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      ‘I’m not sure people know this’ – Gary Lineker reveals Match of the Day’s contractual obligation with Premier League

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      GARY LINEKER has revealed that the BBC have a contractual agreement with the Premier League that limits the amount of game time that can be shown on Match of the Day.Just two Prem games took place on Saturday as Arsenal hosted Crystal Palace and Brentford faced Nottingham Forest.
      Gary Lineker has explained why the BBC can only show a limited amount of match footageCredit: Getty
      The bizarre fixture scheduling saw BBC highlights show Match of the Day altered, meaning host Alex Scott and pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams had more time to spend on analysis.
      However, ex-Manchester City star Micah Richards joked that Shearer spoke too much during the 35-minute show.
      Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards said: “Talk about overdoing it! You’re talking about (Martin) Odegaard with the socks! Talk about over-analysing a situation!”
      Shearer responded: “We had two hours spare in the afternoon, we had to do something.”
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      However, Lineker then chimed in to reveal why the pundits were forced to spend more time on analysis.
      The England icon explained that the BBC can only use a limited amount of match footage.
      He said: “I’m not sure if people know this but you’re only allowed a certain amount of time of each game.
      “I think it’s limited to something like a maximum of 12 minutes.
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      “So therefore whereas normally we would squeeze in six or eight games and condense our chatting into two or three minutes per game, when you’ve just got two games in 35 minutes you’ve got ten minutes or so to chat.
      “It’s a contractual obligation – I think it’s 12 minutes but I’ll check that.”
      While discussing Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace during the show, ex-Everton star Williams spotted a potential set-piece “trigger” from Martin Odegaard which involved the midfielder pulling up his socks.
      Williams explained: “There’s always a trigger for what the movement’s going to be.
      “We can see they have worked on whether it’s a front-post corner or a back-post corner.
      “If you keep an eye on Odegaard, we feel – maybe we’ve had too much time on our hands – but we feel that maybe he’s signalling something to the corner taker.
      “He’s in the same place for every corner and he’s playing with his socks.  
      “There is synchronicity regarded whether they go to the front or the back. Every clip we see here he is doing the same thing where he’s playing with his socks. It might be coincidence, yes.
      “But it is a big coincidence that he’s always there and always doing something with his sock.” More

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      Emma Louise Jones poses with Luke Humphries & World Darts trophy but fans fear she’s ‘putting too much faith in buttons’

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      EMMA LOUISE JONES posed alongside Luke Humphries as he brought some silverware to Elland Road. Humphries was seen presenting his WDC Darts World Championship trophy which he beat Luke Littler to claim earlier this month.
      Emma Louise Jones posed alongside Luke Humphries PDC World Darts trophyCredit: X @eljonesuk
      World No1 Darts star Humphries paraded the trophy around Elland RoadCredit: PA
      Emma said the gong was ‘very heavy’Credit: Rex
      As well as showing it off to the fans at half-time, Humphries, 28, also posed with the gong alongside BBC presenter Emma.
      And it seems she was even offered the chance to try and lift the trophy.
      Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, she captioned the image: “A pleasure to be joined by @lukeh180 and his (VERY HEAVY) trophy in the studio 🏆.”
      Reacting to the snap, one fan said: “Winner winner trophy dinner.”
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      However, another fan said: “Sooo much faith in those buttons.”
      Leeds TV presenter Emma previously suffered a wardrobe malfunction when her jumpsuit broke following an interview at Leicester City’s training ground.
      It left her holding her top and “clinging on for dear life” as she made her way back to her car afterwards.
      Although on this occasion it seems no such clanger occurred.
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      Emma is a football presenter on BBCCredit: Instagram @eljonesuk
      She started out on Leeds TV in 2017Credit: Instagram @eljonesuk
      Both Emma and Humphries would have been delighted with Leeds’ comeback win over Preston.
      Will Keane had put the visitors ahead after just two minutes before Daniel James struck back in the sixth minute.
      Leeds then controversially won a penalty in injury time for a dubious handball.
      But Joel Piroe did not need a second invitation and dispatched from 12 yards to snatch a big victory for Leeds’ promotion hunt.
      Emma Louise Jones is a popular BBC sports presenterCredit: Instagram / @eljonesuk
      Jones covers rugby league for the BBC alongside other sportsCredit: Twitter / @eljonesuk
      Jones had put together a strong social media game and can boast over a quarter of a million followersCredit: Instagram / @eljonesuk
      Jones loves to share glam pics with her legion of followersCredit: instagram
      Jones’ posts attract a lot of engagement from her followersCredit: Instagram, @eljones90 More

