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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua signs up for CBeebies bedtime story rematch as he reads second book on the channel

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      BOXER Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up for a rematch.It was revealed last week the ex-world champ is to read children’s tale The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats.
      Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up to read another oneCredit: PA
      A date has not been fixed for that but I can reveal he will read another story on the kids’ channel tomorrow — Ravi’s Roar, by Tom Percival.
      A TV insider said: “The reaction to AJ featuring on CBeebies Bedtime Stories has been huge. There’s so much excitement.
      “The BBC were desperate to book him in for another sitting, which he gladly agreed to. It’s a privilege to be asked twice and he sees it as a great honour.”
      AJ follows in the footsteps of Harry Styles, Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth.
      READ MORE ON CBeebies
      Ravi’s Roar tells the story of an angry young boy who learns to express and understand his feelings. The Snowy Day is about a lad named Peter who puts on his snowsuit and steps out of his house into a wintry world.
      When published in 1962, he was among the first African-American characters to feature in a major children’s book.
      Kate Winslet and Richard E Grant are some of the big names to read a story on CBeebies over Christmas. But neither packs a punch as big as AJ.
      DAVID KID ’COPTER CAPERS
      ONLY Fools And Horses legend David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own series.
      Most read in Boxing
      The voice of Eighties favourite Danger Mouse, who is also a qualified helicopter pilot, has come up with a character called Olly the Heli, which is “in development”.
      David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own seriesCredit: Getty
      David revealed in his new book, The Twelve Dels of Christmas, his creation is a young helicopter with a friendly face who “misbehaves a bit”, and “something perhaps on the Thomas the Tank Engine lines” .
      David came up with the idea on a visit to an airfield last year, when he was flown in a Gazelle helicopter by astronaut Tim Peake.
      He added: “‘Do you want to land it?’ Tim generously asked as we returned to the airfield. I wasn’t going to push my luck. ‘I think I’ll leave that to you, Tim,’ I said.
      “So, that was how the idea of Olly the Heli got going – a little production journey still in development at the time of writing. We’ll see where it ends up.”
      Prue’s truth
      PRUE LEITH wants “someone I’ve heard of” to replace host Matt Lucas on Bake Off.
      On Virgin Radio, the Channel 4 show’s judge said she didn’t have a clue who co-host Noel Fielding was when he joined the series.
      Prue added: “I’ve never understood Matt and Noel’s jokes.”

      WONDER MOVIE IS TOP PICK
      IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been voted the greatest Christmas film of all time by Radio Times.
      The 1946 festive classic starring James Stewart topped a readers’ poll.
      More than one in five voters – 1,650 in total – named the movie their favourite.
      Somewhat criminally, Will Ferrell’s Elf only made No4, with The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone taking the No2 and No3 spots and Love Actually making up the remainder of the top five.
      The black and white movie also topped last year’s poll. But Die Hard, which was No4, slipped out of the top five in 2022 and down to No6.
      Bruce Willis would pull his hair out, if he had any.
      GARY: I’M ON BABY MISSION
      GARY LUCY’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more serious.
      The pair, who met on the E4 dating show, have already discussed having children together.
      Gary Lucy’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more seriousCredit: Instagram
      And dad-of-four Gary says his virility is so strong, Laura could already be expecting.
      He said: “We’re smitten. We’ve talked kids. I mean, I’m quite potent, so she might already be pregnant! I have four kids already but I want more. I’ve always wanted kids. I love kids.”
      The former Hollyoaks actor says a huge incentive for having more children is being able to name one Gary – as the name is dying out.
      He added: “I do want a boy, because I want to have another little Gary – carry it on, as I hear the name’s dying out and I think that’d be a real shame.”
      Spare a thought for us Rodericks.
      LAURA A SUCKER FOR PIGS
      LAURA BINGHAM has left fans of her TV adventurer hubby Ed Stafford gobsmacked – after claiming she breastfed a pig.
      The fellow explorer and mum-of-three took care of a piglet when it was rejected by its mum at their farm.
      The piglet has now been welcomed into the family home. Writing on Instagram she said: “So I can now tick breast feed a piglet off my bucket list!
      “Did you know that indigenous communities do it?! So it’s normal OK?! I force fed some formula down her with a syringe and then when she started waking up a bit more, she didn’t want a bottle so I thought, what the heck?!”
      We’ve all been there, Laura.

