Latest news with #VikingPress
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Crime really does pay! Thursday Murder Club writer and TV host Richard Osman sees his company accounts DOUBLE to £4.5million
Crime clearly does pay for Thursday Murder Club author Richard Osman - after the writer and TV host saw his company's accounts double to a stunning £4.5million. Records for Six Seven Entertainment - of which Osman, 54, is the sole director - saw its cash in bank and hand soar from £2,071,556 in 2024 to £4,451,074 in 2025. Listed as producing 'artistic creation' on Companies House, the business was only incorporated in 2022 with £1.8million already in the bank. It comes after a stellar year for the former Pointless host, which saw the build up to his series being adapted by Netflix, starring Dame Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie, Pierce Brosnan and Sir Ben Kingsley. On its publication in 2020, The Thursday Murder Club became the only book to have sold more than one million copies in the same year as its release and the third-highest-selling hardback novel after Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol and JK Rowling 's Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows. It was said to have been bought for a seven-figure sum by Viking Press after a 10-publisher bidding war. It was followed by three sequels, The Man Who Died Twice in 2021, The Bullet That Missed in 2022 and The Last Devil to Die in 2023. A fifth - The Impossible Fortune - is set to be released on September 25. The novels have turned into a runaway success story, selling more than 10 million copies globally. The film rights to the book were soon snapped up by legendary director Steven Spielberg with his production company Amblin Entertainment beating off competition from 13 other studios. He also started hosting The Rest is Entertainment alongside Marina Hyde in late 2023, with the hit show spilling the pair's insider knowledge of TV, films and pop culture. In the last year, accounts revealed Osman had to pay £674,327 in tax and social security - with a further £74,512 going to other creditors. This is up from £155,754 in tax and £11,325 last year. Netflix is set to release Thursday Murder Club on August 28, a year after Osman revealed that the film adaptation of his book will star Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley. Dame Helen, 79, will be playing Elizabeth Best, Sir Ben, 81, is portraying Ibrahim Arif and Pierce, 71, will taken on the role of Ron Ritchie. Richard said at the time: 'I'm now allowed to officially announce three of the four members of the Thursday Murder Club. 'Elizabeth is going to be played by the person who people most often shout at me in the street as them wanting them to play Elizabeth... Helen Mirren, which is very exciting.' It was followed by three sequels, The Man Who Died Twice in 2021, The Bullet That Missed in 2022 and The Last Devil to Die in 2023, with a fifth planned to be published next year 'Ibrahim is Sir Ben Kingsley. Ron is going to be played by – I'm going to say the most handsome man in the world, so he's going to have to dull himself down a bit... Pierce Brosnan.' He added: 'Joyce we're still in negotiations but again the name is the one that people most shout at me in the street. Richard went on to detail the project, which Chris Columbus was announced to be directing. Columbus directed Mrs Doubtfire, Home Alone, the first two Harry Potter films and also wrote The Goonies, which Richard revealed is his actress and comedian wife, Ingrid Oliver's 'favourite film of all time'. He said: 'Lots more casting to come in the following weeks. We're filming this summer from end of June to September, all in England'. He added: 'He's working on the script at the moment'. Richard went on: 'Mirren, Kingsley, Brosnan – I can see the poster now. As summer goes on, any questions for the Q&A edition [of the podcast] about Ben Kingsley, his views on things, just ask me. I'll be having tea with him on a bus...' There are also roles for Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tony Curran, Richard E Grant, Tom Ellis, Paul Freeman, Sarah Niles, Ingrid Oliver and David Tennant. The Thursday Murder Club follows a group of pensioners in a middle-class retirement village, who set about solving the murder of a property developer. The a gang of amateur sleuths are made up of retired spook Elizabeth, stroppy ex-trade unionist Ron, former nurse Joyce and psychiatrist Ibrahim. Originally the film was set to be written and directed Ol Parker, with shooting set to begin in March, with Meryl Streep and Viola Davis rumoured to star. The Thursday Murder Club will be released on Netflix on August 28.
