of plastic
waste in their chests,’
he said. ‘The camels
only know that what isn’t sand, is prob-
ably food. The plastic mimics the natu-
ral food they eat.
‘Also, littered plastic might have food
WORLD BITES
■ A PROMINENT journalist gunned
down after leaving his house has
become the fourth to be killed in
Afghanistan in two months.
Rahmatullah Nekzad was targeted on
his way to a mosque in Ghazni City on
Monday. The Taliban called his death
‘a loss’ and denied it was responsible.
.Desert deaths:
.Dubai’s wild
.camels feed on
.plastic waste
.PICTURES: PEN NEWS
Hard to
stomach: A
10st ‘trash-
berg’ was
found inside
one camel
waste on it, like oils and salts, that are
attractive to taste.’
Dr Eriksen was invited to see the
extent of the disaster by pioneering
■ SPAIN’S Christmas lottery, which
has the world’s biggest prize fund
of £2.2billion, was drawn with no
live audience for the first time due
to Covid rules. El Gordo (The Fat
One) will give £296,000 each to
winners whose £18.20 tickets have
the top prize number of 72897.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 21
THE AMAZING
MOMENT BABY
ELEPHANT IS
SAVED BY CPR
THIS is a scene you won’t see every
day – an emergency worker saving
an elephant’s life with CPR.
Mana Srivate is lit by a car’s
headlights as he crouches over the
baby elephant lying sprawled on
its side in the middle of a road.
As we reported yesterday, the
rescue worker saved the day by
reviving the injured animal after it
had been hit by a motorcycle.
Mr Srivate appears deep in
concentration as he administers
two-handed chest compressions
to the animal in Chanthaburi,
Thailand. It was the first time the
off-duty worker had saved an
elephant and said he had to
‘assume where an elephant heart
would be located, based on human
theory’. REUTERS
camel vet Dr Ulrich Wernery, of Dubai’s camels in the emirate of Dubai. ‘This is
Central Veterinary Research Labora- significant culturally,’ Dr Eriksen said.
tory. ‘This is not a laboratory study. ‘If Middle Eastern cultures respect
This is real life and it’s happening right camels, then this must be stopped, and
now to an entire population,’ said Dr the only way is to ban the bag.’
Eriksen. ‘The camels get malnourished He warned it is ‘essential’ that world
and die. The bags in their gut hold large leaders sign a treaty to curb single-use
bacterial colonies, so the camels become plastics. ‘One big point here is that
sickened by the high bacterial loads.’ plastic waste has been largely an ocean
Plastic is thought to be responsible issue, but it’s not. This study shows tre-
for the deaths of 300 of the 30,000 mendous impacts on land as well.’
■ KOSOVO is to hold another general ■ AUSTRALIAN cricket legend Sir
election after the constitutional court Donald Bradman’s first baggy green
found the cabinet was approved by Test cap from 1928 has been sold
an invalid vote by an MP who has by a Sydney-based auction house
since been jailed. Etem Arifi cast the for £253,000. It was the second-
deciding vote in the 120-seat highest price ever paid for cricket
chamber in June last year before memorabilia – Shane Warne’s debut
being jailed for embezzling £23,000. cap went for £567,000 in January.
 December 23, 2020
22
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 23

QUENTIN BLAKE
METRO

TVTOGO
A LIFE IN PICTURES

1949: The Sidcup-born civil

servant’s son gets his first ever
cartoon published in Punch
magazine at 16, becoming their
youngest ever contributor.

ROWING up is optional –
you grow old without
necessarily growing up.’
Yes, Helena Bonham Carter
is a big kid and proud of it.
‘I was always a late
developer,’ she continues. ‘I think
I’ve been doing my childhood while I’m
an adult. I had a Snoopy but that was
late in my childhood, early teens. I had
a pig as an adult and slept with that a
lot. And a Paddington…’
Never happier than when dressing up,
1960: Illustrates A Drink Of this lifelong fan of clowns and circuses
Water by John Yeoman, the first is surely the perfect narrator for Quentin
of over 500 children’s books Blake’s Clown, Channel 4’s latest festive
Blake has illustrated during his animation. Based on the beloved
career. author’s classic picture book, it tells
the story of a toy who comes to life

Continued on Page 24 »

1977: Appears as a presenter

on BBC children’s TV show
Jackanory, narrating and
illustrating stories from his
Lester series.

M THE CROWN TO A
O
19788: Begiins his mostt famous

FR
collaboration with author Roald
Dahl, bringing to life iconic
characters Willy Wonka, The BFG
and Matilda.

2013: Receives a knighthood HELENA BONHAM CARTER SPREADS CHRISTMAS

for services to illustration,
adding to accolades including
the Hans Christian Andersen CHEER IN QUENTIN BLAKE’S DELIGHTFUL CLOWN
Award. SOPHIE LAUGHTON
24 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

TVTOGO
BID 2020 GOOD

TV TO MEND
THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WASN’T
For a year that felt like one long, drawn- charged with spouting the ‘alternative
RIDDANCE WITH A
out episode of Black Mirror, Charlie facts’ that are now commonplace. BUMPER CHOICE
Brooker knew his standard end-of-year ‘Throughout the history of the USA
Screenwipe wasn’t going to cut it. you’d get doublespeak from the people OF CHEERING
‘Every year I seemed to be saying,
“This is the worst year ever” –
who are speaking on behalf of the
White House,’ says Kudrow. ‘They
FESTIVE TV, SAYS
and then along comes 2020 used to be good at the con – but KEITH WATSON
and puts it all into sharp relief,’ now they don’t care.’
the comedian, 49, confesses. Meanwhile, Nanjiani drew upon
his role in HBO’s Silicon Valley to
Instead, he and co-creator
Annabel Jones have teamed up play shady tech billionaire Bark SPECIAL
with Netflix to create Multiverse, explaining: ‘These
Death To 2020, a people have ruined the Worzel Gummidge
mockumentary-style concept of truth. What BBC1, 5.55pm
special with Samuel L they all share in common Mackenzie Crook breathes
Jackson, Lisa Kudrow, is this complete lack of life into the classic scarecrow once
Kumail Nanjiani and self-awareness or again, joined this time by the reliably
Hugh Grant. morality.’ weird Shirley Henderson playing a
Each character The show takes us carved ship’s head, surely the pinnacle
in the special through the year’s of any actor’s career.
skewers every type global issues, from
of person we have Covid to the Australian The Great Christmas Bake
loved to hate this wildfires. And as for how Off C4, 7.40pm
e
It’s Christmas so there will be
year. Friends actor this all ends?
cake. Lots of cake. And where e
Lisa Kudrow stars ‘I’m not Nostradamus,’ says
better to kick off the season
as Jeanetta Grace Brooker. SOPHIE LAUGHTON of calorific self-indulgence
Susan, a non-official than the Bake Off tent,
government Death To 2020 will be on where a quartet of former
spokesperson, Netflix on December 27 contestants compete, Tom
Allen is choux-horned in
for Noel Fielding and all is
drizzled with snow-like
icing sugar. .Fanciful: Dawn.
.French as Beatrix.
Roald & Beatrix: The
Tale of The Curious Mouse
Sky One, 8.15pm
That’s Roald as in Dahl and Beatrix as
in Potter in a fanciful spin on a spared the horses with this pared-
fateful meeting between two of down, read-through panto. The
our most beloved children’s cherries on top are 2020 breakout
authors. Dawn French stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Regé-Jean
brings Potter to crotchety Page as Cinders and the Prince.
life as she meets the nervous
boy Dahl in a tale that never
ducks the insecurities of the
creative life.

Cinderella: A Comic Call The Midwife

Relief Pantomime For BBC1, 7.40pm
Christmas It used to be The Sound Of Music, now
BBC2, 8.15pm Best in choux: Prue steers it’s Call The Midwife that the nation
Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham can slumber to, sozzled on sherry,
Carter, Tom Hollander… they haven’t a Christmas Bake Off comforted that if you wake up just

‘IT’S AN ENCHAN
HELENA BONHAM CARTER TELLS
GABRIEL TATE HOW SHE RELISHES
VOICE WORK AND THAT SHE PICKS
PROJECTS TO IMPRESS HER KIDS
» Continued from Page 23
after being discarded by a
previous owner. Setting off
on an urban odyssey, Clown
must negotiate ferocious
dogs, careless grown-ups
and school assemblies to find
a new owner for himself and
his inanimate friends before
they’re thrown away for good.
‘It was a no-brainer to get involved,’
she says. ‘It’s such an enchanting
piece and I’ve always gravitated
towards the circus – I had clowning
lessons, not terribly successfully, and I
was at school with somebody who
went from a solicitor to a trapeze
artist…’
It’s fair to say that she’s pleased with
the results.
‘Quentin’s a classic,’ she enthuses.
‘He’s been illustrating the whole of my
life. He’s so not generic and utterly
himself. It must be extraordinary
to be in his head. His story has
been so honoured and done with
such love and reverence. That’s
what children do – they look at
pictures and animate them but
because we’re adults we’ve
forgotten how to do that so the
animators do it for us.’
The narration process was, for
a veteran of voiceovers for
both Nick Park and her ex-
partner Tim Burton,
startlingly straightforward.
‘It was just a lovely,
warm day out,’ she says.
‘They were immensely
pleased with my first take
and I’ve never had that in my life in
animation! You do about 150 takes for
.Playful:. Nick and he still says, “Just one more” –
he’s all about detail and nuance but
.Quentin. he’s a genius. I did Corpse Bride for Tim,
.Blake’s Clown. although I still had to audition for it.’
.was published.. As a determined avoider of her own
work, at least Clown is one thing she
.in 1980. will happily sit down and watch.

