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Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach on a five-year contract. The Italian manager, described by Pep Guardiola as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years,” joins Spurs after a successful stint at Brighton & Hove Albion.De Zerbi's appointment comes at a crucial time for Tottenham, who have struggled in recent seasons. His predecessor, Igor Tudor, had a disastrous interim spell, and the team is in need of a new direction. De Zerbi's managerial style, characterized by energetic pressing and fast transitions, has drawn praise from fans and pundits alike.During his time at Brighton, De Zerbi led the club to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and secured European football for the first time. His success at Brighton has created high expectations, and Tottenham fans will be hoping he can replicate this success at Spurs.However, De Zerbi's departure from Brighton was marked by controversy, as he fell out with the club's owner, Tony Bloom, over squad recruitment. This has raised concerns about his ability to work with the Spurs hierarchy.De Zerbi's appointment is seen as a gamble by the Spurs hierarchy, given his tendency to shoot from the hip and his history of disagreements with Brighton’s owner. Nevertheless, his ambitious and influential managerial style has generated excitement among Tottenham fans.The 46-year-old Italian manager will have no time to implement his favoured 4-2-3-1 system with only seven games remaining to ensure Premier League survival. Assurances of major summer investment to reshape the squad to his vision will be a prerequisite for success.At a club that has been drifting for some time, perhaps De Zerbi can give Tottenham some desperately needed new direction. His ability to adapt to a new country and team was evident during his time at Marseille, where he led the team to second place in Ligue 1.

Within its opening weekend on Netflix, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man attracted over 25 million streams, outpacing all other titles that week despite already enjoying a UK cinema run and a high‑profile red‑carpet premiere at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.Banijay Entertainment, a co‑producer of the film, capitalised on the buzz by launching an official Peaky Blinders merchandise store, underscoring how streaming services are now flipping the classic content pipeline—moving from streaming to the big screen rather than the reverse.Beyond promotional stunts, these theatrical forays are becoming a strategic revenue stream and franchise‑building tool. Shows such as Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and The Mandalorian are being repackaged for cinemas, offering fans a premium, event‑style experience that streaming alone cannot replicate."Cinema still creates anticipation, hype and a sense of scarcity that streaming platforms struggle to match," explains Ben Woods, analyst at MIDiA Research. Historically, Netflix limited theatrical releases to qualify films like The Irishman for awards, but the current focus is on monetising proven intellectual property across both mediums.The success of Peaky Blinders—a series with a built‑in audience—demonstrates the model’s viability. Lead actor Cillian Murphy, who also produced the film, described the release as "one for the fans," signalling the intent to reward loyal viewers.Netflix’s own experiment with KPop Demon Hunters proved lucrative: limited theatrical screenings across two weekends generated more than $24 million (£18 million) at the box office and helped the animated musical secure two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.Co‑CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted that the film’s triumph stemmed from its initial Netflix debut, which fed the theatrical audience via the platform’s recommendation engine. While a sequel is slated to follow the same streaming‑first rollout, the Peaky Blinders movie’s cinema‑first launch shows that release strategies remain flexible.Industry observers note that gaps in the traditional release calendar give streaming services opportunities to fill weekends with original content, a tactic Netflix is actively exploiting.Major studios are also blurring the line between streaming and cinema. Disney, for example, transformed its hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian into a feature film, reflecting a broader push to bring Star Wars stories back to theatres.Adapting episodic narratives for the big screen presents creative challenges. As Ben Woods asks, should a film cater primarily to dedicated fans familiar with the series, or aim for a stand‑alone appeal that attracts a wider audience?Fan reaction to The Immortal Man has been mixed on the Peaky Blinders subreddit, with some critics questioning the decision to condense a season‑long arc into a single film. Nonetheless, the movie enjoys a strong critical consensus, holding roughly a 90 % fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Looking ahead, Netflix announced on 20 March that two new post‑war seasons of Peaky Blinders are in development, raising the question of how soon the next installment might receive a cinematic spin‑off.

Dozens of professional clowns paraded through the streets of La Paz on Monday, demanding the repeal of a government decree that would restrict extracurricular activities in schools and jeopardise their earnings.Clad in full face paint and their trademark red noses, the performers gathered outside the Ministry of Education to denounce a February‑issued mandate that obliges schools to deliver 200 days of instruction annually. The rule effectively bans holiday parties and other special events—the primary venues where clowns are hired to entertain children.“This decree will economically affect all of us who work with children,” warned Wilder Ramírez, a union leader known as Zapallito. He added that “children need to laugh,” questioning whether the education minister had ever experienced a childhood.The decree, signed by President Rodrigo Paz, stipulates that celebrations may no longer be authorised on regular school days, though they could be organised voluntarily on weekends. Officials said they would consider the clowns’ feedback when drafting the 2027 school‑year regulations, but the promise offered little consolation to the protesters.Elías Gutiérrez, spokesperson for the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia, stressed that the measure will shrink their income at a time when the country faces its worst economic crisis in decades. Revenues from natural‑gas exports have plummeted, and a shortage of US dollars has driven up import costs, deepening the financial strain on informal workers.Joining the clowns were tailors who create costumes for children’s events, photographers who cover school festivities, and other artisans dependent on the seasonal market. The demonstrators marched through central La Paz, blowing whistles and setting off small fireworks, while one participant brandished a sign accusing the government of “taking away smiles, and taking work away.”

