Latest news with #Phil
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Filming Welcome to Wrexham: ‘Parkinson and the players have had to trust us'
As Wrexham embark on a first season at Championship level in 43 years, a familiar dressing-room face will be missing. Patrick McGarvey, co-executive producer on Welcome to Wrexham, is moving on after three years helping to uncover the stories and characters that have turned the documentary chronicling Wrexham's historic promotions into a global hit. Advertisement He leaves with a wealth of memories to go with the eight Primetime Emmy awards that the show has already garnered for co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. 'The last three years have been so special,' the 46-year-old Irishman tells The Athletic. 'I've made friends for life since coming to Wrexham and I've shared in so many great moments. 'Obviously, the three promotions stand out. The open-top bus tour (that followed winning the National League title in 2023) is something I'll never forget until the day I die. 'I was on the bus with the women's team that crazy, crazy evening, plus Rob and Ryan. Seeing the colour in the town and the happiness on people's faces was amazing. 'I've also got a photo I love, taken from behind Phil (Parkinson, manager) and Steve (Parkin, assistant) after the first promotion: looking out over the fans as they invade the pitch, with both Phil and Steve taking it all in. 'I look at that picture from time to time as it brings home the privileged position this job has put me in — to see what it all means, not just to them but their families and an entire community.' When the call first came in 2022 about joining the Welcome to Wrexham team, McGarvey was already an experienced sports producer who had covered everything from three World Cups to a European Championship and several Olympic Games for a variety of channels, including the BBC and ITV, and RTE in his native Ireland. The first series, charting the opening months of the new Hollywood owners and culminating in losing to Grimsby Town in the play-offs, had already been shot but was still to air on either side of the Atlantic. It meant that the global whirlwind that has so transformed this previously provincial club had yet to gather pace. 'I didn't know a huge amount about the project at the time,' McGarvey admits. 'Probably been to the (Racecourse) ground a couple of times, when previously working for ITV. Advertisement 'I'd also been to Wrexham for a few cycling events and had friends from university (in Manchester) who lived in north Wales, so I knew the area. Anyway, we had a conversation over the phone and then I came down for a couple of days, just to meet people and for them to see what I was like. 'You've got to be the right fit for a football club.' McGarvey has certainly proved to be that since first joining the documentary team in September 2022. Initially, he worked for a year alongside Milos Balac, the show's first co-executive producer on the ground in Wrexham. Then, after Balac returned to his native New York, McGarvey stepped up from his role as supervising producer to spend the last two years leading a small but dedicated team in the UK featuring Claire Sarsfield, Matt Hopwood and Gareth Roberts. 'Wrexham is a very different club today to back when I first started,' he says. 'But what hasn't changed is what makes the show such a success: great storytelling. Rob always says to the crew: 'Everyone has a story to tell. What is that story and how best do we get it on camera?'. That's the key.' After more than two decades in the business, McGarvey recognises what makes for great TV. So, when filming co-chairman McElhenney's now-famous motivational speech to the Wrexham squad during last season's run-in, the County Tyrone-born freelance producer knew straight away what the show had. 'We were in the Bamford Suite at the ground and the players had just finished their lunch,' he recalls. 'Rob started speaking and straight away the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up, just listening to the words as I film the room.' McElhenney's emotional words later became the focal point of a truly stunning series four finale, with his message about the need to play with the freedom they had enjoyed as youngsters forming the backdrop as goal action from the promotion-clinching win over Charlton Athletic was interspersed with footage of the players as kids. Advertisement It made for wonderful TV and will surely be rewarded with another slew of awards when the Emmys next come around. 'Rob deserves the credit for that; inspired stuff,' McGarvey says about the montage. 'My role was to be the one on the ground, liaising with the players, collecting all the footage. Some was easier than others, with Max Cleworth's mum simply sending me clips from her mobile phone. 'Others were a bit more difficult, as the footage came in many different forms and had to then be digitised. Matty James had to go through the family archives, same with Ollie Palmer. 'Sam Smith's footage (as a toddler kicking a ball in the hallway at home) was probably the hardest to get but it was also maybe the most iconic, due to Sam scoring twice that day.' Working on Welcome to Wrexham can be demanding, especially for the team on the ground in Wales. A typical working week during the season can be between 60 and 70 hours, and sometimes more with travel if, say, there are back-to-back away games, such as last season's long-distance double-header against Exeter City and Cambridge United. High-profile matches demand a full turnout from the UK crew, including three members of staff in the dressing room — McGarvey as producer, regular soundperson Hopwood and a camera operator. Other fixtures might seem less promising on paper but football's ability to throw up a surprise when least expected means every game has to be staffed, particularly when it comes to shooting the all-important dressing-room footage that has become such a cornerstone of the show. 