THE SPIRITS
before the end, all will be comfort and
joy. There’s a bit of social history-lite
thrown in just so you don’t feel cheap.
Soul Disney+
This jazz-flecked Pixar movie sees
Jamie Foxx voice New York teacher Joe,
a piano maestro who’s lost his spark
and headed for the Great Beyond
(cheery!) until he bumps into the as yet
unborn 22 (Tina Fey). For a full review
see films, page 27.
Bridgerton Netflix
A period romp – with the emphasis on
rumpy pumpy romp! – as the screen
TING TALE’
‘The biggest qualification [for Clown]
is me not being physically in it,’ she
says. ‘The voice is bearable!’
And while she mourns the decline of
the communal viewing experience
(‘everyone has their own screens so
they can vanish down their own little
rabbit holes, which I hate’), she hopes
her children with Burton
– Billy (17) and Nell (12) –
will join her for this one. I love the idea
‘A lot of it is me
desperately trying to get
that toys, like
their interest and humans, can
approval now,’ she adds.
And yes, in case you
only come alive deal
were wondering, TV’s if they’re loved
latest Princess Margaret
will also be watching the
Queen’s Speech, along with her kids
and a roomful of stuffed toys.
‘I haven’t thrown a thing [of my
children’s] out,’ she says. ‘I’m not
allowed to! Bill had a few stuffed
animals but Nell’s obsessed – I have to
tuck her in with a whole zoo. Nell has
a very lively imagination – if someone
sits on one of them, she thinks it’s
plain cruelty, if the dog gets hold of
.Revved up: Star Steve McQueen.
.Ideal fix:.
The Repair Shop.
.At Christmas.
pops with Regency rakes, bare bottoms
and dark, delicious secrets. It’s from
the Shonda Rhimes TV stable, with
Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page
appealing as very star-crossed lovers.
(For an interview with Regé-Jean, see
page 26)
Quentin Blake’s Clown
C4, 7.40pm
A charming animated short following
the misadventures of a sad toy clown,
past his sell-by date, who seeks a new
owner who will cherish him, dents and
all. Helena Bonham Carter gives it the
full voice works.
one then he’s slaughtering it – but
given the parents, it shouldn’t be a
total surprise.’
Above all, Clown feels both universal
and incredibly timely in raising issues
of kindness and care, of rejection and
companionship. Bonham Carter agrees
it feels more pertinent than ever in
such uncertain times.
‘Clown is a homeless
character and it shines
a light on an appalling
thing that people who
are genuinely without
homes and love must
with every day, and
it shines a spotlight on
that on a day of
particular togetherness
and isolation.’ she says. ‘I love the idea
that toys can only come alive if they’re
loved. That’s true of humans too.
‘Honestly, Clown is adorable. You’d
have to be a total misanthrope not to
find it moving and enchanting. It’s
Christmas spirit, bottled.’
Quentin Blake’s Clown is on
Christmas Day at 7.40pm on Channel 4
The Masked Singer ITV, 7pm
Who is that dressed as a giant
cucumber? Can Davina McCall’s mouth
stretch any wider in astonishment? Is
that Barack Obama?! You know the
score now in the weirdest variant yet
on the singing talent show.
The Repair Shop/The Great
British Sewing Bee
Both BBC1, 6.45pm & 7.45pm
We could all probably do with a bit of
patching up/stitching together this far
into the holiday season so where better
to turn than these two homespun
treats? Expect rocking horses, toy
trucks and a tear or three.
Black Narcissus BBC1, 9pm
A bunch of nuns going bonkers in the
Himalayas is perhaps not the most
obvious choice for a Christmas drama
but Gemma Arterton and Alessandro
Nivola smoulder at each
over three nights as
spooky happenings rip
a remote retreat apart.
Billy Connolly –
It’s Been A
Pleasure
ITV, 9.30pm .Irate: Daleks return.
The Big Yin has .to Doctor Who.
Comic timing:
Helena Bonham
Carter recording
her voice work
on C4’s Clown
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 25
.Stuck in: Lee Mack and Sally.
.Bretton in Not Going Out.
announced his retirement from stand-
up comedy so here’s a fond farewell of
a tribute with celebrity fans including
Dustin Hoffman, Elton John and
Whoopi Goldberg lining up to sing
his praises.
Penguins: Meet The Family
BBC1, 6.30pm
They had us at penguins… but we get
to learn stuff here too in a look at the
variations between all 18 species of
penguin. Pick your favourite.
Not Going Out
BBC1, 9pm
Lee Mack returns with a
miserable New Year’s
Eve party, Not Going
Out style. That title, eh?
Jools’ Annual
Hootenanny
BBC2, 11.15pm
Celeste, Ruby Turner
TVTOGO
and Michael Kiwanuka give Jools’
annual knees up a bit of modern
pep but Tom Jones can still shake
a leg too. He just needs a sit down
afterwards.
Doctor Who
BBC1, 6.45pm
Jodie Whittaker returns in an
adventure that includes Daleks and
John Barrowman and also bids farewell
to Bradley Walsh. Time never stands
still in Who-land.
The Serpent
BBC1, 9pm
The new year kicks off with this
twisting tale of a trickster duo in 1970s
Bangkok. Jenna Coleman and Tahar
Rahim somehow make dated fashions
look super cool.
Steve McQueen: The Lost
Movie
Sky Documentaries, 9pm
So many Steve McQueens, it’s flipping
confusing, isn’t it? But this one is a
fascinating doc about the petrolhead
movie star who dreamed of making a
classic F1 movie – and why it never
happened.
26 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

TVTOGO
BRIDGERTON THE KEY PLAYERS
SPECIAL MOVE OVER,
MR DARCY -
REGÉ-JEAN PAGE’S
DUKE IS MAKING
CORSETS FLUTTER
THIS CHRISTMAS.
AND IT’S PERFECT
VIEWING, HE TELLS
KEITH WATSON

Daphne Anthony Penelope

Bridgerton Bridgerton Featherington
(Phoebe Dynevor) (Jonathan Bailey) (Nicola Coughlan)
A sensation when she Daphne’s brother and The Derry Girls star
debuts in London head of the family after plays Daphne’s lovelorn
society, she knows she their father’s death. He’s neighbour, who holds a
has to strike while her protective of his sister’s torch for her younger
marital value is hot. reputation, while brother Colin, but he
But the Duke is not the conducting a racy affair thinks of her as a mate.
marrying kind. with an opera singer. Can that end well?

over troubled water

W
HAT’S in a name?
Quite a lot when
you’re about to
interview Regé-Jean
Page, the star of
Netflix’s hotly anticipated
Christmas period drama romp, and
you haven’t got a clue how to
pronounce it. So it’s mighty handy
when the cheery PR lands on the
line with ‘Reggae is ready for you
now.’ Ah, so it’s ‘Reggae’, like the
music. And there was I, about to try
something French.
‘I’ve got, like, eight names,’ says
the 30-year-old actor down the line
from LA, where’s he’s based. ‘It’s
just a thing in our family. I swished
a couple together and came up with
Regé-Jean. At least that’s something
I’ve got in common with Simon, the
Duke of Hastings, who I play in
Bridgerton – he’s got about eight
names too!’
Bridgerton, created by TV
powerhouse Shonda (Grey’s
Anatomy) Rhimes, marks Netflix’s
move into the period drama market.
It’s been touted as the new
Downton Abbey and its Regency
setting is certainly full of bustling
crinolines and fancy balls – but this
is full-on sexy, with Regé-Jean’s
Duke bagging the lion’s share of
buttock-baring moments with
co-star Phoebe Dynevor, who pllays
on-off love Daphne Bridgerton.
A bit strong for Christmas?
‘Come on, they got it on in
Georgian times,’ laughs
Page, batting back the
idea that watching the
Duke writhe naked on
a lawn with a comely
damsel might have the
unsuspecting choke on
their Christmas turkey.
‘It’s good fun but it’s
absolutely not a
traditional period drama.
It’s a very 21st-century
take on things. It’s a
beautiful escapist
fantasy of how we’d
.Raise a glass: Ben Miller, Bessie.
.Carter, Polly Walker and Harriet Cains
like to imagine that era would be –
it’s a joy to be able to relax into that
kind of escapism.’
Bridgerton certainly looks the
part and it’s decked out with a
strong supporting cast that
includes Ben Miller, Polly Walker
and Adjoa Andoh, all topped off
with a waspish voiceover from Julie
Andrews as a scandal-mongering
society diarist.
But it’s The Duke and Daphne who
give the show its beating heart,
Page and Dynevor finding
.Chemistry:.
.Regé-Jean.
.Page with.
.Phoebe.
.Dynevor.
beguiling chemistry in a feverishly
fraught romance.
For Page, it marks a sharp upward
curve. Roles as Chicken George in
the 2016 remake of Roots and legal
drama For The People (another
Shonda Rhimes production) have
led to a remarkable Christmas triple
whammy that also sees him appear
in new Tessa Thompson jazz movie
Sylvie’s Love and as Prince Charming
in Comic Relief’s Cinderella on
BBC2. It’s all a long way from Page’s
teenage punk years in London,
where he settled after an early
ch
hildhood in Zimbabwe.
‘I had red hair, green hair, purple
haair – you know, all those teenage
angsty things,’ he says.
‘I came up through music
and I use acting and
dance a lot in my acting
work now. The way
people dance together,
that tells you a lot
about who they are as
people. It’s all in the
rhythm.’
Well, he is called
Reggae.
Bridgerton is
available on Netflix
on Christmas Day
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 27

MUSIC // FILM // TV // PODCASTS

Enlightenment and all that jazz

THE BIG RELEASE
SOUL PG ★★★★★

T
HERE was a moment in Soul
when I realised I was on the
edge of my seat, agog for a
Pixar cartoon to reveal the
meaning of life to me (no
MOVIE
spoilers!) For where most studio-
produced animations don’t look far
SPECIAL
beyond entertaining families for
90 minutes plus commercial spin-offs,
here the creators of Monsters, Inc,
Inside Out and Up are aiming for
yogic-level enlightenment. As such,
Soul is not for everyone – and is
hardly aimed at kids at all.
For starters, our hero is a middle-
aged, slightly paunchy African-
American jazz musician who feels
downtrodden by his job (the kids
will be clamouring for an action
figure of that one, right?) Meet Joe
Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx), a
school music teacher who
finally gets his big break,
playing a gig with
saxophone legend
Dorothea Williams
(Angela Bassett),
when he falls
down a manhole.
With his body
stranded in a
hospital coma, Joe identify her voicing an abstract construct called wonderful life, the effort pays off. actually makes you keen to listen to
finds his soul on A true passion, ‘Jerry’, the script is the antithesis of With 21 hit movies under their jazz. Amazing. LARUSHKA IVAN-ZADEH
Matter Of Life And the ‘spark’ she dumbed down. ‘I don’t understand belt since Toy Story, you’d expect
Death-style conveyor needs to find what’s going on!’ wailed my six- Pixar to loll contentedly about on Available from Christmas Day on Disney+
belt to the Great Beyond. before she’s year-old companion, close to tears. their laurels, mindlessly churning
His one shot at dispatched to be born. Thank heavens for the occasional out Cars 7, yet instead they’ve created THE VERDICT
returning to Earth is to .Sax appeal: Angela. With jokes about Carl poop joke and a comedy cat called a family movie that takes studio
A miraculous animation that’s
help a rebellious being Jung and Archimedes, Mr Mittens. entertainment to a whole new
.Bassett voices Dorothea. and Richard Ayoade just as beautiful on the inside
called 22 (Tina Fey) Yet, like many things in this profound level. Not only that, it

ALSO OUT THIS CHRISTMAS

Tessa triumphs in romance They might be heroes: The
cast of We Can Be Heroes
Movie magic: Tessa
Thompson stars as Sylvie

WE CAN BE HEROES PG is an alcohol-soaked dive into a Las

SYLVIE’S LOVE 12A ★★★★✩
A gorgeous, sweep-you-away
Hollywood-style romance as played
out in 1950s and ’60s Harlem, Sylvie’s
Love is a reminder of the aching gaps
left in on-screen black representation
that black film-makers are only now
able to start filling.
Once again wowing us with her
range, Tessa Thompson (aka Marvel’s
Valkyrie) stars as Sylvie, a demure,
TV-addicted debutant who works
part-time in her daddy’s record shop.
One hot afternoon, in walks Robert
(Nnamdi Asomugha), an aspiring jazz
saxophonist, and it’s first love at first
sight. Ah, summer lovin’, it happens so
fast for this African American Sandy
and Danny – or you wish it did
because the action lingers too long on
the couple’s predictable, super-cute
courtship. It’s what happens next that
proves more engaging.
Filtering a classic love story through
a modern cultural perspective means
these characters aren’t quite the stock
products they seem – though they
aren’t quite dimensional either.
However, Thompson sparks up
movie magic as a cosseted sleeping
beauty who finally wakes up to this
movie’s theme – life’s too short not to
do what you really love. Scoop on that
lush production design and a glossy
melodic score, and it all slips down
smoother than a Galaxy Caramel. LI-Z
Available from today on Amazon Prime
A vastly non-anticipated
standalone sequel to 2005’s family
movie flop The Adventures Of
Sharkboy And Lavagirl In 3-D, this
is clearly writer/director/producer
Robert ‘Spy Kids’ Rodriguez’s
Christmas prezzie to himself.
Twilight’s Taylor Lautner fails to
return to the role of Sharkboy in
a scenario that sees alien invaders
capture the Earth’s superheroes,
prompting their super-offspring to
team up and save the planet.
Out Christmas Day on Netflix
BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY
POCKETS 15
It’s not a jolly holiday for everyone
– particularly this year. Bill and
Turner Ross’s moving docu-fiction
Vegas bar’s last hours. A ‘document
of real people, in an unreal situation,
facing an uncertain future’, it
should speak to many lonely souls
this festive season.
Out Christmas Eve on
Curzon Home Cinema
THE WOMAN WHO RAN
12A
Winner of the Silver Bear for best
director at this year’s Berlinale,
Hong Sang-soo’s super-subtle,
stubbornly low-key South Korean
drama stars his muse and romantic
partner Kim Min-hee as a woman
who has encounters with three
female acquaintances after her
husband goes on a business trip.
Out now on MUBI
28 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

MUSIC // FILM // TV // PODCASTS

TOP 10 FILMS OF THE YEAR BY LARUSHKA IVAN-ZADEH

1. 1917
Best of British. Sam
Mendes’s magnificent
‘one take’ WWI drama
stormed it at the Baftas.
2. Borat Subsequent 3. A Beautiful Day In 4. Parasite 5. The Lighthouse 6. Wonder Woman 7. Rocks
Moviefilm The Neighbourhood This Korean genre-bender Bonkers masterpiece 1984 Sarah Gavron’s brilliantly
Jaw-dropping comedy Tom Hanks’ gentle yet made history as the first sees Robert Pattinson go A pure blast of superhero authentic coming-of-age
sequel with an explosive profound portrait of a real- foreign film to win Best loopy in a lighthouse sequel joy. Available only in London story that’s totally
Rudy Giuliani moment. life US children’s TV icon. Picture at the Oscars. with Willem Defoe. cinemas at the moment. bursting with fresh talent.

