England rolled one dice repeatedly, taking to the air in the hope of winning aerial contest.
They did at times.
Cadan Murley came down with a couple early on to earn territory, but when their number wasn’t come up, England wouldn’t or couldn’t walk away and find another gameplan.
“Questions need to be asked about England’s strategy and methodology – about how they believe the game should be played at this level,” said England Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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“The way England are playing, they are not going to win international matches.”
They aren’t winning many friends either.
Their style – high kicks and short of flair – is hard to love. Now England aren’t winning with it, fans’ patience is wearing thin fast.
Itoje insisted afterwards that the fault lay with him and his fellow players.
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“The coaches set us up to do well, and we as players have to take responsibility. It is us – myself as captain and the guys on the field,” he told BBC Sport.
Nobody else will give Borthwick and his regime a free pass though.
Whatever the result against France, this campaign, which arrived with such high hopes and has dragged through such lows, will rightly be scrutinised to find the cause of England’s underachievement.
Borthwick will have to explain his own part in it. And his Rugby Football Union bosses will have to consider whether he has any further part to play.
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In many ways, they will be reluctant to change the team’s management.
The last Rugby World Cup cycle involved late coach churn when Eddie Jones was axed less than a year out from France 2023.
While Borthwick, as his successor, guided England to within touching distance of the final, he was hamstrung by a lack of preparation.
Given time with the team, he delivered a 12-match year-long run that only ended three weeks ago.
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There are plenty of potential successors and candidates for one of the biggest jobs in the sport.
Pat Lam, who has combined steel and silk at Bristol and managed admirably with a raft of injuries this season, has made no secret of his international ambitions.
If an English coach is the preference, and it was last time, then Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards have done highly impressive work with England’s Six Nations rivals.
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Phil Dowson has moulded a winning, stylish Northampton team out of many of the same players in this England squad.
All come with caveats, complications and doubts.
The trouble for the RFU is, so does the status quo.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watched from the stands at the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham gave Chelsea one almighty scare in the FA Cup fifth-round
21:59, 07 Mar 2026Updated 22:46, 07 Mar 2026
Ryan Reynolds was incredibly proud of Wrexham’s performance against Chelsea even though his side were beaten at the Racecourse Ground.
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watched on from the stands as the Red Dragons saw their FA Cup hopes end against Liam Rosenior’s side, but only after they had given the reigning world champions one almighty scare. A fortuitous own goal allowed the Stamford Bridge club to draw level just before the break after Sam Smith had given the hosts an early lead.
An upset then looked on the cards when Callum Doyle restored Phil Parkinson’s side’s lead 12 minutes from time. However, it wasn’t to be for Reynolds’ side as Josh Acheampong levelled for a second time and Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro secured Chelsea’s quarter-final spot in extra time after the hosts had George Dobson sent off.
But taking to X on Saturday night, the Wrexham co-owner wrote: “Three years ago this week, we battled Maidenhead United to a draw. Today we pushed Chelsea to extra time. So incredibly proud of Wrexham’s performance today.”
And a proud Parkinson said post-match: “The lads have been immense. Of course the dressing room is quiet, which you’d expect after a defeat, but when we wake up tomorrow the lads can be immensely proud – and the supporters will be – of the way we’ve played.
“Everybody knows that 11 v 10 in extra time, when so much energy has been used, is a difficult ask. But we said there would be a moment and there nearly was with the disallowed goal.
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“I think we deserved, at the very least, to go to penalties, but some big calls went against us.”
While Chelsea boss Rosenior admitted his side got lucky, saying: “‘That was every reason why the FA Cup is what it is
“Wrexham were magnificent in their energy and how brave they were with their press and how they played. We had to be at a high level.
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“We were pushed all the way by a very good team. We need to find a way to manage games better, but in these cup ties you can feel the emotion of the game. They’re very difficult games to play in.
“We went 1-0 down early against Aston Villa, we were 2-0 down at half-time against West Ham, we have to find a way not to be in that position, but what the players are showing me, no matter who is on the pitch, is a really good spirit and belief and a determination to win games of football.
“Now we need to keep working, we need to recover because we’ve got a big game on Wednesday and we need to start preparing for that.”
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What’s in store for you today? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Venus is aligned with Neptune in Saturn today, creating fruitful ground for truths to be revealed. Approach the day with patience.
