I watched YouTube Kids for a week with my children. Here's what I learnt
The show they chose — or rather, that was algorithmically suggested — to watch one recent afternoon follows the adventures of a real-life brother and sister. They'd watched it before, as have many other children, since it's one of the most popular kids' channels on YouTube. While my daughters love the slapstick humour, to me it's like white noise, the background soundtrack to my multitasking.
But the video they watched that day made me pay attention. In it the brother tricks his sister into thinking she has gained weight. Visibly upset, the little girl changes into a skimpy workout outfit to do star jumps, and later turns down a sandwich in favour of a plate of raw carrot sticks, before heading to her bedroom to weigh herself. I was horrified, both at what we were watching and at myself for letting my impressionable daughters access it. How was it, I wondered, that this type of content was being promoted on a platform marketed as family-friendly? And what else had they watched that had flown under my radar?
According to Michelle Neumann, a professor of childhood education at the University of Sheffield who has carried out research on children's YouTube content, this is precisely the problem with a lot of what our kids are watching. 'On the surface many of these channels seem OK, so if a parent glances over their shoulder, they might think, that looks fun,' she says. 'But when you dig deeper, you realise there's a lot of problematic content.'
So I set myself a challenge: for one week I would dig deeper, intently watching everything that my girls were looking at on YouTube to see what I would learn.
I should preface my little experiment with a disclosure: my husband and I used to work for Google, which acquired YouTube in 2006. I joined in 2017, the year it emerged that bad actors were circumnavigating the platform's filters to run creepy, violent and explicit videos on YouTube Kids, the version of the app for under-12s.
But the company's response to the scandal had been solid, I thought — introducing new guidelines for creators about what qualified as good children's content, beefing up its moderation and mass deleting inappropriate videos.
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In the years after the scandal, after we became parents, my husband and I found ourselves turning to the platform more and more for educational and entertainment purposes. The depth of content is simply unrivalled. For example, around the age of four, after reading a lift-the-flap history book in our local library, my eldest daughter developed a morbid fascination with the bubonic plague. Her endless curiosity quickly exhausted my limited grasp of 14th-century history, but I knew YouTube would have the answers. Sure enough, I found what seemed like an age-appropriate video that taught her everything she needed to know about the Black Death. She watched it repeatedly for months, until the next obsession took over (Egyptian mummies).
This way of using YouTube is what Michael Robb, the head of research at Common Sense Media, the age-rating forum for parents, calls intentional — knowing what you're looking for and being deliberate about identifying it. The problem is, he says, it's just not reflective of how people actually use the platform. 'You could stay within a playlist that perhaps a parent has curated and have really good, high-quality content,' he tells me. 'But it's not how kids use YouTube, and it's not how it was designed.' When a carefully chosen video finishes, algorithmically powered suggestions on what to watch next can take kids down a rabbit hole of low-quality — even harmful — content.
This became clear within about ten minutes of my week-long challenge. After watching a video where a monocle-wearing cartoon professor explained evolution (fuelled by another question that had left me stumped), what followed was a flurry of content that, had it appeared on terrestrial television, would have had the Ofcom complaints line ringing off the hook.
In one video, which had more than a billion views, two young brothers showed off a homemade vending machine that spat out boxes of sugary cereal, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars. In another, a child played with what the video title described as 'girl' toys: a pretend sewing machine, a nail salon and a pink play kitchen (all things my girls love, I should add — but so, too, do lots of boys).
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Apart from these (and other) examples of content that flouted UK broadcasting guidelines or featured dated stereotypes, most of what we watched might generously be called clickbait: content that promised to teach children to learn new words, say, but that ended up being a thinly disguised toy promotion. Many of the videos we watched had titles packed with educational-sounding buzzwords, but turned out to be garbage with no narrative arc, out-of-sync dubbing and, all too often, an undercurrent of consumerism.
A spokesperson for YouTube told The Sunday Times: 'On YouTube Kids we provide parents with robust controls to decide what content to make available, whether approving specific content, choosing from age-appropriate categories, or the ability to block specific videos or channels.' They added that, after reviewing the links we shared, it had found no violations of its community guidelines.
My experiment stacks up with what other (more rigorous) studies have found: the platform has a few gems, some quite shocking content and a hell of a lot of rubbish. 'We did some research a few years back and found that, while YouTube says it has a lot of educational, high-quality videos, really only a small percentage of the content could be classed that way,' Robb says. 'A lot of the videos that position themselves as being high quality or educational are very shallow.'
By the end of the week I realised it was these types of videos that bothered me the most — content that Neumann described as 'wolves in sheep's clothing'. I feel well equipped to have conversations with my children about media content that very obviously challenges our family values. After watching the video that first triggered this article, I spoke to both my daughters about what we had just seen — how no food is inherently good or bad, about how we exercise to feel, not look, good. But knowing how to deal with the other, more innocuous-seeming content has left me as confused as when one of my kids asks me how birds evolved from dinosaurs.
