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Bafta has issued an unreserved apology for the events surrounding John Davidson's Tourette's outburst at this year's ceremony. An independent review found 'weaknesses' in the organization's planning and crisis procedures.Davidson, an executive producer on the Bafta-winning film I Swear, made headlines after involuntarily shouting the N-word during a live broadcast. The incident sparked widespread criticism and concern.The review identified 'structural weaknesses' in Bafta's planning, escalation procedures, and crisis coordination arrangements. Specifically, it noted that the organization did not fully appreciate the risks associated with a live broadcast appearance and lacked a clear operational command structure to respond effectively.Bafta's board accepted the review's conclusions and apologized to the Black community, the disability community, and all members, guests, and viewers. They acknowledged that the incident diminished and overshadowed what was supposed to be a celebratory event.The apology comes after the BBC ruled that its airing of the slur, despite a two-hour tape delay, breached editorial standards. Bafta has committed to addressing the recommended areas of improvement to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Sue Day, the FA’s director of women’s football, defended a radical overhaul of the women’s lower‑league structure, asserting that the sport is at a crucial turning point. The proposal, first reported by The Guardian, would see four Women’s Super League academy sides compete in the third tier of the Women’s National League starting in the 2027‑28 season. The reform package also includes a mid‑season split for tier three, an expanded loan system, additional relegation places and new playoffs in tier four, and a £1 million financial boost aimed at supporting clubs during the transition. FA officials argue the move is needed because the share of England‑qualified players in the WSL has fallen dramatically, dropping from roughly two‑thirds in 2017‑18 to just over a quarter this season. Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea’s manager, warned that the gap between academy football and the top flight is widening, citing her experience in Lyon where academy graduates regularly contributed at senior level. Critics in the third tier are skeptical. Daniel McNamara, head coach of Wolves Women, questioned on X whether the league’s purpose is to chase promotion or to serve as a development platform for elite WSL players. Several other third‑tier coaches have voiced strong opposition, fearing the integration of academy teams could dilute competition. Day emphasized that the proposals aim to “future‑proof” the women’s game by increasing meaningful competitive minutes for young English players and strengthening the national team pipeline. She added that no final decisions have been made; the FA is still consulting stakeholders and will consider feedback before any vote. The FA hopes to ratify the changes this summer, with implementation slated for the 2027‑28 season and a two‑year review built into the plan to assess whether the objectives are being met.

Netflix's vast library of content often includes films that were initially intended for theatrical release but end up being off-loaded to the streaming platform. The latest example is 'Thrash', a shark thriller that was previously known as 'Beneath the Storm' and 'Shiver'. Despite its promising premise, the film fails to deliver, with critics calling it a messily made, choppily edited and entirely misfiring cavalcade of bad decisions and dodgy accents.The film, directed by Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola, tells the story of a hurricane that destroys a town while also thrusting a pack of bull sharks into the streets and homes of those unlucky enough to still be there. However, the film's distracting sense of inauthenticity and lack of suspense make it a disappointing watch. The cast, including Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor and Djimon Hounsou, struggle to elevate the poorly written characters and lackluster dialogue.'Thrash' is now available on Netflix, but it's unlikely to be a hit with viewers. The film's cheap production values and lack of originality make it feel like a low-budget B-movie, rather than a film that was once intended for theatrical release. With Netflix spending around $18bn on content last year, it's surprising that they would accept a film of such poor quality.