Scottish Sun
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
How Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson rivalry rocked World's Strongest Man and saw icons come to blows
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EDDIE HALL and Hafthor 'Thor' Bjornsson are two of the biggest names in the history of strongman - and they have a huge rivalry between them too. Together they have a combined 10 top three finishes and two victories at the World's Strongest Man. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson have a rivalry that rocked World's Strongest Man Credit: Probellum Neither star will be competing in Sacramento this year, but there will still be plenty of talk around their long-standing feud, as there always is. The pair have had a public war-of-words, a battle of breaking records and a full-on punch up over the years. Here SunSport breaks down why the two man-mountains have so much vitriol towards one and other... WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Hall and Thor had long been friends before everything went wrong at the 2017 edition of World's Strongest Man. It was the 2017 show that saw Brit Hall pip Bjornsson to the title - becoming the UK's first winner since 1993. However, his Icelandic counterpart didn't take kindly to falling short. Hall, nicknamed 'The Beast', told the BBC: "I was friends with Hafthor for many years, but he lost to me and he just couldn't take it. "He was willing to throw a friendship away." CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Bjornsson immediately took to Instagram to tell his millions of followers that he felt Hall had cheated - robbing him of the title. He wrote: "This weekend I was robbed. The integrity of my beloved sport is in question." Bjornsson refused to shake Hall's hand after all was said and done, claiming he had incorrectly been penalised for bending his knees during the Viking Press event. The Viking Press sees competitors try to do as many presses in one minute, with each rep only allowed to be one push with the legs locked straight. But referee Colin Bryce, a Brit like Hall, deemed Bjornsson to have used incorrect form for his final lift - handing Hall the title by one point. 10 Eddie Hall won World's Strongest Man by one point in 2017 Credit: Instagram eddiehallwsm 10 Hafthor Bjornsson was convinced he had been 'robbed' of victory Credit: Instagram/thorbjornsson THE STORM RAGES ON From there, things began to worsen. Bjornsson did not want to let go of his "robbery", regularly "smearing" Hall's victory and letting it be known that he felt he deserved to win in 2017. In fact, Hall was so sick of Thor's constant arguments against his WSM title that he tried to prove that he had bent his knees during the Viking Press. The 6ft 2in Englishman shared a video of the event which he claimed was proof that he didn't cheat and Bjornsson was right to have not won. That video sparked even more fury between the pair, with Thor later admitting he doesn't even like Hall. He said: "The whole world knows Eddie and I don't get along. Some people just don't get along in life and that's okay. "I don't need to get along with him. And that's fine, but I don't necessarily hate the guy, I wouldn't go that far. I mean, I do dislike him." 10 Bjornsson claimed he didn't like Hall Credit: Instagram @thorbjornsson WORTH THE WEIGHT Determined to get one over on his new rival, Bjornsson decided he would have to look away from strongman to get under Hall's skin. Hall had previously set the world record for the heaviest deadlift in history, managing to pick up 500KG in 2016. Hall had committed himself to earning that title, suffering from a brain bleed and temporary blindness as a result, but Bjornsson was still determined to break it. The 6ft 9in Icelandic giant, who played The Mountain on Game of Thrones, trained for several months to give it a crack. If they're going to say that's 501kg on the bar, I do not trust them Eddie Hall And after working on his lifting, he successfully managed to lift a typically petty 501kg to snatch the record away in his own gym. Hall was understandably miffed by Bjornsson's determination to one-up him and claimed that the strongman turned TV star's attempt shouldn't stand. In a YouTube Q&A video, he said: "I do not trust the Icelandics. I do not trust them. "At World's Strongest Man 2017 they were the ones that cried and stomped their feet and said that the referee cheated them and that's the only reason I won World's Strongest Man." Adding: "I don't trust the Icelandics, they would pull anything out of their pockets to try and beat me and to do anything to top anybody. "So I don't trust them. I do not trust them. If they're going to say that's 501kg on the bar, I do not trust them". 