Colin Ward, a Bafta-winning former children's TV producer and member of the Children's Media Foundation, agrees that, like me, most parents are struggling to separate the wheat from the chaff. But he questions whether that type of pressure should be put on us in the first place. 'Parents can't be expected to police this — it's just not possible,' he says. Neither should we put our faith in the platforms to self-regulate, given their main concern is their bottom line. 'It's a very competitive market and they are focused on monetisation, so they're not going to change.' YouTube told The Sunday Times: 'We have strict advertising guidelines on YouTube Kids, and don't allow paid promotional content.'
• Read more parenting advice, interviews, real-life stories and opinions
If we can't leave it to individuals or the free market to tackle, that leaves just one actor that might make a difference: governments. Ward knows that might not be popular with some people, but makes a point I think most parents will agree with. 'We all accept that there are some things that are important as a public service, whether it's the armed forces or parks, and that those things need taxes to support them and sometimes regulations,' he says. 'When it comes to our children having access to high-quality content and not just utter drivel, that too is surely a social good?'
The present government has already indicated it will take action. Late last year the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, wrote to YouTube urging it to make high-quality programming more visible on its platform. She also suggested that, if this doesn't happen voluntarily, regulation might force its hand. YouTube told The Sunday Times that it 'continues to engage regularly with the culture secretary, as part of our ongoing efforts to support the UK's high quality children's content creators'.
But while she and others work on that, what are parents to do? Ban our kids from accessing YouTube? Co-watch at all times? Neither seems realistic, at least not in my household. I have promised we will continue to apply a little more of that all-important intentionality. In other words, relying on our gut when deciding what might be an appropriate video for our kids, rather than ceding control to an algorithm.
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Jannik Sinner wins first Wimbledon title with four-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz
Update: Date: 2025-07-13T19:05:29.000Z Title: Otherwise, though, Tumaini Carayol's report is with us: Content: After suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final, Jannik Sinner rebounds to beat him in the Wimbledon final, taking the title by three sets to one Daniel Harris Sun 13 Jul 2025 20.59 CEST First published on Sun 13 Jul 2025 15.30 CEST 8.59pm CEST 20:59 So all that remains is for me to wish you all peace and love. Peace and love! 8.57pm CEST 20:57 Before we say goodbye, though, look at what we're bringing you this evening! 8.56pm CEST 20:56 So that's Wimbledon done for another year and, as every year, what a year it's been, with upsets, epics and fun all over the show. If anyone's any idea what we can do tomorrow, let me know – OK, I don't mean that, we've got the Test to comfort us and assuage our grief – but otherwise we're almost done here. Updated at 9.05pm CEST 8.53pm CEST 20:53 Sinner poses for photos, enjoying the moment – though I wonder if relief is the predominant emotion. Either way, his victory is what the game needed – as Andy Roddick noted of his matches against Roger Federer, a rivalry is only a rivalry if both players win titles. I can't wait to see where this goes next, as both men contemplate how to improve themselves and how to pick apart the other. 8.48pm CEST 20:48 Sinner, the first Italian to win Wimbledon, begins with Alcaraz, praising an amazing tournament 'and for the player you are'. He too kvels in the joy of their friendship, adding that he'll win more of these and already has two. 'It's so special,' he says, seeing his parents, his brother and his team, adding that his brother is only in attendance because there's no F1 race this weekend. Asked about what he's put himself through to win this trophy, his admits that emotionally, it's been a lot, following his tough loss in Paris, but ultimately it doesn't matter how you win or lose, you have to accept the result and work out what you did wrong. He and his team did that, which is one of the reasons he's now holding the trophy. He's grateful that he's heatlhy and has great people around him. Otherwise, he says he served out the last game very well having survived tough moments in his previous service game, and he's very happy he held his nerve. Then, asked about the champagne cork that landed near him, he laughs that only at Wimbledon could that happen, which is why we all love it. Back in the days when he was young, he never thought he could get to this moment, 'the dream of the dream' – that's a lovely turn of phrase – and in conclusion, he again thanks his team and everyone who came out for this special occasion. They give him so any emotions and he keeps pushing, trying to become a better tennis player but mostly a better person.' Finally, he thanks the ball kids and the fans, then off he goes, the new Wimbledon champion. He and Alcara are very different characters and players, opposites in many way, and yet it's impossible not to love them both, united by the rare and inspiring quality of their absolute menschlichkeit. 