Maria Semple's latest novel, 'Go Gentle', is a joyfully clever romantic comedy that explores the application of Stoic philosophy to modern life. The story follows Adora Hazzard, a Stoic philosopher and divorcee living on New York City's Upper West Side, as she navigates her life and encounters a handsome stranger.Semple, best known for her bestselling novel 'Where'd You Go, Bernadette', presents a unique blend of humor, philosophy, and romance. The book is a zany high-wire act that seamlessly weaves together elements of comedy, art heist, thriller, and romantic comedy.At its core, 'Go Gentle' is a paean to the virtuous joys of Stoic philosophy. Semple makes Stoicism feel fresh and exciting through Adora's enthusiasm, which is contagious and inspiring. The book fizzes with funny lines, and Semple's writing is full of charm and wit.However, the book's merry chaos sometimes tips over into disjointedness, particularly in the section charting Adora's marriage deterioration through time-stamped nuggets. Despite this, the book's main plot is ingeniously wrapped up at the end, leaving readers feeling both cleverer and sillier.'Go Gentle' by Maria Semple is published on 16 April by W&N (£20). To support the Guardian, buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

Meta announced the launch of Muse Spark, the debut artificial‑intelligence model from the company’s ambitious "superintelligence" squad that was assembled last year with a multi‑billion‑dollar budget. The team, spearheaded by former Scale AI chief Alex Wang—brought on board in a $14.3 bn acquisition—has been offered compensation packages running into the hundreds of millions to attract top talent. Muse Spark is the first installment of the internally codenamed "Avocado" series. For now, the model is accessible only through Meta’s AI app and website, but Meta says it will soon supplant the existing Llama models that power chatbots on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and the firm’s smart‑glasses lineup. Unlike earlier open releases of Llama, Meta has kept Muse Spark’s architecture details under wraps, offering a private preview to a select group of unnamed partners. In a blog post, Meta described the system as "small and fast by design, yet capable enough to reason through complex questions in science, math and health," positioning it as a solid foundation for future, larger versions. Independent testing shows Muse Spark narrowing the gap with leading models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic in language and visual comprehension, though it still trails in coding and abstract reasoning tasks. The model placed tied for fourth on a comprehensive AI benchmark compiled by Artificial Analysis. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously cautioned investors that early releases would be modest but would demonstrate a "rapid trajectory." Wang echoed this sentiment on social media, acknowledging "rough edges" that will be refined over time and confirming that bigger variants are already in development, with some slated for open release. Beyond performance metrics, Meta hinted at commercial ambitions, embedding shopping suggestions directly into its AI chatbot to guide users toward purchasable items. With over 3.5 billion active users across its platforms, the company hopes AI‑driven personal tasks will boost engagement and create a competitive edge over rivals with smaller user bases. Practical use‑cases highlighted include estimating meal calories from a photo, virtually placing a mug on a shelf via augmented reality, and a new "Contemplating Mode" that runs multiple agents simultaneously—mirroring advanced reasoning features seen in Google’s Gemini Deep Think and OpenAI’s GPT‑Pro. Meta says this mode could, for example, help a family plan a vacation by having one agent draft an itinerary while another scouts kid‑friendly activities.

Liverpool's Champions League hopes were dealt a significant blow as they were outplayed by PSG in a disappointing performance, leaving them to face a tough second leg. The Reds created almost nothing throughout the game and were fortunate to escape with only a two-goal deficit.In a dramatic turn of events at Barcelona, Pau Cubarsi's red card and a stunning Julián Alvarez free-kick handed Atlético Madrid a crucial advantage in their quarter-final tie. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum entirely in favor of Atlético, setting up an intense second leg in Madrid.The podcast also previews huge Premier League games at both the top and bottom of the table, discusses Fifa's new partnership, and answers listener questions.

The romantic comedy 'You, Me & Tuscany' offers a wholesome and harmless meet-cute that will appeal to fans of the genre. The film stars Halle Bailey as Anna, a young woman navigating life after her mother's death, and Regé-Jean Page as Matteo, a charming Italian man who sweeps her off her feet.The movie's plot is full of familiar romantic comedy tropes, from the fake engagement to the picturesque Italian setting. However, the film's charm lies in its strong performances from the cast, particularly Bailey and Page. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and their romance is sweet and engaging.Despite its charm, the film has received criticism for its lack of originality and predictable plot twists. Some critics have argued that the movie relies too heavily on overused romantic comedy clichés, which detracts from its overall impact.The film's success is significant for the romantic comedy genre, as it marks a shift towards more diverse and culturally specific storytelling. The movie's diverse cast and Italian setting offer a fresh take on the traditional romantic comedy, and its positive representation of Black culture is a welcome change.Overall, 'You, Me & Tuscany' is a charming and engaging romantic comedy that is worth watching for fans of the genre. While it may not break new ground in terms of storytelling, the film's strong performances and picturesque setting make it a delightful watch.