      STRICTLY runner-up Helen Skelton said pros on the show didn’t want Hamza Yassin, partnered with Jowita Przystal, to take home the trophy.
      On her Radio 5 show she said they wanted her partner Gorka to triumph on his third time in the final, adding: “You could tell how gutted we were.” More

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      England’s Jude Bellingham’s image rights firm makes £1m — with the ace set to multiply amount

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      ENGLAND World Cup star Jude Bellingham’s image rights company has made £1million — but is set to earn many millions more.The 19-year-old midfielder’s firm, Bello & Bello, has also registered his name and shirt number JB22 as a trademark.
      Figures published just before he played his first game in Qatar reveal his company had assets of £1.26million
      Figures published just before he played his first game in Qatar reveal his company had assets of £1.26million but owed just over £200,000 for the year to the end of February.
      The West Mids-born ace began his career at Birmingham City and now plays for German side Borussia Dortmund.
      But he was one of the young stars of the World Cup and is starting to enjoy off-field success.
      A source said: “Jude’s made a real name for himself and he’s got his affairs in order financially.
      READ MORE ON JUDE BELLINGHAM
      “He’s got his feet on the ground and wants to do well for himself.” More

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      Africa has talent on and off football pitch to succeed but needs structure to compete with European wages

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      IN AFRICA itself, professional football doesn’t do so well, certainly not the club leagues.I’m afraid that, for all the solemn promises and grandiose schemes from Fifa, this will continue.
      The footballing structure in Africa needs improvement if it is to compete with EuropeCredit: Getty
      Morocco made history as the first African nation to make a World Cup semi-finalCredit: Getty
      It is truly history-making that Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals.
      It shouts to the powerhouse football countries that elite-level coaching in the lesser developed world is first-class.
      And the skills are by no means taught by expats, all five countries that made it to Qatar were head-coached by Africans.
      So, we know they have the talent both on and off the pitch to succeed on a world stage.
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      Where the difference lies is that the average footballer in Africa, from Morocco to Zimbabwe, earns £7,000 a month while the average Premier League wage is more than £250,000 a month.
      This is not a reflection of talent, but a direct reflection on the difference in the domestic leagues’ organisational structures as well as the broadcast rights and sponsorship revenue that each generate.
      The knock-on effect for the African domestic game is that outstanding footballers are quickly made to realise that fortunes are made in Europe, way beyond national boundaries, where top football is easier to come by and wages are much, much higher.
      Now the USA, Japan and the oil states are also tempting their players, emptying Africa of many riches. As ever.
      Most read in Football
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      Much of Africa is football barmy but actual progress on their own fields has been gradual, not least because of the lack of equipment, issues around fan safety and the mere fact trim grass is not readily available.
      That has never stopped boys or, increasingly, girls playing the game but unforgiving pitches, from sand to rock, take some overcoming.
      Fifa have plans to help.
      Publishing accounts isn’t their strong point but it is believed they have spent £2.5billion on worldwide assistance in the last six years.
      Divide that among about 200 countries and include too many fat, old committees and employees with a liking for posh offices, pleasant hotels and fleets of cars of their own.
      Fifa profit on the Qatar competition alone is about £7bn.
      In the long run, old-fashioned free-market economics will probably work better than dutiful charity because by all accounts the footballing countries of Africa teem with scouts watching out for talent.
      In time, I hope big TV fees and richer citizens may boost domestic clubs to the point where, say, 20 would form national Premier Leagues which pay players competitive salaries and retain their talent.
      Back in 1977, Pele predicted: “An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000.” That didn’t happen but they are edging closer.
      Read More on The Sun
      The precedents for the standard of domestic African football are not good.
      And it isn’t going to be much helped by the plan to have at least nine teams from the continent playing at the expanded World Cup 2026 if the focus remains on individual talent playing outside of Africa, rather than national team development inside of Africa. More

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      Prem star Andros Townsend ‘smashed his car through roadworks while screaming & swearing’ sparking police probe

