Latest news with #MarkNicholas
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
In pictures: Royal Norfolk Show Day One 2025
A two-day annual agricultural event is expected to see a record-breaking amount of school children from across 163 schools. Held at the Norfolk Showground in Costessey since 1954, organisers of the Royal Norfolk Show say it is expected to attract up to 85,000 people across the two days. The event will see more than 3,000 animals, 700 trade stands and aims to celebrate the county's farming and livestock. Mark Nicholas, managing director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, said: "We started to build this town in a field on the edge of Norwich about two weeks ago. It is insane... the next two days are going to be a riot of fun, of colour, noise and people enjoying themselves." He said about 15,000 school children were due to exhibitors are TikTok chef Spud Man, whose real name is Ben Newman, who held a pop up event in the city on Tuesday and appeared at the Suffolk Show in May. He said: "We are very much about farm to fork and supporting our local farmers. We have Norfolk potatoes on the wagon from a Norfolk farmer."We are going to be shouting about Norfolk food all day." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
On track for 'strongest Norfolk Show since Covid'
The organisers of the Royal Norfolk Show said they were on target for the "strongest year since Covid". The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) said advanced ticket sales suggested it was on track to welcome 78,000 to 80,000 people over the two days. It added that there would be 700 trade stands to visit and "very good show weather" with moderate temperatures and no rain forecasted. Mark Nicholas, managing director of the RNAA, said: "There's masses of entertainment, but at the heart of it is food, farming and countryside." He added: "We are set for a busy and interesting Royal Norfolk Show and I genuinely mean that. "We are not expecting any members of the Royal Family to attend this year, but we welcome any opportunity, and we will be happy to be surprised. "Of course, King Charles is our patron and we always appreciate the support from the Royal Household each year, whether they attend or not." The Grand Parade Ring will host displays of the county's best cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. It will also feature show-jumping, heavy horses, horse-drawn coach driving, a Shetland Pony Derby, as well as a rally of agricultural steam engines. Representing Norfolk's links to the Armed Forces, the Duke of York's Royal Military School Marching Band will parade, and the RAF Falcons parachute team will put on a display, landing in the ring. Agricultural machinery will be on display, and an array of foods and drinks made in Norfolk will be available to enjoy. The show also featured an education section where young people could learn about science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM). Dr Samantha Fox, co-founder and director of the Youth STEMM Award, said: "The STEMM Village offers a unique blend of education and entertainment, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in the future of science, technology and healthcare. "With topics ranging from clean energy to the science of ageing, there's something to spark curiosity in everyone. "EastWind will bring together a great showcase of the offshore wind industry. I'm particularly excited about the virtual reality simulations, which will allow visitors to step into the shoes of a wind turbine engineer and see what it is like to be at the top of a wind turbine!" Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. How can I get to this year's Royal Norfolk Show? Duke of Edinburgh announced as show's royal guest
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Mark Nicholas' proudest memory tinged by sadness as 2005 Ashes marked end of era
Mark Nicholas has bittersweet memories of his role fronting Channel 4's coverage of the 2005 Ashes, his pride in the enduring 'mythology' of the series tinged by sadness at the end of the free-to-air era. Nicholas was the broadcasting anchor charged with carrying a rapt nation through many of the key moments of a contest that remains seared into the memories of cricket fans. Heading up an elite commentary cast featuring the likes of the late Richie Benaud and Tony Greig, as well as Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Michael Atherton and Michael Slater, Nicholas' debonair style crystallised many of the most thrilling moments as England regained the urn for the first time in 18 years. One passage in particular lives on, Steve Harmison's vital dismissal of Michael Clarke at Edgbaston and the subsequent call of: 'One of the great balls! Given the moment, given the batsman, given the match…that is a staggering gamble!' Speaking to the PA news agency two decades later, the current MCC chair reflects: 'You hear a lot of soundbites from that series, even 20 years on. Some of what I said didn't always make much sense, but I think the best commentary is reactive. When you plan to say certain things it doesn't work as well. ' David Bowie once gave an interview about 'Life on Mars' and said, 'It's a good song but I've no idea what I was writing about'. I sort of know what he means, you can be creatively successful completely unintentionally. 'I cannot tell you how often I get stopped, people telling me with all their hearts that 2005 and our coverage of it was what got them into cricket. 'Of course, it was the fact that England beat Australia after so long and that it was so thrilling. But to hear people, even England cricketers, say you helped get them into the game…you can't be more flattered than that. 'Some of us brought hyperbole, some did the deep analysis, Richie was minimalism brilliantly applied. I remain more proud of that time than anything else in my career, there was a certain element of mythology for all of us that summer, players and commentators alike.' Yet 2005 was not just the high water mark for Nicholas' BAFTA-winning team, it was also the end of the road. Sky television took over exclusive broadcast rights of English cricket in the aftermath, with home Tests having lost their 'Crown Jewel' status as a category A listed event. It remains a source of regret to Nicholas that the surge of public interest, which saw 7.4 million viewers tune in to the Oval finale, instantly encountered a paywall. 'I do feel desperately sad that an opportunity was blown. It will never leave me,' he says. 'They had to make sure Test match cricket stayed (free to air), even if it was in a joint broadcast, and if that meant a bit less money then so be it. 'I'm not anti-Sky at all, I'm glued to their coverage three or four nights a week. But it was a bad misjudgement. Cricket was a very powerful thing at that moment and it was the time to make sure that continued. 'I was asked to co-host the celebration at Trafalgar Square with David Gower and I remember walking home through London with my wife after the crowds cleared. All the way back I was feeling an extraordinary contradiction of euphoric happiness at the summer that had gone and the terrible sadness of losing the coverage.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mark Nicholas' proudest memory tinged by sadness as 2005 Ashes marked end of era