'An element of familiarity is key,' he says when asked about the scenes featuring Parkinson famously letting rip at his players. 'There's times, as a crew, when you need to be able to fade into the background, almost not be noticed. That can only happen if Phil and the players have trust in who is there in the room. Advertisement 'It's why we've gone with familiar faces when it's a chosen game and three crew members are needed in the dressing room. Other times, it'll be me filming in there on my own. It probably isn't my greatest strength but this is live sport, so there's always a chance of something big happening. You have to be there, just in case.' This near-constant presence in the dressing room makes us wonder what it's really like when Parkinson launches into those now-famous tirades, complete with plenty of swearwords. 'The funny thing is you 100 per cent know when something is documentary gold, such as when Phil or Steve are saying something,' adds McGarvey. 'But you can't let on, can't even flinch. 'That's what I mean by not being noticed, that need to be able to fade into the background. You can't even get your phone out to type in a note. Just store it away in your brain and then, first chance you get after things have calmed down, take a note.' McGarvey is certainly going out on a high after three promotions in three years working on Welcome to Wrexham. The show is also up for another three Emmys in September, including the Outstanding Unstructured Reality category it won in 2024. 'That's what makes all the sacrifices worthwhile,' he adds. 'When you get recognised with an award like that, there's not a higher award I could get.' A desire to spend more time with his young family — wife Annie, plus sons Thomas, 14, and Jack, seven — and wanting to explore other projects, including some possible World Cup 2026-related work, explains the move. There's no doubt, however, that Wrexham has left an indelible mark on the Irishman and in particular, how so many, both inside and outside the club, were willing to open up their lives on camera. 'The James Jones story was one of the most moving,' he says about the episode in series three when the midfielder and wife Chloe spoke so candidly about son Jude's ultimately successful fight for life after being born 15 weeks prematurely. '(We're) really honoured they let us tell their story. Advertisement 'Same with Paul Mullin being so open (about son Albi being diagnosed with autism). Seeing this guy who is so adored on the terraces as a great family man at home reminds you sometimes that there's more important things in life. 'There's so much I'll miss. Rob and Ryan have been great; just genuinely nice lads who I've learned so much from. Fantastic storytellers. Then there's Humphrey (Ker, community director) and (director) Shaun Harvey. Both became great friends and real confidants. 'Telling the story of the Gresford disaster (when 266 lives were lost) with one of the victim's daughters was another privilege. Likewise, getting to know Arthur Massey (Wrexham's oldest fan who passed away at the age of 100) and his family. 'All special in their own way, especially as what I take most pride from the show are the stories where you've gained people's trust and, hopefully, justified that trust.' (Top photos: Left, Patrick McGarvey and Matt Hopwood, and right, James McClean; Patrick McGarvey and Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why the US–EU trade deal is a bigger deal for the EU than US
The US and EU have agreed to a trade deal that includes a 15% tariff on most goods from the EU imported into the US. CSIS director of economics program and Scholl chair in international business Philip Luck and Yahoo Finance Washington Correspondent Ben Werschkul discuss the deal and what it means for the American and European economies. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. The US and EU, we reached this deal. Phil, as an economist, through your lens, good news long term for the American economy, Phil? I would say good news medium term because it's reduced uncertainty. And I think the biggest thing that was the problem of the liberation day tariffs, the rollouts, and then the will they won't they of of escalating and deescalating was just a complete lack of clarity to industry about what sort of business regime they were going to be operating under. And this provides some clarity. I will say though, I mean, this is a very high tariff. I mean, you know, average tariff rates in the United States were about 2.2% prior to, you know, April 1st. They've gone up a lot. I mean, we're moving towards a place where pretty much all of our major trade of our major trading partners will have tariff rates between probably 20 and 15%. That's going to really increase costs of intermediates and it's going to reduce the competitiveness of a lot of exports. Now, that said, it's not going to be a deal breaker. This is just going to increase costs. And so one other point I would add I would add as well Josh about this is the effect on the European economy. Capital Economics had a note today that calculates that this deal actually will be a headwind for the European economy is an overall by half a percentage point. That's that's really significant. And that's a lot of why you're seeing such negative reactions here. But I think it's telling how the kind of how mixed folks are and how a lot of people are positive on this deal just because, as was