Latest news with #Rob
Leader Live
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Looking at the blueprint that's made Wrexham a success story
I'm quite certain that the success we're enjoying is not beyond what they expected. They've always made it pretty clear off the record that the Championship is most definitely a level they expected to reach. However, to have got there this quickly, I suspect, is a surprise to them. The only season we haven't gained promotion was the first season after the takeover and that was completely understandable. Phil Parkinson didn't arrive until fairly late in the summer as the club rightly made sure they made the correct managerial appointment, and as a result his squad wasn't really completed until a January transfer window. We gave Stockport County too much of a head start. In the second half of the season we were the best team in the division but couldn't quite reel them in. Since then it's been back to back to back glory. This remarkable success is drawing an enormous amount of attention from across football. Unsurprisingly, we're already seeing clubs aping our approach. Football is particularly prone to spotting trends and then trying to copy them. Maybe all society is. Fashions come and go. Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool win the Champions League and the Premier League respectively without out-and-out strikers. So next season we'll see teams trying to replicate that style of play. Then, of course, everything will go around again and we'll end up with big lumps up front. It's the same off the pitch. People step in and start to invest because they see what Rob and Ryan have done and they think that's the way forward. However, all of this I would argue is surface level. Do they understand what really makes the Wrexham phenomenon so remarkably successful? There's an awful lot of clever stuff under the bonnet. Too many entrepreneurs, chancers and band wagon-jumpers see Rob and Ryan's success and think they can do the same, but they underestimate the planning involved in Wrexham's expansion. Uniquely, they've turned celebrity into cash. We were sponsored by TikTok in the National League. Just stop and think about that for a second. TikTok. That's a huge brand. And yet they thought they could increase that exposure by taking advantage of our fame. Obviously, they paid better than the local businesses that were propping up other National League teams. Then we've had United Airlines. Oh, the second biggest airline in the world. Expedia sponsor Liverpool… and us! I could go on. The point is clear though. We attract the sort of blue-chip advertising that major clubs dream of. Look across the Premier League. How many of their sponsors are bigger than our front of shirt sponsors? And let's not forget that membership of that particular 20-club cabal is a licence to print money! It's all down to the fact that people want to be associated with Rob and Ryan. Associated with the brands they've created both for themselves and for the club. Brands are intangible, but they have worked out how to turn them into cold hard cash for our benefit. Also central to their success is their humility. That's definitely a quality most prospective club owners lack. Rob and Ryan were humble enough to appreciate that although they know their business and had an excellent concept for making a club succeed, they didn't know football. How many times have you seen a rich person take over a football club, try to get involved with the ins and outs on a day-to-day basis and mess everything up? Everyone can name a couple of clubs that would love to have an ownership model like ours. Their wealthy owners haven't come in with the intention of doing harm, but their poor decision-making has dragged them down. Sure, we've spent money, but we've generated much of it, and anyway, spending doesn't guarantee success. Ask any Manchester United fan. Rob and Ryan were smart enough to employ experienced people who are at the very top of the game. If the likes of Shaun Harvey and Les Reed don't know the ropes, nobody does. Likewise, Parkinson has been a phenomenal appointment as manager and the infrastructure we've built around him, leaning on so many experienced people's expertise, is world class. There's no ego to Rob and Ryan when it comes to these decisions. They're happy to be business managers and allow experts to run the football side of matters and be answerable to them. That's why they're successful, and why we're phenomenally fortunate to have them in charge.