Gemini, Aries and Scorpio, focus on staying grounded. Something may try to shake you, but you have the power to be still.
While you may not hear exactly what you want to today, it will almost certainly be what you need. Take deep breaths and practice gratitude for what the cosmos offers.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Sunday March 8, 2026.
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One moment you may feel head-over-heels in love with a person or idea, the next you question its longevity. It can last if you anchor the dream in reality. Today’s rare planetary alignment invites you to blend beauty with structure and love with boundaries. You are not just dreaming, you are designing. Trust your wisdom but stay grounded.
Venus aligns with Neptune and Saturn, blending mysticism with grounding influence. Your inner world is stirred, encouraging healing through beauty, reflection and spiritual structure. You may feel drawn to forgive, release or revisit a long-hidden hope. Trust the unseen but move gently Taurus. Something from your past can come up.
Dreams of collaboration and shared purpose feel inspired, yet practicality reminds you to choose quality over quantity. A creative vision or group effort can become lasting with organisation. Romance may grow through friendship or teamwork. Keep one foot on the ground, even when the story feels magical.
Career ambitions come into focus, asking for strategy as well as vision. Inspirational roles are possible, but they’ll likely require planning and follow-through. Your instincts can be strong, but structure brings the most lasting and enduring success. So look to construct a key hope rather than simply imagining it.
You seek meaning through travel, learning or soulful experiences, yet you are also asked to create something enduring from them. A spiritual or creative path may feel destined, but discipline is needed. If you are seeking any kind of advice today, but conscious of the subtleties in what you are told. They can contain a key piece of information.
Venus aligns with Neptune and Saturn, deepening your intimate world. You are exploring trust, vulnerability and shared resources. Avoid romanticising warning signs but allow love and creativity to reshape you. Release what no longer serves and nurture what is true. However, when it comes to your long-term finances, the nuances can be important.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
A relationship could feel enchanted, but it asks for effort and honesty. Whether deepening commitment or reassessing connection, today’s special alignment encourages insight and emotional maturity. Romantic visions can become real with mutual investment. Boundaries are acts of love now. If you are looking to book a trip or holiday, today can be key.
You are seeking deeper meaning in work, wellness and daily routines. Creative projects or compassionate service can bring fulfilment if made sustainable. This is not about burnout but about joy through commitment. Collaboration or romance may blossom but must be grounded. Intriguingly, a work based platonic relationship can thrive.
You feel inspired to dream big in love, creativity or personal pursuits. This is a wonderful time to commit to something meaningful. Whether it is through using your array of personal talents and flair more actively, and meeting up and mixing and mingling socially, a unique skyscape can inspire some really helpful outcomes.
Home and emotional foundations take centre stage as Venus, Neptune and Saturn align. Sentiment meets structure, encouraging healing, beautifying and rebuilding. Whether renovating space or spirit, create something sacred as well as stylish. If you have felt a little inhibited the last two weeks, now you can feel more in tune with what feel at ease with.
Communication flows with compassion and charm, but discipline refines your message. Inspired ideas or meaningful conversations may surface. Edit thoughtfully and let words become both art and blueprint. Speak from the soul, but polish the delivery. And today is also going to see your happy knack for sharing ideas that people warm to, amplified.
Money and values are illuminated as Venus links with Neptune and Saturn. You are dreaming of abundance, but ready to build it realistically. A project may gain momentum or a gesture boost confidence. You are claiming more, step by step, with intention and trust. And there is a very strong chance that your life foundations can become more solid.
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Flights were briefly suspended on Saturday morning and passengers were taken into tunnels at Dubai airport, which is normally the busiest global hub in the world, following fresh drone strikes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city.
Flight VS400 had taken off from Heathrow at 10.22pm on Friday night for the seven-hour flight to Dubai. But after six hours in the air, while the Airbus A350 was flying over eastern Saudi Arabia, airspace was closed due to the latest attack.
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The pilots turned around to fly back to London, but they landed at Budapest at 11am on Saturday to refuel. After 90 minutes on the ground, the aircraft took off again for a two-hour flight to Heathrow and landed shortly before 2pm.
Long haul: flight path of Virgin Atlantic jet that was unable to land in Dubai and diverted to Budapest to refuel (FlightRadar24)
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our customers and our people is always our top priority.
“We have strict criteria that must be met for a flight to continue into the region, and even though Dubai airport reopened shortly after its closure, our criteria for proceeding had not yet been met.”
