News

Filmmaker and guide Frank Mannion invites audiences on a cheerful cinematic tour in A Sip of Irish. The film sets out to chronicle Ireland’s profound, and often understated, influence on the world of wine, spirits, and beer. This is not merely a survey of distilleries on the Emerald Isle; it is a global journey that follows the Irish spirit to the places it has flourished.

The documentary’s scope is ambitious, connecting a heritage of migration and expertise to some of the most famous beverage brands on the planet. From the outset, the film establishes a pleasant and celebratory air, taking viewers from French vineyards with deep Irish roots to wineries in the United States and New Zealand.

It operates on the fascinating premise of an “Irish drink in a French terroir,” a concept that elegantly frames this story of cultural diffusion and liquid craftsmanship. The film promises a...

Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon” dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office over the weekend, opening with £8.1 million ($11 million), according to Comscore.

Walt Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” moved to second place in its fourth week, generating $1.9 million for a strong running total of $45.1 million. Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” followed in third with $1.6 million.

“The Salt Path” from Black Bear remained in fourth, collecting $804,146 and bringing its cumulative earnings to $8.1 million. In fifth, Lionsgate U.K.’s “From The World of John Wick: Ballerina” added £$788,495, reaching $3.5 million after two weeks.

Sony’s “Karate Kid: Legends” took sixth with $640,665 for a total of $6.6 million. Warner Bros.’ “Final Destination: Bloodlines” landed in seventh, earning $413,677 to bring its five-week tally to $15 million.

Universal’s “The Ballad Of Wallis Island” placed eighth, pulling in $325,998 for a cumulative $1.2 million. Trafalgar Releasing’s “Peppa Meets The Baby Cinema Experience” remained in the top 10 at ninth,...

Producer-director Frank Mannion follows his cordial guide to champagne with a cheerful celebration of beloved tipples of Irish origin

The always likable figure of Irish producer and film-maker Frank Mannion has, in the past, given us a cordial guide to champagne, a slightly more chaotic essay on Britishness, and its counterpart on Irishness. Now, in his cheerfully celebratory and slightly corporate-promo way, he has made a film about Irish viticulture and drink in general, which means not simply wineries, breweries and distilleries actually in Ireland, but also abroad: this is about drinks producers with an Irish background, such as Hennessy brandy, which has an obvious Irish ancestry.

It’s what this film calls “an Irish drink in a French terroir” – or, in fact, a terroir anywhere in the world, meaning places in Europe, the US and occasionally Australia and New Zealand. The film even jauntily insists that Ireland invented whiskey before Scotland.

Ratings

“A staggering 20.6 million of you watched England’s victory on BBC One last night,” tweeted “Match of the Day” host and English soccer legend Gary Lineker on Wednesday as the viewing numbers from Tuesday night’s UEFA European Football Championship round of 16 match between England and Germany came in. Those numbers make last night’s match the most-watched of the tournament in the U.K., surpassing the Home Nations derby between England and Scotland, which peaked at 19.4 million.

6.5 million live streams were also accessed across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online and set a new iPlayer live viewing record of 5.6m streams. In total, more than 27 million Brits tuned in or logged on to watch the game. Next up for the Three Lions is a trip to Rome where they will face Ukraine on Saturday evening.

First-look

ViacomCBS International Studios (Vis), a division of ViacomCBS, and AGC Television, the...

Exclusive: Sparkling: The Story Of Champagne, Frank Mannion’s feature documentary about the popular beverage, has landed key territory deals.

Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios Company, has acquired North America and is lining up a release on August 13, Britbox has acquired UK (excluding theatrical rights), Smile Entertainment has Scandinavia (with Fidalgo in Norway) and Rialto will be releasing the film in 50 cinemas in Australia and New Zealand, while Canal+ has acquired France and Poland. Swipe Films handles sales rights and will release the pic in UK cinemas on June 25.

The doc features Stephen Fry and a host of notable figures from the champagne world, including: Taittinger President Vitalie Taittinger, Bollinger Chairman Etienne Bizot, Dom Perignon wine-maker Vincent Chaperon Nicholas Soames, the grand-son of Winston Churchill, the authors Oz Clarke, Don and Petie Kladstrup, and the Queen’s winemaker, Tony Laithwaite.

The film shot in France, England, New York and...

Festivals

The Banff World Media Festival (Banff) has unveiled its masterclass lineup for this year’s online festival taking place June 14–July 16. Classes will be held by creative team members of major global programs including “It’s a Sin,” hosted by creator Russel T. Davies, director Peter Hoar and actor Nathaniel Curtis; Warner Bros. Television’s Peabody-winning series “David Makes Man,” led by creator Tarell Alvin McCraney; “Transplant” with creator and showrunner Joseph Kay; Finnish animated series “Moominvalley”; CBC’s “Sort Of”; and a previously announced presentation from the creative team behind FX’s new series “Reservation Dogs.”

