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The 2026 County Championship kicked off on Good Friday, 3 April – the earliest start in the tournament’s 140‑year history. Surrey’s captain Rory Burns was run out just ten minutes into the day’s play at Edgbaston, setting a new record for the competition’s earliest dismissal. Despite a modest crowd of around 800 spectators and roughly 4,000 viewers on YouTube, the match featured a heavyweight lineup: nine current England Test players were named in the Division One clash, underscoring the Championship’s status as the premier development arena for the national side. Surrey’s top six have all earned England caps, fueling expectations that the club could secure a fourth title in five seasons. Yet the opening session was anything but smooth. Burns fell early, followed by Jamie Smith, who managed only nine runs before being dismissed. A sharp edge from Ethan Bamber and an lbw to Ollie Pope (20) further rattled the home side. Dom Sibley provided a glimmer of resistance with an unbeaten 21 off 81 balls, but the team slumped to a precarious 65 for six. The turning point arrived when Ben Foakes and fast‑bowling all‑rounder Tom Lawes combined for a 155‑run partnership – a Surrey club record for the seventh wicket. Foakes, a seasoned England fringe player, smashed a commanding 128 runs, while Lawes contributed a career‑best 83 off 121 balls, stabilising the innings and shifting momentum. Chris Woakes and medium‑fast seamer Ethan Bamber added valuable overs, but it was the Foakes‑Lawes stand that propelled Surrey to a total of 328 all out, setting a competitive target for Warwickshire. While the season’s early start may raise logistical questions, the match demonstrated why the County Championship remains the crucible for England’s future stars, blending veteran internationals with emerging talent in a fiercely contested opening day.

Channel 4 is poised to shake up the traditional Boat Races with its debut coverage of the event, bringing a fresh perspective and new talent to the table. The network has acquired the broadcasting rights from the BBC, signaling a significant change in the event's media landscape. The Boat Races, a storied competition between Oxford and Cambridge universities, has been a staple of British sport since 1829. This year's event promises to be exciting, with Oxford's Heidi Long, a bronze medalist in the women's eight at Paris 2024, leading the charge against Cambridge's dominant women's team. Clare Balding, previously the face of the BBC's coverage, will continue as presenter, joined by newcomers Jamie Laing, a reality TV star and Radio 1 DJ, and Ade Adepitan, a TV presenter and Londoner. The on-screen team aims to bring a new dynamic to the event, appealing to a younger demographic. The production company, FilmNova, brings four years of experience from BBC broadcasts and has planned several innovations, including relatable comparisons and humanizing the rowers. One highlight is a 'fantasy boat' featuring well-known sportspeople, such as Serena Williams and Frankie Dettori. The Boat Races also shed light on pressing issues like Thames Water's mismanagement and sewage pollution in Britain's waterways, adding a layer of depth to the event. As Channel 4 takes the reins, the athletes can focus on their goals, with Long and her Oxford teammates striving to end Cambridge's eight consecutive wins. Heidi Long's remarkable story, balancing rowing with medical studies and personal loss, exemplifies the dedication and resilience of the athletes. Her leadership and experience are seen as key factors in Oxford's bid for victory.

In a thrilling 130-year-old derby, St Helens pulled off an unlikely comeback against Wigan, the league leaders, thanks to a heroic performance from loan player Bill Leyland. Trailing by 14 points with just 20 minutes left, St Helens seemed doomed to defeat.However, Leyland, who had only joined the club on a one-match loan from Hull KR due to an injury crisis, scored two crucial tries, including the decisive one with just three minutes remaining. This gave St Helens the lead for the first time and sparked jubilation among the home crowd.The match was marked by significant adversity for St Helens, who were without a dozen first-team regulars, including prop Agnatius Paasi who limped off after just four minutes. Despite this, and with Wigan dominating for much of the game, St Helens showed remarkable resilience.Wigan, who had won their first five games, now face questions about their form after suffering back-to-back losses. Their coach, Matt Peet, acknowledged that his team must improve, stating, 'I can accept it was an intense game and finished in an exciting manner, but we’ve got to be better than that.'The victory was hailed by St Helens' coach, Paul Rowley, as a testament to his team's belief and character, saying, 'You know the saying, never write off the Saints. The belief and the character has never been questioned within this group.'