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      Alex Scott stuns in low-cut top live on Football Focus after BBC presenter’s romantic holiday with Jess Glynne

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      ALEX SCOTT was dressed to impress as she stunned on Football Focus.The 39-year-old was presenting BBC’s preview show ahead of the weekend’s action.
      Alex Scott wowed in a stylish outfitCredit: BBC
      The host stunned in her low-cut top while on Football FocusCredit: BBC
      She was joined by Stephen Warnock and Ellen WhiteCredit: BBC
      Alex was joined in the studio by fellow ex-Lioness Ellen White and former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock.
      The host dazzled in a gorgeous low-cut black top and gold necklace.
      She accompanied her outfit with stylish high-heels.
      Fans loved seeing her on screens, one said: “Such a naturally gifted presenter. Great show.”
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      Alex was back hosting for the second time after recently jetting off to Mexico for a romantic getaway with pop star partner Jess Glynne.
      The loved-up duo explored the Tulum region – going scuba diving and then ziplining across the jungle.
      They even went to the local pyramids and drove around on a moped.
      Alex also found time to relax while away, soaking up the sun while on the beach.
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      The beauty stripped down to a white bikini as she showed off her toned body.
      A body language expert told SunSport their relationship is getting increasingly serious.
      Alex Scott and Jess Glynne holidayed together in MexicoCredit: Alex Scott/instagram
      Alex wowed as she soaked up the sun abroadCredit: instagram
      The beauty showed off her toned lookCredit: instagram
      Alex was back presenting Football Focus for the second time since her breakCredit: @alexscott2
      Alex and Jess posted plenty of snaps of her trip on social mediaCredit: Instagram More

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      Real FA Cup magic got TV snub.. bosses at the BBC and ITV should hang their heads in shame

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      TV bosses at the BBC and ITV should hang their heads in shame after snubbing the magic of our much-loved FA Cup.It is either through ignorance, arrogance or sheer incompetence — or all three — that they have scheduled some of the most dull and uninspiring collection of games ever seen in the third round.
      Maidstone boss George Elokobi and goal hero Sam Corne celebrates making FA Cup history by reaching the fourth round — but BBC and ITV snubbed televising them
      For me, this week every year is one of the most exciting in the football calendar.
      It is when the FA Cup really comes to life as the plumbers and builders or lower-league pros dine on the same table as the superstars.
      It is what makes this competition unique — not just here in the UK but across the globe.
      As a proud man of Kent, I simply could not miss going to watch little Maidstone United of the National League South host League One high-fliers Stevenage.
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      And the lowest-ranked team left in the competition caused the biggest shock and story of the round by producing a brilliant performance to stun Steve Evans’ men at their neat but small Gallagher Stadium.
      More than 1,000 joyous fans swamped the pitch at the end to celebrate one of the biggest achievement’s in the town’s 127-year football history. Yet the game was not picked by the dullards in the ivory towers of the Beeb and ITV.
      No, they believed the magic of the Cup lay on a Thursday night at Selhurst Park where Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace and Everton slogged out a goalless bore.
      And they felt the all-Premier League tie between Tottenham and Burnley would win the hearts of the nation on Friday night.
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      Around 1,000 Maidstone fans swamp the pitch in joy after historic win
      Fans celebrated with the Maidstone team on the pitch after they beat Stevenage
      Aside from Pedro Porro’s stunning winner at the end for Spurs, the game was a snooze-fest.
      Sunderland v Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime was a fair enough selection with it being a North-East derby — but even that proved to be an underwhelming and boring mismatch as the Toon cruised to a 3-0 win.
      Middlesbrough hosting Aston Villa was a pretty tepid affair on Saturday evening, too.
      Arsenal taking on Liverpool yesterday was an all-Premier League heavyweight clash so, to be fair to the BBC execs, that one deserved to be on the box.
      And tonight ITV are screening Wigan v Manchester United, which is a decent tie.
      But let’s not pretend they made that decision because they love the idea of League One club Wigan creating more Cup magic to add to their stunning 2013 triumph when they won it.
      No, tonight’s game is only on screens because it’s Manchester United. Every single round they are still in the competition, we have to endure having Erik ten Hag’s team forced down our throats.
      I’ve nothing against anyone at United — but personally cannot wait for them to be knocked out each year because it’s so excruciating listening to all the hype that surrounds them.
      Not one match at the weekend featured a team below the Championship — and even the two games that did involve second-tier clubs, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, were up against top-flight sides.
      AGGREGATE CROWDS 2023-24THE number of people who have passed through the turnstiles in the top six tiers of English football so far this season.
      PREMIER LEAGUE: 7,483,909
      CHAMPIONSHIP: 6,928,003
      LEAGUE ONE: 2,854,803
      LEAGUE TWO: 1,790,684
      NATIONAL LEAGUE: 822,432
      NATIONAL SOUTH: 417,508
      NATIONAL NORTH: 371,385