8.40pm CEST 20:40 'It's hard to lose,' says Alcaraz, experiencing the aching desolation for the first time in a major final. So he congratulates Sinner with a huge smile, saying his opponent and team deserve it. He's happy for him, tells him to keep it going, and he's happy to build a great relationship off the court as well as on it, that pushes him to improve every day. Otherwise, he's really proud of everything he's doing. At the start of the season he struggled on the court but suddenly he rediscovered himself and the happiness he has on the court, thanking his family and pledging to 'keep bringing joy.' He loves playing at Wimbledon, he loves the 'insane' atmosphere, and he'll be back. Finally, he thanks the King of Spain for coming to support him, and off he goes. 8.35pm CEST 20:35 Alcaraz comes to collect his runners-up trophy, raising it to cheers from the crowd. He wins well, and he also loses well – his parents must be so proud of the boy they've raised. And now it's Sinner's go – he receives the trophy from Kate and of the seven billion people in the world, he ranks no 1 for current happiness. 8.32pm CEST 20:32 Alcaraz played poorly today, but I'm sure he'll acknowledge he was also out-played and out-thought. Sinner gave him less of what he wanted, taking away much of what he does best, and he couldn't work out how to combat him. Now it's the Spaniard's turn to re-evaluate and find a tweak; I can't wait to see what he comes back with. 8.29pm CEST 20:29 Sinner slumps on to his haunches, slapping the grass to let out all the pain and frustration that's lived with him every day since Paris. Now, it is part of the richness of his life – without that, would he have this? He races up to his box, sharing moments with his family and team – they'll have been with him through the suffering, will have sacrificed in the hope that one day, they might enjoy exactly what they're enjoying now. Sinner now knows he can win on grass, against Alcaraz; Alcaraz now knows he can lose finals, to Sinner; we've always known these two were going to give us many, many days like this. 8.25pm CEST 20:25 So far, this match has been a triumph for Sinner's mentality, strategy and execution; can he hold it down? Alcaraz shanks a forehand wide for 15-0, then big serve facilitates a backhand winner for 30-o; the world no 1 is two points away. He seizes the first with two terrific volleys in succession, Alcaraz sprinting and sliding in desperation, and Sinner has three match points; he's been here before! We've all been here before! Can he land a first serve? He cannot, and when he nets a backhand, he'll be feeling the weight of the desolation, past and future. But what counts is the moment; can he stay in it? YOU BET HE CAN! AN ACE DOWN THE T AND JANNIK SINNER WINS WIMBLEDON FOR THE FIRST TIME! WHAT A PERFORMANCE, AND WHAT A MOMENT AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN PARIS! A beautiful affirming moment after who knows how many long nights of the soul! Sport! Updated at 8.43pm CEST 8.21pm CEST 20:21 Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 5-4 Alcaraz* Sinner won't want the pressure of serving for the championship if he can avoid it, and a gigantic forehand earns him 15-all, but another falls long; 30-15. But a battery of ferocious forehands takes him two points away from inexplicable, indescribable ecstasy at 30-all … then Alcaraz serves out his hold, noising up the crowd as he seeks to get himself in the frame of mind he needs to save himself with a break. The players sit down and Sinner has a few second to pretend the enormity of the situation is a lie. Good luck with that, old mate. 8.17pm CEST 20:17 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 5-3 Alcaraz Alcaraz has two more chances to save himself and his dream of joining Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as men who've won Wimbledon three times in a row. He'll know he may never get another go at this, or at least anyone normal would; on reflection, there's a pretty good chance he doesn't. Anyroad up, he makes 0-15 then, at 15-all,Sinner frames a forehand; in front of his eyes pass the words ROLAND GARROS, his world swimming just a touch. And when he goes long again, this time on the backhand, Alcaraz has two break-back points, suddenly back in the match, and I've no idea how Sinner can even raise his arms, the most desperate match of his life threatening to reincarnate. But a well-directed second serve, kicking out wide, surprises the champ, who can't control his return – the clarity of Sinner's thinking under pressure is perhaps the key difference in this final – and when Alcaraz strays long, we move to deuce. Was that his chance? Perhaps! Sinner steps inside the line, unloading the suitcase on a backhand that forces a long riposte, and a second serve down the T, high-kicking and just about unreturnable, ends a fantstic game. Sinner is an absolute brute, and he's a game away from the win of his life redeeming the loss of his life; what a life! Updated at 8.23pm CEST 8.10pm CEST 20:10 Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 4-3 Alcaraz* Sinner may be over what happened in Paris, but it seems unlikely it's on all of our minds, but totally absent from his. Nevertheless he's playing with such confidence now, like he knows he's going to win and, in the process, steal from us our five-set thriller; how dare he. And at 30-all on the Alcaraz serve, he's trying to get it done quickly, only to net a forehand when well in the rally; a beautiful serve-volley point from the champ secures the game, the crowd increasingly febrile. What is at stake is at stake, and for Sinner to win, he'll have to reconcile that fact with his sense of self: he should win, but he might lose. 8.06pm CEST 20:06 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 4-2 Alcaraz Sinner won't be thinking about much more than the next point, but if he could win here, he'd change the complexion of men's tennis and his career; currently, Alcaraz is 5-0 from finals, and until he loses one, no one will fully believe it to be possible. Shonuff, he makes 0-15 … only to wham a forehand into the tape after unleashing a decent return, a costly and unnecessary error in