Brendan Rodgers and the 'unfair' Celtic return roadblock Dermot Desmond must clear in next boss search

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Sky Italia celebrated its 20-year anniversary on Tuesday by announcing a rich slate of upcoming originals, including a second season of the Italian adaptation of “Call My Agent,” which will see “The White Lotus” star Sabrina Impacciatore joining the cast. The Sky Italia originals slate comprises previously announced high-end drama “M. Son of the Century” by British director Joe Wright, alongside less lavish shows in various stages – most of which have international potential. It underscores how the Italian unit of the Comcast-owned pay-TV service continues to be a major Italian industry driver. While Sky’s German unit, which is believed to be up for sale, has put production on pause, Sky Italia is cranking out Italian originals through the platform’s Sky Studios unit at a steady pace, showing no signs of a slowdown.

Slipknot‘s Tortilla Man may have inadvertently revealed the name of the band’s new keyboard player on social media.The newest addition to the line-up was teased early last month following the abrupt departure of Craig Jones, the metal group’s longtime keyboardist and sampler. Fans soon began sharing their theories on who could be behind the mask.Many people online have even suggested that the mystery musician is actually still Jones, who is simply sporting a new look.However, a general consensus seemed to be that the member could be one of two people: Zac Baird (Korn, Ghost, Evanescence) or Nathan Church.The latter previously played keys and samplers in the band Downthesun, who were signed to Slipknot’s label Maggot Corps, and have various other links to the band (their sole 2002 self-titled album was executive produced by Shawn “Clown” Crahan).According to Consequence, Michael “Tortilla Man” Pfaff – whose identity was revealed last year after he joined Slipknot in 2019 – posted a since-deleted backstage selfie from a recent gig.The image saw Pfaff standing in front of a clothing rack that was labelled with the first names of his current Slipknot bandmates: “Corey” (frontman Corey Taylor), “Sid” (DJ Sid Wilson), “Mick” (guitarist Mick Thomson).One tag looked like it read “Zac”, adding further weight to the Zac Baird theory.

EA Sports boasted that there will be an innovative level of immersion in its upcoming EA Sports FC, as well as offering fans a first look at the game and its features that aim to “blur the line” between virtual and real football.During La Liga’s Nueva Era showcase (via The Loadout), fans found out about the latest iteration of the HyperMotion V technology that forms the foundation of the players’ animations.EA Sports FC vice president David Jackson explained that the technology uses more than 590 million frames of real-world football game capture that then leads to the most advanced in-game animation that the studio has created in its history of sport simulations.In other words, that is 80 times the data that was involved in the development of FIFA 23.

Madonna after the Queen of Pop was hospitalised due to a bacterial infection.Last week, the pop icon was hospitalised after she was found to have a serious bacterial infection – leading to all of her upcoming ‘Celebration’ world tour dates to be cancelled.  Madonna’s manager Guy Osears wrote in a statement that, despite staying several days in the ICU: “Her health is improving, however, she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected.”Later, TV multi-hyphenate Rosie O’Donnell shared an image of herself and Madonna whilst on the set of her titular show in the ’90s.

Disney+ shows are being licensed to Channel 4‘s official on-demand service.Alias (seasons one-five), The Americans (seasons one-six), Empire (seasons one-six), Scandal (seasons one-seven), The X Files (seasons one-11), Bones (seasons one-12), The Killing (seasons one-four), Star (seasons one-three), Grown-ish (seasons one-six), and Abbott Elementary (seasons one-two) are included in the deal.Except for Star, all the series are available to watch as part of a monthly subscription on Disney+ in the UK.The additions to the Channel 4 streaming platform will be available to watch from later this month.Nick Lee, head of acquisitions at Channel 4, said: “We’re so pleased to have agreed such an extensive content deal with Disney, ranging from their most iconic series like ‘The X-Files’ to fresh hits such as ‘Abbott Elementary’ and ‘Star.’ We look forward to our viewers being able to binge series after series on Channel 4.”Meanwhile, sign-ups for streaming giant Netflix have risen by more than 100 per cent since the streaming service began cracking down on password sharing.Earlier this year, the streaming service announced details of its password crackdown, making it impossible to use one account in several locations.The rule then came into force in May, with Netflix receiving major backlash from existing subscribers.Since then though, Netflix has experienced a large rise in sign-ups, with the days between May 25-28 – shortly after the May 23 announcement – becoming the platform’s four biggest days of new sign-ups in the US since 2019, as Variety reports.On those days, 73,000 new users signed up for Netflix, a 102 per cent increase on the previous 60 days.

Bombay Bicycle Club have announced a series of special UK karaoke events – find all the details below.The north London band will bring their ‘Karaoke Tour’ to Rough Trade record stores in London, Nottingham and Bristol next month.All four members of Bombay Bicycle Club will act as the house band, and are recruiting fans to join them on stage to sing, play guitar, play bass or drum along to tracks from their five studio albums to date.“Can you sing better than these four terrible singers?” the group wrote on social media today (July 4) to announce the trio of dates.“We’re the backing band; you’re the singers. We’ll be playing Bombay songs but may have a few indie disco staples up our sleeves.”In an accompanying video, the band can be seen in a karaoke booth letting loose to Blink-182‘s ‘All The Small Things’ and singing along to All Saints‘ ‘Pure Shores’.

Independence Day: Resurgence star Vivica A. Fox has said that she thinks the film needed Will Smith to be a successful sequel.The 2016 sci-fi film, released 20 years after Independence Day, bombed in the US with a domestic box-office figure of $102million but recouped its $165million budget following a better showing worldwide (globally, it took $389million).

Coronation Street star Channique Sterling-Brown has revealed her link to the soap's latest newcomer after fans declared him the 'best part' of the episode. During Monday night's trip to the cobbles (July 3), viewers saw a chilli eating competition take place at the Bistro.

Leeds United have launched an eleventh hour attempt to hijack the return of Brendan Rodgers to Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers is the man Leeds United “really want” as the Celtic managerial candidate could be offered the chance to decide between the two.

Rangers icon Ally McCoist reckons "brilliant" Brendan Rodgers will be factoring in the acrimony which followed his Celtic exit before saying yes to a return.

Brendan Rodgers owns a home in Glasgow just “a 15 minute drive for Celtic’s Lennoxtown HQ” which makes him “exactly the right man, in exactly the right place” to become Ange Postecoglou’s successor and make a stunning return to the club.

His talent as a coach was first spotted by Northern Ireland’s greatest ever goalscorer. And when he ever needs advice, he’s got Brendan Rodgers’ number on speed dial.

It’s a question that any incoming Celtic boss will have to face up to. How do you improve a team that has just won everything?

Peter Lawwell has been pictured sporting Celtic kit in Istanbul ahead of the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.

AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen is reportedly on the shortlist for the Celtic job - and he holds a long-term admiration of the Parkhead faithful.

Enzo Maresca remains a major contender to replace Ange Postecoglou at Celtic - but Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna could also come into the equation

The flames and Scottish Cup trophy rose high into the air as Ange Postecoglou, discreetly, scraped off a cannon's worth of gold party foil off his suit.

Dermot Desmond interviews are as rare as hen’s teeth but when the Irish billionaire does speak, usually to official Celtic media outlets, then he often gives a real insight into how the club operates.

Jackie McNamara has used his own managerial experiences to reason why Ange Postecoglou has decided to up sticks and leave Celtic for Tottenham.

Celtic could have a fight on their hands to land Enzo Maresca with the Manchester City coach also a target for Leicester.