A specially commissioned 5ft sculpture of a toad was unveiled at the National Trust’s Crook Hall Gardens in Durham, designed by artist, blacksmith and sculptor, Graeme Hopper. The toad is made from mild steel, galvanised then covered with an additional shiny coating, giving the amphibian’s warty skin the impression that it has just emerged from a pond. The words ‘Toad, Crook Hall’ appear in relief and in braille on a plaque, and it is shown in the act of eating a fly. The sculpture replaces a wooden toad, a feature of the gardens for many years before it began to decay. County Durham-based Graeme said: “I wanted to make the toad realistic, but not so realistic that it would frighten visiting kids.” The Toad with Caroline Peacock, president of the Durham Centre and blacksmith artist and sculptor Graeme Hopper. Credit: Tony BlackettAnn Tulloch, National Trust senior gardener at Crook Hall said: “Gardens are an increasingly important habitat for toads, especially those with a pond where they can breed in spring. “In return, toads are a great help to gardeners because they eat slugs and snails. The old wooden toad was much loved and hasn’t been forgotten as we have moved him to a new spot in the gardens, where he’ll provide a home for insects and fungi as he rots. Being metal, our beautiful new toad will have a much longer lifespan.” Acquired and opened in 2022, Crook Hall Gardens is the only National Trust house or garden in County Durham. The property is on the edge of the city and Durham World Heritage Site. A series of interlinking gardens, each with its own style and character, is set against the backdrop of a Grade I listed medieval hall. Credit: Tony BlackettVisitors can discover a maze tranquil seating areas and views of the city and Durham Cathedral A second-hand bookshop is housed in the hall’s Jacobean Room offering seating indoors and an outdoor terrace A project is underway to create a nature-rich green corridor from Crook Hall Gardens, linking the city to the wider countryside. The toad sculpture, along with a pair of new wooden garden benches, was funded by the County Durham Centre for the National Trust. The Centre was established in 1970 as a voluntary association supporting the National Trust. It offers an active programme of summer outings, social events throughout the year and talks during the winter. Credit: pic Susan HopperSince its launch in 1970 the group has contributed thousands of pounds in funding towards National Trust projects in the North East Washington Old Hall and Souter Lighthouse & The Leas said: “We were delighted to be able to provide the funding to allow the toad sculpture to be made All our money is raised by our group through membership fees All profit is used to support local National Trust projects.” It's not necessary to be a National Trust member to join the County Durham Centre. For details email nealegaynor@aol.com Graeme Hopper\u2019s Toad sculpture at Crook Hall. Credit: Tony BlackettWith echoes of Wind in the Willows and not a weasel in sight, Toad has returned to his hall. A specially commissioned 5ft sculpture of a toad was unveiled at the National Trust\u2019s Crook Hall Gardens in Durham, designed by artist, blacksmith and sculptor, Graeme Hopper. The toad is made from mild steel, galvanised then covered with an additional shiny coating, giving the amphibian\u2019s warty skin the impression that it has just emerged from a pond. The words \u2018Toad, Crook Hall\u2019 appear in relief and in braille on a plaque, and it is shown in the act of eating a fly. County Durham-based Graeme said: \u201CI wanted to make the toad realistic, but not so realistic that it would frighten visiting kids.\u201D The Toad with Caroline Peacock, president of the Durham Centre and blacksmith artist and sculptor Graeme Hopper. Credit: Tony BlackettAnn Tulloch, National Trust senior gardener at Crook Hall said: \u201CGardens are an increasingly important habitat for toads, especially those with a pond where they can breed in spring. \u201CIn return, toads are a great help to gardeners because they eat slugs and snails. The old wooden toad was much loved and hasn\u2019t been forgotten as we have moved him to a new spot in the gardens, where he\u2019ll provide a home for insects and fungi as he rots. Being metal, our beautiful new toad will have a much longer lifespan.\u201D A second-hand bookshop is housed in the hall\u2019s Jacobean Room Entry to The Garden Gate caf\u00E9 is free A project is underway to create a nature-rich green corridor from Crook Hall Gardens, linking the city to the wider countryside. said: \u201CWe were delighted to be able to provide the funding to allow the toad sculpture to be made All profit is used to support local National Trust projects.\u201D It's not necessary to be a National Trust member to join the County Durham Centre. For details email nealegaynor@aol.com Star Sports (licence number 009177) is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission Star Sports football ambassador ALEX CROOk previews the pick of the fixtures in a bumper weekend of Premier League action… ⭐️  STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  It has been a disappointing season by Manchester City’s incredibly high standards but they still have plenty to play for heading into the last weeks of the campaign After booking their place in the FA Cup final for the third season in a row with a convincing Wembley win over Nottingham Forest last weekend their bid for a top-five finish resumes on Friday night Pep Guardiola’s side have put themselves in pole position to claim a Champions League place after winning four of their last five Premier League games They also do not face a side in the top seven in any of their final four fixtures while Wolves’ impressive run of six straight wins should be caveated by the fact they have all come against sides below them in the current standings That does not detract from the fact Vitor Pereira has done a brilliant job to lead the Molineux outfit away from any threat of relegation and they will believe they can spring a surprise at the Etihad In mercurial Brazilian and Manchester United target Matheus Cunha the Midlanders have a player capable of hurting any opponent Cunha’s in-form teammate Jorgen Strand Larsen is also in excellent form so City are likely to have their work cut it to keep a rare home clean sheet Wolves have found the net in each of their last 11 league games so while I expect the home side to take the three points, City to win and both teams to score at 9/5 with starsports.bet is the way I will be playing I also like the look of Strand Larsen to score at any time at 7/2 with starsports.bet ⭐️  STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  The two worst teams in the Premier League will be playing out a Championship dress rehearsal when they meet at the King Power Stadium on Saturday Southampton still need one more point to avoid equalling Derby’s record low tally of eleven and were seconds away from getting it before succumbing to a late Fulham winner last weekend The Saints have improved under caretaker duo Simon Rusk and Adam Lallana although there is a strong argument they would have struggled not to after Ivan Juric’s terrible tenure Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is still awaiting clarity from the club’s hierarchy on his future so could do with a victory to help his claims for clinging onto his job We might actually see a pretty open game considering the lack of jeopardy and Leicester were at least competitive in their last home game against Liverpool The Foxes’ main issue is their lack of goals and they have only scored twice in their last 11 games but Southampton have the poorest defence in the division having already conceded 80 times in 34 games Leicester legend Jamie Vardy is on a personal farewell tour after announcing his departure in the aftermath of relegation being rubber-stamped He missed a penalty at Wolves last weekend and still needs two more goals to reach the 200-mark for the club Vardy will see this a big chance to move closer to that milestone and loves a goal against Southampton Vardy is 9/2 with starsports.bet to score the first goal My build-a-bet for this game is a draw, both teams to score and Vardy to score at any time which returns 9.61/1 with starsports.bet ⭐️  STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  Newcastle will be looking to get their own back on Brighton for being dumped out of the FA Cup by the Seagulls when the two European hopefuls meet at the Amex on Sunday Danny