the circumstances that evidences the champ's state of mind and game. An ace follows, then a cunning body-serve on second delivery – at the moment, almost every decision he's making is the right decision – but he soon drops long on the backhand, then serves long, upping the tension … then, at 40-30, he sticks a forehand into the tape … and the ball clambers over and drops like a stone! Alcraaz feels the world is against him, and he's running out of opportunities to remind it who he is. Updated at 8.06pm CEST 8.00pm CEST 20:00 Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 3-2 Alcaraz* No one enjoys a tennis match more than Alcaraz, his game suffused with compelling, affirming, contagious joy. But he's not enjoying his performance today, apparently mystified by his inability to execute as he usually does. For that, though, he can only blame his opponent – Sinner has grown as the match has deepened, two terrific points turning 40-0 into 40-30; the champ can't work out what's going wrong, nor can he do the basics to his usual standard. A netted backhand underlines the problem, and at deuce momentum feels inexorable, regardless of who takes this game. And it's Sinner who's the protagonist in the next rally, hammering a forehand marginally long; from there, Alcaraz secures his hold, but he's having to fight for everything while the game is coming easily to the world no 1. But as long as he's only one break down, he's still in the match. 7.55pm CEST 19:55 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 3-1 Alcaraz Sinner, though, is under no illusions – Rasputaraz can come back from any position, and no one knows it better and more agonisingly than he does. But he's flying here, you so confident in his movements, thinking with clarity and executing with bravery, conviction and purpose. He consolidates his break for 3-1 … which means any subsequent loss wold sting even harder. The stakes area stratospheric, how will our players respond? 7.51pm CEST 19:51 Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 2-1 Alcaraz* At 15-0, a double invites Sinner into the game while, in comms, they lament the disappearnace of his slice backhand, all the more so given how well it worked for Dimitrov when he played Sinner, the low bounce denying him the height he needs to unleash. And an error hands over 15-30, Alcaraz restoring parity with a booming forehand … but then the ball bounces up when he's forced to play with too much elevation, Sinner annihilating a backhand winner for break point and, offered a go at a second serve … HE CARESSES A GORGEOUS BACKHAND RETURN DOWN THE LINE! Jannik Sinner is out-thinking the champ here, denying him what he does well, and he's four holds away from the title! Updated at 8.02pm CEST 7.47pm CEST 19:47 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 1-1 Alcaraz Sinner quickly makes 30-0, and from there he holds to love. He's serving and hitting with authority now, executing his skills are planned; Alcaraz is still searching, the match not going as he planned. A third consecutive title feels a way away. 7.44pm CEST 19:44 Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 0-1 Alcaraz* How many more of these matches are we going to see over the next decade? We're trying to live in the moment, but in acknowledging the beauty of it, we're necessarily forced to consider its lasting significance, enjoyment uplifted by anticipation. At 15-all, Alcaraz outlasts Sinner from the back, moving him about as we discussed at the start but as has perhaps been forgetten in the maelstrom of the match – the champ has played as he likes, more than as is prudent. He secures his hold, and might it be that, down in the match, he is now dialled-in in a way he hasn't yet been today? Updated at 7.45pm CEST 7.41pm CEST 19:41 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4 Alcaraz At 15-all, a double ratchets the tension up several more levels; an ace tamps it down a little. Another fine point – big serve, wide forehand, overhead – makes 40-15 and two set points, Sinner's even ultraer-aggressive approach paying dividends … and he closes out the set with a service winner! He's a set away from redeeming his French Open heart-devastation with Wimbledon glory! Updated at 7.55pm CEST 7.38pm CEST 19:38 Sinner 4-6 6-4 5-4 Alcaraz* An ace at 0-15 levels the game, but a return on to the baseline forces Alcaraz to balloon his riposte long; naturally, an ace restores parity at 30-all. But a fantastic return, backhand down the line, allows the clean-up backhand at net, and Sinner has break point; these are the days of his life … and he makes them his, nailing a return on second serve, then finishing into the space as Alcaraz drops his response short. Sinner has the break and after a little sit-down will serve for the third set! Sat in his seat, Alacraz chunters to himself – he's not playing well here. Welcome to under the pump, population You. 7.33pm CEST 19:33 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 4-4 Alcaraz Not if Sinner keeps playing points like this, directing Alcaraz about the court and this time dispatching his overhead. And though a netted backhand levels the game, Alcaraz then picks a drop with the point at his mercy, allowing sinner to clobber a forehand on to the outermost fibre of the sideline; sometimes, you can have too many options. And Alcaraz quickly forgets his oversight, a drop-lob combo-move making 30-all, and now he has a look at a second serve … for the all the good it does him, a swinger out wide leaping off the grass for an ace. This might be the aspect of the game that's improved most in the last year or two, and to underline the point, another ace, this time achieved in the more accustomed first-delivery manner, secures a vital hold. We're at the business end of set three, the tension near-sickening. 