10 Eddie Hall set the world record for a 500kg deadlift, suffering from a brain bleed at the time Credit: YouTube / Eddie Hall The Beast 10 Bjornsson topped the record with 501kg and seemed to do so with relative ease Credit: YouTube / Rogue Fitness THE GLOVES Bjornsson wanted to take things up a notch after breaking Hall's record, calling him out for a fight. After being offered a seven-figure boxing deal, Thor took aim at Hall. He said: "I just knocked out your record, and now I'm ready to knock you out'. After three years of a high-profile hatred, the two strongman were ready to settle the score in the ring. A fight was arranged and labelled as 'The Heaviest Boxing Match in History' with the fighters coming in at a combined 294kg. It ended in a unanimous decision victory for Bjornsson after he knocked Hall to the canvas twice and won all-but the second round. Following defeat Hall followed through on a wager to get a tattoo reading: "World's Strongest Man, Hafthor Julius Bjornsson" on his foot. And it looked like it was the end of their rivalry with Hall saying: "The aftermath of the fight has made me think very hard. "I think it's time for me and Thor to move on from our differences in 2017 at the World's Strongest Man. 'I understand why Thor did what he did and why he said what he said. I understand in his head what the outcome was. 'Nothing will change that and he will always have this perception that he was robbed in 2017. Him winning the fight is not going to change that. 'I've wanted to punch him in the face for a long time and I got the chance to. It's resolved a lot for me and helped to push a lot aside." 10 Hall and Bjornsson boxed each other Credit: Probellum 10 Hall was knocked to the floor twice Credit: Probellum 10 Bjornsson won the bout by unanimous decision Credit: Probellum
The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
How Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson rivalry rocked World's Strongest Man and saw icons come to blows
EDDIE HALL and Hafthor 'Thor' Bjornsson are two of the biggest names in the history of strongman - and they have a huge rivalry between them too. Together they have a combined 10 top three finishes and two victories at the World's Strongest Man. 10 Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson have a rivalry that rocked World's Strongest Man Credit: Probellum Neither star will be competing in Sacramento this year, but there will still be plenty of talk around their long-standing feud, as there always is. The pair have had a public war-of-words, a battle of breaking records and a full-on punch up over the years. Here SunSport breaks down why the two man-mountains have so much vitriol towards one and other... WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Hall and Thor had long been friends before everything went wrong at the 2017 edition of World's Strongest Man. READ MORE IN SPORT It was the 2017 show that saw Brit Hall pip Bjornsson to the title - becoming the UK's first winner since 1993. However, his Icelandic counterpart didn't take kindly to falling short. Hall, nicknamed 'The Beast', told the BBC: "I was friends with Hafthor for many years, but he lost to me and he just couldn't take it. "He was willing to throw a friendship away." Most read in Other Sports CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Bjornsson immediately took to Instagram to tell his millions of followers that he felt Hall had cheated - robbing him of the title. He wrote: "This weekend I was robbed. The integrity of my beloved sport is in question." Bjornsson refused to shake Hall's hand after all was said and done, claiming he had incorrectly been penalised for bending his knees during the Viking Press event. The Viking Press sees competitors try to do as many presses in one minute, with each rep only allowed to be one push with the legs locked straight. But referee Colin Bryce, a Brit like Hall, deemed Bjornsson to have used incorrect form for his final lift - handing Hall the title by one point. 10 Eddie Hall won World's Strongest Man by one point in 2017 Credit: Instagram eddiehallwsm 10 Hafthor Bjornsson was convinced he had been 'robbed' of victory Credit: Instagram/thorbjornsson THE STORM RAGES ON From there, things began to worsen. Bjornsson did not want to let go of his "robbery", regularly "smearing" Hall's victory and letting it be known that he felt he deserved to win in 2017. In fact, Hall was so sick of Thor's constant arguments against his WSM title that he tried to prove that he had bent his knees during the Viking Press. The 6ft 2in Englishman shared a video of the event which he claimed was proof that he didn't cheat and Bjornsson was right to have not won. That video sparked even more fury between the pair, with Thor later admitting he doesn't even like Hall. He said: "The whole world knows Eddie and I don't get along. Some people just don't get along in life and that's okay. "I don't need to get along with him. And that's fine, but I don't necessarily hate the guy, I wouldn't go that far. I mean, I do dislike him." 10 Bjornsson claimed he didn't like Hall Credit: Instagram @thorbjornsson WORTH THE WEIGHT Determined to get one over on his new rival, Bjornsson decided he would have to look away from strongman to get under Hall's skin. Hall had previously set the world record for the heaviest deadlift in history, managing to pick up 500KG in 2016. Hall had committed himself to earning that title, suffering from a brain bleed and temporary blindness as a result, but Bjornsson was still determined to break it. The 6ft 9in Icelandic giant, who played The Mountain on Game of Thrones, trained for several months to give it