Week Ahead: Barnsley face nervous wait over Wigan’s points appeal as wedding receptions return

LONG ROAD TO NORMALITY

Boris Johnson has set the ambitious target of a significant return of life to normal by Christmas – and a big step towards that goal will happen from this Saturday as a series of lockdown measures are eased.

Guidance on shielding for vulnerable people will be paused from Saturday, while wedding receptions for up to 30 guests will be allowed.

Audiences will be able to return to indoor theatres and music venues in England, so long as they adhere to social distancing, while leisure centres, bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos will also be allowed to reopen.

Work-from-home guidance will also be broadly lifted, with employers told to decide whether their staff should return to the office.

But there are major question marks over exactly how quickly – if ever –things will return to pre-Covid status. Many theatre and music venues have questioned how viable it is to reopen under the new restrictions, with many postponing live performances until 2021. Equally, large numbers of employers are continuing to encourage their staff to work from home for the foreseeable future.  

Earlier in the week, two reports being published on Tuesday will underline the economic case for returning things to normal as soon as possible as the Treasury publishes its latest data on how many billions have been spent on coronavirus loans, bounce back loans and the furlough scheme, while the CBI will be revealing the latest retail sales figures.

RELEGATION ROW

Barnsley FC seemingly pulled off a miracle escape from relegation from the Championship last week after winning both of their final two matches in the last minute – but now face a nervous off-the-field wait to confirm their place in the league.

On Friday, an appeal will be heard against Wigan Athletic’s 12-point deduction for going into administration which put them into the relegation places and left Barnsley one place above the drop. Should Wigan’s points deduction be overturned or substantially reduced as a result, Barnsley could yet be relegated.

Matters are further complicated by Sheffield Wednesday still awaiting the outcome of their disciplinary hearing over the timing and circumstances of the sale and lease-back of their Hillsborough ground to club owner Dejphon Chansiri with potential punishments in their case including a deduction of up to 21 points.

Back on the field, the FA Cup final will take place between Arsenal and Chelsea in front of an empty Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.

ROYAL REFLECTIONS

On Wednesday night, a 90-documentary will give viewers unprecedented access to the life of one of the Royal Family’s most popular members, HRH The Princess Royal. Anne: The Princess Royal at 70 is to be shown on ITV.

An ITV spokesperson said: “With unseen family footage and conversations with the Princess, her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and many others close to her, the film details the Princess Royal’s lifelong juggling of family and duty.  She was the first daughter of a monarch to go to school, the first royal Olympian and the first child of a monarch to insist her children were called ‘Mr’ and ‘Miss’.”

TV TREATS

The BAFTA television awards will be broadcast on Friday night in a ceremony hosted by Richard Ayoade.

Yorkshire-made Gentleman Jack is in the running for best drama series, with Suranne Jones from the show also nominated in the Leading Actress category.

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