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rob Brydon wants to channel Claudia Winkleman on huge new BBC1 adventure show
Gavin & Stacey star Rob Brydon says he admires The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman's "lightness of touch" on the hit BBC show as he prepares to front a new programme for the Beeb Rob Brydon jumped at the chance to host new BBC1 adventure reality show Destination X - because he thinks it will be a big hit like The Traitors. And the comedy star admitted he has even tried to emulate Claudia Winkleman 's 'lightness of touch' when it comes to his role as host. In the show, 13 players set off to travel around Europe on a blacked out bus and are given clues and challenges to help work out where they are - along with red herrings. Each time the bus stops, they must guess their location, and the person furthest away is eliminated. The last one standing wins a cash prize of £100,000. Rob, 60 said he greatly admired the way Claudia conducts herself on The Traitors. 'I think she judges it just right. She doesn't force herself to the front, she is there as a conduit, as a bridge for the viewer and you feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world. 'I wanted to avoid going, 'Hey, here I am, I'm going to do my thing now'. I wanted to be a nice pleasant way to bring people into the show with a nice comment here and there. You sometimes need to remind yourself not to dominate, but they are very strong characters. The relationships developed as they went along and you don't want to get in the way of that.' Dad-of-five Rob watched TheTraitors with wife Claire and their two teenage sons Tom, 17, and 14-year-old George, but said he didn't think he'd be a fan. 'I heard about The Traitors and thought, 'Oh, that's not for me'. And then we were away on holiday and we gave it a try and we devoured it. I loved it. It was one of the big reasons I wanted to do Destination X because I could see similarities.' Filming on the big-budget, 10-part series for BBC1 took place across the whole of Europe for 32 days and involved an army of nearly 200 people who were responsible for driving the main bus, a toilet bus and a sleeping bus to the various destinations, plus keeping the contestants in the dark. Rob, best known for playing Uncle Bryn in comedy Gavin & Stacey and for hosting panel-show Would I Lie to You, said he equally enjoys his different roles as actor and presenter. 'I genuinely love the variety of my career, I enjoy having the opportunity to do different things. Some people who act wouldn't be comfortable presenting - you'd be surprised how many actors wouldn't like it if you told them they were going to do something without a script. 'But I consider myself hugely fortunate to be given opportunities. Ultimately, having a live audience is my favourite. And sometimes with Destination X I'd say a funny line and they'd laugh and that's an audience. But you don't want to dominate and do too much.' He says another reason for signing up was because he thought his teenage sons might just watch it. 'What I love about this show is that it's for the family. I love shows that you can sit and watch together, it is a thing to persuade your teenage sons to spend time in your company, which is no mean feat. 'I hope this becomes appointment viewing for a family. If you're anything like me as a parent, you're desperate for the stuff that can get the kids to spend time with you." The format originated in Belgium and now the gameshow has enjoyed three hit series there, and has also been a a big success in Denmark and the Netherlands. As with The Traitors, the British version was filmed at the same time as a US version, for NBC. Rob said the two shows felt quite different. 'A lot of the contestants on the American one are familiar reality faces and they are a lot more sure of themselves. They are performers in their own way and I'm told they were playing the game from the off, to win. That's a very different vibe. With ours they start saying, 'We're a team' - which can't last. Ours is quintessentially British.' But Rob said if he had to work out where in Europe he was based on clues and his directional skills he wouldn't know where to start. 'I'd struggle,' he admitted. 'I don't think I'd have a clue working out where we were.' And his biggest challenge was deciding how to hold himself after years of sitting behind a desk on Would I Lie to You. "That first scene, walking into the airport, I'm thinking, 'Right, OK, how am I going to be?' he chuckled. "Because I've got a horrible walk - I walk like an ape. Not with my knuckles on the ground but I walk side to side. So I'm thinking, 'Try not to walk like an idiot'."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Rob Brydon's huge new Traitors-style travel reality show as Gavin and Stacey star reveals major struggle
WHEN Rob Brydon reached his 60th birthday with two of TV's biggest hits under his belt, he could have easily put his feet up. Instead, the star of Would I Lie To You? and Gavin & Stacey hit the road and is taking a risk by fronting the Advertisement 7 Rob Brydon is set to present the BBC's new travel challenge show, Destination X Credit: BBC 7 Brydon says he is excited about the challenge and enjoys how varied his career has become Credit: PA And he relishes the challenge — as it might give him the chance to show he's not just Some people know me for Would I Lie To You? But I've never done anything like this. 'Having something new and exciting and different is just a delight. I'm taking a chance on something I haven't done before.' Advertisement READ MORE ON ROB BRYDON After 18 years as Uncle Bryn and 16 years hosting the BBC quiz show, it's no surprise Rob was keen to get his teeth into something new. His latest project Destination X is a promising cross between The Traitors and Race Across The World, which each command six million viewers. But there was one hitch. Rob is so used to being seated on his quiz show and playing a character on Gavin & Stacey that he had forgotten how he walks as himself. Recalling walking on to the set of Advertisement Most read in News TV 'Because I've got a horrible walk. I walk like an ape. I walk side to side. So I'm thinking, 'Try not to walk like an idiot'. 