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Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jiffy gets Wimbledon royal box invitation and bumps into Hugh Grant in 'honour'
Jiffy gets Wimbledon royal box invitation and bumps into Hugh Grant in 'honour' It looked like he was having a great time Jiffy posed for a quick snap with Hugh Grant during his day out at Wimbledon (Image: X ) The Championships at Wimbledon is a stage that draws all the biggest names from the world of tennis, and has long cemented itself as a legendary occasion in the sporting calendar. But while some of the biggest sporting superstars roll into SW19 for two weeks looking to realise their shot at immortality, the competition also attracts plenty of glitz and glamour off the court. A host of A-list celebrities are frequently spotted taking in the action on Centre Court, many of whom are given the honour of sitting in the world famous royal box. On Day 10 at the championships, Her Majesty The Queen took in another scintillating day of action, including a hard-fought win for Novak Djokovic, who took a step closer to claiming an eighth Wimbledon title by seeing off Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. Among those also watching on was Welsh rugby hero Jonathan Davies, who posted his experience of the day to his social media. "What an honour and a privilege to be at the royal box @Wimbledon yesterday," he wrote. Article continues below Content cannot be displayed without consent "Thank you so much for your kind invitation. An amazing sporting experience meeting with lovely people." Among those to rub shoulders with Jiffy was actor Hugh Grant, who was all smiles as he posed for a photo with Davies, who looked to be having a great time. BBC Wimbledon: Hugh Grant appeared to be asleep during Wednesday's quarter-final BBC (Image: BBC ) Grant had made headlines on the day, having been spotted in the royal box taking a quick nap during Djokovic's win over Cobolli. However, Davies wasn't the only Welshman in the building on the day. Welsh opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel was also in attendance. As it happens, Terfel's wife, Hannah Stone, was official harpist to King Charles from 2011 to 2015 when he was the Prince of Wales. For what it's worth, Davies wasn't even the only Jonathan Davies there, with the 37-year-old former British and Irish Lion also taking his place in the royal box. Others in attendance included former Prime Minister Sir John Major, radio presenter Nick Robinson and Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara. Article continues below Those lucky enough to be invited to the 74-seater segregated area do not have to queue or pay for entry, and are also invited to lunch before play begins, along with tea and drinks following the close of play. Guests are selected by the chairperson of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which since 2023 has been professional player Debbie Jevans. Suggestions are made by the AELTC'S management committee, the Lawn Tennis Association, and prominent voices in the game, before invitations are then sent out.
Wales Online
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Clare Balding says 'it's killing me' as she gives update on new addition with wife
Clare Balding says 'it's killing me' as she gives update on new addition with wife Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding shared an update about her and her wife Alice Arnold's current position with welcoming a new addition into their lives, following their devastating heartache Clare Balding and Alice Arnold were left devastated following the death of their dog BBC Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding has opened up about the current setback in her life, with her spouse Alice Arnold. In 2020, the pair were left heartbroken by the death of their Tibetan terrier Archie, who they owned for 15 years. During an appearance at the Good Woof festival, the broadcaster admitted not having a pet pooch in their home had been "killing" her. Sharing why she and Alice are currently in no position to take on a new addition, she said on the Alright, Pet? podcast last summer: "Here's the thing about responsible dog ownership, I'm going to be away all this summer doing the Olympics and Paralympics, this is not the time to bring a dog into my life, our life. "And, we are also doing a big sort of house building project, so that we can move somewhere where we've got a bit more space, we're not close to a road, and we can have doors open all the time. "It's killing me not to have a dog right now, but I know it's the right thing to wait," the 54-year-old added. Clare Balding is back on screens fronting this year's Wimbledon coverage Article continues below Amongst her various television duties, Clare hosts the Channel 5 programme Lost Dog, Found Dog. During a recent discussion with a pet bereavement expert, she asked if there is a right time to take on a new pet, after a loss. "It's different for everyone, but the most important thing is, it's what's best for the animal you do get," the expert said. "If you're in a unit that's made up of more than one person, you involve everybody in that decision because it's so so important. "And what we often hear is that people try and replace [the dog] with the same breed, the same name, please don't because every dog is unique and has it's own character." She continued by emphasising the importance of people being in the right frame of mind to care for a new dog, after experiencing such heartbreak. Clare Balding is on the hunt for a new dog companion In a more recent update about her situation during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Clare said she and Alice were now actively "looking" for a new companion, though they weren't rushing into the decision. The presenter is currently occupied with fronting the BBC's live Wimbledon coverage, and come September, she'll embark on a nationwide tour to publicise her new book. For this year's tennis tournament, Clare teams up with Isa Guha to helm the daily programming broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer. Discussing her role at the championships, she remarked: "I love being part of such a good team and learning from them about the new players who stepping into the void left by Federer, Nadal and Murray. "I'm excited to see how Jack Draper can progress and of course see the latest instalment of the Alcaraz/Sinner rivalry. Coco Gauff burst into our consciousness at only 15 when she beat Venus Williams on her Wimbledon debut. Article continues below "I'd love to see her reach her first final here and ultimately lift the title. It would be great to see a good run from Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu."
Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Clare Balding forced to make live BBC apology to angry Novak Djokovic viewers
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info BBC Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding was forced to apologise to viewers after the channel lost pictures halfway through Novak Djokovic's clash with Dan Evans on Thursday afternoon. The seven-time Wimbledon champion cruised to victory against his British opponent on Centre Court, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 in a dominant straight sets triumph. The Serbian star will now face compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round of the men's singles on Friday, with another Grand Slam win in his sights. But while those tuning in on the BBC were treated to watching Djokovic, by his own admission, "at he top of [his] game", they were left fuming as they were forced to miss an entire game towards the end of the second set. As Evans began serving at the start of the seventh game of the set, the BBC's pictures turned away from the action on Centre Court with viewers instead shown a general view of tennis fans milling around the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The pictures then cut out completely, with the screen turning grey and then blue for a few seconds, before cutting to the hundreds of fans assembled on 'Murray Mound' to watch the action. While this was happening, viewers could hear what was going on in the match between Djokovic and Evans, but couldn't see anything as the British star won what would prove to be his fifth and final game of the afternoon. In total, the disruption lasted for nearly three-and-a-half minutes, with fans taking to social media to voice their frustration over the technical glitch. "Thanks for making us miss a whole game of the Djokovic/Evans match during set two," wrote one. "What the hell happened to the on court pictures!? I don't pay my extortionate TV license bill for that!!" Another added: "Anyone watching the monitors? No pictures on BBC1 or BBC2. No apology from commentators." Meanwhile, a third wrote: "Come on BBC, sort your pictures out." After Djokovic claimed the 99th win of his Wimbledon career with a ruthless third set performance, Balding took the opportunity to apologised to viewers for the issues which had occurred nearly 45 minutes earlier. "Apologies for the technical issues we had earlier which meant that you lost pictures for a few moments," said the BBC presenter. "[It is] just beyond our control, but we're trying to fix it and it does at least mean we can continue to show you live tennis, and we will certainly do that." Speaking after his victory, Djokovic said: "A Brit in Britain is never easy to face. He is… 'tricky' is not a great word but he is a good quality player that possesses a lot of talent, a great touch. "He can cause you trouble if you are not on top of your game, which I think I was from the very beginning. I knew I was preparing well. I knew what I needed to do and executed perfectly." As his self-confidence drew laughter from the crowd, he added: "That was not for me, it was for my coach! I was just sending him a message in case he didn't see it well."
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryson DeChambeau says The Open has ability to be diabolical as he plots glory at Portrush
Wary Bryson DeChambeau admits Royal Portrush can be diabolical and has vowed to plot his way round the course. The American star feels frustrated that he has been unable to knock-off one of the game's biggest events so far in calendar year with strong runs at the Masters and PGA Championship his closest calls. Advertisement DeChambeau, who has two US Opens on his CV, has just one opportunity left to get the job done in 2025 and it comes next month at the 153rd Championship. The LIV Golf star accepts it's going to be a fearsome challenge to get the job done having sampled the toughness of the track during Shane Lowry's success of six years ago on home soil. READ MORE: Sir Andy Murray wanted for BBC Wimbledon gig as SW19 idol urged to join John McEnroe READ MORE: Derek McInnes makes early Hearts confession as he looks to avoid familiar Kilmarnock 'strain' DeChambeau was asked what he remembered about it and said: 'Yeah, it can be diabolical. Driver is key on that golf course in wind conditions, in side wind conditions. It's going to be a good test of controlling your golf ball, so I've got to be in touch with my game. I've got to have better feel. I'd say disappointed that I haven't won one [Major] yet. I've got to fine tune my game and focus on executing my shots the way I know I can on the golf course. I haven't been doing that recently. -Credit:Getty Images 'A little bit more due diligence on my side of the coin. Not taking things for granted and focusing on what I can do to give myself the best chance to win at the British Open. Probably being a little more strategic that week.' Advertisement DeChambeau also gave his views of the Ryder Cup situation with Keegan Bradley being hotly-tipped to appear at Bethpage as both captain and player for the United States. He said: 'I personally think given how he's played, I could confidently say he should be a part of the team for sure.' Dechambeau, meanwhile, admits he's excited for this week's LIV event and said: 'I think having it be my own tournament is going to be a lot of fun. I think it's great to come to Dallas and have everybody come out and support us. I think there's going to be upwards of 40,000 people potentially here this week, so it's going to be a lot of fun, and super excited for the week. The golf course is in incredible shape. It's going to be a tough test of golf. Man, what a fiery place this could be. I'm excited for the week. 'I'm going to focus more on the golf this week. I'm looking forward to a great test of golf and our team is coming off of two wins, so we're pumped to be looking at going three for three for the Crushers and I'm more excited about that and focused on that right now.'