just noted, it's not it's not higher than that. The headline on that capital economics piece was that a bad deal is better than than than what was there before. So I think that's an important part element of this too that this is going to be a clear headwind for America's trading partners, but it's better than what maybe they expected previously. Ben, can I ask you, have we heard what the member states feel about this over in Europe? Have we have we heard how Germany feels about this? How France feels about this? Yeah, there's definitely been some negative commentary. France is one that that strikes out there. Their former minister called it a somber day. So there's there's clearly a lot of unhappiness with this deal, especially this 15% rate there. And there is an approval process that that they will go through to go through. But But the overall, I think the overall sense here and you see it in kind of the mixed markets is that there wasn't a better deal in the offing. Trump has has very much stood by these these baseline tariffs. It was they were hoping for zero. Then it was 10%. And now he's very much stuck at 15%. He reiterated that today that his essential global minimum is about 15 to 20%. So there is an approval process. So there's lots of ways this could go sideways, but for certain it's it's it's it's moving forward. This this process for certain. You know, Phil, one question I had for you as the economist on the panel is why haven't Phil, the tariffs negatively impacted the American economy as much as Phil some might have expected as much as some economists even forecast on this show? One theory, I I want to get your take on this, Phil, is that maybe there are these offsets that we weren't accounting for as much as we should have, whether it's listen, tax bill, AI, lower energy costs, but curious to hear your take. Yeah, I mean, I think I think some of the commentary was a little over torqued to be the beginning. And I think a lot of that was under the assumption that consumers and businesses would pull back investment and consumption, and that would lead to a real sort of downturn in the economy. That really hasn't happened. The administration has found ways to sort of, you know, slowly increase the temperature of the water if we're the the frog in this analogy. So that really hasn't happened. I mean, look, this is going to be costly. As an economist, this is going to increase inefficiencies. It's going to keep certain businesses in business that are inefficient. It's going to stop other businesses from being as productive as they can because it'll increase the cost of their inputs and reduce their competitiveness in export markets, notably because we have not really gotten lower tariffs from other partners, right? So that conditions is the same for our partners. But then the question is, well, why are we not seeing more immediate effects? A lot of these tariffs really haven't gone into place yet. So for instance, the 50% tariffs on copper, you know, that still hasn't happened. And even once those go into place, you know, they have already telegraphed that those tariffs are going into place. The warehouses are full. There's an enormous amount of copper in the United States right now that has come in and pre-positioned. So we're going to it's going to take some time for all these things to go through the economy. And the last thing I would say is, look, this is a tax. It's a consumption tax, which is going to impact consumers and low-income consumers more than high-income consumers. But the US economy is actually not that trade exposed, about 17% of GDP is trade. So relative to more open economies like Germany, which was just mentioned, which was in a much worse spot in these negotiations, we can absorb these costs. It doesn't mean we should, but we can.
Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
I'm a ‘club sandwich' carer for three generations. It's driven me close to breaking point
When I was in my 20s, a young, married mother-of-two with a part-time job in a bank, I thought: 'Won't it be lovely when I'm 50 and I'll be able to retire?' Thirty years on, in my mid-50s and 12 years off the day I can pick up a state pension, that dream seems a little comical to me. Because although I'm still working – running not one but three wellbeing, leadership development and publishing businesses – I'm also having to look after not just my parents but my grown-up children and grandchildren too. So, rather than kicking back and enjoying an early retirement, I find myself busier than ever. I'm one of a growing number of women who are not only part of the sandwich generation – bringing up children while taking care of elderly parents – but something of a club sandwich generation, keeping plates spinning with all three generations either side of me. In fact, there are times when I like to think of myself as a strawberry preserve making sure the family sandwich stays glued together. Living in Bristol with my husband, Phil, 66, a retired civil servant, I've recently taken on a lot of my parents' affairs since my dad, Gerry, 86, an engineer and my mum, Pat, 82, retired last year. Then there's my eldest daughter, who is 34, her husband and their daughter, plus my younger child, Kassi, 31. They all live in Northern Ireland and our Facebook Messenger chats are often alive throughout the day. Sometimes it may only be to say 'hello' and see if they need to talk. Other times it's a case of: 'Mum, any chance you can come over to help with Nanny duties? We could really do with some help.' So, a flight is swiftly booked and off I will fly across the Irish Sea, juggling my own emails and phone calls while I think of fun things we can do together, such as