Welbeck’s extra-time winner was the second time the Seagulls have got the better of the Magpies this season having also triumphed 1-0 at St James Park in the league in October But Eddie Howe’s men have been one of the Premier League’s most consistent teams in 2025 winning 14 of their last 19 games to cement themselves in the top five It goes without saying Alexander Isak has been a big factor in that and the brilliant Swede will be bidding to end his record of having never scored against Brighton The fact Newcastle are still searching for their first Premier League win at the Amex will not instil much confidence in their travelling Toon Army However Brighton were a touch fortunate to beat struggling West Ham last weekend after coming back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 courtesy of two late goals The Seagulls have injury issues at the back which Newcastle can exploit to further tighten their grip on a Champions League spot My ambitious build-a-bet is Newcastle to win, both teams to score and defender Dan Burn, who has been among the goals of late, to net against his old club which pays 22/1 with starsports.bet ⭐️  STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  A bumper four-day weekend concludes with Forest’s trip to FA Cup finalists Palace on Monday The Tricky Trees have been the surprise package of the season but form has deserted them at just the wrong time and Thursday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford saw them drop out of the Champions League places That result was not a surprise to me given Forest’s only win in their previous four games in all competitions was against a Tottenham side prioritising the Europa League Palace are also likely to have their minds elsewhere after beating Aston Villa at Wembley last weekend to put themselves within 90 minutes of winning the cup for the first time in their history While home boss Oliver Glasner will want to build some momentum ahead of the final on May 17 he is likely to rest players between now and then Palace are also arguably better away than at home and with Forest in much greater need of Premier League points I can see Nuno Espirito Santo’s side getting back to winning ways Forest to win and both teams to score at 19/4 with starsports.bet is my selection here to hopefully round off a winning Bank Holiday weekend Call: 0345 009 7453  Mobile: 0782 500 8251 Stephen is a partner in the Real Estate Team based in our Manchester office.  He has over 25 years’ experience of supporting landowners landlords and tenants in wide range of commercial real estate matters He specialises in portfolio management work for both commercial landlords and tenants with particular experience in the retail and leisure sector.  Stephen’s clients include national retailers and leisure operators local authorities and higher education institutions Call: 0345 009 7453 Mobile: 0782 500 8251 our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started 0330 100 1014 For general enquiries, please complete this form and we will direct your message to the most appropriate person. For information about Freeths, please see our legal notices and privacy notices Call: 0345 009 7453  Mobile: 0782 500 8251 Call: 0345 009 7453 Mobile: 0782 500 8251 please complete this form and we will direct your message to the most appropriate person 0330 100 1014 For information about Freeths, please see our legal notices and privacy notices The first I heard of The Change was when Bridget invited me to a preview screening of the first three episodes.  She thought that it shared some DNA with Detectorists and that I would enjoy the connection with the British landscape and folklore  I thought it was beautiful and poignant with a community of characters that you'd like to know it was very funny.How did your involvement in the show come about They needed a director for series two and asked if I was interested. Beforehand I had mainly directed TV that I had also written but I had been wanting to try directing someone else's scripts again.  Filming in the Forest of Dean must’ve been incredible.  What was it like shooting in that stunning environment Most of the directing I've done has been set in the English countryside and it's where I am most happy and inspired.  To spend a summer in the Forest didn't seem like work stunning vista.  We were spoilt for choice The forest itself feels like a character in the series How aware were you of that during filming and how did you keep that theme in series two The Forest of Dean has a unique feel and atmosphere about it beautiful but also dark and foreboding.  It's an important part of Bridget's life and although I'd shot there before I don't think I'd tuned in to its magic until this time.  What scene in series two are you particularly proud of The scenes with lots of cast and lots of dialogue are always challenging and rewarding.  There are some very dream-like sequence and flashbacks in the forest that look stunning I love including details of nature in amongst the comedy and drama and there is a drone shot that skims over the treetops before cutting to an extreme close-up over moss on the forest floor.  At first you think you are still high over the trees until an apparently gigantic beetle comes clambering over them Was there a specific moment or sequence that proved particularly challenging to film The first scene of series two is a direct continuation of the last scene of series one.  The original location wasn't available And where series one ended in blazing summer sunshine we inevitably had overcast skies and drizzle when we returned.  Despite all this you'd be hard pushed to tell it wasn't filmed on the same day How would you describe series two to someone who hasn’t seen it yet she has found her place in the landscape and the people she wants to be around.  She is stronger and wiser and people are drawn to her.  It's a funny and heartwarming story and a lovely place to spend some time Did you have a favourite character to work with this series The whole cast is a who's who of British comedy actors hardly any of whom I'd worked with before.  Paul Whitehouse Jim Howick were all a joy to direct.  But Linda played by writer and creator Bridget Christie funny and richly drawn character.  The Change is Linda's story and she was a brilliant character to see brought to life As someone who has both acted and directed do you feel that being an actor gives you a unique perspective when it comes to directing A director has to collaborate with all the heads-of-department who are all experts in their field I think my niche job within all of that is to get the right performances from the actors.  I love actors and find they are always responsive to and grateful for confident direction.  or is it the balance between both that appeals to you This was the first project I've done where I didn't also take an acting role and I relished that opportunity to concentrate wholly on the directing.  I still enjoy acting but to be more deeply involved in the making of a show is more rewarding for me these days Did you manage to sneak any props from the set as mementos Part of the set dressing in the Eel Cafe was a strange long-handled rake with barbs at the ends of the tines.  I discovered that it was a very old eel-fork used for catching those fish I wasn't about to steal it so I just let everyone know how great I thought it was and what an interesting item it would be to own.  To my delight and surprise I was presented with a beautiful eel-fork at the end of the shoot What do you hope viewers will take away after watching series two A love for the characters and a thirst for more.    