Here is the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, in his own words making a speech after the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

‘Ping pong was invented on the dining tables of England in the nineteenth century and it was called wiff waff.’

‘Other nations, the French, looked at the dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner. We looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to play wiff waff. That is why London is the sporting capital of the world.’

‘And I say to the Chinese, and I say to the world, ping pong is coming home!’

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One of Britain’s finest directors brings his familiar breed of grit and working class charm to the nation’s capital

Curiously, whilst most people don’t relish such things as violence, social dysfunction and the abuse of hardcore drugs in their own lives, they seem quiet motivated to go to the cinema and watch films about them. Perhaps this desire to peer over the fence and observe the life of others is a distinctly British quality and if so, its citizens have no better opportunity for a helping of social voyeurism than they do with the films of Shane Meadows.

About Britain now, Meadows’ reputation as a gritty and talented director is assured. Testament to his success was the declaration by The Times of London that, ‘certainly Meadows bears comparison with (Ken) Loach.’ Not faint praise for the lad who started off life in the 1970s in the distinctly downtrodden Staffordshire market town of Uttoxeter.

Meadows forged his reputation with a succession of low-budget features that were released to a quiet flutter of critical excitement at around the turn of the millennium. Amongst them was A Room for Romeo Brass, where he revisits his childhood home, conjuring a thought provoking and gritty portrayal of the characters to be found there. In 2006 he suddenly struck it big, with the release of This is England, which that year won the Best Film category at the British Independent Film Awards.

Meadows’ latest film is Somers Town, which quibblers may say is a touch short at 72 minutes in length, but is heralded by the Edinburgh Festival as one of the top British films this year. In the same vein as many of Meadows’ films, the plot follows the experiences of two adolescent boys: there is Tommo, a runaway from the Midlands, and a Polish boy that he befriends named Marek.

Their unlikely partnership is cast into the unfamiliar territory of north London, running the streets that line the Euston Road around the great St Pancras Station. Shot with typical spontaneity, much of the dialogue is ad-libbed, keeping it fresh, witty and smooth, whilst Meadows’ mines the humour of the situation for all that it is worth.

It is not merely the characters the characters that are dragged out of their familiar environments, it is also the director. Propped up behind the lens for the first time in London, Meadows confessed to being frustrated by the bustle and noise of the Big Smoke: ‘If someone isn’t reversing up the road in a digger, it’s jumbo jets flying overhead. I’ve never known anything like it. How anything ever gets made in London I’ll never know,’ he said.

Somers Town is being tipped by the critics as one of the year’s finest feature films. It is currently under release across the United Kingdom.

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The shift towards high-definition digital television grows stronger with Sky’s latest announcement

For those amongst us who are fond of the good things in life, the news that Sky are upping their number of high-definition channels by seven to 26 can only be welcomed warmly.

Sky HD technology is one of the impressive cutting innovations of the past few years. Just as digital television cast away for good those days of thumping the roofs of televisions to encourage good reception, high-definition has chased away the presence of dull colours, ill-defined images and the slightest prospect of a blur.

Sky High-definition television betters the traditional digital signal by four times: that means sharper images, vivid colours and the portrayal of an unprecedented level of detail. Amongst the new channels that will be available on Sky HD will be Sky Movies Action/Thriller, Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror and Sky Real Lives.

Originally, when Sky launched their HD service in 2006, they offered just nine different channels, but now digital customers are offered a wide and alluring choice. The new channels add a wide selection of the Sky Movie cannon to the HD service for the first time, augmenting the existing sports and documentary HD channels.

Hilary Perchard, a Sky spokesperson commented that, ‘With equipment prices falling and the choice of content increasing, this is shaping up to be a big year for HD. Almost half a million homes are already enjoying Sky + HD and we are exciting to be offering even more  to our customers.’

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Stories to surprise you over your morning toast

There is nothing quite like an odd news story as a morning tonic. And as you stare down in disbelief at the latest report of a UFO landing in the fold-yard of a farm in Norfolk, it is well worth remembering that this is the month of August and about now things tend to get a little silly.

Just like complaining about the weather, tinkering in the garden and getting excited about DIY, the silly season is a well-worn British staple. Arriving each summer during the fallow summer months for news, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable defines the period as, ‘the part of the year when Parliament and the Law Courts are not sitting.’