TURKEY OF THE YEAR DOLITTLE Even Robert Downey Jr couldn’t rescue this bloated pile of CGI doo-doo, which proves Hollywood stars should never act with childr

Nothing like a normal ye

FROM PARASITE AND TAYLOR TO SCHITT’S CREEK AND PAUL MESCAL, OUR ENTERTAINMENT EXPERTS PICK THE
TOP 10 TV BY KEITH WATSON

1. Unorthodox Netflix 6. Ramy Starzplay

Shira Haas was simply unforgettable It was Faith versus Fun in the struggles
as a Hasidic woman escaping her past. of a modern Muslim, played by Ramy
Youssef. 2 3

2. Des ITV
David Tennant was chilling as
notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen.
7. Quiz ITV
The Millionaire ‘coughing major’ saga
turned into high drama in this
miniseries starring Matthew
Macfadyen and Sian Clifford.

3. Tiger King Netflix
A jaw-dropping exposé of barking
mad animal park feuds that proved
irresistible viewing.
4. Mrs America BBC2
Cate Blanchett put in a terrific turn as
arch anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly.
5. Schitt’s Creek Netflix
The fabulous Rose family sadly signed
off, deservedly festooned with awards.
But that just meant you could go back
and start all over again.
TURKEY OF THE YEAR
THE DUCHESS Netflix Starring Katherine Ryan. One word: WHY?
4 5
8. The Queen’s Gambit Netflix
ALSO ON TV, THIS HAPPENED…
Anya Taylor-Joy was just superb as a 1. Miserablism got
high-flying chess prodigy.
really classy…
y new rivals
Normal People (teenagers
shag, get miserable, shag
again. Then split.) and Michaela
Coel’s I May Destroy You
(young people do drugs,
despair and generally have a
hard time) proved right on the
9. Gangs Of London Sky money when it came to
A bloody and brutal revenge saga that speaking to a generation.
ran on pure adrenaline.
2. An unlikely art show
saved our sanity
Who could beat the late
painting guru Bob Ross for
the title of Man Of The Year?
His ancient – sorry, vintage –
series The Joy Of Painting
10. All Creatures Great And (iPlayer) was retro succour for
Small Channel 5 the soul, Bob’s soothing
If only the world was really like this… brush strokes gently
encouraging us all to connect
with our inner Picasso.
3. Ant & Dec found
If there’s any justice, Ant &
Dec’s 103-year winning streak
at the National TV Awards will
be ended by Professor Chris
Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance,
the duo who kept popping up
where Pointless was supposed
to be, issuing dire warnings. No
word yet on whether they’ll be
presenting I’m A Celeb 2021.
4. Panel Shows. Yes,
the panel really
does show…
Isn’t it weird how the
University Challenge teams
have to shout at each other
from behind screens now?
But everyone was at it, from
Question Time to Graham
Norton, nobly carrying on and
making the best of not being
allowed an audience.
Question Time
improved.
5. Some locked
down TV was
quite good
If you’re an actor you
can’t exactly follow the
edict to ‘work from home’
can you? Wrong!
Ingenuity was the order
of the day as ITV’s
Isolation Stories, with
Sheridan Smith and
Eddie Marsan among
the casts, and BBC1’s
Staged, with Michael
Sheen and David
Tennant, leading a raft
of socially distanced
dramas. They
caught the
Zoom zeitgeist.
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 29

MUSIC // FILM // TV // PODCASTS

PODCASTS OF THE YEAR

THE MENTOR STAY F MAYDAY HOME THE

8. The Host
Heart-stoppingly scary
Zoom-themed horror,
created under lockdown.
Don’t watch alone.
ren or animals – or attempt a regional British accent
9. Queen & Slim
Sexy black take on Bonnie
And Clyde featuring a
beyond cool Jodie Turner-
Smith with Daniel Kaluuya.
Ric Lewis and HOMEKINS The follow-up COOKING WALKERS
David Whitely go A cracking US to Tunnel 29 Hosted by best- SWITCH
on a mission to comedy pod from investigated the selling author Billed as ‘Serial
change three a husband-and- strange death of Samin Nosrat, this with snacks’, this
10. Wolfwalkers
young people’s wife team charting James Le Mesurier, cookery show weird, wonderful
Labour of love Irish
lives with nothing the mundanity and with scintillating dished out top- pod investigated
animation so good it gives
more than £5k and madness of story beats. notch tips from the greatest hoax
Pixar and Studio Ghibli
an hour a week of lockdown. A time Compulsive flour shortage to in crisp history.
a run for their money.
mentoring. Uplifting. capsule of our age. listening. the art of air frying. GARETH MAY

ear, people
E BEST DISTRACTIONS OF A CRAZY 12 MONTHS
TOP 10 ALBUMS BY DAVID BENNUN
1. Róisín Murphy 6. Annie
RÓISÍN MACHINE DARK HEARTS
Skint/BMG Annie Melody
Part free-flowing disco A different kind of Scandi
concept album, part Noir, this – a gleaming,
history lesson of lush melancholic dance-pop
deep house and techno and, above all, a journey through the past, picking out pools
supreme set of sensuous emoto-bangers, of light on the night’s wet pavements.
this is a triumphant, cohesive solo record Annie, once so wry and insouciant, is now
from the former Moloko singer. all about the feels.
2. Bob Dylan 7. Junglepussy
ROUGH AND JP4 Friends Of/
ROWDY WAYS Jagjaguwar
Columbia Afro-futurism goes cyber-
Not just his best for punk. The production has a
a while, but a superb thick and eerie ambience,
Dylan album by any measure, full of redolent of both Nineties Bristol and the
world-weariness, sly mischief and avant-garde minimalism of Junglepussy’s
immersion in the breadth of native New York, set off by the rapper’s at
American popular song. once fierce and curiously charming flow.
3. Sault 8. Taylor Swift
UNTITLED FOLKLORE Republic
(BLACK IS)/ Not only did Taylor Swift
UNTITLED (RISE) all but make a Lana Del
Forever Living Rey record, she made a
Originals tremendous one. Abetted
The mysterious collective released two by The National’s Aaron Dessner, July’s
extraordinary albums within weeks. It’s Folklore is the first Swift album that fully
impossible to choose between them in justifies its length, unfolding with wistful
their richness and power as they roam grace across a leisurely autumnal hour.
through black British soul, rare groove and Almost as if showing off, she released
trip hop and adapt these to the BLM era. sister LP Evermore just five months later.
4. Fiona Apple 9. Nihiloxica
FETCH THE BOLT KALOLI
CUTTERS Epic Crammed Discs
Fiona Apple was a In a boon year for British
confessionalist long jazz, it has made no
before it was hip and venture more remarkable
she’s back to deliver a masterclass with this than this hook-up with a percussion
jagged, staccato, fearless unblinking and ensemble from Uganda. The resulting tribal
unnerving despatch. techno hybrid is a revelation.
5. Phelimuncasi 10. Porridge Radio
PHELIMUNCASI EVERY BAD
2013-19 Secretly Canadian
Nyege Nyege Tapes British indie rock seldom
The South African trio’s startles nowadays. Step
gqom sound truly bristles forward Dana Margolin’s
with the shock of the new. The propulsive, Brighton quartet and her scratchy, looping
hyper-minimal production and the repetitive songs. It’s as if the voices in your head
raps are percussive and electrifying. formed a band that turned out to be great.

TURKEY OF THE YEAR IDLES: ULTRA MONO How did Idles go from
making one of the most exciting 2018 releases to one of the most tiresome of 2020?
30 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

PUZZLES
METROSCOPE by Patrick Arundell
Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20
With the Moon in your sign
aligning with Mars and Pluto,
it might not take much for
you to see red. This is the
third and final time this year
that these two planets have
clashed, and it can be that
you’ll have a chance to
resolve something.
For your forecast, call
0906 474 0410 (60p/min)
Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23
You may feel it’s your duty
to wade in and resolve a
difference of opinion. If two
important people aren’t
getting along, it can be so
tempting to smooth things
over. Be careful as they
might prefer to sort this out
themselves.
For your forecast, call
0906 474 0416 (60p/min)

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21 Scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

This could be one of those
times when the legendary
Taurus temper comes to the
fore. If you’re pushed too far
others will certainly know
about it. Avoid such a
scenario if possible and
instead find a way to work
through this.
For your forecast, call
0906 474 0411 (60p/min)
It may be helpful to avoid
making snap decisions,
especially as you might not
be able to see the full picture
at this time. However, with
a powerful aspect involving
feisty Mars and powerful
Pluto, you could find it hard
to detach.
For your forecast, call
0906 474 0417 (60p/min)

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21 Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

What is it with friends? Powerful energies can bring
Sometimes you love them out your inner child. There’s
and sometimes they can be a chance it could have a
ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN so annoying. This might be tantrum if it doesn’t get
3. Clearly the old boy takes six lousy 1. I’m under the doctor and can’t bear 1. Under (5) 2. Tooth covering (6)
changes! (9) waiting (9) 6. Slightly drunk (5) 3. Primary source (6) the position you find yourself what it wants. You might get
8. This way of doing things is not 2. Fair share taken after fuss – what 9. Mr Gere, actor (7) 4. Wag (3) in now, if someone you know upset if something you’ve
completely up-to-date (4) exalted regard! (9) 10. Nun’s costume (5) 5. Lustre (5) seems to irritate you. The set your mind on seems out
9. Barks at crush in informal 4. String orchestra? (4) 11. Major artery (5) 6. Renegade (7) best way to deal with this is of reach. Find a way to
images (9) 5. Drive one politician to take on the 12. Danger, jeopardy (5) 7. Object of worship (4) to steer clear of them. detach and be adult.
10. Contracted a gluttonous vice (6) Spanish (5) 13. Aquatic bird (7) 8. Easy scoring chance (6) For your forecast, call For your forecast, call
11. Play court? (5) 6. Not even suffering slight pain? (6) 15. Gave food to (3) 12. Writing material (5) 0906 474 0412 (60p/min) 0906 474 0418 (60p/min)
14. Bury in plain terms (5) 7. Many things for sale (4) 17. Style and vigour (4) 13. Flower part (5)
15. A group of three patriotic songs is 9. Prophets who are never in the 18. Spanish dance (6) 14. Slight error (5)
included (4) dark? (5) 19. Exclude (5) 15. Stinking (5) Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23 Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20
16. In a sense one can hardly be 11. Go the rounds, perhaps (5) 20. Solution (6) 16. One giving blood (5) Is someone holding you There may be no easy way
aimless about it (5) 12. The hunter’s paraphernalia? (9) 22. Public pool (4) 18. Herb (5) back? With potent yet edgy to do what you feel you have
18. Almost nobody has time (4) 13. Without limit (but don’t be so 24. Falsehood (3) 19. Seemly behaviour (7) aspects on the cards, this to. Perhaps only persistence
20. Shaking like a writer (5) jumpy?) (9) 25. Bullfighter (7) 21. Small quick bite (6) matter could come to a head. can be counted on to help
21. Dark thing (5) 17. Makes steam less unruly (5) 26. Wooden peg (5) 22. Pakistani city (6) This time, though, you will you accomplish your plan.
24. Refusal in deal (6) 19. More than one over one over the 27. Detest vehemently (5) 23. Monetary unit (6)
25. Relations of right-wingers he eight (6) 28. Sublime (5) 25. Roost (5) want an outcome that leaves However, it might mean
controls? (9) 22. Another one includes a wader (5) 29. Hunting dog (7) 26. Child’s toy (4) you free to attain your goals. putting other issues to one
26. They are laid and sat on to produce 23. Happier finish to column (4) 30. Kingdom (5) 28. Novel (3) Backed down before? This side so you can focus on
more layers (4) 24. Do business in wood? (4) 31. Eerie (5) may no longer be an option. your task.
27. A gift only half taken before For your forecast, call For your forecast, call
long (9) 0906 474 0413 (60p/min) 0906 474 0419 (60p/min)