Registered users only and are accessible via the link at the bottom of the page By taking these embed codes you are agreeing to the terms and conditions Please credit Channel 4 and include transmission details was laid to rest at All Saint’s Church in Curbar near Grindleford Tony was a pillar of our University community for more than 50 years, leaving a profound impact on the social sciences. His impact and reach is reflected in the touching tributes offered by the Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Town Planning Institute Most recently Tony held the position of Emeritus Professor of Town & Regional Planning and continued to make an invaluable contribution as a public orator at graduations Tony served as Head of Town & Regional planning and Head of the Department of Landscape before undertaking a nine-year term as Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor where he was responsible for academic planning including being appointed CBE in the 2014 New Year's Honours List for services to housing and the governance of charities Tony was elected a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in recognition of his distinguished contribution to planning research In 2004 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of his standing as a social scientist and contribution to public policy This was followed with a Distinguished Service Award in 2021 from RTPI For four decades Tony led a large research programme on the supply side of the private rented housing sector and the use of the planning obligations to secure affordable housing Tony's work received research grants of over £3.5m and he had over 250 publications His work on land value taxation over two decades which involved regular research commissions from the government to analyse policy impact has had a significant impact on public funding decisions Tony also leaves a lasting legacy having supported The Crook Public Service Fellowships to provide opportunities for future leaders in public and not-for-profit sectors Tony was also very active in the world of policy and practice and was involved in a significant number of influential committees Tony’s kindness in recent years has helped and nurtured many staff not only at Sheffield but also in the practice community His memory will live on here through the people he has helped as they go on to make a positive impact in the University and on the world The School of Geography and Planning will host an event in spring to celebrate Tony’s contribution to public service and to planning We hope colleagues from across the academic research and practice communities will join us to honour Tony and reflect on his impact and legacy in the areas of academic and public debate he cared so deeply about Join an international community of geographers and environmental scientists to help tackle the biggest issues in our changing world Mackenzie Crook was born in 1971 in Maidstone He played Gareth Keenan in The Office and Orell in Game of Thrones Making my sister laugh by leaning out of my cot pulling clothes out of a wardrobe and throwing them in a pile on the floor My dad came upstairs and didn’t find it at all funny Richard Morton Jack’s Nick Drake: The Life changed the way I think about one of my favourite musicians I’d always bought into the “tortured poet” story and various myths surrounding Nick Drake’s troubled last few years and fiercely creative man whose short life was a happy one Barry Sheene was the epitome of cool in my eyes I would race motorcycles and smoke cigarettes I did end up having a long and successful smoking career but one Democrat: Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama I’m not politically minded but feel that these are two thoroughly decent men I was living in New York when Obama was first elected and walking home down Broadway that night remains a joyous memory People were dancing in the street and it seemed as though everything was going to be OK One of my most treasured possessions is a Lincoln button from his re-election campaign in 1864 I’m an avid reader of Charles Dickens and fascinated by the London he describes I’m fully aware of how grim it was for the majority of people at the time Everyone should own and anthropomorphise a dog and talk about it incessantly There’s nothing pathetic about a grown adult dressing a tiny dog in tiny little clothes I think it’s classy to walk down the road swinging a little plastic bag of dog poo from your finger People who despise dogs need to get a life If I’d seen Nirvana at Reading Festival in 1992 like I was supposed to Then I could insist on telling young people about it whenever I spot one wearing a Nirvana T-shirt They’d think I was brilliant and would no doubt have all manner of questions for me I’ve often been happy but happiest is yet to come In my teens and early twenties I volunteered to do conservation work and for a while imagined that’s what I would go into Luckily for the world I decided to play skinny weirdos on TV We’re probably just as doomed as we’ve always been These days we’ve got AI writing songs that are indistinguishable from Ed Sheeran’s; when my dad was born the Luftwaffe were dropping bombs on London every night Mackenzie Crook’s “If Nick Drake Came to My House” is published by Ebury He is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on 23 November [See also: Anne-Marie Duff Q&A: “We have to keep going towards each other”] This article appears in the 20 Nov 2024 issue of the New Statesman, Combat Zone Login For assistance please contact Our Customer Service on: Tel: +44(0)20 8955 7020. Email: musicweek@abacusemedia.com Please enter your email so we can send you password reset link An email has been sent to you containing a link to reset your password Kobalt has signed songwriter Bizzy Crook who played a pivotal role in Leon Thomas’ breakout hit Mutt.  The track has cracked the Top 20 of the US Hot 100 and the UK singles chart confirming Thomas’ status as a rising star in R&B Leon Thomas has consistently praised his creative partnership with Bizzy Crook Their partnership has played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Mutt Mutt, released in August 2024, served as the lead single from Thomas’ album of the same name. The song has been streamed more than 100 million times on Spotify.  His talent as a songwriter and storyteller is undeniable with collaborations including Freddie Gibbs and Chris Brown.  “We’re beyond excited to welcome Bizzy Crook to the Kobalt family,” said Genevieve Huguely, Kobalt’s manager, creative “His talent as a songwriter and storyteller is undeniable and his work on Mutt is a testament to the kind of creativity and vision we love to support Bizzy brings a fresh perspective and a unique voice to everything he touches and we’re proud to be part of this next chapter in his journey.” then finally catching my first [hit] record ownership was important to me,” said Bizzy “I felt like Kobalt best understood my journey For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site eventually completing a coaching degree at university He now balances his time with Brentford Women with his passion for content creation On Monday we had a photoshoot for our new social media channel S-he’s a Keeper which was really fun,” he said It’s always weird and surreal walking on the red carpet and seeing things like Timothée Chalamet next to you getting interviewed “Wednesday [I was] here at Bedfont for our training and back again on Friday in preparation for the game on Sunday Football has always been a part of Crook’s life with the now 22-year-old previously making his way through the ranks as a junior player When the opportunity to make the move to coaching came around he jumped at the chance to call Brentford home “I’ve always been playing football ever since I was young I made it to academy level and then halfway between my academy journey there was a job opening up to become the goalkeeper coach here at Brentford 'I know a little bit about goalkeeping I can come down here and help the girls out' Crook has helped lead this season’s goalkeepers to a superb campaign Freya Walker and Layla-Belle Duman each playing their part in conceding just 23 goals in as many games across all competitions The first team are in action on Sunday as they travel to Meadowbank Football Ground to face Ashmount Leigh in London South East Division One North action (3.30pm kick-off GMT) was a salon for local writers and musicians For several years in the 1990s he edited the cultural magazine Out of the Circle the title of which came from the city’s Number 11 Outer Circle bus route that ran past Dave’s terrace house in Handsworth Produced by the technology of its day – photocopying and stapling – the monthly magazine featured book The cover-line for the March 1997 travel issue was: “Around the World: Hebron was a ticket inspector who died from a heart attack when Dave was 13 Dave attended King Edward VI grammar school Although he could have become a classics scholar he balked at the arcane rituals of a Cambridge University interview in 1970; he later began a degree at the University of Swansea Dave spent some time in Ireland and Manchester he became a Nichiren Buddhist (although he later renounced it as he became increasingly drawn to scientific rationalism and humanism) and decided to get a “proper” job in bookselling where he organised a Worcester autumn festival of literature He later moved to Waterstones’ flagship store in Birmingham Dave’s colleagues – mainly graduates in their 20s – were initially suspicious of this working-class Brummie they quickly came to appreciate his kindness naming him “Crooky the oracle” in deference to his outstanding talent for bookselling For every section of the store that Dave managed This congenial world perished in the commercial takeovers that followed the financial crash of 2008 Dave took early retirement in his late 50s He returned to the family home to care for his elderly and terminally ill mother poets and local clinical and community psychologists gathered to debate ideas and sometimes share early drafts of their work which benefited from Dave’s incisive editorial advice Crooky himself wrote hundreds of poems and dozens of songs; his poems were featured in the 2021 anthology Herding Cats Amy Crook - now general manager of Brentford Women - wanted to play football and opportunities for girls to play the sport competitively were scarce there weren’t many options,” Crook recalls “I wanted to give my daughter and other girls a chance to enjoy football and compete in a team environment.” Crook’s dedication to its development saw it evolve from a grassroots initiative to an established part of the footballing community and the progress has been nothing short of extraordinary he has witnessed milestones that were once unimaginable the chance to watch his team play at Griffin Park the players have had the opportunity to grace the pitch at Gtech Community Stadium a major turning point arrived as the club officially rebranded to Brentford Women FC This integration into the wider Brentford structure has opened doors that Crook could only dream of when he first founded the team “Since the club took us under their wing in 2021 and they have made it all worth it for me,” he said “The number of staff we have now to support the players is brilliant and it’s become a real attraction to play for Brentford Women.” the Women’s FA Cup has been a source of immense pride Looking back on the first-round victory against Ascot United he said: “It’s hard to put into words how proud I was of the team “The noise at Bedfont was just incredible and probably the best and loudest I have ever heard The second-round match against London Seaward was another memorable occasion as the Bees made history for a second time beating the National League side 1-0 to go through to the third round of the competition for the first time ever we went head-to-head with a National League side and dominated the majority of the game,” he continued “We were forced to be patient for our goal and despite the tough weather conditions on the day the fans were out in full voice to help us get the job done.” being involved in the competition is an honour “The FA Cup has always been a journey for us,” he said we were incredibly unlucky to not win our first-round game against Southampton Women “It’s a competition filled with so much history and I’m truly honoured that we are even a part of it Karleigh Osborne’s side will host west London rivals Fulham Women in the third round on Sunday 8 December “It would be an absolute dream to get through to the fourth round with the prospect of playing a WSL [Women’s Super League] club for the first time ever,” explained Crook “Beating Fulham would make it even sweater and I believe we have what it takes to cause another incredible upset.” the story of Brentford Women is already one of success - and Roger Crook’s unwavering passion lies at its heart The Emirates Stadium is geared up for arguably the biggest game in its history when Arsenal play host to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday This is just the third time the Gunners have ever reached the last four of Europe’s Premier club competition and the first since 2009 when they were well-beaten by a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Manchester United Mikel Arteta’s side served out notice to the rest of Europe that they mean business by comprehensively dismantling defending champions and serial winners Real Madrid in the last round Declan Rice’s incredible free-kick double will go down in Arsenal folklore and after a 3-0 win in the home leg Arteta’s men completed the job by also winning in the Bernabeu That game in Madrid felt like a coming of age moment both for Arteta and his players but they have to come through an even tougher test to reach a second Champions League final PSG are regarded by many as favourites to finally get their hands on the trophy their Qatari owners crave above all others and have already beaten three Premier League teams en route to the semis After toppling Manchester City in the league phase it was the dumping out of Liverpool in the round of 16 that really captured the attention and they completed the hat-trick by beating Villa in the quarter finals Luis Enrique’s impressive young side showed they were defensively vulnerable in the second leg at Villa Park which could easily have gone to extra-time but for some inspired goalkeeping from Gianluigi Donnarumma They have also won only one of their last four matches and lost their unbeaten record in Ligue One by losing 3-1 to Nice at the weekend despite naming a strong team Arsenal will take encouragement from their 2-0 victory over their French hosts earlier in the competition although there is little doubt the visitors are a far better team now than they were back in October I also think the loss of midfielder Thomas Partey who was a colossus in both quarter-final games The Gunners gave away a lot of chances in last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace but clearly the Premier League has long since stopped being their priority If they can reproduce the type of performance we witnesses against Real then I am happy to back Arteta’s men to give themselves a lead to take to Paris by winning the first leg at 11/10 with starsports.bet Khvicha Kvaratskhella was brilliant against Villa and he makes up part of my build-a-bet which pays a massive price Rice’s runs from deep and set-piece prowess make him a decent bet to score any time along with Kvaratskhella while PSG’s brilliant left-back Nuno Mendes is at big risk of picking up a booking trying to stifle Bukayo Saka Arsenal to win, both Rice and Kvaratskhella to score and Mendes to be shown a card returns 94/1 with starsports.bet. Star Sports (licence number 009177) is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission. The 30-year-old becomes the Tigers’ first addition of the January transfer window after agreeing a two-and-a-half-year deal at the MKM Stadium made 33 appearances in the United States after arriving in Utah last February helping RSL qualify for the MLS Cup play-offs Leeds-born Crooks spent almost three years at Middlesbrough becoming a fans’ favourite after scoring 23 goals and adding 15 assists in 115 outings he provided 13 goal contributions as Boro reached the 2022/23 Championship play-offs before swapping Teesside for Stateside midway through last season Crooks has accumulated over 350 career appearances since making his first-team debut for Halifax Town in 2012 Notable achievements include two PFA Team of the Year inclusions first with League Two Accrington Stanley in 2015/16 and then at Rotherham United in 2019/20 He earned a League One runners-up medal with the Millers that season and contributed 21 goals in 97 games in South Yorkshire with 56 of those appearances coming in the second tier The former Manchester United youngster has also enjoyed spells with Huddersfield Town for whom he netted 10 goals in 57 matches.         Crooks said: “I’m buzzing to finally get it done and excited to get started “I said to my agent I wanted to explore coming back to England and playing over here the Sporting Director) and that’s how it started “I’m grateful to Salt Lake for the experience and what they were able to give me; it was something I always wanted to do as a kid and that’s one thing ticked off that I always wanted to do “I’m thankful I went over but also happy to be here I learned a lot about myself and I’m trying to be a leader Although it’s been a difficult start to the season for the lads I’m sure we can push on and I’m here to help the best way I can “I’m looking forward to it and I’ll always give 100% for the club while I’ve got the shirt on.” ‘I have never seen a developer who has as little regard for the people who invest in his buildings or the tenants There might be a few claimants to that title the man whose Crookes properties were in such a state that he received the longest letting ban in the UK referring itself to the regulator in 2023 over hundreds of overdue gas safety checks I’ve become slightly obsessed with another contender: Gary Ata His most prominent role is as the owner of the Old Town Hall one of our city’s most important heritage buildings which has continued to slowly fall apart on his watch But his influence stretches much wider than that He’s developed at least five major housing schemes from the city centre to Kelham and roughly 500 people live in his Sheffield properties.  (“Better to go and stay in a jail,” reads one comment on Reddit.) And if you think what his tenants have to say about him is bad is one of the more charitable comments I’m given There’s only one known photo of Ata floating around on the internet and — other than popping up as an expert estate agent in a 2022 episode of Homes under the Hammer — he keeps a low media profile Various attempts to get in touch all founder For a man whose influence on the city is so visible I put several queries to Ata while investigating for this piece — but received no response The sense of mystery only deepens when you start poking around in the digital records of his business empire I was hoping to get a few simple answers to questions about how his business works But trying to work out exactly what’s going on is like trying to plait fog Pinning Ata down — and getting some answers out of him — is going to be harder than I thought Already have an account? Sign in Already have an account? Sign In Share this story to help us grow- click here The open-hearted paean to friendship and a quiet life has become a global hit after charming viewers the world over its stars reflect on how they made TV magic ‘Finding junk and talking bollocks.” That’s how Lance (Toby Jones) describes the life he and his best mate Andy (Mackenzie Crook) live in Detectorists the gentle and beloved BBC sitcom that began 10 years ago this month It’s exactly this low-key charm that has led to the show’s success The tale of two detectorists (never call them metal detectors that’s the equipment) spending their days scanning the fields of the fictional town of Danebury is an unflashy look at the lives of two middle-aged hobbyists or perhaps an item from the Saxon ship buried somewhere in the local area But it’s also about escaping from the world around them taking themselves away from the rabble of north Essex to enjoy a bucolic life alone “I deliberately set out to write something uncynical and removed from the awkward ‘cringe comedy’ that was prevalent at the time,” Crook (who also played Gareth in The Office) says He points to the series being made cheaply and airing on BBC Four a channel made for obsessives precisely like Lance and Andy as being key to the show’s slow-burn success “Those who found it felt they’d discovered something special.” while Detectorists is routinely very funny The action is captured at the speed of life with long scenes directed by Crook filled with little more than Lance and Andy searching for the bounty they hope will change their lives The two characters both have jobs – Andy is an agency worker and Lance a forklift truck driver – but work doesn’t dominate their lives You need the luxury of time to be a detectorist something that 10 years later feels about as rare and valuable as precious metals “Lance has a good life and he’s aware of that he has the time to join a club and spend days wandering in the countryside with his best friend and to have a chat over a pint It’s part of Andy and Lance’s quality of life that makes Detectorists so appealing.” The show’s exploration of relationships – the ones that work and the ones that need more time and care – lies at the heart of its muddy-booted soul with 22% of men aged 55 and over saying they never see their friends to see how Detectorists paved the way for the similarly tender and lush Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing “Andy and Lance are completely comfortable in each other’s company; they need and trust each other and have nothing to prove,” says Crook “The first bits I wrote were a series of conversations between two characters in a field They were relaxed and about nothing in particular but more about struggling to answer questions on University Challenge.” “There is an unspoken love about their relationship,” Jones says of Andy and Lance’s bromance express their love through banter and negotiating difficulties together but I don’t think we ever sat down and discussed how this was about male relationships – that was manifest in the scripts.” He adds: “Mackenzie and I are both in long-term relationships with partners and there is a lot of the distinction between the ways romantic relationships and friendships overlap it was a different duo that first inspired Crook to write the show He wasn’t a detectorist himself but was a keen hobbyist with Jones amusingly letting slip that the coin collection seen on the wall of Lance’s caravan His introduction to the world was through an episode of Time Team in which a pair of detectorists claimed they had found Viking artefacts in a field in Yorkshire The often difficult relationship between the amateur detectorists and TV archaeologists perhaps mirrored in Detectorists through the villainous Simon & Garfunkel characters struck him as a rich source of comedy and pathos “There was something suspicious about these guys and the feeling was that they weren’t telling the whole truth,” he says Crook found three pages of scribblings in a notebook from 1999 outlining a forgotten idea called The Metal Detectors (rookie error there) “It turns out I had been percolating the idea for a decade before Time Team brought it back to the surface.” Free weekly newsletterGet the best TV reviews news and features in your inbox every Monday ‘I get a lot of requests to sing it at weddings or even funerals’ … Johnny Flynn Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The ObserverThe romantic notion that the things worth having in life are often right in front of you is also captured by musician and actor Johnny Flynn in the show’s stirring theme tune Flynn and Crook bonded over a mutual love of US artist Iron & Wine while starring in Jerusalem in the West End together Crook eventually contacted Flynn and explained that he had been writing early drafts of Detectorists while listening to his music feeling that the story in his head was similar in tone to the folk songs Flynn had recorded with his band Flynn agreed to write the theme tune and ended up scoring all three series “I decided to write a song from the perspective of the treasure,” Flynn says of his song Detectorists which has been streamed more than 20m times on Spotify alone It’s that treasure that is guiding the destiny of the characters and the song kind of wrote itself.” for fear of being “a one hit wonder where people were only coming to the shows for that song” he has returned it to his setlist in recent months and has also performed it in some more unlikely venues “I get a lot of requests to sing it at weddings or even funerals It really works with the idea of lifelong love or for someone who has gone into the earth.” The show returned for two more series and ended with a moment that rewarded Lance and Andy’s endeavours when they discovered a trove of gold coins stashed in a magpie’s nest Crook looks back on his time filming Detectorists as nothing but rose-tinted everyone had a laugh and I was never grumpy,” he says Jones echoes that sentiment: “Those three summers we spent shooting felt like a holiday.” Though the demand for more Detectorists never goes away I know Toby is keen to do a live stadium tour …” Detectorists is on BBC iPlayer and Netflix Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the FA Cup semi-finals and what’s likely to be Liverpool’s crowning as Premier League champions in a massive weekend of football… ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  This first of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final is a meeting between two teams long overdue success in the world’s most prestigious domestic cup competition Palace are bidding to reach the final for a third time having lost to Manchester United in a replay in 1990 and again nine years ago Eagles boss Oliver Glasner is unlucky to bust out any Alan Pardew-style Dad dancing on the touchline but has done a wonderful job at Selhurst Park Villa have lifted the cup on no fewer than seven occasions but to say it’s been a long time between drinks is an understatement having last done so way back in 1957 This