7.26pm CEST 19:26 Sinner 4-6 6-4 3-4 Alcaraz* Up 30-0, Alcaraz lands a serve on to the line and Sinner can't get it back; an ace curled on to the T follows, and that was exactly the kind of the hold the champ needed; can he convert the good vibes into the kind of streak that'll give him a breaking opportunity? 7.24pm CEST 19:24 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 3-3 Alcaraz After another partly-forced error gives Alcaraz 15-all, an ace restores Sinner's advantage … but he then bangs a forehand wide, upping the tension at 30-all. Then, at 40-30, the Italian finds himself caught at net after picking Alcaraz's side with a putaway; he responds with a tweener, up goes the lob … and he clouts his overhead unnecessarily hard and wide. That, mates, is pressure, doing too much to make sure … so Sinner gathers and, I short order, closes out his hold. The standard remains variable, the intensity stratospheric. 7.19pm CEST 19:19 Sinner 4-6 6-4 2-3 Alcaraz* A longer rally to open the game, Sinner netting a forehand for 0-15. But a drop into the net suggests Alcaraz is struggling for clarity as he sometimes he does; a forehand that falls wide for 30-all does too. Chance for Sinner, who then gets great depth on return … only to go long from the back when well in the rally. That's a missed opportunity, though it's worth noting that the athleticism and presence of Alcaraz on the other side of the net can make what, against anyone else, would be an unforced error, into one that's partially forced. From there, the champ closes out, and it feels like the next few games will decide this match. If Sinner takes the set, he's favourite; if Alcaraz does, you'd not bet on him losing two on the spin with the title at stake. 7.13pm CEST 19:13 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 2-2 Alcaraz An unreturned serve makes 15-0 and Sinner shakes racket at his box – he believes he can do this, and knows how important this set is. From there, he closes out a love hold, removing the pressure from himself and placing it upon Alcaraz in little more than a minute. 7.10pm CEST 19:10 Sinner 4-6 6-4 1-2 Alcaraz* A forehand cross, hit flat and wide, again turns Alcaraz's strength against him – he wants to be hitting his own forehand from the middle, not from out in the stands. But though the champ soon makes 30-15, a backhand drops long for 30-all, and this feels like Sinner's chance: he needs to cash in when in the ascendancy. But in this game, he cannot, Alcaraz securing his hold, and this match continues to stutter, of far lower standard than the final in Paris. But fear not, friends – we've time. 7.06pm CEST 19:06 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 1-1 Alcaraz If Alcaraz wins this set, you'll fancy him to close it out; if Sinner does, you still might, which would make no difference to anything save for the fact the players will probably understand things in the same way. My sense is that it's Sinner currently playing the better tennis, and he secures an impressive hold to 15, sealed with an ace then a terrifying forehand winner. 7.02pm CEST 19:02 Sinner 4-6 6-4 0-1 Alcaraz* Unusually for players this insanely driven and talented, we're not getting periods of one in the ascendancy, we're getting points. Which makes it so difficult to predict what's going to happen next, but why would we even want to when we can just enjoy? Meantime, Alcaraz – who, let's not forget was broken in the first game of set two, perhaps losing focus after the relief of winning it – finds himself down 0-30, and he'll be fearing a repeat performance. All the more so when, at 15-30, he sends down a tame double … then saves break point no 1 with an ace down the T … and no 2 when a Sinner forehand goes long; the Italian will be disappointed he didn't make more of the second serve offered him. From there, Alcaraz serves out the game, putting an exclamation mark on things with an ace; can he parlay his opponent's disappointment into something more tangible? Updated at 7.03pm CEST 6.56pm CEST 18:56 *Sinner 4-6 6-4 Alcaraz This is a proper test of nerve for Sinner, and we can be sure Alcaraz will look to exploit that by making him play. But just as it looks like the first point of the game is his, a backhand down the line forcing Sinner to stretch eveything just to get the ball back, the follow-up drop, when a whack into space would do,and allows the Italian to charge in and flick back a winner; fantastic behaviour. And though we're soon at 15-all, Sinner goes wide on the second serve then finds the thump he needs to force it home, and when Alcaraz turns up the volume with a forehand to the corner, Sinner responds with an absolute humdinger, cleansed hard and flat down the line! That is wondrous, but on 40-15 he's sent nashing off to the sideline … only to conjure a table-tennis winner cross-court to break the sideline! That is absolutely absurd conduct from Sinner; he didn't take that set, he seized it. Updated at 7.07pm CEST 6.49pm CEST 18:49 Sinner 4-6 5-4 Alcaraz* A high-kicker out wide … and ace. Alcaraz has so much variety on serve, so much that so another of the same genre, but on second delivery, also leaps away from Sinner for an ace. And though, at 40-0, a drop can't quite clamber over the tape, another ace, sent jumping out wide, forces the Italian to serve for the set. If he can manage it, he's in business; if he cannot, you'll fear for him. 6.46pm CEST 18:46 *Sinner 4-6 5-3 Alcaraz A love hold for Sinner, and he's a game away from the second set. 6.43pm CEST 18:43 Sinner 4-6 4-3 Alcaraz* Alcaraz is holding the easier now, but at 40-0 a poor drop allows Sinner in to feed a backhand pass into the corner. And when another ball catches the line expectedly, he forces the error for 40-30 and a double brings us to deuce. If this is Alcaraz losing concentration, as sometimes he does, this is Sinner's cue to jump on him, and when a double donates advantage he has a chance to near-enough secure the second set … only to net a backhand return when handed a second serve. And from there, an ace and a service winner box off the game; if the Italian wants to level the match, he'll have to do it himself, parity won't be presented to him. Updated at 6.44pm CEST 6.37pm CEST 18:37 *Sinner 4-6 4-2 Alcaraz A drop into the net hands Sinner 15-0, but at 15-all he runs around his backhand only to drop long. He does, though, soon make 30-all, a service winner raises game point, and a felicitous net cord turns a poor shot into a winner. The apology is moving in its sincerity. 