TV & Film
New BBC documentary on Kevin Sinfield’s ‘incredible journey’ and fundraising to air soon
‘We will never stop banging the drum for MND until we find a cure.’
A new documentary will air on the BBC chronicling the ‘incredible journey’ of Kevin Sinfield and his fundraising efforts.
The documentary, Kevin Sinfield: Going the Extra Mile, will air on BBC2 in early February and follows Kevin on his journey through gruelling athletic challenges to raise money for charities helping people affected by motor neurone disease (MND), including his former Rugby League teammate Rob Burrow.
The pair played together for Leeds Rhinos but on December 19th 2019, Burrow announced that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). In 2020 he was appointed MBE in the New Years Honour list for his services to English Rugby League and for his efforts in helping the MND community.
His friend, Kevin Sinfield, who is the defence coach for England National Rugby Union, began his journey in 2020, when he ‘just went for a run for a mate’ to support MND charities and raise awareness of people living with the disease.
He pushed himself physically and began the challenge of running seven ultra-marathons in seven days, covering around 40 miles a day — which he completed in 2022.
Finishing at Old Trafford at half time in the Men’s Rugby League World Cup Final, Kevin raised more than £7 million pounds through his challenges, and was awarded an OBE by Duke of Cambridge (now HRH Prince William of Wales) and also received a standing ovation and special award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Salford.
The documentary will show never before seen footage of each of his challenges, and an exclusive first chat with him after getting his new role in the England coaching team, as well as more intimate moments with his friends, family and hundreds of supporters as he runs through towns and cities across the UK.
The programme also features some of the people living with MND who have been helped and supported by his work. It also highlights Kevin’s extraordinary dedication to help those affected by MND, and offers an insight into how this journey has changed him personally too.
This year he’s been thrown further into the spotlight as he’s been named the defence coach of England’s Rugby Union team ahead of the World Cup and Six Nations championships. The team sits down with Kevin ahead of his busy schedule, for an exclusive first interview on what his future looks like and if he will continue his fund raising efforts for MND.
Kevin Sinfield said: “When we set out on the first challenge back in December 2020, we just wanted to help a friend who had found himself in the toughest imaginable position. With a young family of three children under the age of 10, he had been handed a life ending MND diagnosis and worse still, like so many, was then locked in his home as we battled the impact of Covid 19.
“What started out as a way to help a friend became so much more over the course of those first seven marathons in seven days and has grown incredibly over the subsequent two challenges of the Extra Mile and the Ultra 7 in 7.
“I think everyone can imagine what they would do for their friend in the same position and the overwhelming support has shown that we are a nation who cares about people who are facing their own adversity.
“I am proud to be part of the MND community, the people who are living with the impact of MND who I have been privileged to meet since 2020 inspire me every day and we will never stop banging the drum for MND until we find a cure.”
Richard Frediani, BBC Breakfast Editor, added: “Kevin’s determination to help his friend was obvious from the day he set off on his first challenge, and it was a huge honour for the BBC Breakfast team to be able to follow him closely on his journey.
“This documentary highlights how far Kevin has pushed himself to help not only his friends but the thousands of others affected by the disease, it also shows how the last three years have changed him as a person too.
“We’ve followed him so much he feels like part of the family, and we’re happy to be able to show another side to this extraordinary human being.”
Kevin Sinfield: Going the Extra Mile will be shown on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Friday, February at 7pm.
TV & Film
Ed Sheeran breaks down over wife’s health issues in emotional new documentary
Ed Sheeran broke down over his wife Cherry Seaborn’s health issues
Ed Sheeran breaks down in tears in new emotional documentary as he talks about his wife Cherry Seaborn’s health issues and the death of his best friend Jamal Edwards.
The pop sensation can be seen breaking down into tears in the first trailer for his new documentary series, The Sum Of It All. The singer, 32, will be showing the ups and downs in his life on the road to stardom in the four-part series on Disney+, airing on Wednesday May 3rd.
As reported in The Mail Online, the clip begins with Ed talking about his childhood, growing up with a stutter, and saying: “That guy doesn’t grow up to be a pop star. It’s so unlikely,” — referring to himself. Childhood videos of Sheeran are interspersed with clips of him on stage during his sellout arena tours.