is also the Villains’ first semi-final since being thumped by Arsenal in the 2015 final so means just as much to their fans as it does to Eagles supporters Palace have already knocked Villa out of the EFL Cup this season and their spirited 2-2 draw at Arsenal in mid-week was a decent warm-up for this eagerly-awaited clash Villa’s Champions League aspirations suffered a setback as they lost to a late goal at Manchester City but their form of 10 wins in their last 12 games is mightily impressive They also have the benefit of an extra 24 hours rest and have the ability to rotate after going big in the January transfer window so I do expect Unai Emery’s men to prevail However, I can see the game going ton extra-time and potentially even penalties so my build-a-bet is on the draw after 90 minutes and Eberechi Eze to score at any time which pays 16/1 with starsports.bet Eze bagged a stunning goal against Arsenal his fourth in his last eight games for club and country ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  Sunday’s second semi-final is a fascinating contrast of styles as perennial FA Cup winners City take on a Forest side bidding to achieve what even the late great Brian Clough couldn’t by going all the way to glory In what has been billed as the year of the underdog with so many of the so-called big guns crashing out early it would feel a bit anti-climactic for the neutral if City found themselves in the final for a third year in a row But following a poor Premier League campaign and being dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid this is the Citizens’ only chance of silverware so they will be fully motivated It is an interesting dilemma for Forest fans if they would rather achieve Champions League qualification or win the cup for the first time since 1959 What is beyond doubt is that Monday’s 2-1 victory at Tottenham was a much-needed morale boost after winning only one of their previous four games City’s recent form is rock solid even if performances have not been spectacular and they will be out to avenge last month’s 1-0 defeat at the City Ground I believe the first goal is key here as Forest are a horrible team to play against when chasing the game I also think Pep Guardiola’s team-selection will be all important as if he sets up with inverted wingers as he has in recent weeks leaving the likes of Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku on the bench Nuno Espirito’s Santo’s side are the Premier League’s ultimate pragmatists while Guardiola has also reverted to a more cautious approach to turn their season around so under 2.5 goals at 20/21 with starsports.bet is my main selection It would not surprise me if this game went the distance I can see Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels being their hero once again Sels saved two spot-kicks in the quarter-final penalty shootout win at Brighton and Forest to win on penalties is available at 12/1 with starsports.bet ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  Liverpool need only a point at home to Tottenham on Sunday to seal a record-equalling 20th league championship and their second of the Premier League era The atmosphere at Anfield will be rocking as the Reds faithful pay homage to Arne Slot’s heroes a totally different scene to when Jordan Henderson lifted their last title in front of empty stands during the Covid season Tottenham know they are no more than invited guests and while a 19th league defeat of the season would be damaging to Ange Postecoglou’s hopes of keeping his job Even winning the Europa League is unlikely to be enough to save Postecoglou from the sack but I would still expect him to rest players for the first leg of their semi-final at home to Bodo/Glimt on Thursday It would be foolish to risk centre-back Micky van de Ven in particular as he is so key to Spurs’ hopes of a first trophy in 17 years That should play right into Liverpool’s hands as they bid to wrap up the title in style If Slot’s men score first, and score early, it could get messy for the visitors so backing the home side at -2 on the handicap at 6/4 with starsports.bet. Spurs were blitzed in the first half by Forest on Monday before rallying late on to only lose 2-1 and I do expect Liverpool to go for the jugular right from the off There has been a lot of debate about whether Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold should be dropped but he showed his worth to the cause by coming off the bench to bag the winner at Leicester last weekend I expect Trent to start and be given a heroes’ welcome by the fans. A build-a-bet on Liverpool to win the first half, Liverpool to win the second half and Alexander-Arnold to score at any time returns 7.78/1 with starsports.bet. Take out a subscription to get immediate access to Broadcast: Get your ideas seen by the industry’s biggest names with the help of the leading TV development site Unlock essential intel on what top commissioners and distributors are looking for and how you can work with them By 2025-04-08T09:33:00 Singles will look at transformative era for Eurovision and Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon win Access premium content subscribe today If you have an account you can SIGN IN now Site powered by Webvision Cloud A key player in a major plot to flood Carlisle’s streets with heroin has been handed a prison sentence of eight years and four months became the seventh person of eight to be sentenced for being part of a criminal conspiracy which ran for 14 months — between March 2020 despite Watterson and two fellow Merseyside-based organised crime group members being repeatedly arrested and bailed with conditions not to enter Cumbria generally in one-ounce amounts to limit damage should police make an interception Burner phones were used once it arrived to send text message flares advertising its availability for sale Watterson also took control of a vulnerable city addict’s home — known as cuckooing — where drugs were stored ahead of onward distribution “Mr Watterson had colonised that address,” said prosecutor Brendan Burke Watterson was found in the occupant’s bed by police “The fact he was in her bed shows the relative power balance in that relationship He had taken over her home and kicked her out of her own bed She knew very well where the power balance lay.” That woman was left to sleep on her sofa Watterson was arrested for the fourth time at his Liverpool home along with products used to bulk heroin into larger qualities Police painstakingly picked through traffic camera and mobile phone data as they brought eight defendants to court the prosecution suggested that 3.5kg of the drug could potentially have been supplied throughout the criminal enterprise Watterson — and two fellow Liverpudlians — had been the prime movers Watterson was due to have been sentenced at the crown court last year having admitted conspiracy to supply heroin prompting police to issue a public appeal to trace his whereabouts said Watterson’s daughter suffered from ill health and had been due to go into hospital “He didn’t want to leave her,” said the lawyer lightly convicted Watterson had been working and living with his partner and child Judge Michael Fanning imposed a prison term of eight years and four months “I am sentencing you for this conspiracy that actually ran for 14 months but which was intended to run ad nauseam — on and on and on,” the judge told Watterson “It was calculated to generate income over an infinite period of time.” Of Watterson taking over the Carlisle addict’s home Judge Fanning observed: “You relegated her to the sofa Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox *We hate spam as much as you do. Privacy Statement Phone: 01768 862313Email: admin@cumbriacrack.com Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited No: 12475190VAT registration number: 343486488 © 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme A robber who held up a Fife taxi driver days after appearing in court charged with thefts has been jailed for more than 1,000 days Matthew O’Brien appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to be sentenced for the string of offending which took place over three weeks earlier this year The 33-year-old demanded cash and car keys from cabbie Ronnie Forsyth repeatedly telling the driver he had a knife The career criminal had only been released on bail eight days earlier – in connection with a series of thefts from Sainsbury’s in Leven and sheds in Buckhaven At an earlier hearing, O’Brien pled guilty to assaulting and robbing