This dearth of activity leaves newspapers scrambling about for news stories. Funded by advertising revenue and horrified at the prospect of slimming down over the summer or displaying too much white space, news editors instigate searches for bizarre, sensational or panic-inducing stories that will see them through until the machinery of society starts to whir once again in September.

2005 was a particularly rich year for silly season stories: ‘Victor Meldrew found in space’ announced the Sun on 9^th August having located a constellation that when charted with a line vaguely resembled a cantankerous UK television character. Meanwhile the Daily Express were busy reporting on Tony Blair’s holiday to Barbados where he was recovering from the effects of sunburn which had hit his ‘chest, stomach and arms.’

On 2^nd August 2000, The Star slapped down a headline documenting that an angler was ‘speared’ through the stomach by a giant swordfish which jumped into his boat. The following day The Express published a story about 30 hopefuls who had answered an advert in the Job Centre, applying to be a knifethrower’s assistant for a salary of £240 a week.

It is not just the UK which celebrates this silly season; it is a prominent in any country that boasts a strong national press. The Germans, who are not renowned for their sense of humour, are one nation that commemorates the silly season with the far more frivolous name of ‘cucumber time’, which seems a far more apt name – because vegetables are always funny, aren’t they?

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Have you come across any odd stories during the past few weeks? If you have, then why not send them over to us at Select Digital where we can try and compile a list of 2008’s top Silly Season stories. Remember that you can keep in touch with all of the latest news developments on Sky, BBC and ITV by subscribing to digital television. Find out about the best online prices by clicking this link.

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Welcome to Friday’s Video of the Day!

In a new little section to the Select Digital blog, I thought I’d add a ‘Friday Video.’ Half in celebration of the end of the working week and half in anticipation of two days of leisure ahead – hopefully these short videos will help to put you in the right frame of mind.

I am sure that like most people you have been caught behind the clock for an important appointment, in this first Friday Video you can ponder over a number of different solutions to the problem. Enjoy!

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They think it’s all over… but it’s going to start again!

In anticipation of the beginning of another frantic Barclays Premiership season, we have put our collective football knowledge together and have assembled a list of predictions. With somewhere in the region of £270m having been spent by Premier League clubs, there is the guarantee of new faces amongst the old and the usual questions linger as to whether Chelsea can wretch the title back from Manchester United and whether any of the promoted teams has what it takes to survive amongst the big boys.

Players to watch:

Nani (Manchester United):

Whilst Cristiano Ronaldo has been perfectly seduced by Ramón Calderón and spent the summer prancing around Los Angeles in tight silver shorts and a pink t-shirt, most Manchester United fans have been reassuring themselves that if he did go his fellow countryman Nani is a more than capable replacement. Quick, with a powerful shot and a magician’s bag of tricks, this could be Nani’s real breakthrough season.

Robbie Keane (Liverpool)

It was one of football’s wonderful moments of hypocrisy when Daniel Levy, the man who spent last autumn poaching Juande Ramos from Sevilla, threatened Liverpool with disciplinary action for their unethical pursuit of Desperate-Dan lookalike, Robbie Keane. Nevertheless Rafa Benitez got his man and Keane signed for the club he supported as a lad. Free scoring and full of air-punching, cartwheel celebrations, his partnership with Fernando Torres promises to be a dangerous one.

Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Two years after Sven Goran Erikson saw him as the solution to a shortage of forwards prior to the 2006 World Cup, Theo Walcott has not made the progress that some would have expected of him. As a result, the forthcoming season has to be the one when Arsenal’s razor quick forward pushes on. Mr Wenger will be expecting good performances from a player he confidently invested £12m in at the tender age of just 16.

Luka Modric (Tottenham)

The rising star of the Croatian national football team is described by many as a ‘gem.’ Modric offers Tottenham yet another attacking option and can play in a variety of positions across the midfield and also in the ‘hole’ behind the strike force of Darren Bent and Dimitar Berbatov. An undoubted talent who promises to showcase the same breed of diminutive skill that Juninho served up for Middlesbrough fans during the 1990s.

Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

It takes something rather special to prompt the mercurial Frenchman Arsene Wenger to part with the best part of £15m –and many suggest that Nasri, who has been dubbed the new ‘Zidane’, is just that. He failed to impress during the appalling French campaign at the European Championships, but his form for his former club Marseilles has been imperious and consistent. He promises to fit seamlessly into an Arsenal team that is committed to a elegant style of ‘sexy football.’

Jô (Manchester City)

Brazilian football players don’t usually come via Russia, and for that reason alone Manchester City’s £18m purchase Jô is noteworthy of attention. The young Brazilian has already won a cap for his country, notched up an impressive brace against Inter Milan and turned down a potentially lucrative transfer to Valencia. Brazilians are much more often found on the red side of Manchester, and Jô will be hoping to give the sky-blues something to cheer about

Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham)

People don’t usually come as tall as Peter Crouch, but Tottenham’s Brazilian international goalkeeper certainly does. Fresh from a successful spell at PSV, Spurs will be hoping that Gomes will offer some stability between the posts after the departure of an accident-prone Paul Robinson. At 6”7 he comes at a price of £88,000 per inch and Tottenham are going to hope that it is money well spent.

Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa)

After a year collecting his wages at Chelsea, Steve Sidwell once again has the prospect of first-team football in front of him after joining Aston Villa for a price of £5m. He joins a admirable list of red headed players to pull on the claret and blue shirt, following Tommy Johnson, Kevin Richardson, Phil King, Graham Fenton, Steve Staunton and Steve Davis.

Peter Crouch (Portsmouth)

Harry Redknapp has a ‘Dell Boy’ reputation of dabbling in the transfer market to various levels of success, but in snapping up beanpole striker Peter Crouch, he could have just landed an ace. Coupled with Jermaine Defoe, Crouch will provide the large half of a little and large striking partnership. Liverpool fans will be lamenting his loss, just as Portsmouth fans are preparing themselves for the prospect of some long ball football.

Prediction at the top:

Manchester United to cling on, but Ferguson will have to spit a few sparks at Scolari along the way. Chelsea to finish a close second.

Prediction at the bottom:

Take your pick of one from Hull, Stoke, West Brom, Bolton and Middlesbrough.

Dark Horses:

Sunderland under Roy Keane have been improving steadily, if their signings come off Tottenham should be a force to reckon with.

First manager for the chop:

Gary Megson of Bolton is the favourite, but it could go all wrong for Gareth Southgate up on Teesside quite easily too.

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If you are a committed football fan, then now is the time to sign up to digital television so that you can follow your team through the ups and the downs of the football season. It is not just the Premiership that is covered on digital television, but the whole football league, so be careful not to miss out. By clicking here you can see some of the best online offers available this August.

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Some of the finest moments of all time

Following on from the extended article about cricket yesterday, I thought that the time was apt to choose a selection of videos documenting memorable moments in the history of the game.

What would you nominate as your favourite cricket moment? Feel free to make any of your own recommendations and in the meantime enjoy the remainder of the English cricketing summer.

1. The best catch ever? – Paul Collingwood:

2. The infamous Australian ‘urderarm’ incident against New Zealand:

3. The Australian crowd join in with Ronnie Irani’s warming up routine:

4. Pakistan’s electric batsman, Shahid Afridi, scores 77 runs off just 35 balls:

5. Alan Donald serves up one of the most ferocious periods of fast bowling in recent memory to the ex-England captain Michael Atherton:

6. Six sixes in one over from Sir Garfield Sobers:

7. India’s Sacin Tendulkar hits the shot of his life against Andrew Caddick:

8. Andrew Flintoff has some words of advice for the West Indian Dwayne Bravo:

9. Curtly Ambrose offers a devastating spell of bowling to record seven wickets for one run:

10. Shane Warne’s ball of the century leaves Mike Gatting bemused:

Remember that Sky digital television offers customers with the very best opportunity to enjoy all of the action from the world of international cricket. You can find out more about the sporting events broadcast on digital television by following this link.

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The advent of Pietersen signals a change in English cricketing values

My mother has always maintained that the English cricket team needs to include at least one Yorkshireman if it hopes to win anything at all. The land of Boycott, Illingworth and Truman binds together notions of grit, determination and stoicism; it forms the backbone of our national identity and in many ways is as much to England what Andalucía is to Spain.