      Our football culture is not based only in the golden bubble of the sanitised Premier League.
      In fact, most people who go to football matches week in, week out go to games OUTSIDE the top flight.
      I’ve done some number crunching. So far this season, according to my A-level maths knowledge at least, an aggregate of 7,483,909 have passed through the turnstiles to watch Premier League football this season.
      Yet a staggering 13,184,815 punters have passed through the gates to watch either the EFL or the top two divisions of non-league football — nearly SIX MILLION more than the top division.
      People who defend the TV execs say that even if they did select a non-league side against a pro team, like Maidstone v Stevenage, they cannot guarantee an upset.
      One person on social media argued to me that a few years ago non-league Marine took on Tottenham and who was still watching as the Premier League side went 5-0 up? Well, how many people — my Geordie friends aside — were still watching when Newcastle went 8-0 up at Sheffield United in the Premier League in September?
      And if you went by that logic Ronnie Radford’s stunner for Hereford that helped knock Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972 would never have been televised — and maybe the then 26-year-old commentator John Motson would not have gone on to have the great career he had.
      Of course, you cannot guarantee upsets in football — that is the whole beauty of it.
      TV execs decided that Crystal Palace v Everton was a ‘must-watch’ FA Cup tie that bored anyone unfortunate enough to watch it on Thursday
      When it does happen, like it did in Kent on Saturday, it makes it extra special.
      Thankfully, here at your favourite newspaper, we were at the Gallagher Stadium to capture it all — and will continue to champion ALL levels of our wonderful pyramid.
      As Wolves cult hero and Maidstone manager George Elokobi said on Saturday: “The magic of the FA Cup lives on.”
      Even if it doesn’t for those spoilsport TV execs who, quite frankly, have no clue about the heartbeat of our national game.
      By George, what a great bloke
      WHAT a guy George Elokobi is.
      After Maidstone’s stunning win on Saturday, the Wolves cult hero did not want to miss out a single person that has helped behind the scenes to make the club tick and set up one of the greatest days in their history.
      The emotional Stones boss said: “It’s not just one of the greatest days for me, my players, assistant Craig Fagan, goalkeeper coach Zach Foster-Crouch, backroom staff, the owners and director of football Bill Williams  — but everyone who works behind the scenes.
      “I’m talking about Ben and the media guys, John Gooch behind the scenes, Ian Tucker in the office, Helen, Bob, Helen Cooper who takes the photos, credit to all of them …. and I’m not forgetting Louise and Andy in the office. I’m trying not to forget anyone. We want to enjoy all these moments together.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Elokobi gets non-league football. He started and ended his playing career there. And as a manager he can go a long way — because he knows how to treat people. Everyone wants to work and play for him. It’s a huge asset to have.
      Oh, and he knows a thing or two about football. More

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      BBC face two huge decisions over Gary Lineker replacement on Match of the Day and brand new football show

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      GARY LINEKER’S uncertain future is at the centre of two huge decisions facing the BBC over their football coverage.The Beeb will soon get a new director of sport – with an in-tray including who presents Match of the Day and a new Champions League show.
      Gary Lineker has suggested he won’t stay at MOTD much longerCredit: Handout
      Jermaine Jenas is rated as a prime contender to replace Lineker as well as for a role on the Beeb’s upcoming new Champions League programmeCredit: PA
      Ex-England striker Lineker, 63, has suggested his “time is nearly up” after 25 years fronting MOTD.
      And apart from the Saturday-night fans’ favourite show, the BBC must also assess their team for a fresh midweek programme after winning some Champions League rights from next season.
      Long-serving Barbara Slater is stepping down as the Beeb’s director of sport this spring.
      And The Times say whoever replaces her is expected to quickly address the MOTD situation.
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      There’s talk of former Tottenham and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas switching from being a pundit to a more Lineker-like lead role.
      The One Show host will start presenting TNT Sports’ Formula E coverage later this year.
      But Jenas, 40, has admitted he’d be interested in succeeding Lineker.
      He told The Mirror last month: “If the opportunity was to arise it’s obviously something I’d have to think about.
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      “My commitment is fully with the jobs that I have. That’s hosting Formula E, the bits that I do on The One Show.
      “Any punditry work that I’m doing with TNT Sports and the BBC are huge commitments of mine and something that I love.”
      Spurs and Barcelona legend Lineker, who is the Beeb’s top earner on £1.35million a year, has yet to reveal his plans or exactly how long he plans to stay on MOTD.
      But Jenas has praised him as almost a mentor.
      He said: “The big thing with this is Gary’s brilliant.
      “Love Gary. I’ve learned so much from him over the course of my career and there’s still loads more to learn from him.”  More

