2021

Reclaiming Amy 9pm, BBC Two A decade after her tragic death, this documentary focuses on the life of the singer Amy Winehouse, the story told largely through the lesser-known perspective of her mother, Janis. Now diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Janis shares her memories before they potentially fail, making for poignant viewing as she opens the […]

When the announcer called out Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s name in front of an 80,000-strong crowd at the London 2012 Olympics, the starry-eyed teenager mouthed “wow” as cheers erupted around her. Then, the heptathlete was the apprentice to Jess Ennis-Hill, who went on to take gold while the 19-year-old Liverpudlian came 13th. But nine years later, as

By the time the final member of Japan’s Olympic team has entered the stadium at the tail-end of Friday’s opening procession, Seonaid McIntosh – pronounced “show-ner” – will have set her alarm for a 5am start to catch the first bus from the Village on Saturday morning, in the hope of returning as the first

In 1964, the Tokyo Olympics were dubbed the “Technology Games”. Up in the skies, satellites were used to televise all the action live for the first time. Computers abounded and spectators and TV viewers had never had it so good. Sign up for our Tokyo 2020 briefing with all the news, views and previews for

What impact will Covid have? The greatest impact of Covid on the Games, other than the fact it is being held a year late, will be the absence of spectators. Venues won’t be silent, however, with “an immersive sound system” playing “sound created from previous Olympic Games” – which means that vocal ticket holders from

As the Rio Olympics dominated the sports world’s gaze five years ago, an NFL quarterback began a series of protests against racism that rippled across America and the world and will leave an indelible mark on this year’s Games. Colin Kaepernick last made an NFL appearance in the 2016 season, but the legacy of his

The British Olympic Association is resigned to the fact that six Team GB athletes will spend 14 days in enforced quarantine after failing in its attempts to spring them out. Hugh Robertson, the BOA chair, said they had been working “on an hourly basis” to help the athletes in Yokohama, as well as four staff

We shall never know, more’s the pity, what advice Sir Peter Blake would have given his niece as she prepared for an Olympic debut. What is at least certain is that Anna Burnet cherishes her family connection with Sir Peter, a famed New Zealand yachtsman who was shot dead at the mouth of the Amazon

After the World Cup in 2019, Manchester City’s Keira Walsh was hit so hard by the criticism she faced that she thought about stepping away from football. In France Walsh did not look like the player who had become so integral to City’s midfield and defensive strategy until the semi-final against USA, where she played

With a blaze of indigo and white fireworks lighting the night sky, the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony has started. In a nearly empty national stadium, devoid of any crowd energy, it began with a single female athlete at the centre of the stadium, kneeling. As she stood, the shadow behind her took the shape of