a crack. If they're going to say that's 501kg on the bar, I do not trust them Eddie Hall And after working on his lifting, he successfully managed to lift a typically petty 501kg to snatch the record away in his own gym. Hall was understandably miffed by Bjornsson's determination to one-up him and claimed that the strongman turned TV star's attempt shouldn't stand. In a YouTube Q&A video, he said: "I do not trust the Icelandics. I do not trust them. "At World's Strongest Man 2017 they were the ones that cried and stomped their feet and said that the referee cheated them and that's the only reason I won World's Strongest Man." Adding: "I don't trust the Icelandics, they would pull anything out of their pockets to try and beat me and to do anything to top anybody. "So I don't trust them. I do not trust them. If they're going to say that's 501kg on the bar, I do not trust them". 10 Eddie Hall set the world record for a 500kg deadlift, suffering from a brain bleed at the time Credit: YouTube / Eddie Hall The Beast 10 Bjornsson topped the record with 501kg and seemed to do so with relative ease Credit: YouTube / Rogue Fitness THE GLOVES Bjornsson wanted to take things up a notch after breaking Hall's record, calling him out for a fight. After being offered a seven-figure boxing deal, Thor took aim at Hall. He said: "I just knocked out your record, and now I'm ready to knock you out'. After three years of a high-profile hatred, the two strongman were A fight was arranged and labelled as 'The Heaviest Boxing Match in History' with the fighters coming in at a combined 294kg. It ended in a unanimous decision victory for Bjornsson after he knocked Hall to the canvas twice and won all-but the second round. Following defeat Hall And it looked like it was the end of their rivalry with Hall saying: "The aftermath of the fight has made me think very hard. "I think it's time for me and Thor to move on from our differences in 2017 at the World's Strongest Man. 'I understand why Thor did what he did and why he said what he said. I understand in his head what the outcome was. 'Nothing will change that and he will always have this perception that he was robbed in 2017. Him winning the fight is not going to change that. 'I've wanted to punch him in the face for a long time and I got the chance to. It's resolved a lot for me and helped to push a lot aside." 10 Hall and Bjornsson boxed each other Credit: Probellum 10 Hall was knocked to the floor twice Credit: Probellum 10 Bjornsson won the bout by unanimous decision Credit: Probellum 10 Hall got a tattoo calling Thor the World's Strogest Man after his defeat Credit: Instagram
Bahrain News Gazette
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Bahrain News Gazette
2025 World's Strongest Man Championship to Launch in Bahrain Under Royal Patronage
Manama: Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the 2025 World's Strongest Man (WSM) Championship is set to commence on Friday, April 18, at The Avenues Bahrain. The event will be overseen by the First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. According to Bahrain News Agency, the championship will include two primary categories: Bahrain's Strongest Man and the GCC's Strongest Man. Participants will compete in seven distinct events: Carry and Load, XL Bar Deadlift, Viking Press, Wheel of Pain, Arm over Arm Pull, Hercules Hold, and Power Stairs. Weigh-ins and a technical meeting to discuss rules and regulations took place on Thursday, April 17. The WSM Championship, established in 2017 under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, began as a national competition to inspire Bahraini youth. It has since expanded to welcome participants from across the GCC, reinforcing Bahrain's position as a pivotal sports hub in the region. Now in its eighth edition, the championship operates annually under the motto 'Khallak Wahsh' (Beast Mode). It has previously been held at prominent locations such as Bahrain Bay and The Avenues Bahrain, featuring a variety of strength challenges including log lifting and vehicle pulling. The championship's mission is to cultivate a spirit of competition and increase participation among both local and regional athletes. The growing interest in strength sports has ensured that the event attracts substantial engagement from fans throughout the Kingdom and the Gulf region.
Daily Tribune
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
HH Shaikh Khalid to Patronise ‘Strongest Man' Championship
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the General Sports Authority and Bahrain Olympic Committee, the 2025 Strongest Man Championship will take place from 18–19 April. The event will be held at the outdoor arena opposite The Avenues Mall and will feature two main competitions: Bahrain's Strongest Man and GCC's Strongest Man. The 2025 edition will see athletes competing in seven disciplines, including Carry & Load, XL Bar Deadlift, Viking Press, Wheel of Pain, Arm-over-Arm Pull, Hercules Hold, and Power Stairs — up from five in previous editions. Competitions in the lightweight, middleweight, and GCC categories will run across both Friday and Saturday, with final results and winners to be announced on the closing day.