Fans will be taken through a journey from the beginning of his career, as they will see him first starting out in the industry, working his way up. As viewers watch the timeline of events, they will watch as Sheeran describes first meeting his best friend Jamal Edwards, who gave him his first big break, and their friendship until his sudden death last year.
Edwards, a music producer and son of Brenda Edwards (Loose Women), tragically died after suffering a cardiac arrest brought on by taking cocaine and drinking alcohol in February 2022, at the age of 31. Sheeran’s wife Cherry Seaborn is also seen in the docuseries, as clips show her pregnant with the couple’s two children Lyra, two and Jupiter, 10 months old.
They are seen going on dates together with Ed saying: “Everything in my life sort of got so much better when Cherry came into it.” The series also delves into the health issues Cherry faced and the impact it had on the pair.
Just recently, Sheeran revealed they were plagued with ‘fear, depression and anxiety’ after Cherry was diagnosed with a tumour while she was pregnant with their second child. But she was unable to receive any treatment for it until after the birth.
The popular singer is seen breaking down as he cries in the back of a car as the death of his best friend and his wife’s health issues become overwhelming. A clip is also shown of Sheeran crying on stage while Seaborn can be heard saying: “I’ve never seen him cry on stage”.
Adding: “He hasn’t had the time to process and be at peace with his thoughts.”
The first look trailer ends with clips of happier times as Sheeran celebrates his birthday, performs on stage and laughs with his friends saying: “Life can be unpredictable.” The popular singer recently revealed that the first single off his new album Subtract, is dedicated to his late best friend Edwards — with Eyes Closed set for release on Friday March 24th.
As he announced the release of his sixth studio album he said it had been inspired by the personal tragedies he had faced.
In a post on his Instagram account on Wednesday, made to his 42 million followers, he revealed the loss of his close friend who had inspired the track and that in the video he is ‘dancing with my eyes closed to try to get through it.’
Alongside the post he wrote: “Eyes closed is out March 24th, you can pre order it now. “The song is about losing someone, feeling like every time you go out and you expect to just bump into them, and everything just reminds you of them and things you did together.
“You sorta have to take yourself out of reality sometimes to numb the pain of loss but certain things just bring you right back into it. Blue was Jamal’s colour, but now is all I feel. And I guess music helps heal, so I’m dancing with my eyes closed to try to get through it x.”
Alongside the images, the singer posted two black-and-white photographs, where he appeared deep in thought as he reflected on the emotional toll he experienced over the past couple of years.
Sheeran’s latest single, Subtract is set to be released on May 5th with Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. It is thought it will be similar to the hitmaker’s earlier works, having his signature acoustic feel.
Davina McCall has been announced as the host of new ITV reality dating show The Romance Retreat, which will see a group of single parents brought together in a villa in what is being dubbed the ‘middle-aged Love Island’.
The former Big Brother presenter and The Masked Singer judge, 55, confirmed the news in a post on her Instagram with a video of her showing her sheer excitement for the new show.
In the clip, posted today (Thursday March 16th), she said: “I manifested and I made it happen. I willed there to be an amazing new dating programme for grown-ups, people who have lived a life, who have been through experiences, bad, moving, they’ve had tough lives.
“They’ve got luggage but they deserve love and it’s happening. It’s coming to ITV soon.”
The Instagram caption read: “Omg.. I manifested and it came true!! I’ll be hosting a brand NEW grown up dating series for ITV1 !!
“This is a show for single parents who have lived a life, have stories to tell about their dating pasts and deserve another chance at love and I’m gonna help you. It will all take place in the most romantic countryside location!”
Fans of the familiar media personality congratulated Davina on the new role with one saying: “Oh my god, you really are a power house. I was listening to you talking to Steven Bartlett about this thinking what a good idea. You’re such an inspiration. Go get ’em Davina !!”
Another put: “YESSSSSS! You told me about this and it is SUCH a great idea forwarding to amazing, beautiful single friends now xxxx.”
And many more also wished her a huge congratulations. Davina encouraged anyone who wants to find love, and who has a child over the age of 18, to apply before adding: “It’s going to be amazing.”
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