Evans is Pageant Master for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, taking place on 3 June. He's presiding over the most ambitious event ever staged on the River Thames. Security is a key concern but he has another fear. "You don't want it to be boring," he says.He wants this pageant to be more memorable than any of the previous great processions down London's aquatic thoroughfare, from Churchill's state funeral to George I being serenaded by Handel's Water Music in 1717. Evans even plans to overshadow the extravagant unveiling by Charles II of his new wife Catherine of Braganza in a procession witnessed by Samuel Pepys from the riverbank in 1662. "The most magnificent triumph that ever floated on the Thames, considering the innumerable boates and vessells ... Continue reading →
Pressure has been mounting on football authorities to bring in the measure to spare clubs the anguish of disallowed goals that have crossed the line and referees giving goals that haven’t. Chelsea were awarded a goal against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final last month despite it not crossing the line. The Blues went on to win 5-1. And most famous of all was in every footie fan’s mind is Sir Geoff Hurst’s World Cup final goal that wasn’t against West Germany in 1966. Two years ago Frank Lampard's goal against Germany in the World Cup was not given - despite clearly bouncing over the line. The trial of Hawk-Eye – the same system which ensures correct calls at Wimbledon - could pave the way ... Continue reading →
Today is a momentous day for the British national press. It is the official end of the "newspaper" industry and the beginning of a whole new economic sector: the "newsbrands" business. This transition will be recognised by all but one of the national press companies today as their trade organisation, the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA), changes its title to Newsworks. The bold repositioning is an attempt to remind the public (and particularly the advertising industry) that the national press provides news on a variety of platforms and not just in print. An accompanying advertising campaign will show a dog with a digital tablet in its mouth, instead of the morning paper.Newsworks' key message is that the UK newsbrands (the businesses once known as Fleet Street) ... Continue reading →