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23 Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

EASY MODERATE CHALLENGING A responsibility could leave You could find yourself
CRYPTIC QUICK 5
7
9
2
4
8
2
1
3
6
7
9
6
3
8
4
1
5
3
4
2
5
1
7
6
8
9
1
7
2
4
6
5
3
8
9
3
4
9
5
8
1
7
6
2
8
1
9
4
3
5
7
6
2
you annoyed, especially if focused on a situation that
Across: 1 Mist; 3 Permeate; 8 Tear; 9 Rent book; Across: 3 Rapid; 8 Among; 10 Never; 11 Bat; 12 Least; 13 Deficit; 3 6 1 5 8 4 7 2 9 6 8 9 5 4 3 1 2 7 2 7 6 3 4 5 8 1 9 there are other things you’d you can’t get out of your
11 Galley proofs; 13 Toward; 14 Claret; 17 Open 15 Tepid; 18 Can; 19 Berate; 21 Let slip; 22 Ages; 23 Haka;
question; 20 Initiate; 21 Pisa; 22 Emending; 23 Aged. 24 Decagon; 26 Ironed; 29 Ram; 31 Dunes; 32 Arsenic; 34 Piece;
4 7 5 8 2 1 9 6 3 8 6 4 2 3 9 7 1 5 5 8 7 1 9 6 2 4 3 rather be doing. If this has head. In fact, it might be
Down: 1 Mitigate; 2 Swallow; 4 Exempt; 35 Rip; 36 Cedar; 37 Puppy; 38 Lever. Down: 1 Amber; 2 Entices;
9
2
8
1
6
3
7
9
5
4
3
6
2
5
1
7
4
8
2
9
1
7
5
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1
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2
1
9
3
6
2
4
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3
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2
9
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8
5
1
been ongoing then you might hard to attend to anything
5 Motionless; 6 Aloof; 7 Elks; 10 Bear in mind; 4 Abet; 5 Instep; 6 Deter; 7 Merit; 9 Oaf; 12 Linseed; 14 Cat; 8 3 9 4 7 2 1 5 6 5 9 6 1 7 4 2 8 3 8 4 5 2 1 3 6 9 7 be ready to do something else as this experience can
12 Standard; 15 Railing; 16 Button; 18 Poise; 19 Hide. 16 Pagan; 17 Decay; 19 Bizarre; 20 Rabid; 21 Lemon; 23 Home run; 6 5 7 3 1 8 4 9 2 7 3 2 9 6 8 5 4 1 6 2 9 4 5 7 1 3 8 about it. Hand it over to seem to have quite a hold
24 Desire; 25 Gas; 27 Rupee; 28 Nepal; 30 Hippo; 32 Acne; 33 Nip. 1 4 2 6 9 5 8 3 7 1 4 8 3 2 5 9 7 6 7 1 3 9 6 8 5 2 4
someone else. over you.
For your forecast, call For your forecast, call
0906 474 0414 (60p/min) 0906 474 0420 (60p/min)
DIFFICULTY RATING: EASY DIFFICULTY RATING: MODERATE DIFFICULTY RATING: CHALLENGING Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23 Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20
It’s no good pretending you Not getting the satisfaction
9 6 8 7 1 8 2 6 5 6 5 don’t want something. As an you desire? This makes you
edgy aspect comes to a uptight. If this has been
7 5 1 5 8 7 9 1 6 2 head, backed up by a fiery consistent over the year then
Moon, the compulsion to go it’s time to do something
1 7 5 4 4 5 2 9 7 6 4 after it may be too strong to about it. You’ll feel much
deny. As long as it won’t better if you let them know
4 7 9 3 9 1 2 7 1 9 8 affect anyone else, why not? about it.
For your forecast, call For your forecast, call
9 4 2 7 8 4 3 5 0906 474 0415 (60p/min) 0906 474 0421 (60p/min)

3 7 6 5 3 4 8 5 8 6 2 For a live one-to-one consultation with one of my gifted

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Ghosts BBC1, 8.30pm

Christmas spirit: Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Seasonal sitcom specials can be
a tricky thing to pull off but when
you’ve got a cast as spirited and
sparky as Ghosts has assembled,
Christmas simply adds another layer
to the inventive comedy. As straight
man Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe, note
perfect) awaits the arrival of his
family, the assembled spooky
throng cast their minds back over
Christmases past – and melancholy
mixes with the merriment.
TV CHOICE throwing a Christmas Eve soirée
and the guest list is exclusive: cue
THE BEST OF THE a trio of chippy gatecrashers.
REST ON TONIGHT First Dates At Christmas
C4, 9pm
Motherland BBC2, 9pm Who doesn’t fancy getting
Another sitcom seasonal special, plastered at Christmas? But how
though this one’s laced with the about getting plastered with a
kind of acid wit we’ve come to plasterer? That’s on the cards for
expect from the ragbag of parents Holly if she hits it off with Shane, an
thrown together at the school Essex lad who’s handy with mortar
gates. Social climber Amanda is but ends up a sticky mess with the
ladies. That sounds so wrong…
we’re blaming the sherry.
Jennifer Saunders’
Memory Lane ITV, 9pm
Let’s ponder the sheer randomness
of this venture: it’s Jennifer
Saunders (you guessed that much)
driving Hollywood actor Michael
Sheen round his childhood home
turf in Port Talbot so he can do
wistful nostalgia in a beardy kind of
way. KEITH WATSON
December 23, 2020

31
32 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

YOGA
‘Yoga
can burn
up to 400
calories for
an hour’s
session,

AND
N COUNTING...
although this
depends on
which type of
yoga you do. Not
only is it a great
way to get some
exercise, it’s also a fantastic
way to practice mindfulness,
and even aids digestion.
Number of yoga sessions to THE AVERAGE CHRISTMAS DINNER CONTAINS A WHOPPING 6,000 CALORIES, BUT
burn off 6,000 calories: 15 DON’T WORRY, SAYS VICKI-MARIE COSSAR, YOU CAN HAVE FUN BURNING IT OFF

W
HEN it comes to
Christmas Day, anything
goes – chocolate and
prosecco for breakfast,
anyone? – and
the Christmas dinner feast is
a plate of pure indulgence,
Estimated to be around
6,000 calories, if your pigs
in blankets aren’t oozing
and you’re not drizzling
honey on your vegetables
and goose fat on your
potatoes, then you’re not
doing your Christmas
dinner justice. So, if you’re
planning to indulge on Christmas Day
(and rightly so!), think about ways to
burn off those calories a few days later.
‘When it comes to the festive season
it is not unusual for your training
programme to go awry,’ says David
Wiener (inset), training specialist at AI-
based fitness and lifestyle coaching
app Freeletics (freeletics.co.uk).
‘However, the average daily
allowance for a woman is
2,000 calories and we will
consume a staggering
three times that with just
our Christmas Day dinner.
While it’s perfectly fine to
indulge, especially after
everything we’ve been
through this year, it’s good to
have a fitness action plan in
place for when it all gets too much.’
With this in mind, David has come up
with some great suggestions for
working off those calories...

TRY SOMETHING NEW

‘The Christmas break is the perfect time
to try a new hobby. Depending on
government guidelines and your tier
system, why not head down to the park
with a football or rugby ball and have a
socially distanced kick about. This can
burn around 500 calories per hour and
you could find yourself a new hobby.’
Number of hours to burn off 6,000
calories: 12

WEIGHT IT OUT
‘A 30-minute super set
with your weights can
burn 200 calories.
However, the added
benefits of performing
a weight or resistance
training session is that
it builds muscle and
uses more energy
(burning more calories)
than fat does.’ Number
of weights
sessions to burn off
6,000 calories: 30
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 33

HIIT
‘Just one 45-minute hardcore HIIT session with a strong
combination of bodyweight and cardio exercises could burn
around 600 calories. If you’re looking for inspiration, fitness
apps offer a huge variety of workouts, which can be done
from the comfort of your own home and are suitable for all
ages and fitness levels.’ Number of HIIT sessions to work off
6,000 calories: Ten

TRACK YOUR STEPS

‘A great way to burn calories without necessarily
thinking about it, most phones and smart watches
keep a track of how many steps you take per day. Try
to up your daily number by 2,000. While this is an
all-day exercise, you can burn around 200 extra
calories a day, just by upping your step count.’
Number of steps to burn off 6,000 calories: 120,000

HIKING
‘Hiking is a fantastic family-friendly
activity and there are a number of
beautiful trails up and down the UK. With
just 30 minutes of hiking you can burn
200-plus calories, but if you choose more
rugged and hilly terrain, you burn up to
500 calories in that time.’ Number of hikes
to burn off 6,000 calories: 12-30

SKATING GAMES NIGHT

‘In the absence of seasonal ‘The Christmas holiday is a
activities, like ice skating, why time for board games, so
not dig out your old roller why not create your own
skates or a skateboard and go exercise-based game to
for a skate in the park? Roller keep you fit at the same
skating and skateboarding time. Playing cards are a
is a nostalgic activity great way to plan out your
and just 20 minutes exercise routine, by
can burn 200 allocating each suit or
calories.’ Number colour to an exercise, and
of skating the number on the card
sessions to dictating how many reps
burn off you do. It’s also a nice way
6,000 to get the whole family
calories: moving and an hour can
30 burn a whopping 300
calories, if you play your
cards right!’ Number of
games to work off 6,000
calories: 20

POWER WALK
‘If you’re not up for
an intense session,
grab your dog, or the
kids, and head out for
a speedy walk –
maybe even turn it
into a race to add a
competitive element.
A 30-minute power
walk can burn up to
200 calories, but you
have to make sure DANCE PARTY
you keep your speed ‘Put on some upbeat music and have a dance around the kitchen as having a
up at all times.’ boogie is one of the best ways to burn calories. Just 20 minutes of prancing
Number of walks to about can burn almost 200 calories, which is the equivalent of one mince pie
burn off 6,000 or a glass of wine.’ Number of dance sessions to burn off 6,000 calories: 15
calories: 30
34 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

JUST THE TONIC

We could all do with a good laugh
(and cry) to blast away 2020, and RAVE TO
Just The Tonic comedy club has the THE MOON
perfect Zoom comedy night, Beatboxer SK Shlomo
entitled Good Riddance to 2020, has pulled together a
lined up with Romesh Ranganathan fantastic free NYE party,
(right), pub landlord Al Murray, and to raise money for good
Edinburgh comedy award-winner causes and see out 2020.
Spencer Jones, plus Spitting The eye-popping line-up
Image’s Matt Forde delivering an includes Basement Jaxx’s
alternative Prime Minister’s Felix teaming up with
address. Best of all, they’ll be doing powerhouse vocalist Vula,
the countdown to midnight and left, cheeky hip-hop
there will be music and dancing turntablist DJ Yoda, Camp
until 1am, and there’s none of the Bestival’s Rob Da Bank,
hassle of getting home afterwards. drum and bass veteran
justthetonic.com Jumpin Jack Frost, UK
garage outfit Heartless
TOMORROWLAND Crew, Stockport’s finest
The larger than life Belgian
EDM festival returns for a GOODBYE Mr Scruff, the House
Gospel Choir and
spectacular, state of the art,
immersive New Year’s Eve 2020, IT’S BEEN beatboxer Beardyman.
ravetothemoon.tv
party with more than 25 DJs EMOTIONAL.
performing across four digital
stages (Atmosphere, Melodia, SEE OUT THE
Planaxis, Pulse), plus
fireworks at midnight.
YEAR WE’LL
An impressive array of DJs NEVER FORGET
includes Major Lazer, Martin
Garrix (left), DJ Snoopadelic WITH A PARTY
(aka Snoop Dogg), David
Guetta, Boys Noize, Charlotte
IN YOUR LIVING
de Witte, Maceo Plex and ROOM. BY
Netsky. tomorrowland.com
RAHUL VERMA