swimming or going to the park. I also have two stepsons. There's Craig, 39, who lives in Dorset, and Aaron, 36, who doesn't live too far away from us in Bristol with his partner, Carly, and our two other grandchildren, Jude, eight, and Ellis, six. If they need us to babysit or pick up the boys from school, we are only ever a phone call away. At the moment we do this every few weeks, but it's been more frequent in the past. Looking after my parents and their business affairs is a fairly recent addition to my to-do list. They're both fit and healthy, thankfully, but the modern world is not set up for older people. Whether it's applying for a parking permit or paying an electricity bill, everything needs to be done online and they need my help with it more and more. I'm also in the middle of helping them rent out some workshops that Dad used to use in his business. The other day I was dealing with getting the drains mended, arranging to have electrical work done and liaising with the estate agent. What do they say about always asking a busy person if you want something done? At this stage in life, the rug can also be pulled from your feet at any moment. After persuading Dad to retire last year, I was organising his retirement party and life seemed to be going smoothly when suddenly we received the most terrible news. Aaron, my stepson, had been diagnosed with leukaemia. He was weeks from death but thankfully is in remission now. But it came as a shock and we were all terrified. We rallied round, as families often do. Over those dark months, there were occasions where I would have to finish a Zoom call and then dash off from work early to pick up the boys from school while Aaron was in hospital, or I would distract them from the stress with a camping trip. It was the least we could do. There was one horrible day in February where Aaron was in hospital in Bath with an infection after chemotherapy, and Kassi had been taken into A&E in Northern Ireland after falling ill. Leaving Phil to be on hand for Aaron, I jumped on a plane and ended up juggling work emails from the guest bedroom. There are times when you do wonder how much more you can take – having three generations to look after can be utterly exhausting. I've had my own health troubles to contend with too. I went through a rather stressful perimenopause and menopause, which resulted in a stroke in my early 40s. Because of that stroke, I still get the occasional pain in my left arm if I'm tired. And last year I was late-diagnosed with ADHD, which gives me stress headaches. When you combine that with the fact that the pandemic nearly wiped out my business, and the fact that a family cancer diagnosis turns your world upside down, there have been times where I've felt close to breaking point and really thought I couldn't cope. Life has thrown everything at me. I realise I'm lucky in being my own boss. I try to take Monday afternoons off and will spend some time with Mum and Dad, doing little errands or just having a coffee and a chat. I'm incredibly grateful that they're both fit and healthy. Having said that, Mum broke her wrist a few months ago and so I had to drop everything and cajole her to go to hospital. You worry for their frailty as they get older. Bedtime is usually around 11pm. I don't drink much alcohol these days because it affects my mood and my sleep, and I try not to look at any tech. I teach sleep workshops so I do have to practise what I preach. But over time I've developed strategies to help with the pressure of being 'club sandwich' woman. List-making using pen and paper rather than just a computer is one thing that really helps me handle what's going on around me. I currently have around 40 things on my to-do list – everything from business development to hosting a Zoom course – but I will only pick three of the most important ones to prioritise. I also try to turn off my laptop at 6pm. I regularly take myself to the gym and do Dancefit, ballet or swimming to keep myself physically fit. Phil and I have also just taken up clay pigeon shooting because it gets us both outside and learning a new skill. I think I'm coping better now. Of course, I love being in the centre of my family, but there are times when I feel helpless, that I could be doing more. I come from a long line of carers and still remember my mum and nan turning up to help me when my two were little. Every day I speak to many women in the 'club sandwich generation' and if I can help them cope with the stresses of this stage of life – work, menopause, caring responsibilities – then I'll keep going as long as I can. I'm not sure how we juggle everything sometimes. Are we the unsung heroes? I'm not sure. I do know that what we do is important; they say it takes a village to raise a child, but also it feels important to support our parents as they did us. Besides, if I've learnt anything over the past few years, it is that people can plan but the gods will laugh at them.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Phil Collins major health update as star hospitalised amid 'end-of-life care' claims