Mark Nicholas has bittersweet memories of his role fronting Channel 4's coverage of the 2005 Ashes, his pride in the enduring 'mythology' of the series tinged by sadness at the end of the free-to-air era. Nicholas was the broadcasting anchor charged with carrying a rapt nation through many of the key moments of a contest that remains seared into the memories of cricket fans. Advertisement Heading up an elite commentary cast featuring the likes of the late Richie Benaud and Tony Greig, as well as Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Michael Atherton and Michael Slater, Nicholas' debonair style crystallised many of the most thrilling moments as England regained the urn for the first time in 18 years. One passage in particular lives on, Steve Harmison's vital dismissal of Michael Clarke at Edgbaston and the subsequent call of: 'One of the great balls! Given the moment, given the batsman, given the match…that is a staggering gamble!' Speaking to the PA news agency two decades later, the current MCC chair reflects: 'You hear a lot of soundbites from that series, even 20 years on. Some of what I said didn't always make much sense, but I think the best commentary is reactive. When you plan to say certain things it doesn't work as well. Advertisement 'David Bowie once gave an interview about 'Life on Mars' and said, 'It's a good song but I've no idea what I was writing about'. I sort of know what he means, you can be creatively successful completely unintentionally. 'I cannot tell you how often I get stopped, people telling me with all their hearts that 2005 and our coverage of it was what got them into cricket. Mark Nicholas and members of the Channel Four team with the BAFTA awarded to their 2005 Ashes coverage (Yui Mok/PA) 'Of course, it was the fact that England beat Australia after so long and that it was so thrilling. But to hear people, even England cricketers, say you helped get them into the game…you can't be more flattered than that. 'Some of us brought hyperbole, some did the deep analysis, Richie was minimalism brilliantly applied. I remain more proud of that time than anything else in my career, there was a certain element of mythology for all of us that summer, players and commentators alike.' Advertisement Yet 2005 was not just the high water mark for Nicholas' BAFTA-winning team, it was also the end of the road. Sky television took over exclusive broadcast rights of English cricket in the aftermath, with home Tests having lost their 'Crown Jewel' status as a category A listed event. It remains a source of regret to Nicholas that the surge of public interest, which saw 7.4 million viewers tune in to the Oval finale, instantly encountered a paywall. English cricket's moment of greatest triumph soon gave way to a viewing paywall (David Davies/PA) 'I do feel desperately sad that an opportunity was blown. It will never leave me,' he says. 'They had to make sure Test match cricket stayed (free to air), even if it was in a joint broadcast, and if that meant a bit less money then so be it. Advertisement 'I'm not anti-Sky at all, I'm glued to their coverage three or four nights a week. But it was a bad misjudgement. Cricket was a very powerful thing at that moment and it was the time to make sure that continued. 'I was asked to co-host the celebration at Trafalgar Square with David Gower and I remember walking home through London with my wife after the crowds cleared. All the way back I was feeling an extraordinary contradiction of euphoric happiness at the summer that had gone and the terrible sadness of losing the coverage.'
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
The Hundred set for 'enormous boost' after ECB decision and new 'silver bullet'
MCC, the organisation of which Nicholas is chair, kept its 51 per cent stake in London Spirit, with Cricket Investor Holdings Limited, a consortium of US-based tech entrepreneurs, snapping up the rest. Mark Nicholas believes the incoming injection of private funding into the Hundred will give the competition 'an enormous boost' and help address the fact it has 'eased off'. The ECB sold its 49 per cent stake in each of the eight competing teams earlier this year, with host clubs then deciding how much of their stake to retain. MCC, the organisation of which Nicholas is chair, kept its 51 per cent stake in London Spirit, with Cricket Investor Holdings Limited, a consortium of US-based tech entrepreneurs, snapping up the rest. London Spirit was valued at £295million, the most of any team, and Nicholas – who was on the board of Southampton-based Southern Brave before moving to Lord's – is excited to see how the investment takes the competition to new heights. 'It's interesting that it seems to have eased off a bit,' he said. 'If you'd asked me at the end of the first year, I'd have said 'eureka'. I was astonished, and the impact on the women's game in particular was fantastic. I can't quite get why audiences have gone down a bit, but I like The Hundred, I like the format, I think it's a bit more nuanced than T20. I am a big fan of it. 'I think it will get the most enormous boost next year. Once these private owners take over and you suddenly get that 'brand feel' to each of the franchises, their own marketing impact and fan engagement modelling, I have no doubt the tournament will be really successful here. 'It will be a great venture. Whether it can be the silver bullet, I don't know, but I think it will be a very strong product for English cricket in the years to come.' Nicholas was speaking ahead of the second World Cricket Connects forum at Lord's, at which franchise cricket will be among the topics debated by a collection of key figures from within the sport as well as external commercial voices. Other themes including the state of the game, women's cricket and 'is cricket cool?' will be up for discussion at Lord's, while Australia captain Pat Cummins will be interviewed as part of a panel surrounding climate issues in cricket. 'This year is a little bit more driven by the business of the game,' he said. 'Last year we had the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Jos Buttler and Brendon McCullum, whereas this year we have gone for big players in the various markets. 'That was to some degree driven by the ICC wanting some input to the event but driven more by our thinking that it needed a different angle this year. 'There are still big names who will be speaking – Kumar Sangakkara, Sourav Ganguly, Andrew Strauss. We really did have some exceptional presentations last time and I think we are well on course to have the same this year.' World Cricket Connects is an initiative dedicated to bringing together cricket stakeholders from around the world to discuss and shape the future of the sport. Through events, discussions, and collaborations, World Cricket Connects aims to foster innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability in cricket.