on-shift Mr Forsyth while he was parked on Methil‘s High Street on February 3 O’Brien admitted he repeatedly demanded money and stated he had a knife while his hand was in a pocket He went on to feel Mr Forsyth’s jacket seized his wallet and robbed him of £205 and the driver’s keys O’Brien, of Lawrence Court in Buckhaven, had only been released on bail by Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on January 27 That order was granted in respect of a string of thefts which O’Brien he stole a £600 bicycle from a shed in Buckhaven’s Chapel Street – which has since been returned to its owner the tools he stole from a shed on nearby Victoria Road he forced open on January 23 remain untraced O’Brien also targeted Sainsbury’s in Leven on four occasions between January 15 and 23 stealing £999.50 worth of goods that were never recovered O’Brien attended a sentencing hearing via a video link from HMP Perth where he had been remanded Sheriff John MacRitchie sentenced him to one year and 265 days imprisonment for robbing the taxi driver followed by eight months for the thefts in January O’Brien must serve 141 days of an unexpired sentence equating to a total period of imprisonment of just over 1,000 days The sheriff noted O’Brien’s criminal record contained four previous convictions for assault and robbery three attempted or completed housebreakings and two more convictions for being found somewhere where it could be reasonably inferred he planned to steal Also on O’Brien’s record are three assaults six occasions of threatening or abusive behaviour one count of possessing a knife and a charge of obstructing police In 2018, he was jailed for 30 months for smashing his way into a Kirkcaldy petrol station and robbing the terrified female attendant The bungling crook masked his face and wore gloves but rolled up his sleeves exposing his forearm – baring a tattoo reading “Matty” The sheriff labelled the final incident an “appalling assault and robbery.” He said: “This was a patently serious offence there clearly is some degree of planning involved “These offences are very considerably aggravated by your solemn and summary previous convictions “If you totalled all the prison sentences imposed over the last 16 years or so “The indictment offence is considerably aggravated by you being on bail having offended similarly on bail on 48 previous occasions “These offences are not mitigated by any particular matters to any great extent “The inescapable conclusion is inevitably reached that nothing other than a significant custodial sentence is appropriate.” For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook STAR of The Office Mackenzie Crook has given fans a hint about the future of one of his beloved characters He may be one of our most recognisable actors but, for some younger fans, Mackenzie is best known for his work as the straw faced scarecrow, Worzel Gummidge Viewers haven’t seen the festive farm helper since 2021 with many assuming that Mackenzie wouldn't be donning the famous hat again on our screens But now the actor has given fans hope that we may not have seen the last of magical Worzel who is based on the character from the original Barbara Euphan Todd books Speaking to Times Radio he said: “Worzel Gummidge I don't feel like I've finished with that.” “I had such a great time making those shows and I really became really fond of the old Scarecrow The story of Worzel has had a long life and many faces with the original author releasing the books in the 1940s Since then it has been adapted into a radio play in the 1950s then it was brought to TV screens on ITV in the late 70s with Jon Pertwee famously taking on the lead role There was even a version made in the 1980s for Channel 4, still starring Pertwee and Una Stubbs, where the whole family relocated to New Zealand for Worzel Gummidge Down Under. acting in the lead role himself as well as directing and writing the series himself returning each December between 2019 and 2021 Although there was good news for Worzel fans, the Game of Thrones actor did seem to put to bed another of his best known series He went on to tell Times Radio: “Detectorists I'm very pleased that I've done the right amount and I don't want to spoil that This seems to back up and interview Mackenzie recently did with The Guardian about his love of filming the metal detecting hit saying: “The sun was always shining everyone had a laugh and I was never grumpy.” Mackenzie is one of our most recognisable actors let's look at some of his career highlights.. 1998 - Featured in late night Channel 4 sketch show with the likes of Peter Kay and Catherine Tate 2001 - Played the iconic 'Gareth' alongside Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 2003 - Mackenzie's big Hollywood break playing the pirate Ragetti He returned for further films in the franchise in 2006 and 2007 2009 - Played the roll of Bristolian gangster Johnny White Game of Thrones 2013 - Appeared as the mystic 'wilding' Orell 2014 - Wrote and directed the fan favourite staring with Toby Jones in the series which ran until 2022 2018 - Mackenzie voiced the loveable rabbit Hawkbit in this BBC and Netflix version of the book 2021 - Wrote and directed the remake of the beloved children's classic His co-star Toby Jones added: “Those three summers we spent shooting felt like a holiday.” But it seems that they will both be hanging up their metal detectors as Mackenzie said: “I won’t be making any more Detectorists Worzel Gummidge is available on BBC iPlayer Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK gives his thoughts ahead of this week’s European quarter-finals… ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️  Arsenal’s poor European record has always been an eyebrow-raiser for me given some of the great Gunners teams of the past You have to go back to the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup and Alan Smith’s goal against Parma for the last time they lifted silverware in continental competition The fact they only managed to reach one Champions League final during Arsene Wenger’s trophy-laden stint in north London is the one blemish on the Frenchman’s tenure The class of 2025 have the opportunity to right some of those wrongs when they take on perennial European champions Real Madrid in a mouth-watering quarter-final Arsenal warmed up for Tuesday’s home first leg with a limp 1-1 draw at Everton effectively ending their faint Premier League title hopes Manager Mikel Arteta made his priorities pretty clear by resting the likes of Jurrien Timber Gabriel Martinelli and captain Martin Odegaard to the bench All four would be expected to start this game against a Real side who suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Valencia on Saturday Carlo Ancelotti’s side also conceded four goals in last week’s nerve-shredding Copa del Rey victory over Real Sociedad so their defence is anything but impenetrable That makes Saka at 12/5 with starsports.bet to score at any time an attractive prospect It is more than 20 years since Real exited the competition at this stage but while I think the Spanish giants will have too much firepower over the two legs for injury-hit Arsenal I can see the hosts at least avoiding defeat in the first leg Arsenal are ten Champions League home games unbeaten, and their defensive record has been impressive during that run, but the absence of Gabriel from the heart of their backline is leaning me towards backing the draw and both teams to score at 7/2 with starsports.bet ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️  Aston Villa could not be in better form as they travel to the French capital on Wednesday for the first leg of their eagerly anticipated quarter final Villa have won their last seven games in all competitions including Saturday’s 2-1 victory at home to Nottingham Forest Manager Unai Emery may see this tie as a chance for redemption after his ill-fated stint in charge of PSG The standout moment of Emery’s time in Paris was a 4-0 demolition of Luis Enrique’s star-studded Barcelona team in a 2017 quarter-final only to lose the return game 6-1 and crash out It is ironic that Enrique is now in charge of Emery’s former club and that adds an interesting sub-plot to the tie PSG have already accounted for one Premier League opponent en route to the last eight after defeating Liverpool on penalties in the round of 16 After so many false dawns under their Qatari owners in this competition there is a growing belief this can finally be their year The hosts have only lost one game since November which