Jon McClure, the Sheffield‑born frontman of Reverend and the Makers, has taken a seat on the board of Sheffield FC – the world’s oldest football club – after joining a new minority‑ownership group with David Bianchi. The move marks the first time the musician has taken on a formal role in a football institution.McClure, a lifelong Wednesday supporter, first approached the club eight years ago but felt he wasn’t yet “in a mature enough position” to steward a cultural landmark. Since last month he has been actively reviewing the club’s operations and seeking ways to modernise a team that currently competes in the ninth tier of English football.The appointment comes as Sheffield FC enjoys a surge in interest, having recorded a club‑record league attendance of 1,172 spectators for a recent defeat to Tadcaster. The side will host the same opponents again in a Northern Counties East League playoff semi‑final after finishing third in the division.Unlike the high‑profile takeovers at Dagenham & Redbridge or Wrexham, McClure insists his approach will be “more considered”. He acknowledges the club’s history of “years of dysfunction” and warns against “putting rocket boosters on a three‑wheeler”, emphasizing a need for steady stabilisation before growth.Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC’s claim to fame is its role in codifying the modern game – a narrative McClure says is “still under‑told”. The club boasts the first football kit, the first recorded derby and a unique FIFA order of merit shared only with Real Madrid, offering “global IP opportunities”, according to the chair.To translate heritage into footfall, McClure has introduced free entry for children, hoping to lift typical matchday crowds from 300‑400 to larger numbers. He also highlights a logistical hurdle: the club’s “Home of Football” ground sits in Dronfield, Derbyshire, outside Sheffield’s city limits, prompting a long‑term ambition to relocate to a multi‑purpose venue in the city centre.McClure’s celebrity connections are already bearing fruit. He invited Sheffield music legend Richard Hawley to a recent fixture and maintains a friendly rapport with Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, despite the historic rivalry between the city’s clubs.In a nod to modern digital culture, McClure’s brother Chris created the viral persona “Steve Bracknall”, the fictional assistant manager of the Royal Oak. When the Royal Oak played a real match at Sheffield FC, the event drew over 2,000 fans on the ground and half a million online viewers, including Robbie Williams, branding it “the biggest game in Sunday league history”.Looking ahead, McClure is keen to expand the club’s junior and women’s programmes, envisioning an “1857 Academy” that could scale globally if built on the right foundations. While a leap to the Northern Premier League is the realistic target, the broader goal is to cement Sheffield FC as a thriving community hub that honors its status as the birthplace of football.

Dan Levy, creator of the hit sitcom 'Schitt's Creek', ventures into cringe comedy with 'Big Mistakes', a Netflix series that, while entertaining, struggles to find its footing. Levy stars as Nicky, a pastor hiding his relationship from his family and congregation, alongside Taylor Ortega as his rebellious sister Morgan. The show's strength lies in its cast, particularly Levy and Ortega, who deliver charming and hilarious performances. Laurie Metcalf also shines as their emotionally unstable mother. However, the plot often falters, relying on implausible developments and generic portrayals of organized crime. The dynamic between Levy's character and Ortega's is a highlight, showcasing Levy's expertise in crafting bickering, boundary-pushing on-screen families, reminiscent of 'Schitt's Creek'. The familial drama and cringe comedy elements are more engaging than the show's attempt at an organized crime storyline. Despite its shortcomings, 'Big Mistakes' is not a major failure but rather a passable effort. Levy's talent for creating relatable, flawed characters and humorous situations makes the show enjoyable, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of his previous work.