3
PACKED WITH NEWS, BRILLIANTLEISURETODAY WHAT’S ON PAPERS AND SPORT IN ONE I N C E ’S I R E: WE WISH ALL OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS A VERY HAPPY EASTER ‘REF COST US THE Standing up to snowG M flaA ke s E’ S
Former mayor stands for Labour in Kentwood EXCLUSIVE
SPORT NO ONE CHRONICLES THE ACTION BETTER THAN US TODAY 13.04.22
Your guide to what’s on
across Reading and Wok ingham
READING 13.04.22
GAMBIA KIT BOOST
CRICKET’S BACK!
BLUEBIRDS SINK ROYALS
TEWART Lee started out as a stand-up in 1988 at the age of 20 and won the Hackney Empire New of The Year award in 1990, Act 32 years ago.
me, as I can chatter away to strangers without being recognised, ” he says. “The current tour has a long bit based on a conversation I had with a woman about baked potatoes that I couldn’t have had if she’d known He made four series of his who I was.” own Despite his supposed avoidanc show, Stewart Lee’s Comedy e of Vehicle, publicity, Lee has been all for BBC Two and has been over social rewarded media this year. A comicall with Baftas, Oliviers, and y obsessive British critical list of everything Comedy Awards. he has seen, eaten, heard or read in the previous As his delayed Snowflake Tornado year, that he sends privately tour rolls into Reading’s to his Hexagon mailing list each Christm Theatre next week, just what as, somehow it feels leaked out causing unintend like to be The Times newspap ed er’s annoyance. World’s Greatest Living Stand-Up It was condemned by the Comedian? golf comedian John Robins as “It’s funny you should ask, “something ” Lee that Joseph McCarthy or cackles hysterically down The Stasi the line from would recognise.” “I don’t his North London home, really know contradi what happened there,” Lee his public persona as a grumpy cting cackles again, “maybe The Stasi gave contrarian, “because the Jimmy Tornado Carr’s Netflix special a one-star half of the show is partly review about the as well!” disconnect between that kind of The Snowflake section of critical acclaim, and not being Lee’s exactly a current show includes referenc household name.” es to Jimmy Carr’s ongoing Lee’s modesty doesn’t ring use of true. material about the Traveller and Roma Your gran may not have seen him trip communities, that recently the light fantastic on Strictly saw calls but his for the 8 Out Of 10 Cats tours play to audiences of star to be a quarter of prosecuted for inciteme a million. nt to racial hatred, something Lee sees “Yes, but the internet is full as “a step of angry too far, especially when he’s people saying ‘Who is he? being I’ve never condemned by members heard of him!’ To be honest, of the current that suits government”.
By DANIEL BLACKHAM
RAMS EPIC
AWAY WIN
SUMAS ON THE PITCH
UNDER 23S REACH FINAL
diabolical decision by the Is the material still topical sport@wokingham.today referee – after a were 1-0 up and could have switching in some new stuff absolutely pathetic,” said two-year layoff during the made Ince actually “We did the same on Tuesday the game a lot easier for pandemic? or from Ice Road Truckers “Lucas (Joao) tightened the second half,READING FC interim boss us. has clearly or somethi “Well, believe it or not, the against Stoke and that is ng been Paul Ince which “We aren’t just talking about dragged down and it looks where you stuff and I wasn’t saying a ‘diabolica –refereein largely about attempts bybelieves is like their need your leaders to get he should be making fun of Jimmy Carr chances, we are talking g you up the player the rightnce cost l’banned, is offside for the second about performa for doing park. just thatphase his side at the to weaponise a ‘culture war’ the YouTube golden chances. jokes about ‘gypsies’ has of the firstand Select against goal. Car Leasing Stadium. been in my “For Spotify the second goal we got pulled and “We Faceboo need to be more ruthless.” liberals and minorities.” “All k should you ask be show since 2019, as it’s the is that The Royals went ahead factreferee’s do out of our structure.” through sort of thing Two second-half goals for checked their so jobs they properly.” can’t Presuma a Lucas use unverifiable bly more people willJoao header, only to be he always does, so it’s just The Royals now look forward ended the Royals unbeaten Cardiff an indication Ince believes his side sensationalism to drive run and have to see Lee live if theypegged back on the hour to an away trip to Bramall have Ince was disappoin their numbersshould of how he tends to hit the by Alfie . want tobefore put the game Lane ted his players Doughty same shock beyond Cardiff “And I stand by to face Sheffield United Will Vaulks in the experience his unique humour, that, secured didn’t manage the game buttons every time. The on Good first half.especially when more the points as for the visitors weird thing Friday, April 15, before returning you with havefive efficiently. Boris Johnson has controversially pulledminutes tohe “We should spreadin is that, because of the two-yea havegbeen 3-0 up at go. his material the Select Car Leasing Stadium to He said: “Second half for r internet conspirahalf-time, on off Spotify in solidarity with“The whole thing hinged ” saidabout cy theories some Ince. downtime, lots of the material Monday, April 18 to play the on reason a we decided Swansea “Two great chances when that was Jimmy Savile in parliame to drop deep and Canadian rock star Neil City we nt. a bit ahead of the curve came I’m not sure why. Young, who into focus opposed the “As usual, the press release about n Match report inside and goes down even better comedian Joe Rogan’s now. For little me pulling my comedy factually inaccurate podcasts example, everyone’s thought off this about a lot more massive Our Woo platform covid dley was vaccination. full of jokes showroom is open 7 days about the supposedly ‘woke’ ideas I which got cut out by people a week “Yes, that all went a bit wrong, endorse, what with Black that Lives Matter coveredATORIES the story and made me look laughs Lee madly again, “IWINDOWS” DOORS CONSERV and those leaked police e-mails do think www.trademarkwindows.co much more of misery than about it’s bad that internet platform hating women. And Boris I am.” .uk s aren’t Johnson’s Does such misrepresentatio subject to the same kind dishonesty and