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Hundreds of passengers who were waiting in Dubai to be flown back to London now have to wait for another opportunity to leave.
“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding and will contact affected customers,” the spokesperson added.
“Our flights have been repatriating as many of our customers and people who were in Dubai and Riyadh as possible, and we will continue our remaining rotations if deemed safe to do so.”
Virgin Atlantic has now decided to cancel all flights to and from Dubai for the rest of the winter season, apart from a single round-trip departing on Monday and returning the following day.
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Virgin Atlantic has now decided to cancel all flights to and from Dubai for the rest of the winter season (Matt Carter)
The airline’s spokesperson said: “Following airport and airspace closures in Dubai early this morning, we made the decision to cancel a number of our London Heathrow and Dubai rotations – the VS400 on Friday 6 March, VS401 on Saturday 7 March, VS400 on Saturday 7 March and VS401 Sunday 8 March.
“We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with ongoing dynamic assessments and active changes to our flight routings based on the latest information and guidance, where required.”
The relatively new Virgin Atlantic link between London Heathrow and Riyadh has also been “paused”.
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Each airline makes its own risk assessment and has specific criteria for deciding whether or not to operate a flight.
British Airways, which is known for being particularly risk-averse, has decided to concentrate its efforts on flights to and from Muscat in Oman, which is regarded as a safe airport.
The three giant airlines of the Gulf – Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – are all seeking to increase the number of repatriation flights from the region, particularly to the UK and India. Thousands of passengers are seeking to leave for these key long-haul destinations.
But other carriers are reducing their prospective flying programmes to the region, not least because of a collapse in demand and significantly higher operating costs, especially insurance.
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Insurers are demanding much higher premiums as civilian airports come under attack from Iran.
Wendy Chamberlain said the figures gave a “terrifying” sense of the scale of the issue, as she urged the Scottish Government to act.
Craig Paton, Press Association Scotland Deputy Political Editor and Gemma Ryder Reporter
00:01, 08 Mar 2026
Scottish cops were called to domestic abuse incidents almost 6,000 times over the Christmas 2024 period, new figures suggest.
Between December 1, 2024 and January 3, 2025, Police Scotland were called to 5,945 domestic incidents, according to figures released to the Scottish Lib Dems.
Scottish Lib Dem deputy leader and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain said the figures gave a “terrifying” sense of the scale of the issue, as she urged the Scottish Government to act.
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The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act was passed in 2021 and created domestic abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders, which would allow for an abuser to be removed from the victim’s home immediately after an incident. The two provisions have yet to be implemented.
Ms Chamberlain said: “These figures reflect just how prevalent violence against women and girls is across Scotland. Around 6,000 incidents in the Christmas period alone gives a terrifying sense of the scale of domestic abuse.
“Five years since the Domestic Abuse Act passed and the SNP are still dragging their heels over the crucial protections within it. The Government have failed to give any good reason for the persistence of these delays.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats recently passed a motion at our conference calling for an end to these delays, so we can remove abusers from the family home and keep women out of harm’s way.
“We would also take steps in a range of areas, from health to education to justice, to tackle the root misogyny often underlying this violence.”
Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, said: “We are committed to fully implementing Part 1 of the 2021 Act. This is a complex piece of legislation with recognised operational challenges identified by justice partners and stakeholders.
“To address these, a short-life working group was established to consider possible legislative changes to ensure the Act can be implemented as intended. We are focused on preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.
“That’s why we are increasing the delivering equally safe fund by 5 per cent, bringing total investment to almost £46 million over 2026-2028, to ensure organisations continue their vital work to prevent violence and support survivors.”
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The devices were found by New York City police officers during a scheduled anti-Islam demonstration near Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
Officers were alerted around midday to the devices and took two unnamed “persons of interest” into custody, the New York Police Department told The Independent.
“No injuries or property damage have been reported at this time,” a department spokesperson said.
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“The ‘Crusade Against Islamification’ gathering held outside Gracie Mansion today by Jake Lang, a vile white supremacist, was despicable and Islamophobic,” mayoral press secretary Joe Calvello told The Independent in a statement. “Thankfully, the Mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly.”