'It even occurred to me that I won't be sat behind a desk. I had to think, 'How am I going to hold myself?'' Gavin and Stacey's Rob Brydon admits he was 'moved to tears' after getting first glimpse at script for final ever episode But Rob swiftly found his feet on the thrilling new show, which travels the length and breadth of Europe. Destination X introduces a group of travellers to each other at an airport before they are blindfolded and taken on a disorientating helicopter ride. Advertisement They then board a blacked-out bus that travels to a few hotspots where the travellers take on challenges to try to win clues. 7 Brydon says he had to try and figure out his presenting identity in order to lead the new show Credit: At the end of each episode they are asked one simple question: Where in the world are we? The straightforward premise has helped the show become a huge hit in the US and Belgium. Advertisement Rob is in charge of the jaunt and has revelled in the role. He said: 'I genuinely love the variety of my career. I like it all. "It's possible some people who act wouldn't be comfortable presenting. 'You would be surprised how many actors wouldn't like it if you told them that they were go- ing to do something with no script. Advertisement 'But I love all those things. 'Ultimately, having a live audience is my favourite. 'Sometimes with Destination X I would say a funny line and they would laugh and that's an audience. 'I wanted to have the interaction with the players. Advertisement 'That's something I looked forward to.' Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. You feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world It is perhaps unsurprising that given the similarities of the show to She has made a huge success of the murder mystery game — and Destination X contains the same elements of strategy and manipulation. Rob said: 'I watched the Belgian version and I thought, with some tweaks, I could see myself in that role. I was intrigued. Advertisement 'Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. She doesn't force herself to the front. "She is there as a conduit, as a bridge with the viewer and you feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world. "I wanted to be a pleasant way to bring people into the show with a nice comment here and there. 'The Traitors was one of the big reasons I wanted to do Destination X. I could see similarities.' Advertisement Just like the cast at the heart of The Traitors and Race Across The World, normal folk are the stars. 7 Brydon says he took inspiration from Claudia Winkleman presenting The Traitors Credit: BBC 7 Comic Brydon says he hopes the new show will be a big hit with family viewers Credit: BBC 'Strong characters' Guessing along with the contestants as they gather clues — and red herrings — is irresistible. Advertisement Rob, who begins the show in a suave pilot's uniform, clearly took to one of the contestants, wisecracking London cabbie Darren. He said: 'Darren mentions his wife — you hear quite a bit about her. "Bless him, he gets quite choked up when he talks about her. He was really missing her. It was genuine. It wasn't forced. Rob added: 'They are all very strong characters. They developed as they went along, the relationships. Advertisement 'You enjoy seeing people come out of their shell and then the distrust starts. They start saying, 'We're a team'. But that can't last.' At the end of each episode, the players lock themselves in the bus's map room where they have to plant an X on a map to log their guess. In the first episode alone, the hunches vary wildly despite them all being fed the same information. The person whose guess is furthest from the true destination is booted off the bus and sent home. Rob said: 'Throughout the series they'll think they're somewhere and then they'll talk themselves out of it. Advertisement 'The map room bits were so enjoyable. 'We were round the monitors watching them make the decisions. Certain shows have become valuable to people of a certain age who want their family together. That's what was special about the Gavin & Stacey Xmas special "Doubt would enter their mind. Sometimes it was a tiny amount. 'Someone will have gone out because they were 3km out!' Advertisement Rob is aware he is stepping out of his comfort zone and might end up with his first flop. But he's hopeful the pure heart of the show will win through and land fans among families. He said: 'You never know with any TV show, with any theatre show, film, how it's going to do. 'You'd have to be detached from reality to now have your fingers crossed and hope that people respond to it. Advertisement 7 Brydon says he had to learn how to be himself after playing a character on Gavin and Stacey Credit: PA 'For the family' 'You have to have word of mouth. If you hear enough, you might go, 'I'll give it a try'. 'What I love about this show is that it's for the family. I love shows that you can sit and watch, like we watch The Traitors as a family. 'It's the same with Race Across The World. We think, 'Yeah, let's all watch it together'. That's why I'm proud of Would I Lie To You? Advertisement 'The humour is sharp and clever but you can watch it with your family. 'I hope Destination X becomes appointment viewing for a family and everyone will be chipping in and arguing about it.' Rob, who is a dad of five, added: 'If you're anything like me as a parent, you're desperate for the stuff that can get the kids to watch something with you. 'Those shows have become very valuable to people of a certain age who want their family together. Advertisement 'The kids get older and everybody is told, 'Oh, they're not going to want to be with you'. 'You think, 'We'll be different'. But sure enough, that happens. 'That's what was special about the "Getting people to all sit down and watch the same show is so hard to do.' Advertisement It is clear the programme has all the ingredients to become Rob's third hit — and he is already hopeful of a second series or perhaps a celebrity spin-off. But he has one condition for BBC bosses. Rob added with a laugh: 'I've said I'll only do it if we go to Wales.' Barry Island, presumably? 7 Brydon says he wants Destination X to become appointment viewing for families Credit: BBC Advertisement