'Since you're asking,' says Richard Hirst, '1969, a free concert in Parliament Hill Fields, with Soft Machine, Procul Harum, Yes (before even their first album) and others. Also the summer I went to Wimbledon (note the impressive linking) for the one and only time: Centre Court to see Pancho Gonzalez against Charlie Pasarell in what was at the time the longest match at Wimbledon.' My school sports day was there, the teachers grassed me to my parents for enjoying a Dunhill International in the bushes. 6.32pm CEST 18:32 Sinner 4-6 3-2 Alcaraz* Words we've not required for a while: a love hold. Alcaraz isn't playing especially well, but if the match is a longun, you get the sense he will at some point and in the meantime, he leads. 6.30pm CEST 18:30 *Sinner 4-6 3-1 Alcaraz There were signs of improvement but for now, it remains the case that neither man is at it, Sinner dominating a point before netting his putaway for 30-all; pressure. Alcaraz, though, relieves it for him by hitting long … but Sinner then butchers a forehand with the point all but won and ewe move to deuce. A break-back here would mean more than itself, the champ reminding the challenger that he can take him when not at his best, but Sinner makes advantage, after which a pause; 'Please do not pop a champagne cork just as the players are preparing to serve,' intones the umpire as one lands on the court; it reminds me of the time I asked a friend 'please don't be sick on my computer' in terms of things you never think you'll have to say. Anyway, though Alcaraz restores deuce, from there Sinner's serve takes over, and he remains in command of set two. 6.20pm CEST 18:20 Sinner 4-6 2-1 Alcaraz* So far, this match is more about unforced errors than brilliant shots; both players are some way off their best. Which is the time Sinner, as the man whose brilliant best is slightly less brilliant, needs to take advantage … and he makes 0-30, only to then lose a net exchange and botch a pass; 30-all. From there, Alcaraz holds courtesy of two gigantic serves, doing enough to stay in touch in the set. 6.16pm CEST 18:16 *Sinner 4-6 2-0 Alcaraz Have a look! At 15-all, Alcaraz breaks the wrists on a backhand as Sinner comes in, spiriting a winner cross-court; slowly, we might be hitting levels. As I type, though, at 30-all Sinner tries a wrong-footing backhand with plenty of space to hit, but looking for precision, he strays wide and must now face break-back point; he saves it via service winner and closes out from there, punching the air in celebration. He knows how important that was, for his state of mind as much as for the score. Updated at 6.19pm CEST 6.12pm CEST 18:12 Sinner 4-6 1-0 Alcaraz* Sinner will be feeling very, very poorly, his gizzard leaping and stomping through his throat. But he quickly makes 0-30, an error from Alcaraz hands him 0-40, and these are crucial moments coming up – if Sinner can't break, the hit to his confidence will feel immense, the champ allowing him a start then upping it beyond his reach when it becomes a problem. And Alcaraz saves the first, then the second when Sinner again slips in pursuit of a drop. But the Italian then goes after a 140mph serve, delivering a far better return than seemed possible and, into the rally, his opponent falters first, looping a forehand long. My days, Sinner needed that. Updated at 6.39pm CEST 6.08pm CEST 18:08 *Sinner 4-6 Alcaraz Between games, we're encouraged to turn the sound up and just listen to purity of the ball-striking; it's a gorgeous, hollow, percussive zing-thump. But Sinner then overhits a backhand … only for Alcaraz to do likewise, just. Right decision, imperfect execution. A service winner follows, making 30-15, but then coming in for a simple +1, Sinner hesitates, perhaps not expecting the ball to come back, and he loops a terrible effort long; the champ is two points away from the first set. And when Sinner slips trying to push off in search of a beautifully-disguised drop, the ball is tapped into the space and, at 30-40, he's set-point down. Can he respond? Er, just about, a body second-serve cramping Alcaraz, who nets a ball you nevertheless expect him to make; to deuce we go ... whereupon a double donates advantage, the challenger faltering at the crucial moment. But he plays a fantastic next point, dominating from the back, and though Alcaraz switches momentum with a forehand hooked to the corner, the response, down the line into the space, is decisive … NO IT IS NOT! Somehow, the ludicrous magician stretches, hangs out a racket, and controls what I suppose we must call a drop, zonimg over the net to secure the first set in a moment of magic so symbolic it feels made up. Alcaraz holds a hand to his ear, the crowd go wild, and it'll take something to come back from that. How is he even real? Updated at 6.15pm CEST 5.58pm CEST 17:58 Sinner 4-5 Alcaraz* Sinner marches in to dispatch a forehand winner for 15-all; again, he is not waiting to be asked, and the first double of the match ups the tension. But down 15-30, Alcaraz finds a service winner, nails his next delivery out wide then cleans up at net, and an ace seals a crucial hold. Again, Alcaraz does what he needs when he really needs to do it, and if he can get a few returns in or a look at a second delivery or two, he'll put Sinner under some pressure as he serves to stay in the set. 5.54pm CEST 17:54 *Sinner 4-4 Alcaraz Alcaraz is struggling to make an impression on return, Sinner's targeting of his forehand taking the backhand slice – which sets up so many of his best plays – out of the equation. At 15-0, a drop is followed by a gorgeous volley which levels the game, then we have the kind of rally of which we've not yet seen much but expect to see plenty, thrashing from the back until Sinner errs with the 18th stroke of the exchange; at 15-30, the chance has a sniff and when a backhand drops long, he has two chances to break back. And he only needs one, Sinner slapping a backhand into the net, and he'll be really disappointed with how easily he ceded the advantage. Updated at 6.36pm CEST