Netflix’s fourth season of “Love on the Spectrum” returns this week, following a group of neurodivergent young adults as they navigate the challenges of dating. Unlike mainstream formats such as “Love is Blind” or “Love Island,” the series prioritises genuine connection over drama and commercial incentives. The new lineup blends familiar faces with fresh participants. Logan, a 25‑year‑old from Las Vegas, shares his simple pleasures—Hannah Montana, model‑train crash videos and cheesecake—while preparing for his first date with Hailey under the guidance of autism specialist Jennifer Cook. Their interaction underscores that the anxieties of a first date—wondering if you’ll be liked, what to wear, or what to talk about—are universal. Returning contestant Madison, now 27, moves to Florida to be closer to her partner Tyler, celebrating their first Valentine’s Day together with a country‑song serenade titled “Livin’ on Love.” Meanwhile, Connor, 26, wrestles with mixed signals from his girlfriend Georgie, rehearsing a picnic of finger sandwiches with his mother’s coaching. Another storyline follows Emma, a 22‑year‑old Mormon college student, whose family encourages her to embrace her authentic self rather than conform to expectations—a sentiment the reviewer suggests many viewers could adopt. The programme is positioned as a nostalgic reminder of early‑2000s reality TV, which often framed itself as a “social experiment.” Shows like the original “Queer Eye” and “The Simple Life” highlighted common ground among diverse participants. Over the past two decades, however, the genre has gravitated toward heightened conflict, exemplified by the 2004 “Wife Swap” showdown and the recent “The Bachelorette” season 22 cancellation amid domestic‑violence allegations. In this climate, “Love on the Spectrum” stands out as a life‑affirming alternative that proves reality television can still be kind. At its core, the series reveals a paradox: neurodivergent participants often approach dating with a refreshing candor, unburdened by the performative pressures that affect many neurotypical daters. Emma, for instance, openly shares a Donald Duck impression on a first date and honestly admits when she sees no future with a partner, avoiding the common “ghosting” pitfall. By spotlighting these authentic moments, “Love on the Spectrum” not only entertains but also challenges the prevailing narrative that reality TV must be sensationalist. It suggests that, with the right framing, the genre can celebrate genuine human connection.

The women's college basketball landscape has witnessed a remarkable phenomenon: for the second consecutive year, the same four teams have secured their spots in the Final Four. UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina are set to battle it out for the championship, marking a historic repeat. This achievement is a testament to the dominance of these programs, with UConn being the reigning national champion. The Huskies, led by coach Geno Auriemma, have established themselves as a standard in women's college basketball, boasting 12 national championships and 25 Final Four appearances. Under Auriemma's leadership, UConn has won an impressive 1,288 games in 41 seasons. The Huskies (38-0) have been nearly unbeatable this season, with a 54-game winning streak and an average margin of victory of 37.8 points. They are led by first-team All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, with eight players averaging at least 6.8 points per game. Strong emphasized the team's depth, stating, "I feel like no other team has a bench like us. We can have kind of anyone off the bench step up and change the whole pace of the game." UConn will face a familiar opponent in South Carolina, which they defeated in last year's title game. The Gamecocks (35-3) have reached the Final Four seven times in the past nine seasons under coach Dawn Staley, winning three national championships. They are led by second-team All-American Joyce Edwards, who averages 19.6 points per game. Meanwhile, UCLA (35-1) is seeking its first national championship under coach Cori Close. The Bruins are led by two-time All-American Lauren Betts, who averages 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 60.1% from the field. They will face Texas (36-3), which steamrolled its first four NCAA Tournament opponents by an average of 35.5 points per game. The Longhorns are led by fifth-year guard Rori Harmon and All-American forward Madison Booker.

