The sad news of comedian Sean Lock’s passing was announced earlier today and social media has been filled with heartbreaking tributes.
The 8 Out Of 10 Cats legend lost his battle with cancer aged 58 and the news sent shockwaves across the UK with most people blindsided by the news due to Sean’s private nature keeping it from the public eye in recent years.
Dozens of comedians who have worked with Sean, who would regularly visit Manchester to film 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Cats Does Countdown, have come online today to share their memories of him with fans, including close friends Jon Richardson and Bill Bailey.
Manchester comedian Jason Manford, who worked closely with Sean on the original series of 8 Out Of 10 Cats, even shared his last text to his former co-captain, in a tweet that read: “I texted him a couple of weeks ago and I’m now so glad I did.
“If you’ve a friend who’ve you not spoken to for a while, drop them a message and check in. It could be the last time. RIP Sean.”
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The text reads: “Hi Sean, hope you and your family are doing okay. Did Countdown last week and missed having you there. I often think back to my days on Cats with you and how much I appreciated working with you, the buzz I’d get on the rare occasions something I said would make you laugh!”
“Anyway, just wanted to check in and wish you and your family all the best. Lots of love and hopefully see you soon. Jason.”
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Jason isn’t the only celebrity who has come out on social media today to pay their respects, in fact, most of the comedy scene and TV personalities on the social media platform have had their say on his passing, showing just how loved and respected he was amongst his peers.
Sean has left a huge hole in British comedy and will be missed a great deal.
UK News
EFL fans will be able to watch their team over 20 times a season thanks to new Sky Sports deal
Danny Jones
The English Football League (EFL) has struck a new deal with Sky Sports to broadcast more than 1,000 games live on TV from next season, with a brand-new channel being added to their overallpackage,which will let fans watch their club at least 20 times every year.
Better still, the new channel will come at no extra charge to existing Sky Sports customers and help get more eyes on the lower leagues each week.
Making the announcement on Monday, 13 May, the EFL confirmed that there are set to be more games than ever aired by the broadcaster thanks to the new record deal and the introduction of Sky Sports+, a new red-button style channel and streaming service allowing fans more freedom.
Kicking off from 2024/25 and running until 2028/29, the new TV rights deal will see a total of 1,059 EFL matches shown across multiple platforms in a contract worth £895m and £40m in marketing benefits.
Sky’s new EFL deal – the division breakdown
As per the official press release, Sky Sports has promised to broadcast a minimum of 328 Sky Bet Championship matches, 248 League One matches and the same number of League Two matches.
In addition to the normal season fixtures, they will also be delivering every playoff game throughout the EFL, as well as all of the 93 Carabao Cup and 127 EFL Trophy matches for the very first time.
Breaking this down to how this looks each round, this equates to 10 live EFL fixtures shown each weekend: Championship games and another five split between the third and fourth divisions.
According to Sky themselves, this represents “a 50% increase on the value of the current rights agreement and will see significantly enhanced exposure for all EFL clubs provided through on-air and digital support from Sky Sports to promote EFL competitions, clubs, and community initiatives.”
With the 3pm/Article 48 TV blackout remaining in Britain, this means that more games will be scheduled outside of this time zone, however, they are also promising to give better notice periods for fixtures selected for TV broadcast and Sky Sports+ coverage.
The new Sky x EFL deal will also ensure that all opening, final day and midweek fixtures in the Sky Bet EFL will be shown live, as well as all games played on Bank Holidays including Easter, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and lower league fixtures pencilled in for the international breaks.
Fans further down the pyramid have been crying out for better visibility when it comes to their clubs for years, making this a landmark moment in the history of English football, but one that still goes to show just how much TV rights and the entertainment industry continues to dominate the beautiful game.
Still, more games for everyone to enjoy on the telly – that’s a good thing, right?
A young cancer survivor is taking on the Great Manchester Run for the hospital that saved her life
Danny Jones
A former cancer patient from Manchester who was diagnosed at the age of just 17 is taking on this year’s Great Manchester Run on behalf of The Christie, the hospital she credits with helping save her life.
24-year-old Lea Abell from Failsworth is set to run the event for the first time on Sunday, 26 May to raise funds for The Christie Charity where she now works after completing her treatment.
Lea was sadly diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma cancer back in March 2017 and had to undergo intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at The Christie’s TYA (Teenage and Young Adult) unit.
Thankfully, she showed plenty of Manc spirit even at such a young age and in September 2018, Lea was told her treatment had been successful and is now looking to dedicate her efforts this May to the local life-saving institution.
After so much support and care from The Christie during her time there, the youngster decided that she wanted to give back and be a part of it all herself, going on to become part of the foundation’s mass participation events team – hence where the Great Manchester Run comes in.
Speaking on the hospital and the ward she spent her time in, specifically, Lea said: “The TYA, where do start? They are absolutely amazing! Every single member of staff from Julie the receptionist to Hanna Simpson, the head nurse and all of the other doctors and nurses were incredible.
“They make you feel so at home, and they support you mentally and physically throughout your treatment – they are all so positive, so you don’t feel like you’re going there for cancer treatment. I really wouldn’t have got through it if it wasn’t for the people there, so I owe them everything!
“Hanna and Julie always went out of their way to check up on me and tried to make my days better in any way they could, and I’ll never forget that.” Having turned up with the events team to the Great Manchester Run last year and seeing what a “brilliant day” it was, she decided 2024 was her year.
She’s becoming the latest among the hordes who run on behalf of The Christie at events across the globe every year.
Having only recently started her running journey this year and with the popular running event just around the corner, it’ll be a massive achievement for the young survivor and her team at the charity, with plenty of people backing her and a simple aim in mind: raise as much money as possible.
Lea has only recently started her running journey this year, so to take on the Great Manchester Run will be a big achievement for her, but she has plenty of people in her corner.
She went on to add: “My immediate family includes my mum Nicola, my dad Gary, and my brother and sister Jake and Sophia who were all there for me during treatment, and they will be there on the day of the Great Manchester Run to cheer me on alongside my other family members and friends.”
You’re going to absolutely smash it, Lea, we know it.
As for the charity themselves, The Christie’s mass participation events development manager, Lindsey Farthing, added: “Lea is a valuable member of our team and we’re all really touched that she has chosen to run the Manchester 10K for our charity.
To have a member of staff in our team who has been treated at The Christie and wants to give something back to the organisation that saved her life is really special for us all. We couldn’t be prouder of her and we wish her all the very best.”
If you want to help do your bit, you can donate to Lea’s fundraiser HERE and be sure to turn up in your droves come race day to cheer her on along with the thousands of runners raising money for charity.