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It would be easy to dismiss tabletop gaming as a “geeky” hobby played by young boys in the basements of their homes.

For those who have never enjoyed the rush of playing a miniature wargame, it may come as a surprise that it is in fact a multi-billion-pound industry loved by people from all walks of life and is continuing to boom across the country.

Tabletop gaming covers quite a lot of different things, including board games, card games, dice games, miniature war games, role-playing games and tile-based games.

In this golden age of video games and comic book movies, experts say tabletop gaming has been “pulled along” into the mainstream and is currently enjoying a “renaissance” in the UK.

Pic: Stephen Whistance
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Pic: Stephen Whistance

Games Workshop has been transformed into a billion-pound company thanks to the likes of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000.

The firm, which was founded in 1975 by three friends, was originally a manufacturer of wooden boards for games including backgammon, mancala, nine men’s morris, and go.

It later became an importer of the US role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, before going on to publish war games and role-playing games in its own right.

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The company opened its first shop in Hammersmith, west London, in 1978 in a chain that would later spread across the world.

The now Nottingham-headquartered company was worth about £4.7bn at the beginning of December.

To put that into perspective, at the same time Boohoo was worth around £470m, ASOS £455m, and Card Factory £315m.

Pic: Stephen Whistance
Image:
Pic: Stephen Whistance

Superman himself, Henry Cavill, is one of Games Workshop’s A-list clients.

The gaming enthusiast has been attempting to bring a Warhammer film and television universe to life via Amazon MGM Studios, and in recent weeks it was confirmed a TV series is moving forward.

The Hollywood star celebrated the news by making a “pilgrimage” to the very first place he bought Warhammer models more than 30 years ago on his home island of Jersey.

Tabletop gaming enjoying a ‘renaissance’ in the UK

Dr Niall Moody and Dr Hailey Austin, from Abertay University’s faculty of design, informatics and business, told Sky News tabletop gaming is enjoying a “resurgence” in the UK.

Dr Moody, a lecturer in game audio and design, said “these days, geek culture is mainstream”.

He believes the box office draw of the likes of The Lord Of The Rings films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have helped to “pull along things like tabletop gaming”.

Pic: Stephen Whistance
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Pic: Stephen Whistance

Pic: Stephen Whistance
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Pic: Stephen Whistance

Dr Moody said part of its popularity also stems from the fact it has been around for a “very long time”.

He explained: “Board games date back to 3000BC at least. We’ve had card games since, like, the 14-15th century.

“Warhammer’s lineage is kind of from war games. The original one of those is Kriegsspiel from the 19th century.

“And the other big part of tabletop gaming today is tabletop role-playing games.”

He added: “Tabletop role-playing games in particular have become massively popular over the past like 10 years. I think part of the reason they’ve become so popular is down to the actual play stuff.”

Actual play – also called live play – is a genre of podcast or web show where people play tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) for an audience.

It often encompasses in-character interactions between players, storytelling from the gamemaster, and out-of-character engagements such as dice rolls and discussion of game mechanics.

Dr Moody, a game designer and artist, said highly polished shows have inspired would-be players to take up the hobby.

Pic: Stephen Whistance
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Pic: Stephen Whistance

Pic: Stephen Whistance
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Pic: Stephen Whistance

Colleague Dr Austin, a lecturer in visual media and culture, said there is a “huge culture” around playing games right now in the UK.

She noted: “This culture has been huge in Germany and Sweden for a long time, but it’s having a renaissance here now.

“I think it’s similar to sports. Some people know a lot about sports and teams and trends, and watch other people playing sports. And others play it themselves.

“It’s the same with games and board games. Some people only like to watch, and others like to join in casually, or competitively.

“I think some people don’t know how popular it is because we are in an age of information overload and there’s no way to know about everything, while there’s no excuse not to know anything.”

Dr Austin, whose PhD is in comic books, believes role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons – which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024 – are enjoying a revival in part due to the popularity of the likes of Netflix show Stranger Things, as well as podcasts and well-produced live sessions like Critical Role and Dimension 20.