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Rob Brydon's huge new Traitors-style travel reality show as Gavin and Stacey star reveals major struggle
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN Rob Brydon reached his 60th birthday with two of TV's biggest hits under his belt, he could have easily put his feet up. Instead, the star of Would I Lie To You? and Gavin & Stacey hit the road and is taking a risk by fronting the BBC's new challenge show, Destination X. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Rob Brydon is set to present the BBC's new travel challenge show, Destination X Credit: BBC 7 Brydon says he is excited about the challenge and enjoys how varied his career has become Credit: PA And he relishes the challenge — as it might give him the chance to show he's not just Stacey's Uncle Bryn. Rob, who turned 60 in May, said: 'People always ask me about Gavin & Stacey. Some people know me for Would I Lie To You? But I've never done anything like this. 'Having something new and exciting and different is just a delight. I'm taking a chance on something I haven't done before.' After 18 years as Uncle Bryn and 16 years hosting the BBC quiz show, it's no surprise Rob was keen to get his teeth into something new. His latest project Destination X is a promising cross between The Traitors and Race Across The World, which each command six million viewers. But there was one hitch. Rob is so used to being seated on his quiz show and playing a character on Gavin & Stacey that he had forgotten how he walks as himself. Recalling walking on to the set of Destination X, he said: 'My first scene, I am walking into an airport, and I'm thinking, 'Right, OK, how am I going to be?' 'Because I've got a horrible walk. I walk like an ape. I walk side to side. So I'm thinking, 'Try not to walk like an idiot'. 'It even occurred to me that I won't be sat behind a desk. I had to think, 'How am I going to hold myself?'' Gavin and Stacey's Rob Brydon admits he was 'moved to tears' after getting first glimpse at script for final ever episode But Rob swiftly found his feet on the thrilling new show, which travels the length and breadth of Europe. Destination X introduces a group of travellers to each other at an airport before they are blindfolded and taken on a disorientating helicopter ride. They then board a blacked-out bus that travels to a few hotspots where the travellers take on challenges to try to win clues. 7 Brydon says he had to try and figure out his presenting identity in order to lead the new show Credit: At the end of each episode they are asked one simple question: Where in the world are we? The straightforward premise has helped the show become a huge hit in the US and Belgium. Rob is in charge of the jaunt and has revelled in the role. He said: 'I genuinely love the variety of my career. I like it all. "It's possible some people who act wouldn't be comfortable presenting. 'You would be surprised how many actors wouldn't like it if you told them that they were go- ing to do something with no script. 'But I love all those things. 'Ultimately, having a live audience is my favourite. 'Sometimes with Destination X I would say a funny line and they would laugh and that's an audience. 'I wanted to have the interaction with the players. 'That's something I looked forward to.' Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. You feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world It is perhaps unsurprising that given the similarities of the show to BBC mega-hit Traitors, Rob looked to Claudia Winkleman when he was considering whether to take the job. She has made a huge success of the murder mystery game — and Destination X contains the same elements of strategy and manipulation. Rob said: 'I watched the Belgian version and I thought, with some tweaks, I could see myself in that role. I was intrigued. 'Claudia has a lightness of touch. I think she judges it just right. She doesn't force herself to the front. "She is there as a conduit, as a bridge with the viewer and you feel like you're with a really good friend who is allowing you into this world. "I wanted to be a pleasant way to bring people into the show with a nice comment here and there. 'The Traitors was one of the big reasons I wanted to do Destination X. I could see similarities.' Just like the cast at the heart of The Traitors and Race Across The World, normal folk are the stars. 7 Brydon says he took inspiration from Claudia Winkleman presenting The Traitors Credit: BBC 7 Comic Brydon says he hopes the new show will be a big hit with family viewers Credit: BBC 'Strong characters' Guessing along with the contestants as they gather clues — and red herrings — is irresistible. Rob, who begins the show in a suave pilot's uniform, clearly took to one of the contestants, wisecracking London cabbie Darren. He said: 'Darren mentions his wife — you hear quite a bit about her. "Bless him, he gets quite choked up when he talks about her. He was really missing her. It was genuine. It wasn't forced. Rob added: 'They are all very strong characters. They developed as they went along, the relationships. 