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      PREM star Andros Townsend is being investigated by police after allegedly smashing through roadworks screaming: “I need to get to my f***g house.” The Everton player hit a manned tarmac spreader after being told he could not drive to his property because the street was being resurfaced, it was claimed.
      Andros Townsend is being investigated by police after allegedly smashing through roadworks screaming and swearingCredit: PA:Press Association
      Townsend is reported to have screamed: ‘I need to get to my f***g house’Credit: Getty
      Townsend is accused of refusing to wait, or park his white £80,000 Range Rover and walk less than five minutes to his homeCredit: Alamy
      He is accused of refusing to wait, or park his white £80,000 Range Rover and walk less than five minutes to his home in Liverpool.
      Shaken staff at paving firm Sefton called police after the footballer’s vehicle broke a barrier and hit an eight-wheel asphalt machine on December 5.
      Police swiftly arrived and spoke to the 31-year-old footballer, who has 13 England caps, at his home.
      Sources said the former Spurs and Crystal Palace winger could be charged with dangerous driving as officers search for footage and investigations continue.
      Read More on Andros Townsend
      It came days after his return to the UK, having been part of ITV’s punditry team at the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
      A source told The Sun: “No one could believe their eyes. Andros, who was calmly commentating on our screens days earlier, was in a rage. The red mist descended.
      “Contractors were tarmacking the road less than five minutes from his property. It was unfortunate timing when he pulled up at a road barrier. The tarmac was piping hot and being laid in front of him.
      “It was impossible to drive a vehicle over the road. The workmen explained he could wait or park up and complete the short journey to his house on foot.
      Most read in Football
      “But Andros wasn’t having that. He screamed, ‘I need to get to my f*****g house’. And with that he knocked over the barrier, stopping traffic, and drove down the side of the pavement in a bid to dodge the roadworks.
      “But he was travelling at speed and his car hit a tarmac spreader. It was being driven by a worker, who was left in total shock.”
      Police said there were no reports of any injuries, adding: “The driver of the car has been identified and has been spoken to and inquiries are ongoing.”
      Townsend was contacted for comment. More

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      in Soccer

      I’m gutted for Kane after England World Cup heartbreak but Saka WAS fouled in build up to France opener, says Wilshere

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      I AM devastated for the England lads.They gave it everything and Harry Kane is really going to be hurting for a very long time after missing that penalty.
      Harry Kane missed a late penalty for England against FranceCredit: Getty
      The Three Lions were beaten 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty
      Unfortunately football can be very cruel and this emerging England team, which shows so much promise, will have to wait another 18 months or so for a chance to win an elusive trophy at the Euros.
      It was opening up for us with Morocco in the semi-finals, we were getting close to glory.
      But my old Arsenal mate Olivier Giroud turned out to be the match-winner.
      To be honest, it wasn’t one of his better games.
      Read More World Cup News
      We contained him and Kylian Mbappe pretty well.
      Sadly, as I warned Sun readers in my pre-match column, Olivier is a man to be reckoned with.
      And that header of his was classic Giroud — getting ahead of defenders to make them pay.
      It’s hard to take in that we lost, because for all we were one down at half-time, I still felt comfortable.
      Most read in Football
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      We’d certainly shown enough going forward.
      Kane looked good and was unlucky with that close-range effort which his club-mate Hugo Lloris did well to come out and smother.
      We were also probing down the flanks and you felt at any moment we might just get the break we needed.
      Phil Foden was getting on the ball and Bukayo Saka was driving at them.
      But, equally, Antoine Griezmann was class in the French midfield.
      He was finding space all over the park and everything was going through him.
      His link-up play was top drawer and at times England didn’t seem to know how to deal with him.
      But he was getting away with a few fouls and the booking he eventually got was deserved.
      While I thought Mbappe was relatively quiet, the way he wrestled his way clear to help set up their first goal showed how he doesn’t need much of a chance to hurt you.
      Even when the ball went back to Aurelien Tchouameni, I doubt fans were too worried.
      In fact I was thinking, ‘Go on then, hit it from there’.
      It seemed a heck of a long way out to have a go, we had plenty of bodies in the way — and while the Real Madrid star is a fine defensive midfielder — he’s not noted for his goalscoring.
      But you have to hand it to him for the strike.
      It was a beauty and somehow it found a way through to beat Jordan Pickford, who may have been unsighted as Tchouameni swung his boot.
      There’s always something you can do to try to prevent a goal — and you could argue England should have closed him down better.
      But the chances of scoring from there were not high.
      That said, Saka was definitely fouled at the start of the move, he’s so good at drawing those fouls but he’s an honest player.
      My kids were going absolutely mad at the injustice of it.
      The referee did not award a foul for this challenge on Bukayo SakaCredit: Getty
      Dayot Upamecano appeared to bundle Saka overCredit: Getty
      There was a foul on Kane as well — with big calls for a penalty — but for me it was just outside the box.
      We got on the front foot again after the break and while Olivier got that second goal for France, I still believed we could get back into it.
      And we had the chance with Harry’s penalty.
      Read More on The Sun
      You don’t expect him to miss, he’s so good.
      It will be no consolation to Harry — but it happens to the best of them.
      A devastated Kane reacts at full-timeCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League stars targeted for expensive watches by gangs to pay off debts