If it wasn’t before obvious, my mother was born and raised in a village on the Yorkshire coast where things are about as ‘English’ as they could possibly be. A Union Jack flaps away on a white flag pole on the village green, there is a flint church flanked by a yew tree and the population of farmers and traders are fuelled with a rude diet of jacket potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and steak and kidney pies.

In this culture, cricket is of paramount importance. The best (and flattest) part of the village is tended carefully each summer day by a groundsman, the most comfortable corner of the local pub is held in reserve for team members, the 19 year old whippersnapper of a fast bowler can have his pick of the farmers’ daughters and a solid forward defensive is regarded with almost as much reverence as a cleanly executed off drive.

It is places such as these, in the far reaches of Queen Bess’ realm, which would have received the news of Michael Vaughn’s resignation as captain of the English cricket team and the subsequent appointment of Kevin Pietersen with more than the odd jitter.

Vaughn was a paragon of Englishness: polite, patient, cool under pressure, equally able to cajole and nudge his star players into stellar performances and to chat cordially with journalists. His displays of emotion were rare, and usually limited to Henmanesque fist-clenching whilst batting and applause from the players’ balcony.

In contrast, Pietersen is Vaughn’s antithesis. Brash, single-minded, belligerent and oozing self-confidence, Pietersen who was born and bred in South Africa displays a confidence and swagger that are not often present amongst the English. Andrew Strauss, his teammate, once said that ‘Kevin’s particular brand of self confidence seems un-English.’

Making his debut at Lords in the first match of the Ashes series in 2005, he proceeded to despatch Shane Warne for six over deep midwicket on his way to a maiden half-century. Four matches later he turned the knife upon the imperious Glenn McGrath at the Oval, peppering his bowling with a series of blows of which Joe DiMaggio would have been proud and ending on 158 as England won the Ashes for the first time in almost 20 years.

Three years on and Pietersen is the only English batsman to feature in the top ten of the ICC World Rankings and he has scored 3777 test match runs at an impressive average of 50.36. Statistically, this puts far him ahead of Gower, Atherton, Stewart, Thorpe and Vaughn and justifies his inclusion as the first name on the English team sheet.

But he has not escaped criticism. Only last Friday after attempting to reach a 14th test match century with a six, he was caught on the long off boundary, prompting Alec Stewart to suggest that he should be ‘disgusted’ with himself. Geoffrey Boycott added scathingly that ‘if I’d played that shot, I’d have wanted to bury myself right there and then.’

Whilst some feel uneasy at Pietersen’s aggressive approach on the cricket field, then there are others who must feel uncomfortable as to his behaviour off it. In 2004, a former captain, Jason Gallian, was so enraged by Pietersen’s cocky behaviour that he felt compelled to launch his kit bag off the Nottinghamshire dressing room balcony. Another foe is his old rival, the South African captain Graeme Smith. Deciding to leave South Africa in protest at the quota system to play his cricket in England, Pietersen forged a mutual dislike between the two: ‘I’m patriotic about my country, and that’s why I don’t like Kevin Pietersen,’ Smith stated in 2006.

Then there are the magazine covers, the tattoos, that infamous skunk hairstyle and his jumping jack celebrations along the wicket. There was even a cringe-worthy kiss-and-tell with an ex lover who claimed that he made her chant his name whilst they were in bed. All in all, Kevin Pietersen is certainly a character that doesn’t come quietly.

But the appointment of Pietersen might be a sign of the times, and the seasoned observer will have noticed that the game of cricket has received a drastic facelift in the past two years. We now have 20:20, Super 40 and ‘winner takes all’ matches for $20M. Television money has arrived, so have lucrative sponsorship deals and cricket players are now highly trained professional athletes with meaningful professional contracts. Gone are the days of handlebar moustaches, beer guzzlers and bacon sandwiches for tea, cricket has reached a new era.

Whilst people in Yorkshire and other such corners of Old England might feel a pang of trepidation, the appointment of Pietersen as England captain is a bold forward move by the ECB. He is innovative in his batting, his self image and his approach to sport – and whilst my mother and her clan in Yorkshire may remain sceptical, I think that for English cricket a bright future looms large.

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