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      My dad’s a former Premier League footballer and my brother plays for Chelsea – I’m making my own way on EastEnders

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      EASTENDERS’ newest star Kitty Castledine is the daughter of an ex-Premier League star and the sister of a current Chelsea midfielder.Actress Kitty, 21, who was paralysed at the age of seven, made her debut on the soap on New Year’s Day as Penny Branning – daughter of Jack Branning and cousin of Lauren Branning.
      Kitty Castledine made her debut as Penny Branning on EastEnders on New Year’s DayCredit: BBC
      Former Wimbledon and Wycombe player Stewart Castledine is Kitty’s fatherCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But what many EastEnders fans may not be aware of is her famous family.
      Not only is her mum Lucy Alexander a former host of Homes Under The Hammer, but her dad and brother have made names for themselves in football.
      Kitty’s father, Stewart Castledine, 50, spent nine years playing for Wimbledon.
      That included six seasons in the Premier League where he made 26 appearances, scoring four goals.
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      He also featured in the second tier for Wycombe.
      And Kitty’s brother is Chelsea youngster Leo Castledine, 19.

      The teenager has played six times for the Blues’ U21 side since joining from Wimbledon in 2020.
      He has also earned three caps for England’s U19s.
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      Kitty, right, with her presenter mum Lucy AlexanderCredit: Instagram / @lucyalexandertv
      Kitty is set to become a regular on EastEndersCredit: Instagram / @kittycastledine
      Leo Castledine could make his first-team debut for Chelsea on SaturdayCredit: Alamy
      Leo has appeared as an unused substitute in four of Mauricio Pochettino’s squads so far this season.
      And he could be given his first-team debut when they host Championship side Preston in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
      Before committing to football, Leo was also a part of the academy at Harlequins rugby.
      (L-R) Stewart, Kitty, Lucy and Leo have all made names for themselvesCredit: Instagram / @kittycastledine
      Lucy previously hosted Homes Under The HammerCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      England football legend tipped to join Dragon’s Den as judge gushes ‘he’s prepared to invest’

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      EX-footballer Gary Neville is tipped to become a full-time TV Dragon.He impressed as a guest investor on the new series of BBC One’s Dragons’ Den, to be shown next year.
      Gary Neville is tipped to become a full-time TV DragonCredit: PA
      The Sky Sports pundit and former Man Utd defender has millions invested in property and Beeb bosses want him to join the entrepreneur series on a more permanent basis.
      Show regular Deborah Meaden said: “You’d think he had been a Dragon his entire life. He instinctively asked the right questions.
      “He’s got a really good business brain on him. He was fantastic, I’m not kidding you, and he’s prepared to invest.”
      Meanwhile, Deborah will appear on Taskmaster’s New Year Treat on Tuesday but isn’t worried the madcap Channel 4 show may affect her reputation.
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      She said: “I didn’t get these laughter lines through sitting in a chair and being grumpy.”
      Em’s a UK TV buff
      NAKED ATTRACTION has made its way to Hollywood – well, to actress Emma Stone’s living room in the States at least.
      The La La Land film star, who joins Graham Norton on the telly sofa for his New Year’s Eve chat show special on BBC One, admits she enjoys tuning in to British programmes when relaxing between jobs.
      Emma Stone will join Graham Norton on the telly sofa for the New Year’s Eve special of his chat showCredit: PA
      Graham will also be joined by Mark Ruffalo, Claudia Winkleman, Rob Brydon and the Ezra CollectiveCredit: PA
      But it is far from high-brow viewing for Emma, who stars with Mark Ruffalo in new film Poor Things. In fact, she prefers a light-hearted reality and dating fix.
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      American Emma says: “My foray into it began with The Only Way Is Essex, and then I learned about Naked Attraction and Gogglebox. I became completely crazy about it and, in America, the two shows are a double feature. They are back-to-back.
      “So it’s cosy family viewing followed by nakedness. I love that.”
      As well as his movie A-lister guests, Graham will be joined by Claudia Winkleman and actor Rob Brydon, plus jazz band Ezra Collective.
      Gavin & Stacey’s Rob will reveal that Emma is not the only actress from across the Pond who is a big fan of British telly.
      He adds of being cast as Sugar Daddy Ken in Barbie: “It was bizarre, but I ended up in it apparently because MARGOT ROBBIE is a fan of Gavin & Stacey. I think that’s how it came about.”