PARTY
2021
KISS 2020
GOODBYE
Kiss shows
are pure

LIKE IT’S
theatrics and
spectacle and on
NYE Gene Simmons
(right) and co will be
turning the dial up to 11
with a showstopping
gig from the swanky
Atlantis hotel in Dubai.
It kicks off at 5pm UK
time, and you can send EDINBURGH’S
off 2020 in a ball of HOGMANAY
flames with spectacular Edinburgh’s world-famous
pyrotechnics, fireworks, Hogmanay festival is hopping
50 camera views to online with three evenings
choose from and what celebrating Scottish arts and
will surely be the culture. Guests include
biggest, baddest and actors David Tennant,
most ridiculous, virtual below, Siobhan Redmond
concert of 2020. and Lorne MacFayden, poet
kiss2020goodbye.com Jackie Kay, below, and band
Niteworks who fuse bagpipes
and Celtic folk with electronic
WE DANCE music. The virtual Hogmanay
AS ONE will also feature a visual ode to
Defected Records’ Scotland’s landscape, drawing on
final live stream footage from 150 drones, interwoven
party of 2020 sees with animations of
DJs including stags, eagles and
Grammy-winning mythical selkies.
house maestro Dec 29-31,
Roger Sanchez, edinburghs
deep house and hogmmanay.
garage duo Gorgon co.uk
City, electronic
music omnivore
Eats Everything BEATPORT X
(left), and a live ABSOLUT
performance Dance music platform, HACIENDA HOUSE PARTY
of high-tech soul Beatport is teaming up with Manchester’s fabled Hacienda rises Danny Tenaglia, David Morales,
music from Inner Absolut for a global rave, from the ashes as the ‘Virtual Moby, DJ Paulette and Todd Terry
City. Tune in #DanceTheYearAway party, Hacienda’, a faithful 3D Virtual (above), and DJs who made the
via Defected’s featuring 20 hours of music Reality version of the nightclub, for a Hacienda what it is, including
YouTube, from DJs like Carl Cox, Jamie 24-hour NYE party, paying homage Graeme Park, Greg Wilson, Justin
Facebook Jones, TOKiMONSTA and Honey to the late godfather of house, Robertson, K-Klass and Peter Hook.
and Twitch Dijon (above) streaming sets Frankie Knuckles. The line-up is It’s free, although donations are
channels. from all over the world. huge and features performances welcomed to support Manchester’s
defected.com From noon via Beatport’s from Hacienda Classical and Inner struggling nightlife industries.
Facebook, YouTube & Twitch City, DJ royalty including Carl Craig, unitedwestream.co.uk
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 35

Maureen and friends wish

you a very happy Christmas!
THERE’S NEVER borderline narcissist?” Of course, I had
to ring up, didn’t I? So that’s how
BEEN MORE NEED Marian from Manchester was born.’
She spoke out loud and clear against
FOR A CHRISTMAS Jeremy Corbyn and his apparent
failure to deal with anti-semitism in
VARIETY SHOW. the Labour Party during the last
MAUREEN LIPMAN election. ‘I thought, before it’s too late
for the party, I have to use my
REVEALS ALL TO position, such as it is, my brain and
my emotions to say enough is enough,’
SIMON GAGE she says. ‘Keir Starmer’s been very

A
bold and very brave and is a decent
RE WE downhearted?’ man. But I think his decision over
wonders Dame Maureen Corbyn was a mistake because it’s
Lipman at the prospect of a given him what he wants: an
Christmas in tatters. ‘Well, unvarnished soapbox. He was a
now and again...’ spent force and now he’s back with
One highlight, however, of our a new following and a new pair
trashed schedules is We Need A Little of Birkenstocks.’
Christmas, which is what she calls ‘a During the last election, she went
fantastic celebration of the spirit of so far as to resurrect Beattie, the
Christmas’ that she’s taking part in legendary character from the 1980s
with showbizzers Simon Callow, Lee BT adverts, to put the boot into
Mead, Jodie Prenger, Kevin Clifton, Corbyn. ‘It took a hell of a lot to get
David Bedella and Sheila Ferguson. back into Beattie but I didn’t need a
The bumper cast also includes Sophie grey wig this time. I said, “It’s taken
Isaacs, Dom Hartley-Harris, The 30 years to shake that vampire off
Vivienne, and Sharon Rose and they’re me”, but it was a fast-track way to say
all putting on a show to raise money
for Shelter and Crisis at Christmas.
‘In spite of the decimation of our ‘I have spent a life
industry,’ she says, ‘we all want to
make a difference...’ with what she
where I’ve rarely been
calls ‘a proper variety show with alone. But these are
songs and jokes and spoken word.’ strange times...’
Clearly taking on full national
treasure duties in this time of crisis, it
PHOTOS: JAY BROOKS; BONNIE BRITAIN

seems Dame Maureen is still unsure of

her status with the British public. ‘I’m
a bit Marmite, aren’t I?’ she says from
her small, white flat ‘in the middle of
the air’, high above Manchester, where
she lodges whenever she is playing
no-nonsense Evelyn Plummer on
Coronation Street. ‘I’m not everyone’s
cup of tea. You
might not like
my face or
my politics.
I’m not cuddly like Dame Judi.’
Lockdown has hit Maureen hard if her
need to chat is anything to go by.
Interrupted during an episode of
Escape To The Country, she says she
spends her time going for walks,
painting on her iPad and not sleeping.
‘I bought some CBD oil,’ she says.
‘A very handsome young man
managed to sell it to me in about 12
seconds...’ this was before Tier 4,
obviously! ‘So I took it last night and
was awake all night long
listening to the World
Service. It’s one of the
vagaries of getting older.’
She’s 74, but with
the mind of a 20-
something, jumping
subjects – from the
woke generation
through party politics to
representations in
acting – like a
champion hurdler.
‘When I come up to
Manchester I sometimes
Festive larks: From left: Sophie Isaacs, Dom Hartley- think, “I don’t need this,”
Harris, The Vivienne, Sharon Rose and David Bedella but thank God I’ve got
something to do,’ she says. She’s
appear in We Need A Little Christmas resigned to the isolation that
coronavirus has brought.
National treasure: Yet Maureen still
considers herself to be a bit ‘Marmite’
‘I’ve spent a life where I’ve rarely
ever been alone. But these are
strange times we have to get used to.
I forgot my mask today and felt naked
without it.’
‘I’m opinionated, but I don’t read
Twitter,’ she says when you
ask about her legendary
outspokenness. ‘The kids say,
“Why do you do it?” But I say,
“Just because I’m an actor
doesn’t mean I don’t have a
brain”, and sitting in a white
box, who am I going to tell?
‘I send my thoughts out there
and if they don’t like it,
let’s disagree like
grown ups and
debate it – not just
say, “You’re a
w*****! Sod off!” I
don’t have to hate
you because you
think Trump is a
great man. I heard
someone on the
radio say, “God
sent Donald
Trump.” And I
thought, “God sent a
malevolent, misogynist,
misanthropic
what needed to be said, using humour
to get truth across. I hate these plays
where it’s so obvious what the
director’s politics are.
‘I’m still in the Jack Rosenthal days,
where he did it obliquely.’ Jack, of
course, was also her husband for 30
years. He died in 2004.
She’s not been idle this year on the
work front either, playing Rose in
Martin Sherman’s play of the same
name. ‘It fitted me like a fingerless
glove,’ she says of the part she turned
down a quarter of a century ago but
which made 2020 something of a
career highlight. ‘When it came back
to me, it felt as fresh as a daisy.
Sometimes you click with a part.’
Another highlight was
becoming a Dame. ‘I love it! In
fact, you’re my first commoner
of the day,’ she laughs.
‘Hopefully, I can use it for
the greater good and not just to
swan around and get a better
table in a restaurant.’
She’s already got an
investiture outfit,
‘apart from the
shoes,’ by the
way. ‘But if it’s
done on Zoom,
I won’t need
shoes.’
n We Need
A Little
Christmas is
streaming
until New
Year’s Day,
Tickets from
stream.
theatre
36 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

December 23, 2020

December 23, 2020

37
38 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

BOXING

Joshua tells Fury to ‘step

up’ and make unification by MATTHEW NASH

ANTHONY JOSHUA has urged Tyson Fury to

seize the opportunity to fight him next year
‘with both hands’ as he announced he is
investing his own money to help save grass-
Brit special: Murray yesterday roots boxing.
The WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavy-

Andy looks weight champion is hoping for a unification

clash against WBC king Fury in 2021 – if
coronavirus allows.
the part in His promoter Eddie Hearn is optimistic the
British blockbuster can be made next year but

Norrie win Joshua was more cautious yesterday as he

TENNIS
ANDY MURRAY claimed his second
victory at the Battle of the Brits by
beating Cameron Norrie.
The former British No.1, who got
the better of current incumbent
Dan Evans on Sunday, battled past
71st-ranked Norrie 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Murray, plagued by injury in
recent years, took advantage of a
poor start from his opponent and
also claimed an early break in the
second set only for Norrie to step
up his level and fight back.
The British No.3 had a set point
at 6-5 but Murray saved it and
claimed victory on his second
match point in the tie-break with a
lob that landed on the baseline.
Although it would be wrong to
read too much into results at an
event designed to provide
competitive practice for the leading
British players, it has been an
encouraging few days for Murray.
The three-time grand-slam
winner spoke optimistically about
his prospects for 2021 last month,
pointing to the hard work he had
been doing on court and in the
gym, and his movement was
generally sharp here. Murray will
now step up his preparations for
the start of the new season and
February’s Australian Open.
Evans won his second match of
the event, beating Liam Broady 6-0,
6-2, while Jack Draper followed his
victory over Norrie with a 6-4, 6-1
win over Jay Clarke on his 19th
birthday. Anton Matusevich, also
19, beat James Ward and there were
victories too for Katy Dunne,
Francesca Jones and Eden Silva.
spoke about potentially having to drop one of
his titles to get the fight on.
‘In terms of obstacles, I hope there aren’t
any. The belts do make it special but I feel like
the prize from the public is for me to fight
Tyson Fury.’
Joshua could be called upon to face his
WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk
or vacate the belt in order to bring forward
the showdown with Fury, with a date ‘maybe
in June’.
He added: ‘I’m looking optimistic, as if it will
(be made in 2021). I haven’t got anything in
I am in the gym that made me
and it’s struggling. We could
lose the stars of tomorrow
front of me. If Fury wants to fight, he will step
up to the plate. We’ve done business with so
many champions, there’s no difference with
him. He should take this opportunity with
both hands.’
Joshua has given substantial financial back-
ing to the amateur national boxing federa-
tions of England, Wales and Scotland as he
helps the fight to save the sport at its grass-
roots. The money will be distributed directly
to clubs in most need of support through the
national federations.
The 31-year-old, whose amateur career
began at Finchley ABC, returned yesterday
after boxing was overlooked by the govern-
ment in last month’s £300million bailout for
sport, and added: ‘I am in the grassroots gym
which made me and it’s struggling.
‘There are so many things I want to attach
my name to but there are only so many I can
do. As boxing is something close to me, I feel
it is natural for me and I want to raise aware-
ness. There was £300m given to sport and in
grassroots sport, £3,000 makes a difference.
‘Without support we will lose community
On the ropes: Joshua shows off his world-title belts at Finchley boxing club PICTURE: MARK ROBINSON hubs and potentially the stars of tomorrow.’