The devices (one pictured) were found during a scheduled anti-Islam demonstration near Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan by New York City police officers (AFP via Getty Images)
Six people total were reportedly arrested at the demonstration overall, where right-wing activists and counter-protesters clashed (Getty Images)
“The Mayor has spoken with Police Commissioner Tisch, and the NYPD is actively investigating the protest, counter-protest, and suspicious devices discovered outside Gracie Mansion,” he added.
Photos from the scene appeared to show one of the devices, a round object wrapped in metallic tape. Smoke was emitting from one device, and the NYPD bomb squad is investigating, WABC reported.
At the demonstration, held on East End Avenue, just outside Gracie Mansion, far-right supporters clashed with a contingent of counter-protesters on Saturday afternoon.
The latter group, numbering about 125 people, was present for an event they called “Run the Nazis Out of New York City/Stand Against Hate.”
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In a statement on X, Lang claimed two men threw bombs at him in an “assassination attempt.” He shared footage of himself and his supporters running when one of the devices landed nearby.
Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 rioter, is known for supporting right-wing causes and eliciting violent counter-protests in his wake (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
“I am so grateful to be alive,” he wrote in another post.
He shared a photo appearing to show the second of the two devices, this one wrapped in black tape with nail-like objects sticking out its sides.
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Elsewhere during the demonstration, a far-right protester reportedly pepper-sprayed members of the opposing group. “Four people got hit, at least,” an eyewitness told amNewYork.
At one point in the chaos, Lang walked a goat through the crowd. At a Friday night vigil in New York City for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran killed in U.S. strikes on February 28, Lang appeared with the animal in tow and manhandled it during a derogatory rant about Muslims.
At the Gracie Mansion event, police sought to keep the opposing crowds of demonstrators separate, and they reportedly later helped clear a path for Lang to exit the area.
At least six people were arrested at the demonstration overall, including one person for disorderly conduct and another for using pepper spray, police sources told ABC News.
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Earlier this month, Lang, a January 6 rioter, was charged with making threatening statements about a police officer who was present at a fifth-anniversary event commemorating the attack on the Capitol. He was also arrested last month for vandalizing an ice sculpture at the Minnesota State Capitol protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
When Lang appeared for the January 17 demonstration, which took place between Minneapolis City Hall and the local federal courthouse, he praised the Trump administration’s federal immigration operations and was vastly overwhelmed by counter-protesters who chased him and targeted him with water balloons in sub-freezing temperatures.
Lang’s appearance in the city came as Minneapolis was already on edge, after an immigration agent fatally shot protester Renee Good earlier that month and federal agents were conducting military-style immigration operations across the region.
Manchester City beat Newcastle United in the FA Cup and now have an even busier fixture list while they battle Arsenal for the Premier League title
22:04, 07 Mar 2026Updated 22:05, 07 Mar 2026
Manchester City booked a place in the quarter-final of the FA Cup thanks to a victory against Newcastle United. City claimed a 3-1 win at St James’ Park in the fifth-round tie to secure their spot in the last eight.
Newcastle had taken the lead in the first half with a goal from Harvey Barnes, with City quickly responding with an equaliser from Savinho.
Omar Marmoush then put City in front soon after the half-time interval, and added his second of the game and third for Pep Guardiola’s side to put the visitors in control of the tie on Tyneside.
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City have now added an FA Cup quarter-final tie to their busy schedule, which will take place next month, with the draw being held on Monday night.
Guardiola are currently battling with Arsenal for the Premier League title, with the Gunners having a seven-point lead, but City do have a game in hand.
Bayer Leverkusen (A) – Wednesday, March 11 (5.45pm) – Champions League
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Everton (H) – Saturday, March 14 (5.30pm) – Premier League
Bayer Leverkusen (H) – Tuesday, March 17 (8pm) – Champions League
Manchester City (N) – Sunday, March 22 (4.30pm) – Carabao Cup
FA Cup quarter-final – April 4/5
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Champions League quarter-final first leg – April 7/8
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Following Olivia’s announcement that her marriage to Bradley Dack is over, Pete Wicks has stepped in to keep his reality TV pal busy – but their partying has sparked rumours among fans
23:22, 07 Mar 2026Updated 23:22, 07 Mar 2026
Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks have sparked further rumours about a potential romance, after the pair were seen leaving a hotel together in Manchester after the Brit Awards. Photos showed newly-single Olivia, 34, wearing a cap as her and Pete’s luggage was put into the same car at around midday.