      RUPAUL’S Drag Race UK Versus The World is to return on BBC Three for a second series early in 2024.
      The queens from this year’s British series are competing with Drag Racers from across the globe to be crowned the ultimate winner, and for the first time will receive a cash prize.

      David: My childish question
      JUST because Sir David Attenborough has been studying natural history for more than eight decades doesn’t mean he’s stopped asking schoolboy questions.
      On BBC One’s Attenborough And The Giant Sea Monster, to be shown on Monday night, the broadcaster learns all about the long-extinct ocean predator pliosaur, after a fossil is found in Dorset.
      Sir David Attenborough hasn’t stopped asking schoolboy questionsCredit: PA
      But when he sat down with an expert, Sir David asked how the sea creature would fare in a fight with T-rex.
      He said: “I asked the expert perhaps a rather childish question, because pliosaur was very big – it’s bigger than Tyrannosaurus Rex by a long way.
      “My schoolboy question was, ‘Supposing a Tyrannosaurus rex met this pliosaur, who would win?’.”

      EASTENDERS have confirmed tough-guy actor Alan Ford will head to Walford and take on the role of Billy Mitchell’s dad Stevie.
      As I exclusively revealed earlier this year, the Snatch star will turn up unannounced at the funeral of Aunt Sal.
      His scenes for the BBC One soap air in the New Year.

      ANT and Dec have become more like exam invigilators for the new series of their quiz show Limitless Win.
      The duo, who return to ITV1 on Saturday with a third outing, admit they have had to check contestants entering the studio to make sure they are not sneaking answers in.
      Read more on The Sun
      Ant said: “Contestants are coming with proper research, spreadsheets and things written down on bits of paper. We’ve had to check their arms.”
      Dec added: “People have really been doing their research and coming prepared.” More

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      Fans say ‘she didn’t even acknowledge it, poor bloke’ as Marc Webber’s hilarious festive Final Score update blanked

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      FANS commiserated with broadcaster Marc Webber after his festive witty ditty on BBC’s Final Score was blanked by the studio presenter.Webber couldn’t resist when a player called List didn’t miss – as he turned an update on Stevenage’s Boxing Day clash with Northampton into a version of Christmas classic Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.
      Stevenage scorers Jamie Reid and Elliott List celebrate against Northampton and got the ultimate tribute of being re-written into a famous Xmas songCredit: Rex
      The presenter made no response but perhaps she was too stunned by what she heard as Marc Webber conjured a musical update to Stevenage’s winCredit: BBC
      The former Sun man went viral after SINGING an impromptu version of the XMAS class.
      As the Beeb’s show went to Stevenage following their final goal in a 3-0 win, Webber warbled his lyrical response.
      Bravely and brilliantly, he crooned: “He’s Elliott List, His goal made it thrice, Reid in two minutes, Then a Roberts delight, Stevenage lead Northampton 3-0.”
      Unfortunately there was no reference to Webber’s efforts in the studio – as the presenter carried on as normal.
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      Or as one viewer put it: “She didn’t even acknowledge it, poor bloke.”
      Another fan posted: “This is unreal. Did the presenter just completely miss it.”
      A third was just as incredulous as he too gave her a Christmas red card: “How did she just have zero reaction to that.”
      But one listener pondered of the song: “How can something be so bad that it’s amazing.”
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      The broadcaster himself responded to that on X: “Funny, cause that’s what Mrs Webber says to me as well.”
      And he told SunSport: “Always glad to put a smile on people’s faces.
      “I used to present the Northampton Town show on BBC Radio Northampton until a couple of years ago. Some Cobblers fans have been messaging me saying, ‘Not happy our defeat has been highlighted – but it was funny!'”
      And in fact Webber’s musical Boxing Day banter has given him a festive fan club.
      One admirer wrote: “Ahaha honestly it’s very creative. Keep up the good work mate!”
      Santa Claus is comin’ to Town – original lyrics…Here’s the Christmas song famously covered by a live version from Bruce Springsteen in 1981 and now “re-interpreted
      You better watch outYou better not cryYou better not poutI’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to townHe’s making a listHe’s checking it twiceHe’s going to find outWho’s naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town
      [Pre-Chorus]He sees you when you’re sleepingHe knows when you’re awakeHe knows when you’ve been bad or goodSo be good for goodness sake More