Alan Cumming’s latest theatrical venture – The High Life: The Musical, Still Living It! – bursts onto the stage as a gleeful, pantomime‑style extension of the cult 1994 TV sitcom. Co‑written by series creator Johnny McKnight alongside Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, the production is deliberately overloaded with jokes, ranging from references to Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor to a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to Sheena Easton. The show’s panto DNA runs deep. Audiences are addressed directly, invited to sing along, and treated to an underwater neon‑tube dance. The set, a whimsical take on a Brigadoon‑style hotel, features tartan wallpaper designed by Colin Richmond, a life‑size dog, and multiple costume changes that heighten the spectacle. Returning to the stage, Cumming reprises the role of flight attendant Sebastian Flight, while Masson appears as his counterpart Steve McCracken. They are joined by a “legacy cast” that includes Siobhan Redmond as the exacting supervisor Shona Spurtle and Patrick Ryecart delivering a delightfully unhinged performance as Captain Hilary Duff. Supporting them are high‑energy performers Rachael Kendall Brown, Louise McCarthy and Kyle Gardiner, who navigate Masson’s clever, rhyming songs that swing from Broadway flair to Eurovision sparkle. Beyond the slapstick plot – a cartoonish battle over the fictional airline Air Scotia and a detour to the “Lower Largo Triangle” – the musical hints at deeper questions about ageing, national identity and the need for cultural renewal, echoing themes raised in earlier Scottish adaptations. Directed by Andrew Panton, the production is a joint effort between Dundee Rep and the National Theatre of Scotland. It runs at Dundee Rep until 4 April before embarking on a UK tour that concludes on 23 May. In the end, the show is less a philosophical treatise and more a big, joyous laugh‑fest that celebrates the spirit of pantomime.

The world of Major League Baseball has witnessed a significant transformation in pitching, with velocity and accuracy reaching unprecedented levels. This arms race is largely attributed to advances in pitching analytics, often developed by individuals without a traditional baseball background.Rob Friedman, known as PitchingNinja online, has authored a new book titled 'Unhittable: How Technology, Mavericks and Innovators Engineered Baseball's New Era of Pitching Dominance.' The book explores how technology and data analysis have revolutionized the art of pitching.In the past, pitchers like Bob Feller were renowned for their speed, but today's pitchers routinely exceed triple digits on the radar gun. Friedman notes that technology brings out the best in everybody, allowing pitchers to refine their skills and achieve remarkable results.The use of heat maps, slow-motion cameras, and AI has become commonplace in analyzing pitching performance. These tools help quantify not just velocity but also accuracy, enabling pitchers to deliver the ball to the plate with precision.Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, last year's National League Cy Young winner, and Nolan McLean of the New York Mets are examples of pitchers benefiting from analytics. Friedman praises McLean's exceptional skills, describing his stuff as 'absolutely nasty.'The debate surrounding pitcher-friendly conditions continues, with some arguing that the game has become too favorable to pitchers. Friedman counters that pitchers are on offense, and their performance is a reaction to the hitter's actions.Injuries to pitchers are on the rise, and while there is no consensus on the cause, Friedman suggests that excessive velocity may contribute to the problem. He cites Trevor Bauer as an example of a pitcher who successfully adopted analytics and training methods to enhance his performance.The intersection of analytics and tradition remains a contentious issue, with some players and coaches skeptical of data-driven approaches. Friedman advocates for a bridge between both sides, emphasizing that analytics provide valuable information to inform pitching decisions.

Friko, the Chicago‑based indie outfit, is gearing up for the launch of their second LP, Something Worth Waiting For, slated for 24 April. The record, described as a “radiant ramble” through modern indie rock, reflects the band’s recent touring experiences and explores themes of yearning, growth, and stability.The lead single, "Choo Choo", bursts with a road‑trip vibe, pairing vocalist‑guitarist Niko Kapetan’s urgent, quavering delivery with guitarist Korgan Robb’s atmospheric riffs. Critics note a vocal timbre reminiscent of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and Sparks’ Russell Mael, while the track’s lyrical nods to classic American road food add a playful, homespun charm.Since their 2024 debut Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here, Friko has expanded from a duo (Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger) to a full four‑piece, adding Robb and touring bassist David Fuller. The new album also benefits from the touch of Grammy‑winning producer John Congleton, known for work with Mannequin Pussy, The Mountain Goats, and St Vincent. His influence shines on the Bowie‑esque chamber‑pop ballad "Seven Degrees", underscoring the group’s evolving sound.In addition to the album news, the Guardian’s weekly Add to Playlist roundup spotlights a curated selection of fresh tracks. Highlights include Wallis’s techno‑laden “Biscuit,” Beth Orton’s intense “The Ground Above,” Toronto pop‑star Chxrry’s catchy “Hall of Fame,” and a collaborative anti‑immigrant‑detention compilation track by Wendy Eisenberg’s trio Darlin’. The list also features Jeff Parker’s hopeful “Like Swimwear (Part One)”, a dubstep‑rap hybrid “Duro” from Skrillex and Young Miko, and Cass McCombs’s garage‑rock anthem “Seeing the Elephant”.Listeners can stream the full playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, or other services, ensuring the week’s most inventive indie and electronic releases are just a click away.