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus reveals heartbreaking update on the future of Voyage
Abba 's Björn Ulvaeus has shared his uncertainty on whether the holographic Voyage concerts would continue after one band member dies. The iconic band, whose international fame was solidified by their victory at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo, is composed of Björn, Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Their seventies heyday has been reimagined by a long-running show where fans can watch ABBA's avatars in a custom-built arena. ABBA Voyage is a virtual concert experience in London where digital avatars of the Swedish pop group ABBA perform their greatest hits. However, the singer has now cast doubt over the future of the first of its kind concert, as he confessed to the Radio Times that the four of them need to decide prior to their deaths if they would continue the shows. Björn told Jane Mulkerrins for her new Sunday morning programme, 'That's a question I've never had before...I honestly don't know, hadn't thought about that. 'It's good you raise that question - I'll talk to the others about that as we need to decide beforehand between us if it's OK for all four of us to go on after we're gone' The iconic band, whose international fame was solidified by their victory at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo, is composed of Björn (bottom right), Agnetha Fältskog (top right), Benny Andersson (top left) , and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (bottom left) ABBA was formed in 1972 and released eight albums between 1973 and 1981. They are considered one of the best-selling groups in history, with estimate album sales between 150 million and 385 million records worldwide. The group had been disbanded since 1982 but their music still lived on in the intervening years. The compilation album ABBA Gold was a worldwide best seller, and their music was adapted into the hit musical Mamma Mia in 1999, which was then adapted into two feature films - 2008's Mamma Mia and 2018's Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The group reunited in 2016 and started working on this virtual concert, which used motion-capture technology from George Lucas' visual effects house Industrial Light and Magic to create 'ABBA-tars' of the group, as they would have looked in 1979. The group members all performed for several hours in front of 160 motion cameras to get the motion-capture look just right, with over 1 billion computing hours from ILM. ABBA also started recording new music in 2018, which resulted in their first new studio album in 40 years - Voyage - also said to be the band's final album, which has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The Voyage virtual concert opened May 27 at a custom venue in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, earning rave reviews from fans, critics and even ABBA members themselves. The show avatars, created using motion capture technology, appear on stage alongside a live 10-piece band. The concert is housed in a custom-built arena called the ABBA Arena. The 90-minute concert includes such hits as Mamma Mia, The Winner Takes It All and Voulez-Vous. The Abba experience has backed more than 5,000 jobs in London, including people employed at the venue as well as those in other sectors.
The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
Inside Ed Sheeran's epic homecoming gigs with hit-packed set & fireworks as he reveals plan for huge blow out after tour
I'M deep in the bowels of Portman Road stadium playing keepy-uppy when I clock someone walking into the room. The corridors were already abuzz with tour managers and crew, so if it wasn't for the repeated hugs a very familiar flame-haired man was getting, I wouldn't have noticed him. 9 9 9 With zero fanfare, one of the most successful British artists of all time walks over to me, hand outstretched. 'I'm Ed,' he smiles — as if Ed Sheeran needs any introduction. Despite never losing eye contact as we chat, in his hands he's signing a stack of Polaroid pictures — shuffling on to the next one like a world-class magician. 'I have thousands of these to do, I do them everywhere,' he laughs. The Polaroids will eventually make their way into special limited-edition copies of his upcoming eighth album Play. It's been three years since Ed last did shows in the UK and this weekend feels special. We meet on Friday evening before the first of his three sell-out homecoming gigs at his beloved Ipswich Town 's ground. By today, Ed will have played to 90,000 fans. After I tell him I can't believe he's not exhausted from touring the globe non- stop for four years, Ed nods: 'I'm knackered. 