SPORT IN BRIEF
Cost of hosting Tokyo Olympics
continuing to spiral due to Covid
OLYMPICS
ORGANISERS of the Tokyo Olympics are to
spend £673million on stopping the spread of
coronavirus at next year’s Games.
The total cost of postponing the Games from
this summer and Covid-19 counter-measures
are estimated at £2.1billion, bringing the entire
bill of hosting the Games to £11.5bn. Tokyo chief
executive Toshiro Muto said: ‘It’s still a big
issue for us to secure as many medical staff as
we hope for when private medical institutions
are struggling because of the coronavirus.’
Prime minister Yoshihide Suga has said Japan
will host the Olympics ‘at any cost’.
Expensive: The Tokyo Games
Lottery link-up allows British
to unite for the World Sevens
RUGBY UNION
GREAT Britain’s Olympic sevens hopes
have been handed a major boost after
securing funding from a commercial
partnership with the National Lottery.
The Rugby Football Union, Welsh Rugby
Union and Scottish Rugby Union have
confirmed an arrangement that means GB
men’s and women’s teams will compete in
the World Sevens series before and after
next summer’s delayed Tokyo Games.
England, Wales and Scotland would
normally compete separately on the world
series stage.
RUGBY UNION
NEWCASTLE’S home
Premiership match
against Leicester on
Boxing Day has been
cancelled because of an
outbreak of coronavirus
at the Tigers.
Although only a small
number of positives
have been returned
following Monday’s
testing, the need for a
large section of
Leicester’s squad to
self-isolate means the
game cannot go ahead.
Lawyers are in league with
players over dementia risk
RUGBY LEAGUE
A LEGAL action on behalf of a group of
players suffering from or showing signs
of dementia is set to be launched.
The players are understood to be in
touch with Rylands Law, which has
already started an action on behalf of
nine former rugby union professionals
diagnosed with brain injuries including
ex-England and Wales internationals
Steve Thompson and Alix Popham.
The firm is also understood to be
working with families of ex-footballers
who are suffering with dementia.

PICTURE: PA
Ground down:
Non-league football
has suffered during
the pandemic and
Barber (inset) is
keen to help
by MATTHEW NASH
BRIGHTON chief executive Paul
Barber has spoken of his love for
the football pyramid, and says his
club will do everything they can to
help struggling nearby teams.
While it has been a tough time for
most professional clubs, even for
many in the Premier League, the
coronavirus pandemic could yet
see scores of non-league sides
killed off amid a lack of football
and, crucially, matchday income.
It is at the grassroots level where
there is a real worry but Barber,
who spoke last week of his opti-
mism that 2021 will bring a brighter
picture for football, does not want
those at the base of the pyramid to
think they are forgotten.
‘It’s a real worry. I spent most of
my playing life in grassroots foot-
ball, playing in the Southern Ama-
teur League, but I loved it and it
was a massive, massive part of my
life from when I was 15 and started
playing men’s football all the way
to 34/35,’ he told Metro.
‘I know how important the pyra-
mid is at its widest point at the
grassroots. I coached for 13 years
after getting my badges in grass-
roots football – I love it and I’m very
passionate about it. My kids play
and to see the challenges clubs at
that level and above are facing right
now is heartbreaking.
‘It’s really important we continue
to do everything we can to support
Fifa files criminal complaint against Blatter
FIFA has issued a complaint of ‘criminal
mismanagement’ against its former
president Sepp Blatter.
The complaint has been sent to the
Zurich prosecutor and relates to the
‘Challenges facing
grassroots game
are heartbreaking’
BRIGHTON CHIEF: BOTTOM OF PYRAMID MUST BE HELPED
SAVE
GRASSROOTS
SPORT
EE
FR
them. We have had counselling ses-
sions with some of the clubs in this
part of the world, helping them on
where they can raise revenue, how
to cut costs, how to run grounds a
bit cheaper than they have been –
any advice we can provide to clubs,
if they come to us and ask for it,
we’ll happily support them where
involvement of Blatter (right) and other
former officials at the world governing
body in the Fifa museum project in the
same city.
Blatter’s lawyer Lorenz Erni says Fifa’s
we can.’ Barber, backing Metro’s
Save Grassroots Sport campaign,
cited his time in Major League Soc-
cer as CEO of Vancouver Whitecaps
as evidence the English game is
widely admired, and also the exam-
ple of current Seagulls favourite
Solly March.
‘The pyramid is very important to
the English game. I worked in MLS
and the one thing that people regu-
larly wanted to talk to me about
was the pyramid here – ‘how do you
sustain such a massive pyramid?
How is it possible there are 92 pro-
fessional clubs and 13 of them are
in London and they all have fans
attend?”,’ he said.
‘Then you explain to them that’s
only one part of the pyramid and it
goes further and broader, and their
minds are blown by that – “you get
fans watching at levels six, seven
accusations are ‘baseless and
vehemently repudiated’. Blatter was
issued an initial eight-year ban from
football by Fifa’s ethics committee in
2015, reduced to six years on appeal.
and eight, at the same time the Pre-
mier League is playing?”. Yes, of
course. They can’t believe it.
‘I always, in FA Council and Pre-
mier League meetings, say our pyr-
amid is so important to the country,
not just because we all benefit from
the players who come through it
but it’s what people around the
world admire about our game.
‘If you look at Solly March, he is
playing probably the best football
of his life in the Premier League –
we got him from (Isthmian League)
Lewes, just down the road, and not
that long ago.
‘He’s gone from playing in front
of a few hundred people, to playing
in the Premier League, taking on
the best players in the world live on
TV and that’s what can happen in
this country, and that’s why the
pyramid is so important.’
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 39
FOOTBALL
FOX
ON THE BOX
BY JACK FOX @foxonthebox
Sporting gifts
that keep on
giving will lift
festive spirits
W
ITH the shopping done, the in-laws
locked out and the credit cards
declined, it is time to turn our
attentions to festive sporting
highlights. It has certainly been an unusual year
but, thankfully, during yuletide the sporting
world offers a bulging sack of goodwill
guaranteed to lift even the most flagging of
Christmas spirits.
Take football, for instance. The Boxing Day
fixtures are as much a part of Christmas as
Brussels sprouts and debt and of this year’s six
top-flight encounters, none will grab the
attention quite like happenings in north London.
You don’t have to have the insight of an elf to
know top of Mikel Arteta’s seasonal wishlist
would be a Premier League victory. The Arsenal
manager could certainly use a little festive cheer
having not unwrapped three points since finding
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United in
generous mood at the beginning of last month.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, the chances of
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard bearing gifts when
the Blues pop into the Emirates for a tea-time
get-together (Sky Sports, 5.30pm) seem unlikely
although, had it not been a free transfer, he
McShane offers the uplifting story
we need in these troubled times
might be able to convince Frank to give him his
money back for Willian.
Other Boxing Day staples, apart from dry
turkey and heartburn, are cricket and racing.
Australia will provide the first with the hosts
taking on India at the MCG (BT Sport 2, Dec 25,
11.15pm), while the excellent ITV team led by Ed
Chamberlin will tackle the latter with coverage
of the King George VI Stakes among others from
Kempton Park (ITV, 12.55pm).
While festive favourites the PDC World Darts
Championship from a fanless Ally Pally (Sky
Sports Darts) and World’s Strongest Man (Ch5)
continue to deliver, Christmas just wouldn’t be
Christmas without a good film.
Few would class Jackie Collins’ cinematic gem
Yesterday’s Hero (TPTV, Dec 28, 10pm) in that
category but it is worth 90 minutes of anyone’s
time. This mud-spattered epic stars Ian McShane
as Rod Turner, a footballer who puts down the
bottle and laces up his boots to guide his club
The Saints to glory over wonderfully named
rivals Leicester Forest. Just the uplifting story
we need in these troubled times.
Eagle-eyed fans may spot action sequences are
from Nottingham Forest’s 1979 League Cup win
over Southampton, while eagle-eared ones will
pick up on the honey-rich commentary of John
Motson. Football is the gift that keeps on giving.
40 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

FOOTBALL // PREMIER LEAGUE

Clarets rise
marred by Chil-led out
injury woe
SEAN DYCHE fears Burnley may
have paid a high price for the
Frank’s full
confidence
victory that kept them clear of the
bottom three at Christmas.
Midfielders Dwight McNeil and
Robbie Brady are doubts for
Sunday’s trip to Leeds after being

in stand-ins
forced off in Monday’s 2-1 victory
over Wolves at Turf Moor.
The Clarets have taken eight
points from four games – a revival
boss Dyche attributed to getting
some of his walking wounded fit
again – so the double injury blow is
an unwanted headache. by JOHN PAYNE
‘Robbie we got off straight away,
he felt a tweak in his hamstring FRANK LAMPARD hopes Ben Chilwell
which he had a couple of weeks and Reece James will be able to feature
ago,’ Dyche said. ‘Dwight said his in Chelsea’s busy festive schedule but
is confident they can cope if his first-
choice full-backs miss out.
England left-back Chilwell is a doubt
for the Boxing Day trip to Arsenal after
an ankle injury suffered in a collision
with Jarrod Bowen saw him replaced
nine minutes into Monday’s 3-0 win
over West Ham – on his 24th birthday.
The Blues are more hopeful Reece
James will be fit having been rested
after a scan on a knee issue but Chel-
sea boss Lampard felt Cesar Azpilicueta
and Chilwell’s substitute Emerson
Pamieri proved able deputies.
‘A slight difference in attributes can

Comfortable: Lampard
Long run: McNeil When we train, we work Christmas, so we’ll see. But I was
groin was tight in the first half but inclusively and know the pleased with the two lads (Azpilicueta
that he’d be fine to get through it – movements we want and Emerson), they were comfortable.’
but in the end he had to come off. Chilwell was having a scan yesterday
That is a little bit more worrying.’ change things to a degree but I don’t to determine the extent of his latest
If playmaker McNeil cannot expect too much because they are injury problem, having also struggled
extend a sequence of 70 straight accomplished players,’ Lampard said. with a heel injury after signing from
Premier League appearances for ‘The captain of the club, Azpi, did Leicester for £50million.
the club, it will create a void with brilliantly in all senses of his game, Although Chilwell tweeted: ‘Back to
Johann Berg Gudmundsson still particularly the defensive side which winning ways. Hopefully injury is not
struggling from injury problems Early exit: Chilwell goes off injured in Chelsea’s win over West Ham PICTURE: GETTY was so important in the way they play. so bad,’ Lampard fears the Emirates
that have seen him complete 90 ‘Emer did well as well. When we train date may be too soon for the left-back.
minutes once since March 2019. ■ WEST Ham manager David Moyes has boosted his defensive options with we work inclusively as a whole squad ‘I expect he’ll be doubtful for Arsenal.
Goals from Ashley Barnes and the signing of Danish centre-back Frederik Alves. The 21-year-old has joined and know the movements we want to He turned his ankle and tried to carry
Chris Wood lifted Burnley three the Hammers from Silkeborg for an undisclosed fee and will link up with his make. We’ll prepare for Arsenal and on but it was too painful. We’ll have a
points clear of third-bottom new team on January 2. A Denmark Under-21 international, the defender has onwards with our attacking plan. scan to see how bad the injury is.’
Fulham but Dyche added: ‘I don’t been a regular for his club in the last two seasons and is relishing his move to ‘We want to attack with our full- Winger Hakim Ziyech also missed
stare at the table, it’s the end of the backs, they know that. Reece and Chilly the Hammers’ visit as he recovers from
the Premier League. ‘I’m feeling very excited and I can’t wait to get started,’
season when it counts. If you have have been doing really well, we hope a hamstring injury but Callum Hudson-
Alves said. ‘I was very excited to hear that a big team from the Premier League
your players fit and active, it gives their injuries are not that bad and they Odoi was among the substitutes after a
was interested and I’m very glad to be getting an opportunity at this club.’
you a better chance.’ will be in and around the games over spell out with a similar issue.