demonstrates the enormity of Villa’s task but have only managed one clean sheet in their last six games PSG to win and both teams to score at 17/10 with starsports.bet looks a decent prospect Marcus Rashford has scored three goals in four previous appearances against the Parisians including a memorable penalty winner for Manchester United to knock them out in 2019 Rashford to score at any time and PSG to win returns 9/1 as a build-a-bet with starsports.bet ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MARKETS ⭐️  It’s win or bust for Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham take on Frankfurt in their Europa League quarter-final Postecoglou is expected to be sacked if Spurs do not win the competition so Thursday’s first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium promises to be a night packed with tension Frankfurt are seasoned Europa League campaigners having reached the last eight for the third time in six years The 2022 winners showed they are a dangerous animal by thrashing Ajax 6-1 in the round of 16 and sit third in the Bundesliga their lofty league position is largely down to a stellar first half of the season and their form has tailed off since selling star man Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in January That will give Spurs hope of taking an advantage into the second leg in Germany, but I am backing Frankfurt to win the tie at 11/10 with starsports.bet I also think Premier League target Hugo Ekiteke is overpriced to score the first goal at 6/1 with starsports.bet. Support quality, independent, local journalism…that mattersFrom just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today The death of an Abertridwr man who went missing in Turkey Ben Crook’s body was found on stony ground at the bottom of a drop in Kaleici on his 32nd birthday The inquest opening in Newport heard how Mr Crook had flown to Antalya had been drinking alcohol when he left his home in Graig y Fedw and had continued in the airport and on the plane During the flight there was an argument between Mr Crook and his partner during which he smashed both their mobile phones When the plane landed in Turkey in the early hours he was escorted off the plane and he never made it to the hotel Means of contact had been lost because he had no phone Mr Crook’s body was found at 6.20pm local time on September 24 His father was notified on October 4 and flew out to identify his son which was carried out once Mr Crook’s body was repatriated While the exact cause of death has yet to be ascertained Coroner Ms Farmer said Mr Crook had fallen from a height and had died from his injuries The inquest was adjourned until April 17 next year In the days following Mr Crook’s disappearance his family desperately posted appeals on Facebook asking for information to help find him Once his death was announced by the UK Foreign Office a GoFundMe page was set-up with donations coming in and raising almost £14,000 to help with the cost of bringing Mr Crook’s body home His funeral is due to take place on Friday November 15 at Thornhill Crematorium with a wake at Senghenydd Rugby Club following the service Support quality, independent, local journalism…that mattersFrom just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.Become a member today Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the pick of the weekend Premier League fixtures… ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  There is an argument to be made that Newcastle are the best team in the country heading into their big European showdown this weekend The rampant Magpies continued impressive run of form with a crushing 5-0 win at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday to move up to third in the Premier League table The EFL Cup winners have now string together a run of six straight victories and are firmly on course to bring Champions League football back to the north east next season It is not just the sequence of wins that have been impressive even without manager Eddie Howe in the dugout following his pneumonia scare they are simply blowing opposing teams away They have also become less reliant on top-scorer Alexander Isak and are sharing the goals around with Harvey Branes and Jacob Murphy enjoying particularly fruitful spells Murphy is making a convincing case for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s next England squad after coming with three goals and as many assists in his last four games He will fancy his chances of extending that run against a Villa side who come into Saturday’s game between two of the Champions League hopefuls on the back of a mentally and physically draining quarter final exit to PSG in mid-week Villa have struggled all season coming off the back of big European nights and Newcastle look in the mood to take advantage in what should be a really good game Murphy to continue his well-timed purple patch by getting his name on the scoresheet, over 2.5 goals in the game and Newcastle to make it a magnificent seven wins on the spin returns 9/1 as a build-a-bet with starsports.bet ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed many a duel with Liverpool during his trophy-laden playing days at Manchester United and would love to delay the Reds title celebrations at the King Power Stadium on Sunday one glance at Leicester’s recent form makes that a forlorn hope for the Foxes boss who is simply looking to prolong the agony of their impending return to the Championship Van Nistelrooy’s men did at last show some spirit – and finally score – in last weekend’s 2-2 at Brighton but their relegation could be sealed this weekend against a backdrop of protests against the club’s owners by home fans That unrest will in some ways take the heat off van Nistelrooy but the Dutchman is hardly putting together a compelling case to avoid the sack taking just one point from the last 30 available It is also 28 games and counting since Ruud’s not-so cunning Foxes kept a clean sheet while Liverpool are the Premier League’s leading scorers with 74 goals in their 32 games Arne Slot’s side made hard work of last weekend’s win at home to stubborn West Ham and needed a late Virgil van Dijk header to seal the 2-1 win That means if Arsenal were to lose at home to Ipswich on Saturday then Slot’s side can wrap up the championship with victory here Van Dijk joined star man Mo Salah in putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract this week and is 5/1 with starsports.bet bet to repeat last weekend’s heroics with a goal You can also back van Dijk to toast his new deal in style by opening the scoring at 18/1 with starsports.bet Liverpool will win, it is simply a question of by how many and Leicester have a habit of conceding early, especially at home. I really like Liverpool to win the first half and over 1.5 first half goals at 9/5 with starsports.bet ⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS ⭐️  It was do-or-die for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou in Frankfurt on Thursday and ultimately his team delivered to keep their dream of lifting the Europa League alive That hard-fought 1-0 victory should equal a feel good factor when top-five hopefuls Nottingham Forest visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday Forest are having a wobble at just the wrong time and last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at home to Everton has given the cluster of clubs in behind them hope they can catch Nuno Espirito Santo’s men in the race for a Champions League place Losing at home was out of keeping with Forest’s largely solid form at the City Ground but they have struggled on the road of late with four defeats in the last five on their travels Nuno will be keen to end that poor run to ease some of the end-of-season anxiety among the travelling Tricky Trees faithful The Spurs players will be thankful of having an extra day to recover from their exertions in Germany and are battling to avoid the humiliation of finishing as low as 17th in the table The north Londoners have lost 17 of their 32 league games this season and it is likely Postecoglou will ring the changes with European glory their only purpose now That should at least see Forest avoid another away day loss but Spurs will also be keen to avoid defeat number 18 to start to build momentum ahead of their semi-final with Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt My build-a-bet is the match to end in a draw, both teams to score and Forest skipper Ryan Yates to be shown a card which returns 15/1 with starsports.bet.