'The tour ends in September. I'm going to have a big party to celebrate the end of the tour. It's been four years.' At least for this weekend Ed got to wake up in his own bed in his ' Sheeranville ' estate near the picture-perfect town of Framlingham, which is just over 30 minutes away. Ed Sheeran teams up with school pals AND 00s rock legend for epic performance 'All three nights I'm at home — even Sunday,' Ed says, clearly relieved to be back for a burst of normality. But a boozy Sunday was off the cards after he took his final bow last night. Ed tells me: 'When I did Wembley in 2022, we went out the night before. 'But now I can't, I have kids. We are up at 6am no matter where I am. After I'm politely asked if we are ready for our photograph — Ed isn't officially doing interviews — The A Team singer interjects, keen to talk about me and where I'm from. Explaining I'm from a little village in Derbyshire where even if Beyonce were to rock up no one would recognise her, Ed admits it reminds him of his own home town. A lifelong Ipswich fan, Ed asks if I support Derby County. Unable to bluff my way through, I admit football isn't really my bag. Instead I find common ground by telling him we were both in Germany last week, him on his mammoth Mathematics world tour and me for Cologne Pride. He asks how it was and after telling him about my three days of non-stop partying, I get back to business. 9 9 It's hard to play down the significance of the gigs for both Ed and Ipswich. Fans have flown in from all over the world and have been camping outside the stadium since 4am in baking heat. While the local Burger King is offering an Ed combo special for £10.99. By the time he takes to the stage at 8.15pm, the atmosphere is electric. Ed kicks things off with new track Sapphire followed by 2021 No1 Shivers and his 2011 track The A Team. Within the first 15 minutes, multiple pyrotechnics and fireworks pop off around us. Beaming, Ed tells the crowd: 'It's good to be back. "I have been looking forward to this so, so much. 'I haven't played a big, big show in the UK since 2022 when we did the Wembley shows. 'That was a conversation actually, last year — should we come back and do a run of Wembley shows, and I was like, 'It just doesn't seem special'. 'I want it to be special, and Ipswich is special. 'SPECIAL WEEKEND' 'All the times I've come to this stadium and imagined playing it. 'It looks amazing.' Ed continues: 'Over the last 15 years I've only really played one other big show in Ipswich. 'We played a park to signal the end of Divide and it's really cool to play here and signal the beginning of Play. 'Everything you hear tonight is live. 'There is no backing track whatsoever — it's all made by me.' As I join the thousands watching Ed, it's impossible not to be in awe of both his ability to deliver a five-star performance with just his guitar and a loop pedal — and the sheer volume of hits he has in his back catalogue. Opening up about winning two lawsuits against him which falsely accused him of stealing the music to Thinking Out Loud and Shape Of You, Ed explains: 'I love writing songs. 'Writing songs is not only my hobby, it's my life. 'All I want to do is write songs and play shows. 'These became such big news stories. 'And the reason is that it's kind of an open secret in the music industry that this happens behind the scenes. 'Both of those cases came to me a year before and said we are going to make this really public and say you stole this song unless you give us some money. 'But I was like, 'I haven't done anything wrong'. 'Both times the reason it went so big was because I said 'no' — but reputationally for a few years people thought I was a thief.' On Friday night Ed surprised fans by bringing out Westlife for a rendition of their 1999 classic Flying Without Wings. Ed may have 43 Top 10 singles, including 14 No1s, and sold more than 200million records worldwide, but he hasn't lost touch with where he's from. He continues: 'I never underestimate the amount of effort it takes to get to a gig. 'Some people fly here, they get trains. 9 9 'People taking time out of their daily schedule. 'They get babysitters. 'Even just the act of getting tickets in the first place. 'It's effort to come to one of these shows and I am so grateful. 'It's such a special weekend for me to be with my family and friends and I'm so grateful we could share it together. 'Thank you for making so much effort.' I think the thanks are to you Ed, for the music which has soundtracked our lives for the past 15 years. Oh, and if you see my cap, I accidentally left it in your dressing room. Consider it yours. CHART CHAMP'S £10M BONUS ED'S homecoming weekend could boost the local economy by around £10million – thanks to fans splashing the cash on hotels, meals out and drinks. Tickets for all three shows sold out within an hour earlier this year. 9 A boat in the marina was emblazoned with a 'Welcome home Ed' banner and Ipswich town centre was packed all day – with guitar shop owner John Fender, who previously served Ed in his store, telling the BBC his shop has never been busier. John said: 'He used to come in and buy music books when he was growing up, then in October 2022 he popped in and bought a guitar and amp from us before his surprise gig in the Cornhill. 'Everyone's buzzing. 'We've had some people in today from Germany, from America. 'People are travelling from all around to Ipswich. 'I think it's brilliant for the town and the area.' HE'S FLYING HIGH ED'S fans got a special treat after he was joined on stage by Westlife, left, to kick off his three-night run. Revealing why he invited the lads over from Ireland, he said via Instagram: 'The reason I wrote Shape Of You was that I wanted to go in the studio with one of the men that was behind Flying Without Wings – producer Steve Mac. 9 "It's one of my favourite songs of all time. 'I used to pretend I was in Westlife when I was, like, nine years old. 'But tonight I got to actually be a member, playing with Steve and Beoga on stage for the homecoming shows at Ipswich Town. 'Just pure magic. 'Thank you for flying over, lads. 'I will never forget that moment x.'