*****

Thong Kay Wee has been appointed as program director of the Singapore International Film Festival, taking over from Kuo Ming-Jung. He will work alongside executive director Emily J. Hoe from June 21. Thong was previously program and outreach officer at the Asian Film Archive. There, he has presided over multiple film-centric programs with a...

Feature documentary includes Stephen Fry and leading names from the world of champagne.

UK independent outfit Swipe Films is to handle world sales on Sparkling: The Story Of Champagne, a feature documentary that will include Stephen Fry and leading names from the world of fine wine.

The film marks the directorial debut of Irish producer and Swipe Films managing director Frank Mannion, and is in post-production. The first footage will be shown to buyers at the European Film Market (Efm) in March, with the feature set to be completed in time for Cannes. Talks are underway with an agency to co-represent in the US.

In today’s Global Bulletin, Inclusive Cinema addresses racism; Swipe pops champagne documentary; BFI seeks film fund director; Sky goes green; Sovereign acquires “Verdict”; and Blackstone buys “Stars Wars” building.

The U.K.’s Inclusive Cinema project has launched a guide for improving the cinema experiences of ethnically diverse audiences and staff — a directive that challenges institutions to make good on their Black Lives Matter and anti-racism statements from 2020.

The guide, titled “Dismantling Structural Inequality in Your Cinema,” was commissioned from artist and freelancer Sadia Pineda Hameed, and is cited by its writer as “the last toolkit that cinemas should need.” The toolkit examines the role of cinemas in the context of systemic injustice and focuses on preventing harm towards people of color. From immediately actionable tools, to encouraging inner, reflective and dialogue-based work, towards undoing systemic injustice, the guide is intended to create lasting change for future generations, and...

The lineup for this year's Pointless Celebrities series has been announced by BBC One.

Beginning with an August 9 comedy special, the upcoming series will feature different themes each week.

Four teams of two from the world of music, TV, soaps, sport, food and drink, journalism, radio and theatre will compete for charity in weekly specials to air on Saturday evenings on BBC One.

The first show pits Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather against Ronni Ancona and Phil Cornwell, Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc, and Josh Widdicombe and his partner Sara Pascoe.

Standout teams from the series include Stefan Dennis and fellow Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou, who will square off against Ray Quinn and Louis Emerick from Brookside.

Antony Costa from Blue will team with 5ive's Scott Robinson in the music special, while TV stars Louie Spence and Carol McGiffin will face off against the likes...

Yotam Ottolenghi savours the flavours of Marrakech, 1950s TV newsroom drama The Hour returns and Michael Winterbottom explores the effects of a long stretch in prison

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MondayCrime Stories

2pm, ITV1

Co-created by the people who brought us The Bill, here's a peculiar and rather worthy hybrid of fact and fiction – a fake fly-on-the-wall police procedural, starring a former real-life detective chief superintendent (Jane Antrobus). It's certainly plodding and humdrum enough to be authentic – though does chuck in the odd Columbo-style red herring to keep us interested. In this series opener, Di Jane and DS Ben Shaw (Hollyoaks' Ben Hull) investigate the case of an care home resident who's had his money stolen. Ali Catterall

The Dark Charisma Of Adolf Hitler

9pm, BBC2

Debut of a three-part series seeking to explain one of history's great inexplicables: how and why did the civilised people of a great European nation,...

Food and Drink is due to return on the BBC next year. MasterChef star Michel Roux Jr will host the new version, which will return to BBC Two for six episodes in 2013. The original series ran on BBC Two from 1982 to 2001. Simon Bates, Jilly Goolden, Oz Clarke and Michael Barry were among the stars of the first run. The BBC stated that Roux Jr will help viewers take on recipes with a host of celebrity chefs, while also examining food trends, consumer issues and other debates and discussions. "It is an honour to be involved in the exciting re-launch of Food and Drink," said Roux Jr. "The original programme inspired many and with Britain's appreciation for good food having grown so much in the last 30 years, I am looking forward to exploring fantastic food and drink with old and new friends." Janice Hadlow, controller of BBC Two, said: (more)...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...

British wine critic Oz Clarke may never have imagined it to be difficult to get someone to enjoy a drink he has made a career out of. But when car presenter and beer drinker James May joined him in the vineyards of France, he had his task cut out. “James is one of the most unlikely wine drinkers in the world. He only drinks tea at home and beer outside — that too only one brand, at one pub. Sometimes, I had to behave like a rather fierce school teacher because he’s such a petrol-head,” explains Clarke, who took May on ...