Donald Trump has sparked a new low in UK-US relations by mocking Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claiming the UK leader is weak and indecisive. During an Easter lunch speech at the White House, Trump impersonated Starmer, saying the prime minister told him he needed to consult his team before deciding whether to send UK aircraft carriers to the Middle East.Trump stated, 'I asked [the] UK, who should be our best. In fact the king is coming over here in two weeks, he’s a nice guy, King Charles. But should be our best but they weren’t our best. I said: ‘You have two, old broken-down aircraft carriers, do you think you could send them over?’' He then mimicked Starmer, saying, '“Ohhh, I’ll have to ask my team.”' Trump added, '“I said: ‘You’re the prime minister, you don’t have to.’”The US president also mocked Emmanuel Macron, saying the French president was “still recovering from the right to the jaw” and claimed that Macron’s wife, Brigitte, “treats him extremely badly”. These remarks were made at a lunch that was not open to the press but were released by the White House on a social media channel and later deleted.However, Whitehall sources disputed Trump’s claims, stating that he had never asked the UK for the vessels and Britain had not offered them. Despite the controversy, Starmer has remained firm in his stance on the war, saying he would stick to his position “whatever the pressure and the noise”. When asked about Trump’s comments, Starmer emphasized his focus on the British national interest and his determination not to be swayed by external pressure.

NASA's Artemis II mission has reached a critical phase as the four astronauts on board have successfully fired up their spacecraft's engine to break away from Earth's orbit and embark on a trajectory towards the moon. This historic moment marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over half a century. The Orion capsule's engine blasted off on Thursday, propelling the astronauts on their 10-day mission, which includes looping around the moon. The burn, lasting just under six minutes, provided enough thrust to accelerate a stationary car to highway-driving speed in less than three seconds. The mission control team in Houston confirmed the successful burn, stating, 'Looks like a good burn, we're confirming.' The astronauts, consisting of Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen, are now on a 'free return' trajectory, utilizing the moon's gravity to slingshot around it before heading back towards Earth without propulsion. The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards establishing a permanent human presence on the moon, with the ultimate goal of landing humans on the lunar surface by 2028. This mission also marks a series of historic firsts, including the first person of color, the first woman, and the first non-American on a lunar mission. The spacecraft's crew spent their initial hours in space performing checks and troubleshooting minor issues, including a communications problem and a malfunctioning toilet. They also began their fitness routine on the spacecraft's 'flywheel exercise device' to minimize muscle and bone loss in microgravity. NASA's Artemis program has been portrayed as a competitive effort with China, which aims to land humans on the moon by 2030. The program has faced pressure from various quarters, including former President Trump, who has pushed for an accelerated pace. The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, described the breathtaking view of Earth from space, saying, 'You can see the entire globe from pole to pole... It was the most spectacular moment and it paused all four of us in our tracks.'

Marks & Spencer has formally urged the UK government and London’s mayor to intensify efforts against retail crime, describing the problem as “more brazen, more organised and more aggressive” following a noticeable surge in shoplifting and violent incidents at its stores.Chief executive Stuart Machin addressed a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, while retail director Thinus Keeve wrote to Mayor Sadiq Khan, both demanding additional police resources to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots.Keeve detailed recent attacks on the M&S website, noting that “in the past week alone we have had gangs forcing open locked cabinets, stripping shelves, two men emptying steak displays, a large group ransacking a store and assaulting a security guard, a colleague head‑butted while trying to defuse a situation, and another hospitalised after ammonia was thrown in their face.”He warned that the situation is “worse in London, but it is happening across the country, and it is becoming routine, because it seems there are no consequences.”Police responded to reports of antisocial behaviour in Clapham, south London, where “several hundred young people” gathered after coordinating via TikTok and Snapchat. About 100 officers were deployed, fires were lit on Clapham Common and fireworks set off, and six teenage girls were arrested for incidents “fuelled by online trends”. Five people, including four officers, were assaulted.Mayor Khan condemned the Clapham events as “utterly unacceptable”, pledging that “the culprits will face the full force of the law” and that police are working with social‑media platforms to curb viral content that encourages theft and violence.According to Keeve, the UK recorded roughly 5.5 million shoplifting incidents last year, not counting the “vast number that go unreported”. He added that “every day, more than 1,600 retail workers face violence or abuse,” characterising the trend as systemic and worsening.External affairs head Adam Hawksbee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the rise in retail crime is affecting staff morale, with employees “worried about coming into work and nervous about the journey home.”Office for National Statistics data show that shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose to 519,381 in the year to September 2025, a 5% increase from the previous year’s 492,660, and remain just below the record 530,439 offences recorded in the year to March 2025.Keeve concluded that “without a government seriously cracking down on crime and a mayor that prioritises effective policing we are powerless. We need a stronger, faster and more consistent police response, using tools that already exist to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots, and far greater transparency on crime so the true scale and impact is understood.”