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      PREMIER League stars are increasingly being targeted in home raids due to the watches they own, The Sun on Sunday has found.Street gangs are using expensive timepieces to buy drugs and pay off debts — and focus on footballers to get them.
      Raheem Sterling became the latest player targeted by the gang while he was away at the World CupCredit: Getty
      One gang, the Tottenham Man Dem Crew, are linked to the raid on Raheem Sterling’s home.
      The England ace, 28, flew home from Qatar after his mansion was raided by a mob who took watches and jewellery worth £300,000.
      Dele Alli, Riyad Mahrez and Andy Carroll are also among players to have had watches stolen in recent years in raids.
      An underworld source said gangs can expect to make up to £20,000 cash from selling on a watch and view it as a “low risk crime”.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALLER RAIDS
      The source said: “They are worth an awful lot of money and are very easy to transport.”
      Sterling pulled out of the England squad ahead of the 3-0 last-16 win over Senegal following the burglary at his home in Surrey.
      The Chelsea forward has three children in total, two of whom are with fiancée Paige Milian.
      Manager Gareth Southgate gave his full support over the player returning to England to support his family.
      Most read in Football
      However, the 28-year-old’s partner and kids were not at home during the robbery – despite initial reports to the contrary.
      Sterling eventually travelled back to Qatar and was part of the squad which crashed out to France in the World Cup quarter finals.
      Another Chelsea player Reece James, 22, was raided by a gang who targeted his home in Cobham, Surrey, in 2021.
      They stole his safe containing his Champions League, Super Cup and Euro 2020 medals. More

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      Rishi Sunak could fly to Qatar for World Cup final to watch England make history

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      RISHI Sunak could fly to Qatar for the World Cup final if England make it through to the final.The PM is cheering on our boys from the UK for now as they face France today.
      Rishi Sunak could fly to Qatar for the World Cup final if England make it through to the finalCredit: Alamy
      He will host a number of Tory MPs with him to watch the match at his countryside retreat, Chequers.
      And he wished the boys the “best of luck” ahead of the clash.
      No10 said: “He obviously wishes Gareth and the team the best of luck.
      He knows that the team will give everything they can to try and win the match.
      Read more on World Cup
      And he may choose to jet off at the last minute to watch them play in person – if the team makes it all the way through to the end of the tournament.
      But Qatar has been hit with claims of human rights abuses of workers who put together the stadium – and ministers have warned LGBT fans to take care when they visit.
      Mr Sunak has confessed he’s a “massive football fan” and has been keenly cheering England along.
      Prince William previously said he won’t be attending any World Cup matches, despite his role as President of the FA.
      Most read in Football More

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      I’m an England superfan and I’m so sure we’ll win the World Cup I’ve had a tattoo done

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      SUPERFAN Dennis Pope is so sure England will win the World Cup he has updated his ill-fated 2018 tattoo.Dennis, 25, paid £40 four years ago to have “England World Cup Winners 2018” inked on to his right calf.
      Dennis has updated the tattoo he got four years ago when he was sure England would win the 2018 World Cup
      He’s now sure that England will beat 3-1 in tomorrow night’s quarter-final, and go on to become this year’s champions
      But his hopes were dashed when they were beaten by Croatia in the semi-finals in Russia.
      Plasterer Dennis is now backing England to beat France 3-1 in tomorrow night’s quarter-final in Qatar — and has updated his inking to prove it.
      His original tattoo remains, but with a red cross through 2018 and 2022 inked below it.
      New dad Dennis said: “We’ve waited for a moment like this.
      READ MORE WORLD CUP 202
      “This is it. If there was a time, it’s right now. Kane to score twice and Rashford to add a third. I would even settle for a Harry Maguire header. We can beat anyone.”
      Dennis, of Blackpool, said of his original tattoo: “It wasn’t meant to be and we lost to Croatia in the semis but I didn’t regret getting the tattoo in the slightest.
      “It’s a reminder of wonderful memories and how close we came. This time though, it feels different.” More