It came after photos from the hotel lobby at around 3am showed Pete – who hosts a Sunday radio show with Olivia – carrying two large pizza boxes inside, after they’d been seen at the awards show, which took place at the city’s Co-op Live arena. After the show, they were seen leaving an after-party together.
According to The Sun, an onlooker revealed: “Despite sitting on different tables they managed to spend most of the evening together. At one point they were sat next to each other.” The Mirror has reached out to Pete and Olivia’s reps for comment.
But Olivia, who recently ended her three-year marriage to Bradley Dack, citing a “breach of trust”, seemed to dispel rumours. The reality star and presenter, who was on the ITV table, told the Sun on Sunday: “If you are going to be single anywhere this’d be the place. Is Harry Styles single?”
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Olivia has been sharing her break-up with fans, revealing on Valentine’s Day that it was her first one as single lady since she was a teen. Addressing her Instagram followers, Olivia said: “Happy Valentine’s Day, my cherubs. I love you all so much x. My first Valentine’s without a boyfriend since I was like 14 years old, lol, so I took myself shopping, obvs.”
She also shared a meme, which read: “Forever the girl who needs to stay busy to be okay.” Since splitting up with Bradley, 32, Olivia has been spotted partying with TOWIE star Pete, while she takes her mind off her relationship woes.
Earlier in February, Olivia was papped with her pal Pete, with the pair attending a Garnier launch in London together. The pair could be seen at the Newman Hotel, before they both carried the party on with a group of Pete’s pals.
While Pete and Olivia seemed in high spirits, the host of ITV’s new show The Heat was notably without her engagement and wedding rings after the end of her marriage. Pete and Olivia work together on their Kiss FM radio show, with the former Love Island contestant keeping herself busy with filming her documentary series Getting Filthy Rich.
She has also been appointed as the new face of Garnier, giving the heartbroken star plenty to be proud of amid her relationship breakdown. While Olivia appears to be holding it together, her soon-to-be ex-husband Bradley was seen still wearing his wedding ring, despite Olivia making it clear it was over.
Although she hasn’t divulged what the “breach of trust” that ended their marriage was, she did admit that she had been feeling “disconnected” from Bradley. Speaking on Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast, Olivia confessed in February that her relationship was over.
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She declared: “I’m very happy to share a lot. I kinda think there’s a newer generation of people existing in our industry that previous generations haven’t. A publicist would be like, ‘Don’t share that and just pretend everything is fine’.
“I just kinda thought, yes, I could easily go down that route, but also I just know that a lot of people will relate to the kind of year that Brad and I had. You know, when you have these young married people who have their careers, and they’re both high-pressure, and you’re doing your thing, it’s so easy to become disconnected.”
It will be a situation Wrexham will have to get used to should they turn play-off promise into a fourth straight promotion and book regular visits from Premier League opponents.
For now, though, manager Phil Parkinson could only rue the refusal of the officials to read the script.
“Without VAR we don’t get a player sent off and that goal certainly stands so it’s against us tonight,” said Parkinson, with his ire more aimed at the Dobson decision for a foul on Alejandro Garnacho.
“It’s my first taste of it and I know the rule is that is has to be a clear and obvious mistake for the decision to be changed – and I think the referee’s got to back his judgement of the real time, instant moment. He was in a great position to see it.”
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Being denied a level playing field when trying to bridge the Premier League gap was one thing, but being denied the chance for penalties was another.
Pundit Micah Richards told Match of the Day that “you don’t want to see goals being ruled out like that, we are talking inches”.
Parkinson was more accepting of the decision, refusing to blame Brunt for his instinctive goalline touch and suggesting Moore’s header would have hit the post.
He was adamant, too, that his side’s bid for a place in the Premier League will not be affected by the disappointment.
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“I’ve said this before, just not to as many people,” said Parkinson, referring to the media attendance that trebled with the game being televised in 75 countries around the world with the global fascination of Wrexham very much a reality.
“But I always want my team and their performance to reflect the town, so people know what Wrexham are all about.
Guy Ritchie’s new Amazon Prime series, Young Sherlock, was filmed across stunning Welsh locations
Amazon Prime’s new series Young Sherlock is a prequel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes stories, starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn and Colin Firth. The series which was directed by Guy Ritchie was extensively filmed in Wales, which was apparently quite “a challenge” thanks to the cold Welsh winter.