The Genesis legend is in hospital, it's been confirmed Phil Collins has been hospitalised amid reports he is receiving end-of-life care. The Genesis legend, 74, was at the centre of rumours over the past week, suggesting he is facing a major health battle after a raft of issues caused concern amongst his huge fanbase. The iconic rocker last performed live back in March 2022 and was on stage in a wheelchair. He also recently claimed he believes he's 'used up my air miles' in a documentary and admitted he's 'very sick'. A spokesperson for the drummer, who suffers from type 2 diabetes and ongoing complications which occurred after an operation on his spine in 2007, has now denied reports that Collins' has been admitted to a 'hospice'. But they confirmed he's in hospital, in a medical ward, where he's facing 'knee surgery', it's reported by the Standard. The In the Air Tonight musician has long been dogged by health issues and in last year's Phil Collins: Drummer First documentary, he revealed to fans his active career has 'taken its toll' on his hands and legs and he's no longer able to play the drums. The star, who first picked up the sticks when he was aged just five, opened up on the gruelling physical challenges he's faced because of his job: 'It's still kind of sinking in a bit... I've spent all my life playing drums. "To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock." He went on: 'If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything. "If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks then I'll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I've used up my air miles." The dad-of-five damaged a vertebra in his upper neck as he performed at a gig in 2007 and he was forced to stop playing live shows altogether two years later due to excruciating nerve damage. In 2009 he said: "My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. "I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through. Don't worry, I can still sing." He made a comeback for a Genesis reunion tour - The Last Domino Tour - from 2021 - 2022, with son Nic, 23, taking his place behind the drums while Phil sang and played piano. In an interview with Mojo magazine last year, he said: "I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I'm not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I've been sick, I mean very sick." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Phil Collins, 74, reveals he's in hospital as he gives health update over end-of-life hospice care claims
PHIL Collins has revealed he's in hospital amid rumours suggesting the Genesis hitmaker had been admitted to an end-of-life hospice. The Another Day In Paradise singer, 74, has been the subject of worrying speculation centred on his wellbeing after opening up on Advertisement 6 Phil Collins has admitted he's in hospital amid speculation the star was in an end-of-life facility Credit: Splash 6 The Another Day In Paradise hitmaker, 74, is in the medical ward undergoing 'knee surgery' Credit: Redferns 6 Genesis hitmaker Phil has battled a number of recent health conditions Credit: Getty Drummer Phil also admitted he he during his last ever Genesis gig in March 2022 when Now the Sussudio singer's spokesperson has confirmed the chart star is in hospital. They told Yet they insisted any speculation he is in end of life care was false. Advertisement read more phil collins HEALTH WOES Back in 2022, Phil told how he was "very sick", further fuelling health worries. He then retired from live performances after being able to "barely hold a drumstick." He opened up on his condition in a recent documentary and, in the two-hour special, Phil revealed how years of bashing drum sets had physically impacted his body. The In The Air Tonight singer's hands, feet and body have suffered from decades of entertaining crowds. Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Latest Phil said: "If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I'll have a crack of it. "But I just feel like I've used up my air miles. Phil Collins sparks health fears at last ever Genesis concert as fans beg him to take care of himself "It's still kind of sinking in a bit. "I've spent all my life playing drums. To be suddenly not be able to do that is a shock. Advertisement "If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything." Over the years Phil has sustained an injured vertebrae in his upper neck which has led to crippling nerve damage. Phil Collins and his health issues revealed PHIL Collins' health has recently been put under the spotlight - here's what we know SUPERSTAR musician Phil Collins is known around the world thanks to his incredible songwriting and drumming talents. But behind closed doors he has been battling ill health and been divorced three times. Phil Collins is an English singer and instrumentalist, who is best known for being the drummer in the rock band Genesis. The star was born in West London on January 30, 1951. Phil's career in the entertainment industry spans five decades, having started out as a child actor. He is estimated to be the second wealthiest drummer in the world, beaten only by Beatles legend Ringo Starr, and has a net worth of £198M. Having enjoyed a wealth of success in the 80s and 90s, Over the years he has sustained an injured vertebrae in his upper neck which has led to crippling nerve damage. He also has acute pancreatitis - whereby the pancreas becomes inflamed and swollen over a short period of time. Phil also suffers from "foot drop" which sees him now wearing orthopedic shoes. Phil has been married three times. His ex wives are: Andrea Bertorelli (1975 to 1980) Jill Tavelman (1984 to 1996) Orianne Cevey (1999 to 2008) He has five children, During his last ever Genesis gig in March 2022 He also has acute pancreatitis - whereby the pancreas becomes inflamed and swollen over a short period of time. Advertisement Phil additionally suffers from 'foot drop' which sees him now wearing orthopaedic shoes. Phil is the father of five children, including Emily In Paris star Lily Collins. 6 Phil previously told how he believed he had 'run out of air miles' Credit: Getty 6 Fans recently urged the singer to take care of himself after he performed in a wheechair on-stage Credit: Getty Advertisement 6 Phil is a dad of five, including daughter Emily In Paris star Lily Collins Credit: Getty