FESTIVE FOOTBALL FIXTURES

(7.45pm unless stated)
TODAY
Carabao Cup quarter-finals
Everton v Man Utd ...................................(8pm) TV
Sky Sports Main Event/Football
Stoke v Tottenham .............................. (5.30pm) TV
Sky Sports Main Event/Football
The Scottish Premiership
Celtic v Ross County .......................................(6pm)
Dundee Utd v Kilmarnock ........................ (6.30pm)
Hamilton v Livingston ....................................(6pm)
Hibernian v St Mirren .....................................(6pm)
Motherwell v Aberdeen ............................. (6.15pm)
St Johnstone v Rangers .................................(6pm)
(3pm unless stated)
BOXING DAY
Premier League
Arsenal v Chelsea ..................................... (5.30pm)
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace .....................................
Fulham v Southampton ............................................
Leicester v Man Utd .................................(12.30pm)
Man City v Newcastle .....................................(8pm)
Sheff Utd v Everton ........................................(8pm)
Sky Bet Championship
Barnsley v Huddersfield ...........................................
Blackburn v Sheff Wed ..............................................
Bournemouth v Millwall ..................... (Postponed)
Bristol City v Wycombe .............................................
Cardiff v Brentford .....................................................
Coventry v Stoke ........................................................
Derby v Preston ..........................................................
Middlesbrough v Rotherham ...................................
Nottm Forest v Birmingham ....................................
QPR v Swansea ..........................................................
Reading v Luton .........................................................
Watford v Norwich .....................................(7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
Blackpool v Rochdale ................................................
Charlton v Plymouth .................................................
Crewe v Fleetwood ....................................................
Doncaster v Accrington ............................................
Gillingham v Peterborough ................(Postponed)
Ipswich v Northampton ...................... (Postponed)
Lincoln v Burton .........................................................
MK Dons v Bristol Rovers .........................................
Oxford Utd v AFC Wimbledon ..................................
Portsmouth v Swindon .............................................
Sunderland v Hull.................................(Postponed)
Wigan v Shrewsbury ..................................................
Sky Bet League Two
Cambridge Utd v Leyton Orient ....................(1pm)
Carlisle v Bolton .........................................................
Cheltenham v Stevenage ........................................
Crawley v Newport ....................................................
Exeter v Forest Green ......................................(1pm)
Morecambe v Grimsby ..............................................
Oldham v Harrogate .................................................
Port Vale v Barrow .....................................................
Salford v Walsall .........................................................
Scunthorpe v Mansfield ..................................(1pm)
Southend v Colchester ....................................(1pm)
Tranmere v Bradford .................................................
The Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v St Johnstone ..........................................
Dundee Utd v Motherwell .........................................
Hamilton v Celtic .......................................................
Kilmarnock v Livingston ...........................................
Rangers v Hibernian ................................(12.30pm)
Ross County v St Mirren ...........................................
Welsh Premier League
Aberystwyth v Haverfordwest ............... (2.30pm)
Bala Town v Caernarfon Town ..................(5.15pm)
Flint Town v Connah’s Quay .................... (2.30pm)
Newtown v Cardiff Met Uni ..................... (2.30pm)
Penybont v Barry Town ............................ (2.30pm)
The New Saints v Cefn Druids ................ (2.30pm)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27
Premier League
Leeds v Burnley .......................................... (12noon)
Liverpool v West Brom ............................. (4.30pm)
West Ham v Brighton ................................ (2.15pm)
Wolves v Tottenham ...................................(7.15pm)
(7.45pm unless stated)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28
Premier League
Chelsea v Aston Villa.................................(5.30pm)
Crystal Palace v Leicester ..............................(3pm)
Everton v Man City.......................................... (8pm)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29
Premier League
Brighton v Arsenal...........................................(6pm)
Burnley v Sheff Utd..........................................(6pm)
Man Utd v Wolves ........................................... (8pm)
Southampton v West Ham .............................(6pm)
West Brom v Leeds..........................................(6pm)
Sky Bet Championship
Birmingham v Derby..................................................
Huddersfield v Blackburn.........................................
Luton v Bristol City ....................................................
Millwall v Watford.................................(Postponed)
Norwich v QPR............................................................
Preston v Coventry....................................................
Rotherham v Barnsley ..............................................
Sheff Wed v Middlesbrough ...........................(7pm)
Stoke v Nottm Forest ..................................... (8pm)
Wycombe v Cardiff.....................................................
Sky Bet League One
Accrington v Sunderland................................(7pm)
AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich ..................(Postponed)
Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth .........................(7pm)
Burton v Wigan...........................................................
Fleetwood v Doncaster.............................................
Hull v Lincoln ....................................................(7pm)
Northampton v Gillingham.......................................
Peterborough v Charlton....................(Postponed)
Plymouth v Oxford Utd .............................................
Rochdale v Crewe ............................................(7pm)
Shrewsbury v Blackpool ...........................................
Swindon v MK Dons.........................................(7pm)
Sky Bet League Two
Barrow v Tranmere ....................................................
Bolton v Morecambe .......................................(7pm)
Bradford v Port Vale ........................................(7pm)
Colchester v Cheltenham .........................................
Forest Green v Crawley...................................(7pm)
Grimsby v Oldham ...........................................(7pm)
Harrogate v Carlisle...................................................
Leyton Orient v Southend ..............................(7pm)
Mansfield v Salford..........................................(7pm)
Newport v Exeter .............................................(7pm)
Stevenage v Cambridge Utd..........................(5pm)
Walsall v Scunthorpe.......................................(7pm)
Welsh Premier League
Haverfordwest v The New Saints FC ............(5pm)
Penybont v Barry Town United................................
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30
Premier League
Newcastle v Liverpool.................................... (8pm)
Tottenham v Fulham .......................................(6pm)
Sky Bet Championship
Brentford v Bournemouth........................(5.30pm)
Swansea v Reading ........................................ (8pm)
The Scottish Premiership
Celtic v Dundee Utd.........................................(3pm)
Hibernian v Ross County ................................(6pm)
Livingston v Aberdeen ................................... (4pm)
Motherwell v Kilmarnock...........................(6.15pm)
St Johnstone v Hamilton.................................(3pm)
St Mirren v Rangers.........................................(3pm)
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Premier League
Man Utd v Aston Villa..................................... (8pm)
Everton v West Ham..................................(5.30pm)
Sky Bet Championship
Sheff Wed v Derby .....................................(5.30pm)
Welsh Premier League
Bala Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads...........(3pm)
(3pm unless stated)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2
Premier League
Brighton v Wolves......................................(5.30pm)
Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd........................................
Tottenham v Leeds .................................. (12.30pm)
West Brom v Arsenal...................................... (8pm)
Sky Bet Championship
Birmingham v Blackburn ..........................................
Brentford v Bristol City .............................................
Huddersfield v Reading ............................................
Luton v QPR ................................................................
Millwall v Coventry.....................................................
Norwich v Barnsley....................................................
Preston v Nottm Forest ............................................
Rotherham v Cardiff..................................................
Stoke v Bournemouth ............................... (7.45pm)
Swansea v Watford....................................................
Wycombe v Middlesbrough......................................
Sky Bet League One
Accrington v Portsmouth .........................................
AFC Wimbledon v Lincoln.........................................
Bristol Rovers v Blackpool .......................................
Burton v Oxford Utd ..................................................
Fleetwood v Ipswich..................................................
Hull v Charlton............................................................
Northampton v Sunderland .....................................
Peterborough v Doncaster.......................................
Plymouth v Gillingham..............................................
Rochdale v MK Dons..................................................
Shrewsbury v Crewe..................................................
Swindon v Wigan........................................................
Sky Bet League Two
Barrow v Exeter..........................................................
Bolton v Crawley ........................................................
Bradford v Morecambe .............................................
Colchester v Tranmere ..............................................
Forest Green v Oldham .............................................
Grimsby v Cambridge Utd ........................................
Harrogate v Cheltenham ..........................................
Leyton Orient v Salford.............................................
Mansfield v Port Vale ................................................
Newport v Southend .................................................
Stevenage v Scunthorpe ..........................................
Walsall v Carlisle ........................................................
The Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v Dundee Utd ...........................................
Hamilton v Motherwell..............................................
Hibernian v Livingston ..............................................
Kilmarnock v St Mirren..............................................
Rangers v Celtic ....................................... (12.30pm)
Ross County v St Johnstone.....................................
Welsh Premier League
Newtown v Penybont..........................(Postponed)
Flint Town United v Caernarfon T............(2.30pm)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3
Premier League
Burnley v Fulham ........................................(12noon)
Newcastle v Leicester ................................(2.15pm)
Chelsea v Man City ....................................(4.30pm)
 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 41

FOOTBALL // CARABAO CUP QUARTER-FINALS

PICTURE: GETTY

Oh, Jose, it’s

cold outside
– but Stoke’s
warming up
TOTTENHAM are set for a more
hospitable welcome than they were
expecting at Stoke in today’s Carabao
Cup quarter-final after the
Championship club significantly
upgraded their away dressing room.
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock
called the changing facilities a ‘pigsty’
after his side’s 1-0 defeat earlier this
month, claiming the portable building
was cold, toilets were blocked,
showers were leaking and fumes were
being pumped in from a generator.
However, it is believed Spurs will be
housed in one structure with an in-
built heating system, which could
make their evening easier with
temperatures set to hover around 4C.
Jose Mourinho’s men head to the
bet365 Stadium just three games from
winning the competition as they play
for a place in this season’s new one-
legged semi-final, Spurs’ best chance
of ending a trophy drought dating
back to 2008 in a competition their
boss has claimed three times before.
‘To win this tournament we need to
United they stand: win three matches against teams who
Paul Pogba (right) have the same ambitions we have,’
Mourinho (pictured) said. ‘The
and Axel Tuanzebe difference between Championship and
train ahead of Premier League is minimal. The teams
are very good, they have very good
tonight’s game with
players and have very good coaches.
Everton ‘It is a difficult competition to win.
We need to win three matches. The
next match is a match we want to win

We are desperate for

and the next match is Stoke.’
Mourinho does not expect to make
wholesale changes after back-to-back
league defeats but said: ‘I will try to
give a bit of a rest to two or three.’

silver now, admits Ole

Giovani Lo Celso is a doubt after
suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0
defeat to Leicester at the weekend.
Erik Lamela (Achilles) and Japhet
Tanganga (shoulder) are also out.

MANCHESTER United manager Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer insists his side are
desperate to win a trophy having gone
three seasons without silverware.
United’s last triumph was the
Europa League under Jose Mourinho
in 2017 but, since his departure and
Solskjaer’s appointment, the cupboard
has remained bare.
A Carabao Cup quarter-final, albeit it
against an in-form Everton side, repre-
sents a chance to end that run and –
despite their improvement in the
league – the Reds boss knows silver-
ware provides additional validation.
‘Of course it’s something we’re aim-
ing for,’ said Solksjaer, who won nine
by NICK METCALFE
major trophies as a United player. ‘We
want to improve every season and to
improve on last year is to get to the
final and, of course, when you get to
the final there’s only one thing that
matters and that’s to lift the trophy.
‘I remember myself winning my first
trophy. Even towards the end of my
We go into this game full of
confidence. It’s important
for us to build momentum
career, I think it was Patrice Evra and
Nemanja Vidic’s first trophy in the
Carling Cup, 2006 was it?
‘I think that was their first trophy
and it does give something to a team.
‘We are desperate to get our hands
on a trophy, these players are desper-
ate to learn how to win.’
Harry Maguire said the team are
well aware of the expectation on them
to add to the club’s long list of hon-
ours. Of the 19-player matchday squad
which faced Leeds on Sunday, 11 have
yet to win a trophy with United.
Captain Maguire, one of that group,
admits that has to change. ‘It’s really
important this season we try and get
our hands on silverware and win a
trophy,’ he said. ‘At this club we’re
expected to win trophies and we go
into this game full of confidence from
the result (6-2 against Leeds).
‘We’ve got to start winning trophies,
we haven’t won in the last two or
three years now and it’s important. It’s
an important competition for us to
build momentum and confidence.’
Solskjaer will also have United’s
Boxing Day game at Leicester in mind,
when second host third. Jesse Lingard,
who has not played since the League
Cup tie against Brighton in September,
is set to return to the squad, while
Mason Greenwood may get a start.

