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LONDON: Louis Theroux’s podcast has had its sponsorship by British Airways paused after the documentary maker interviewed a member of the band Bob Vylan. 

During the interview, frontman Bobby Vylan said he does not regret prompting criticism earlier this year when he led an audience in a chant of “death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)” at Glastonbury music festival.

“I’m not regretful of it. I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays. I’m not regretful of it at all, like the subsequent backlash that I’ve faced. It’s minimal,” Vylan said in the podcast, released on Oct. 1.

“It’s minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through … What’s there to regret? Oh, because I’ve upset some right-wing politician or some right-wing media?”

BA said its adverts had been removed from the podcast, adding: “The content clearly breaches our sponsorship policy in relation to politically sensitive or controversial subject matters.

“We and our third-party media agency have processes in place to ensure these issues don’t occur and we’re investigating how this happened.”

A spokesperson for Mindhouse Productions, which produces the podcast, told Sky News: “Louis is a journalist with a long history of speaking to controversial figures who may divide opinion.

“We would suggest people watch or listen to the interview in its entirety to get the full context of the conversation.”

Commercial success has followed the Glastonbury controversy, with the band’s album “Humble as the Sun” reaching the top spot on the UK’s hip hop and R&B album chart.

DUBAI: When tabletop.me opens its doors in Dubai this November, it will mark the Middle East’s first major tabletop gaming convention, but, along with that, it will also be a celebration of something far older: human connection.

“We’ve been tabletop gaming for 8,000 years as a species,” said organizer Mark Azzam, an airline pilot turned entrepreneur and founder who has made it his mission to connect people through games.

“The oldest board found in Egypt dates back to 4000 or 5000 B.C. And yet, this digital world we’ve built has only existed for about 30 years. I find it sad that we’d lose what we’ve been doing for millennia, being together.”

In an era dominated by virtual entertainment and artificial intelligence, tabletop.me aims to remind people of the joy of gathering around a physical board. “You never see someone frowning at a tabletop session,” Azzam said. “Everyone smiles, everyone laughs, everyone connects.”

The three-day event, to be held from Nov. 7-9 at the Dubai Outlet Mall, is designed for both newcomers and seasoned gamers. For beginners, the biggest hurdle — learning the rules — is removed. “The biggest barrier to entry is the rulebook,” explained Azzam in an interview with Arab News. “You buy a game, take it home, and think, ‘One day I’ll learn this.’ At tabletop.me, our trained game masters are there to guide you, so there’s no barrier. Just come, play, and enjoy.”

He added that this “introductory spirit” is key: “It’s all about opening up something new, especially for families. Here, parents, kids, and grandparents can all share the table.”

While many still associate board games with Monopoly or Risk, modern tabletop games offer more creativity and strategy, said Azzam. “Monopoly is three hours long and always the same. Modern games change every time you play,” he said. “We have a big battle to fight against these old perceptions, but once people try the new generation of games, they never turn back.”

Beyond gaming, tabletop.me features workshops, industry talks and tournaments. But it’s also built for cross-generational fun. “We have the ‘Tiny Tabletop’ area for kids aged 4 to 8, with face painting, bouncy castles, and games that spark imagination,” Azzam said. “We’re even hosting workshops that teach parents how to be dungeon masters for their kids.”

There’s also space for tradition. A “Classic Corner” will celebrate beloved regional games like chess, backgammon, and jackaroo — “a nod to the timeless play that connects generations.”

Above all, Azzam hopes tabletop.me will unite the region’s fragmented gaming community. “Connection and unity — that’s my dream,” he said. “Different leaders, different groups and communities, all coming together under one big banner.”