hypocris n bother of facty, which I Lee? “Not really,” he giggles, checking that even I am when discuss on stage, is undenia again, I do jokes ble now. “people are paying to see on traditional media like a miserable “The first half of the night, TV and radio, Tornado, and frustrate d middle-aged man or in newspapers. But I also is a long shaggy dog story thought about how wind himself up into a frenzy it would be funny if the two I saw loads of rotisserie chickens about people everything, so it probably being removing their stuff were helps. delivered to the America unknown n comedian “Although the funny thing me and superstar Neil Young. Dave Chapelle’s dressing with this And room in tour is that my obvious delight of course, it’s an easy stand London in 2018, and more at being to take, people back on the boards can’t because you only get 0.003 help but infect know who he is now because cents a play the audience. I’m just an he got in on Spotify, so I only need old-fashioned trouble with transgender to sell one people last entertainer at heart. DVD to make up a year’s year. Some material had Spotify dosh. to be ditched “Like Vera Lynn. Or that Emu.” “Then loads of musicians after lockdown though. pulled their n Stewart Lee tours Snowflake/ stuff too and people said “I had 20 minutes in 2019 I was trying about Tornado at The Hexagon to get this Rogan bloke no-platf in Reading what I imagined the new ormed, James on Friday, April 22. The show and he was a fellow comedia Bond film would be like has sold n. but it’s out out, but some returns may “First of all, I didn’t know now. That said, dropping be available. he was a that bit and For more details, log on to comedian - I thought he www. was a wrestler whatsonreading.com
READING’S under-23s have reached the final of the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup. Noel Hunt’s young Royals produced a dominant performa to secure a 4-0 victory against nce MK Dons at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Monday, April 11. A stunning first half strike Mamadi Camará was followedfrom after the break with goals from Kian Leavy, Rashawn Scott and Jahmari Clarke. The home side started brightly and were ahead after five minutes when a corner fell to the edge the box and Camará hammere of d his strike into the top corner. Reading almost rued a number of missed chances when the visitors produced their first shot on target from a curling free Thankfully Jökull Andrésso kick. n was on to palm it away. After the break the Royals were clinical and eight minutes into the second half they doubled their advantage through Leavy. Five minutes later Scott intercepted a loose pass from the visitors and then curled a strike into the top corner. Just after the hour mark, substitute Clarke produced a confident finish to make it 4-0. The Royals now look to secure their first Berks and Bucks Senior Cup victory since 1995. In the final where they will face Combined Counties League Premier Division North side, Ascot United. The contest will take place Slough Town’s Arbour Park at on Saturday, May 7. Unfortunately this is the same day as the first team’s game against Luton Town at Kenilwort h Road, the final fixture of the 2021/22 season.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
No. 25 90p
THE COSPLAY’S THE THING.. 0800 30 50 30
WOKINGHAM TODAY READING TODAY
University hosts convention with a difference • p8-9
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today
ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR P3
THE former mayor of Reading says that Labour has made him very welcome.
Cllr David Stevens crossed the floor earlier this year, switching from Conservatives. At the time, he had not been selected by either party to stand in May’s local elections. But he has been selected by Labour to stand in Kentwood, and he couldn’t be happier. On his switch, he said: “It was a very rigorous, robust and very courteous process. I was impressed with the way the party went about its business ... it’s fair to say I was quite literally late to the party. “A lot of seats were already sewn up.” But a seat came up in Kentwood and he went along and presented his case to the party. His motivation in standing is because he wants to carry on serving Reading residents, “and go on doing useful things”. “It’s more about service that particular party ideology,” he said. And his new political party has changed, he said, since the Corbyn days. “It was all dragged hard left, now it’s much more back on its centre left roots,” he said. Cllr Stevens says he is enjoying getting to know the ward. “I’ve been getting out in the streets, talking to lots of people, doing all the normal stuff,” he explains. “It’s going well. “I think the mood of the country is helping us – people are, quite understandably, very distressed with these extra costs of massive fuel bills, the National Insurance rise... all these things are having an impact.” He could have chosen to retire from politics, not least as he had been feeling disillusioned with the Conservatives when he crossed the floor. “At the moment, I’ve got a bit of a spring in my step,” he said. “I feel that this (seat) is winnable, and hopefully I’ll be able to carry on serving Reading.” n Continued on page 10
CONVERSION P11 THERAPY PROTEST
TOWN TOPS BEST PLACE TO LIVE SURVEY
Sunday Times puts Reading in South East top 10 for the first time
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today READING is one of the best place to live in the South East according to new research by The Sunday Times – criteria included the relative affordability of its house prices.
The survey, launched in last weekend’s edition of the newspaper, says that the town is one of 10 chosen for the list. Aside from the category winner,
Sevenoaks, the remaining nine are not listed in any order. A judging panel assessed criteria including schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street. Also under consideration were improvements being made, attractive, well-designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit – which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.
n Continued on page 6
VIP SCREENING FOR YOUNG ACTORS P33
EASTER FUN AT CHURCH FAIR P35
CRUMBS! 200 YEARS OF BISCUITS Leisure ISSN 2754-2785 15
9 772754 278509