THE TIPSTER @tipstermetro

UNITED COULD HAVE MOUR SUCCESS IN CUP n BUY your

A WEEK may be a long time in
politics but it really is forever
and a day in football – just ask
messrs Jose Mourinho and Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer.
weight in
were on the precipice and and the Reds are 11/10 to win gold,
supposedly considering a new with Coral and Ladbrokes. frankincense
managerial appointment. Double that up with Spurs -1 or myrrh
Fast forward a couple of games goal to win at Stoke which is a when Chelsea,
and Spurs have slipped to sixth, best-price 7/5 with SportNation. Everton,

2/1
Paul Nicholls’ Cyrname to win the
King George VI at Kempton on
Boxing Day (Betfred)
This time last week Tottenham
were top of the Premier League
table and flavour of the month
with pundits, punters and
analysts, and Manchester United
while United are considered title
challengers as both face Carabao
Cup matches on the road.
Lucas Moura is 23/10 (Unibet,
right) to score for Tottenham and
Marcus Rashford is 9/5
Ipswich and
Carlisle bring
us a winning
United are at Everton, who (888Sport) to find the net for the Boxing Day
have also recently regained form, Old Trafford giants. yankee.

42 | METRO | Wednesday, December 23, 2020
FOOTBALL // CARABAO CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Tests to be
doubled but
EFL teams
are worried
FOOTBALL chiefs are stepping up
efforts to limit the spread of coronavi-
rus amid claims from Ipswich
manager Paul Lambert the game is
running ‘on a wing and a prayer’.
To combat fears about the mutant
variation of the virus, which is
thought to be 70 per cent more
infectious, the Premier League is set
to double its testing of players in Tier
4 areas to twice a week.
That will initially mean extra checks
for players of Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal
Palace, Fulham, Tottenham and West
Ham as soon as it is practically
possible before being widened out to
lower-tier areas next month. The top-
flight results released on Monday
showed seven positive cases out of
1,569 players and club staff tested.
However, a number of Football
League games over the festive period
have already been postponed.
Ipswich physio Matt Byard has
suggested a suspension of play in the
EFL could act as a ‘circuit-breaker’
with the club’s Boxing Day game at
home to Northampton and December
It’s been mayhem. Nobody
knows if we are going into
games with the virus or not
29 visit to AFC Wimbledon already off.
Lambert believes the League One
and League Two campaigns could be
extended into June if necessary and
said: ‘We are, for me, getting led on a
wing and a prayer with it.
‘I think we have been tested, since
we have been back in July, about six
to seven times. In between that, then
it’s been mayhem. Nobody knows if
we are going into games with the
virus or not. This is where it is wrong.
‘If the testing was clear right down
the leagues and everybody was
getting tested twice a week... it should
be the same for everybody because
you are putting people’s welfare at
risk. I picked it up and it’s not great,
definitely not a great thing to catch.’
Other EFL clubs who are currently
experiencing similar issues include
Millwall, Peterborough, Sunderland
and Bristol Rovers.
EFL-wide testing is conducted at
strategic times during the season,
with the next set scheduled for the
week beginning January 4.
New measures being considered
include keeping time spent in indoor
environments on club premises to a
minimum, reviewing the use of gyms,
changing rooms, showers and
catering facilities, using multiple
coaches or individuals’ cars to travel
to matches and limiting contact with
anyone outside of a household bubble
over Christmas.
AJ TELLS TYSON
TO STEP UP IN ’21
BRITISH BLOCKBUSTER ON THE CARDS
1S
ARSENAL 1
LACAZETTE 31
A CHRISTMAS G
by JOHN PAYNE
GOALKEEPER Alex Runarsson’s butter fingers
added to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s woes
and gifted Manchester City a place in the last
four of the Carabao Cup last night.
The Gunners had shown some fighting spirit in
the first half, going behind to Gabriel Jesus’ early
goal but drawing level through Alexandre Laca-
zette’s header just after the half hour.
But Arteta’s (below) decision to pick the Icelan-
dic stopper over regular No.1 Bernd Leno came
back to haunt him as he spilled Riyad Mahrez’s
free-kick into the net in the 54th minute.
Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte got further
goals to as City coasted into the semi-finals of a
competition they have won five times in the past
seven seasons.
Pep Guardiola’s team had taken a second-
minute lead when Foden fed Oleksandr Zinchenko
3
Successive times Arsenal had been beaten by
City in the League Cup before last night’s tie
– the 2018 final plus 2010 and 2012 quarters
down the left and his fine cross was met by the
head of the unmarked Jesus.
Arsenal were very much second best
until Brazilian teenager Gabriel Mar-
tinelli sparked them into life, bursting
down the left and delivering a fine
ball which Lacazette headed home.
But Martinelli, only just back after a
long-term leg injury, soon went
down holding his ankle after
attempting to get to a ball ahead of
City keeper Zack Steffen and although
he ended the first half, he hobbled off
early in the second.
Runarsson had made a fine save
from Jesus before the break but
was culpable for the goal that
restored City’s advantage before
Foden’s delightful chip made it 3-1.
The England midfielder turned pro-
vider for the fourth, Laporte guiding
home his lovely curling centre to
The nightmare before Christmas: Runarsson can’t believe his clanger PICTURE: AP leave Arteta licking his wounds.
Silva service propels buoyant Bees into
THEY
1 0
NEWCASTLE missed out on a first major semi-
Bad hand: final in 15 years after Josh Dasilva’s goal sent
SAID IT Bruce rues Brentford into the last eight of the Carabao Cup.
‘There’s no one defeat Midfielder Dasilva, who hit the only goal after BRENTFORD NEWCASTLE
more 66 minutes, created a piece of Brentford history, Dasilva 66
disappointed firing the Championship Bees into their first
by JUSTIN PALMER
than me at the major cup semi-final.
way we Magpies boss Steve Bruce was looking for
performed... I some respite from a torrid spell on Tyneside, tick into a 52nd year. Brentford made a fast start
have to accept Newcastle arrived in west London in a belea- with Saman Ghoddos firing wide and Ethan
the criticism, guered state, having hit a rocky patch both on Pinnock heading over from a corner.
which is fully the pitch – a 5-2 defeat at Leeds was followed by For Newcastle, Callum Wilson got away from
justified.’ a draw against ten-man Fulham – and off it amid Mads Bech Sorensen but his shot was well
Steve Bruce after Covid-19 outbreaks, rumours of unrest in the blocked at the near post by keeper Luke Daniels.
Newcastle missed ‘a squad and fan discontent. Then Wilson almost got on the end of Ryan
wonderful opportunity’ A first League Cup semi-final since 1976 may Fraser’s inviting cross six yards out but
to reach a semi-final have at least eased the latter problem, but it was Sorensen’s touch took it away from the striker.
not to be and the Toon’s wait for silverware will Brentford squandered two excellent chances
FRANK’S FAITH IN
BLUES BACK-UPS
Page 38 » LAMPARD NOT FAZED BY INJURY WOES Page 40 »
 1S

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | METRO | 43

MANCHESTER CITY 4 JESUS 3, MAHREZ 54, FODEN 59, LAPORTE 73 FOOTBALL // CARABAO CUP QUARTER-FINALS

GIFT FOR CITY

FOOTBALL IN BRIEF
We want to win this for first time in
Everton’s history, insists Ancelotti
EVERTON manager Carlo
Ancelotti has his eyes on
making history by
winning the one major
Phil your boots: domestic trophy which
Foden nets City’s has eluded the club.
third while Jesus However, he will have
to get through their
(inset) enjoys his
Carabao Cup quarter-
early strike final against Manchester
United without playmaker for us to play a final so
James Rodriguez as he we are going to put out
continues to recover from our strongest team.
a calf problem. ‘We want to fight for
Since reaching the final this. It’s an important
in 1984, the Toffees have game of an important
managed just three competition that Everton
semis. And Ancelotti have never won in and
(pictured) said: ‘Yes, we we are not so far (away).’
give a lot of importance As for Rodriguez,
to this competition. Ancelotti added: ‘We are
‘It’s the quarter-finals, not concerned, we are
two games to the final, sad because James is an
and it would be fantastic important player for us.’

4 Goalkeepers Stoke are missing for tonight’s

Carabao Cup quarter-final visit of Tottenham.
Adam Davies, Angus Gunn and Niki Maenpaa are
injured and Doncaster loanee Joe Bursik is cup-tied.
Boss Michael O’Neill has rookie Blondy Nna Noukeu
and Andy Lonergan – who is 37 and has not played
for two years – as his options

Dean can bank on Barkley for Palace

ROSS BARKLEY remains
on course to return for
Aston Villa’s Boxing Day
clash with Crystal Palace
after a month out with a
hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old
England midfielder
(pictured), on loan at Villa ‘We’re expecting Ross
Park from Chelsea, was Barkley to start training
forced off early in the 2-1 [today], which is good
defeat at home to news for us,’ Villa boss
Brighton on November 21 Dean Smith said.
and has missed the Trezeguet is still out
midlands club’s last four with a thigh injury but
PICTURE: GETTY games but is set to be in Ezri Konsa also returns to
contention on Saturday. training today.

semi-finals WE WANTED SLICE OF

HISTORY, SAYS JOSH 1 Match ban Fulham defender Joachim Andersen
had faced until the red card he was shown against
Newcastle was overturned on appeal. He had been
to open the scoring, first when Iranian mid- JOSH DASILVA said Brentford were sent off for denying Callum Wilson – who converted
fielder Ghoddos lifted Dasilva’s low cross against determined to make history after they the resulting penalty – a goalscoring opportunity
the crossbar. Then Pinnock headed a corner back beat Newcastle 1-0 to reach the club’s
across goal for Sergi Canos, who made an awful
mess of a free header at the far post.
first ever major semi-final.
Dasilva scored the only goal last
FA charge as Lerma denies bite claim
Newcastle almost carved Brentford open twice
night as the Bees made sure of their BOURNEMOUTH midfielder Jefferson Lerma has denied
in the final ten minutes of the first half, with
place in the last four. an allegation of biting after being charged with violent
Fraser forcing a fine save from Daniels with a
‘We knew it would be difficult but conduct by the Football Association.
fierce, dipping volley and Wilson denied by
we knew that we wanted to make The Colombia international, 26, is alleged to have
Sorensen’s challenge as he bore down on goal.
Brentford’s breakthrough came when Canos
history,’ the midfielder said. bitten a Sheffield Wednesday player during
lifted a delightful cross into the area for Dasilva ‘The boys did so well, we stuck to Bournemouth’s 1-0 defeat at Hillsborough last month.
to slide in and fire home. our game plan, dug deep and got a The incident was not seen by referee Jeremy
Bruce turned to Andy Carroll from the bench result. I don’t think we’re too far off Simpson, while Bournemouth said they ‘fully support’
to attempt to retrieve the situation but the big (Premier League level). We’ll keep our Lerma, adding: ‘Jefferson strenuously denies the
striker could only blaze a couple of long-range feet on the ground because we know allegation made against him and has co-operated fully
efforts off target. A winter of discontent looms there’s big teams in the semis.’ with the FA. He will request a hearing over the charge.’
large at St James’ Park. Up for the cup: Dasilva celebrates his goal
RESULTS

+ OLE’S OUT TO END

Carabao Cup quarter-finals
Brentford............................................ 1 Newcastle.........................................0
Arsenal ............................................... 1 Man City............................................4

TROPHY DROUGHT
Sky Bet League One
Doncaster.......................................... 0 Shrewsbury.......................................1
Sunderland ...................................... P Blackpool..........................................P
Sky Bet League Two
Page 41 » Grimsby .............................................. 1 Bradford ...........................................2

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