13+ min ago (410+ words) Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played Sam in Richard Curtis's film, thinks streaming ushered in genre's decline If modern romcoms aren't sweeping you off your feet anymore, you're not the only one wondering where the magic went. Romantic comedies are not as good as they used to be, according to one of the stars of Love Actually. Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played lovestruck teenager Sam in Richard Curtis's Christmas film, has said the rise of streaming had led to "rushed, cheaper productions, draining the genre of the spark it had in its 90s heyday. The actor, 35, told the Daily Telegraph that classic romcoms such as Love Actually were made in the pre-smartphone years " a "bygone era. He said: "It was a kind of simpler time, and maybe that is more romantic. "And there were some greats, like Nancy Meyers and Nora Ephron, who did…...

15+ min ago (250+ words) Champions recover from 14-0 down in bonus-point win Henry Arundell settled this thrilling contest in Bath's favour, crowning an individual performance that should make Steve Borthwick take notice with a second try to finally sink Saracens. In a gripping match-up that could easily be repeated at Twickenham come June, Bath edged home thanks to their 23-year-old flyer, who was on hand to finish after Max Ojomoh's telling break in the 76th minute. It was a statement win for Bath, founded on resilience and the power of their replacements, the visitors roaring back from 14-0 down to clinch victory. Arundell's performance was all the more eye-catching given he outshone Noah Caluori " another England hopeful and his direct opponent " and will give Borthwick food for thought after an autumn campaign in which he featured only fleetingly against Fiji. A second reinforced Saracens' early dominance, finished…...

40+ min ago (307+ words) TonnyMy friend Tommy Gee, who has died aged 100, was a progressive colonial service administrator during the 1950s and 60s in Uganda, where his sympathies with the local population won him few friends among the expat community. Born in Nottingham, Tommy was the son of Tom, a butcher, and Beatrice (nee Whitby). After attending High Pavement grammar school in Nottingham he gained a mathematics degree at Brasenose College, Oxford, and went into the Royal Navy at the end of the second world war, rising to be chief navigator on HMS Glasgow. Afterwards he passed the civil service exams and was posted to Uganda, where his first role was as an assistant district commissioner. He later became district commissioner for the kingdom of Bunyoro and then secretary to the legislative council in Kampala. After independence Obote appointed Tommy on a three-year contract as a…...

41+ min ago (701+ words) Bryce Young excels in Carolina victoryAFC South now a battle between three teamsBryce Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns " two of them coming on fourth down " and the Carolina Panthers (7-6) forced three turnovers by Matthew Stafford to beat Los Angeles (9-3) and snap the Rams" six-game winning streak. Carolina"s defense intercepted Stafford twice with Mike Jackson returning one for a 48-yard touchdown and ended the 37-year-old"s NFL record of 28 straight TD passes without an interception. Derrick Brown, who tipped a ball resulting in one of Stafford"s first pick, came up with a key strip-sack with 2:25 left in the game to preserve the win. Stafford completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards with two touchdown passes to Davante Adams, his 13th and 14th of the season. Continue reading... NFL roundup: Panthers shock Rams as Shedeur Sanders loses first home start…...

42+ min ago (126+ words) Forward scores twice in 2-0 win at Pisa Villarreal edge out Real Sociedad in thriller Inter's Lautaro Mart'nez scored a second-half double to earn his side a 2-0 at Pisa that kept the visitors very much involved in the Serie A title race despite a less than convincing performance. Cristian Chivu's Inter are third in the standings on 27 points, level with second-placed Roma, who host Napoli later on Sunday, and one behind the leaders, Milan, who beat Lazio 1-0 on Saturday. Pisa are third bottom with 10 points. In the late game in Spain, Real Madrid travel to Girona needing a win to go back to the top ahead of Barcelona, who beat Alav's 3-1 on Saturday....

1+ hour, 12+ min ago (564+ words) It seemed fitting that a left-back playing on the wing set great innovators Brighton on their way to fifth. Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring as the Seagulls enacted revenge on Nottingham Forest for last season's 7-0 defeat on a bitingly cold day. Forest had their chances to equalise, something that seemed unlikely after a dreadful opening quarter of uncharacteristic lethargic play. Brighton failed to make the most of their early dominance count but Stefanos Tzimas removed the nerves late on. The first whistle failed to wake Forest from a nap against a fizzing Brighton team. Within the first minute Yankuba Minteh went through one-on-one with Matz Sels, who showed he was the home team's most energetic player by sprinting off his line to repel the Brighton man. By the time the minutes ticked into double figures, Brighton had enjoyed four…...

1+ hour, 16+ min ago (553+ words) For long spells nothing happened. At one point it was so quiet you could hear a distant plane droning by. But Liverpool will not care.Sometimes you have to get back on the horse however you can, and if that requires a stepladder, an awkward bunk from a scornful stablehand and an ungainly scramble into the saddle, so be it. Any sort of victory is welcome after six defeats in their last seven league games, and one in which Britain's most expensive player finally scores his first league goal for the club even more so. Continue reading... Alexander Isak ends drought as Liverpool stop rot with win at West Ham For long spells nothing happened. At one point it was so quiet you could hear a distant plane droning by. But Liverpool will not care. Sometimes you have to get…...

1+ hour, 16+ min ago (412+ words) For long spells nothing happened. At one point it was so quiet you could hear a distant plane droning by. But Liverpool will not care. Sometimes you have to get back on the horse however you can, and if that requires a stepladder, an awkward bunk from a scornful stablehand and an ungainly scramble into the saddle, so be it. Any sort of victory is welcome after six defeats in their past seven league games, and one in which Britain's most expensive player finally scores his first league goal for the club even more so. Wirtz is yet to score or register an assist in the Premier League since his "100m+ move from Bayer Leverkusen but, not for the first time this season, he looked industrious and tidy without that translating into a huge amount of threat. His tendency to drift…...

1+ hour, 35+ min ago (359+ words) Maresca agrees Mois's Caicedo tackle warranted red card Enzo Maresca complained of inconsistent refereeing after Mois's Caicedo was sent off for Chelsea and Arsenal's Piero Hincapi' escaped a potential red card during a bruising 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. "I think Reece is right," Maresca said. "But they decide. He asked me about Moi's red card. It's a red card, but why was Bentancur's against Reece not a red card when we were at Spurs away? As a manager, we struggle to understand why they judge in different way. Moi's is red card, yes. Bentancur's is a red card, yes. Why they don't give him a red card? "We struggle to understand. The reality is that it's red card. But why they judge in different way? The Trevoh one, I asked the referee, he said to me that it was not…...

2+ hour ago (311+ words) Gaiety theatre, AyrA rosy-cheeks-and-spotty-socks kind of show full of generous laughs, Fraser Boyle's take on Aladdin also has several original innovations and a subversive streak Who needs a flying carpet when you've got the bus to Maybole? The high point of Fraser Boyle's joyful panto comes when Abanazar (Gavin Jon Wright) leaks the location of his not-so-secret lair and the rest of the cast go in pursuit. On public transport. On film. Outside broadcasting was never so funny. Not that the baddie stands much chance: having stolen the magic lamp and summoned up its four genies (in a show big on community engagement, actors outnumber the special effects), he recklessly squanders his three wishes. Happily, Wright relishes our boos as much as we do. Set in Ancient Old New Cumnock, Tom Cooper's production is a pleasing combination of tradition and…...