The betting market for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2 was thrown into confusion on Tuesday morning when two significant candidates from the Aidan O'Brien stable, Gstaad and Albert Einstein, were taken out of the race, apparently as the result of a computer error.Gstaad, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November, was priced up at around 6-1 for the season's first Classic on Tuesday morning, and seen as potentially the Ballydoyle first string for a race that the stable has won a record 10 times.Gstaad assumed the role of O'Brien's No 1 contender after Albert Einstein, the winner of his first two starts as a juvenile in 2025 but unraced beyond May due to injury, finished only sixth of 10 runners on his three-year-old debut in a Listed race at the Curragh three days ago.Despite that reverse, however, and a subsequent suggestion that Albert Einstein might revert to sprinting with the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot as an initial target, the colt was still priced up at 20-1 for the 2,000 Guineas and O'Brien intended to confirm both two-year-olds at the latest declaration stage on Tuesday.O'Brien told the Press Association on Tuesday that both Gstaad and Albert Einstein had been scratched as the result of “a computer error”, adding: “We're trying to get them back in.”The trainer expanded on his explanation, saying: “There was a blip on the computer. Something happened, the computer went bananas and took out a couple of horses that weren’t meant to be taken out.The 2,000 Guineas has a supplementary entry stage, six days before the race, when either or both of the excluded runners could be added back into the Classic at a cost of £30k, and O'Brien later suggested that is now the likeliest route for Gstaad and Albert Einstein.In the initial aftermath of Tuesday's declaration stage, Bow Echo and Publish, first and second respectively in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock in September, moved to the head of the market as 4-1 joint-favourites, from odds of around 6-1 overnight.

Middlesex Cricket Club is facing a revolt from a group of former players, including Mike Gatting, the former England captain, over the club's leadership and performance. In an open letter to members, Gatting and his co-signatories, such as Desmond Haynes and Mark Ramprakash, have expressed concerns about the club's direction, highlighting a lack of transparency and cricketing knowledge among the leadership. The letter, which is a clarion call ahead of the club's annual general meeting on 15 April, states that Middlesex was once a byword for excellence in the game but now risks 'drifting towards irrelevance.' The group criticizes the club's cricket setup, describing it as 'a mess' and notes that only one person with first-class experience occupies a board position, while only two such former players appear on any of the club's committees. The club has faced significant challenges, including relegation to Division Two of the County Championship for the third straight season and financial issues, with disbursements from the England and Wales Cricket Board accounting for around 60% of their income. Middlesex is also the only first-class county not to own their own ground. The group of former players is urging members to attend the AGM and seek answers from those responsible, emphasizing the need for change to prevent the club from being left behind. This intervention is part of a broader trend, with other clubs like Sussex and Lancashire also facing pressure from former players over their leadership and performance.

Mohamed Salah's future has become a hot topic in the football world, with several top clubs vying for his signature. The Egyptian forward is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after a highly successful nine-year stint. Salah has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League with Liverpool.Egypt's national team director, Ibrahim Hassan, has expressed concerns about Salah potentially moving to Major League Soccer (MLS). Hassan believes that a move to MLS would cause Salah to fade into obscurity, comparing it to the current situation with Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023.“Personally, I would prefer him to stay in Europe,” Hassan told On Sports. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league.”However, MLS Commissioner Don Garber has expressed interest in seeing Salah in the league. San Diego FC's billionaire owner, Mohamed Mansour, also believes Salah would be an “asset” to any team, including his own club.If Salah does move to the United States, San Diego FC has been heavily linked with the forward, not least due to their British-Egyptian owner, Mansour. Mansour praised Salah, stating that he is proud of the Egyptian forward and believes he would add a lot to the league and the team.Salah is currently sidelined by injury and will miss Egypt's ongoing training camp as they prepare for the World Cup in North America. Egypt faces Spain in a friendly in Barcelona on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Friday.

Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia extended his perfect start to the year with a commanding win at the USA MotoGP in Austin on Sunday. The Italian rider led all 20 laps at the Circuit of the Americas, showcasing his exceptional skill and bike performance.Bezzecchi crossed the finish line 2.036 seconds ahead of his teammate Jorge Martin, who secured second place. Pedro Acosta rounded out the podium with a third-place finish, bouncing back from a penalty that dropped him to eighth in Saturday's sprint race.This victory marked Bezzecchi's third consecutive win of the year and fifth straight dating back to last season. With this achievement, he became the third Italian rider to win five consecutive races, joining the ranks of Hall of Famers Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. Additionally, Bezzecchi is the first rider to win the first three grands prix of the season since Marc Marquez in 2014.Bezzecchi's win also saw him reclaim the lead in the MotoGP standings with 81 points, four points clear of Martin. The victory was a significant bounce-back for Bezzecchi, who had a difficult sprint race on Saturday, finishing outside the top 10 after a crash.“This is amazing,” Bezzecchi said in a post-race interview. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting a day like this after yesterday, because it wasn’t easy, and I made a mistake, and it was important to bounce back. Luckily, my team, my squad, was very close to me, and they gave me the motivation to try to bounce back.”“But anyway, I wasn’t expecting a race like this, and I’m so happy – I really can’t describe my emotion right now. Very, very happy and proud.”