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The cast were spotted filming across South Wales in 2024, with a substantial portion of filming taking place at Great Point Studios in St Mellons, Cardiff, with the production team also utilising the Civic Centre in Cardiff city centre.
Merthyr Mawr Estate in Bridgend County stood in for the Holmes family’s English country estate, whilst Bannau Brycheiniog served as the backdrop for a Chinese village. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
Young Sherlock is the latest addition to an extensive roster of major TV productions filmed in Wales that have premiered in 2026. Amazon Prime’s Young Sherlock joins Netflix’s Seven Dials with Martin Freeman and Sky’s Under Salt Marsh stars Rafe Spall and Kelly Reilly, all of which have capitalised on the talent and locations Wales provides.
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Deon Du Preez, supervising locations manager, told Radio Times: “The Chinese Village, script-wise, was interesting, but challenging. We did not have the budget to build a whole village for those flashback scenes.
“Once we realised the landscape of Brecon Beacons could be the landscape scale we needed, we built a Yurt Chinese Village which looked great.
“Fighting the Welsh winter was a challenge for that build!”
He also highlighted the abundance of Victorian buildings and estates in Wales, along with locations in the south west of England and Oxfordshire, as providing a plethora of budget-friendly filming sites.
Deon shared: “The region has a strong selection of film-friendly Victorian and period locations, including historic streets, civic buildings, heritage sites and country estates.
“Located roughly 25 miles west of Cardiff, Merthyr Mawr is a large privately owned estate known for its 19th Century manor house and picturesque historic village.
“We filmed various scenes throughout the village and within the estate’s extensive woodland areas.”
Authorities, meanwhile, searched through rubble and debris in southern Michigan on Saturday after suspected tornadoes tore through the region and killed four people, including a 12-year-old boy, during powerful storms also blamed for two deaths in eastern Oklahoma.
First responders from multiple agencies in the Union Lake area near Union City looked for more possible victims and worked to clear roads, authorities said. Photos and videos posted on social media showed flattened homes and downed trees in a lakeside neighborhood.
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The National Weather Service said an initial assessment confirmed that an EF3 tornado with winds of at least 150 mph (241 kph) struck the Union Lake area Friday.
The weather service also reported seven preliminary tornado tracks in eastern Oklahoma that same day, according to the state’s emergency operations center.
Volunteers work to clear branches felled by a storm a day earlier in Union City, Michigan (Associated Press)
The threat of severe weather continued Saturday in the nation’s midsection, with tornado watches posted in the afternoon for eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania and New York.
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Severe thunderstorms that began in northern Indiana appeared to spawn multiple tornadoes in southern Michigan the previous day, said meteorologist Lonnie Fisher of the National Weather Service, which sent teams to the region to evaluate the damage and confirm tornadoes.
“Mostly likely there were three distinct tornadoes, but we won’t know 100% for sure until they finish the survey,” Fisher said, adding that the storms intensified rapidly in southern Michigan after hitting northern Indiana.
Three people were killed and 12 were injured in the Union Lake area, according to the Branch County Sheriff’s Office.
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Damage is seen to power lines and traffic signals after a reported tornado in Three Rivers, Michigan (Associated Press)
It was the second tornado to hit Union City in two years. An EF1 tornado with 95 mph (153 kph) winds touched down briefly in May 2024 and destroyed a machine shed.
Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground Friday. Trees were torn from their roots, and debris flew into the air.
“It’s lifting houses!” she said. As the devastation continued, she exclaimed: “Oh my heart is pounding. Oh, I hope they’re OK.”
Dan Taylor raced home to Union City from his cleaning job at a nearby hospital that day to find his brother and two dogs safe. But a tree fell on his home of 20 years, and portions of the roof of a house across the street blew into his yard.
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The Tulsa Tech Peoria Campus was damaged by a Friday night storm (Associated Press)
“I didn’t know what to say. I was lost for words,” he said Saturday. “I’m just thankful that my brother’s all right, my dogs, because it could have turned bad. We’re not guaranteed of anything.”
About 50 miles (81 kilometers) southwest of Union Lake, a 12-year-old boy died and several other people were injured during a possible tornado, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said. Sheriff Clint Roach said in a Facebook post that Silas Anderson’s parents found him injured and provided first aid, but he later died at a hospital.
Disaster relief workers went door to door in the Union City and Three Rivers areas to offer meals and cleanup supplies. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would declare a state of emergency in Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties.