'You enjoy seeing people come out of their shell and then the distrust starts. They start saying, 'We're a team'. But that can't last.' At the end of each episode, the players lock themselves in the bus's map room where they have to plant an X on a map to log their guess. In the first episode alone, the hunches vary wildly despite them all being fed the same information. The person whose guess is furthest from the true destination is booted off the bus and sent home. Rob said: 'Throughout the series they'll think they're somewhere and then they'll talk themselves out of it. 'The map room bits were so enjoyable. 'We were round the monitors watching them make the decisions. Certain shows have become valuable to people of a certain age who want their family together. That's what was special about the Gavin & Stacey Xmas special "Doubt would enter their mind. Sometimes it was a tiny amount. 'Someone will have gone out because they were 3km out!' Rob is aware he is stepping out of his comfort zone and might end up with his first flop. But he's hopeful the pure heart of the show will win through and land fans among families. He said: 'You never know with any TV show, with any theatre show, film, how it's going to do. 'You'd have to be detached from reality to now have your fingers crossed and hope that people respond to it. 7 Brydon says he had to learn how to be himself after playing a character on Gavin and Stacey Credit: PA 'For the family' 'You have to have word of mouth. If you hear enough, you might go, 'I'll give it a try'. 'What I love about this show is that it's for the family. I love shows that you can sit and watch, like we watch The Traitors as a family. 'It's the same with Race Across The World. We think, 'Yeah, let's all watch it together'. That's why I'm proud of Would I Lie To You? 'The humour is sharp and clever but you can watch it with your family. 'I hope Destination X becomes appointment viewing for a family and everyone will be chipping in and arguing about it.' Rob, who is a dad of five, added: 'If you're anything like me as a parent, you're desperate for the stuff that can get the kids to watch something with you. 'Those shows have become very valuable to people of a certain age who want their family together. 'The kids get older and everybody is told, 'Oh, they're not going to want to be with you'. 'You think, 'We'll be different'. But sure enough, that happens. 'That's what was special about the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special. "Getting people to all sit down and watch the same show is so hard to do.' It is clear the programme has all the ingredients to become Rob's third hit — and he is already hopeful of a second series or perhaps a celebrity spin-off. But he has one condition for BBC bosses. Rob added with a laugh: 'I've said I'll only do it if we go to Wales.' Barry Island, presumably?
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
British and Irish Lions fans arrive in Australia as 40,000 set to roar side on
British & Irish Lions to be roared on by 40,000 strong army of fans as they prepare to take on Australia in Brisbane in the first of three Test matches A huge travelling army of British & Irish Lions fans are arriving in Australia ahead of tomorrow's match. An estimated 40,000 supporters from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales will be roaring their heroes on in Brisbane in the eagerly anticipated first game of the series. Among them are Rob and Rachel Kehoe who are even wearing specially made Lions suits for the matches. The couple have saved up to attend the games and reckon it will cost them £10,000 for the trip Rob, 64, is a doctor, a Consultant Psychiatrist, and he is the President of Leeds Medics & Dentists RUFC. He's also a member of Ilkley RUFC & Old Anselmians RUFC. The Lions take on the Aussies in Brisbane on Saturday. Rachel, 52, from The Wirral on Merseyside said: 'We've been planning the trip for two years and it's costing us an arm and a leg - about £10,000 - but it's the trip of a lifetime! We've had our outfits made especially for this trip as we love to embrace the atmosphere! 'We are really excited to be in Australia for the Lions tour. 'It's a 'Sea of Red' Lions fans here in Brisbane and the atmosphere is really building for the first test match against the Wallabies. We've been planning this trip for two years and we are hoping to roar on the Lions to a great series victory.' Lions coach Andy Farrell has named a 23 man squad for the game - without a single Welshman in it - for the first time since 1896. He said: 'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date.' An attendance of 100,000 supporters is expected at the second Test in Melbourne later this month. Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh opened the official fan zone in Brisbane's King George Square earlier this week. The public can measure their heights against the likes of Maro Itoje and Joseph Suaalii, test the strength of their tackle and even point to which Wallaby or Lion hair do they'd like to emulate at a pop up barbershop. Former Wallaby Waugh says he's been delighted with how the tour has gone so far: "The build-up has been nice, we've seen record crowds at Western Force, the biggest crowd in twenty years at the Brumbies. I think we really saw this country come alive when the Wallabies beat England last year in Twickenham. Everyone wants to get behind the team. To sell out Suncorp on Saturday night off the back of these records means it's going to be a very exciting two and a half weeks. The team now needs to put the performance out on the park. You want hunger, fight and desperation.'' Tomorrow's British & Irish Lions team is: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje (capt), Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan. And the Replacements are: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki.