Pic: Stephen Whistance
Image:
Pic: Stephen Whistance

Dr Austin, a programme lead for Abertay University’s BA (Hons) game design and production course, noted the hobby is often thought of as being “consumed by predominantly young men” but that isn’t the case.

She said: “Board games, card games, party games and role-playing games are incredibly popular with all kinds of people and have been for a long time.

“In fact, by most accounts, women tend to make up around 50% of game players. They just aren’t thought of as the main market.”

She also believes Generation Z’s alcohol habits could also be playing a positive role in the hobby’s popularity.

A YouGov survey released at the beginning of 2024 found that almost half of the UK’s youngest drinkers were turning down booze for low or no-alcohol alternatives.

Dr Austin said: “From what I understand, young people don’t want to go out drinking much anymore. They would rather stay home with friends and play games.

“It’s a nice, lowkey way to be social, meet like-minded people, and a safe space to express themselves.”

An important lifeline to those seeking friendship

Crossfire Gaming Club
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(L-R) Chris Mooney, Stephen Bannerman, Curtis Walker and Simon Lewis are on the Crossfire Gaming Club committee

One Scottish club is testament to the popularity of tabletop gaming.

Crossfire Gaming Club was founded by a group of six friends in February 2023.

Club chairman Chris Mooney, 37, told Sky News the men needed a place to game after “getting it in the neck” from their wives and partners for repeatedly playing at each other’s houses.

They hired out Cumbernauld Village Hall in North Lanarkshire and hoped to attract a few other gamers.

It has since grown exponentially with club nights held on both Mondays and Thursdays.

Crossfire Gaming Club
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Crossfire Gaming Club has used some of its Lotto funding to purchase high-quality gaming terrain

Crossfire Gaming Club

Mr Mooney said: “We thought if we get eight to 10 people that’ll be a massive success for us. Now we’re averaging 50-odd. It’s no longer a small operation.”

Members play a wide variety of games, from the likes of Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar and Infinity to Blood Bowl, Kill Team and Star Wars: X-Wing.

Starter armies are available to players who don’t have any gaming equipment, and intro games can be arranged for those who have never played before.

Crossfire Gaming Club
Crossfire Gaming Club

There’s even a hobby area where members can sit down and paint their models while chatting to others.

The club has invested in board games, and other groups that need a space for the likes of Dungeons & Dragons are additionally invited to get in touch.

Since its inception, the club has received £25,248 from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland.

The committee has used some of the money to purchase high-quality gaming terrain.

Crossfire Gaming Club

The lotto cash has also been used to fund more tables, buy merchandise like club hoodies, and subsidise expeditions – like group cinema trips and axe-throwing adventures.

Mr Mooney said the funding has helped “massively”.

He said: “It takes the pressure off us as we don’t have to worry about the next council bill that’s coming in for the hall or so.”

Crossfire Gaming Club
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The club boasts a hobby area where members can paint their models

Mr Mooney, who was part of a gaming club years ago, agrees with Dr Moody’s sentiment that the popularity of computer games and comic book movies have helped to bolster the perception of tabletop gaming.

He said: “It’s become a lot less taboo over time. It used to be one person in the classroom that collected comic books, but now it’s very accepted because Marvel is mainstream and all sorts.

“Geek culture has become very mainstream, and that’s kind of pulled along things like wargaming with it as well.”

Mr Mooney says some of those within the “gaming, wargaming and geek culture suffer from social anxiety”.

He said that’s why he personally likes the club, explaining: “I like coming out and talking to people.”

Crossfire Gaming Club
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Crossfire Gaming Club members during a games night

Dr Moody agrees that its popularity has led to the creation of public events, societies and board game cafes – all deemed to be a “safe space” for those with social anxiety.

Dr Moody said: “With social anxiety in particular, it can be really hard to socialise in more traditional settings like pubs.

“If the sole focus is social interactions, like making small talk, it can be really hard if you struggle with social anxiety, and you can often freeze up in those situations.

“But one of the really good things about games, tabletop games in particular, is that they give you something else to focus on that helps you relax around other people.

“It’s a great way to meet people in a low-stakes setting.”

Crossfire Gaming Club
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Jac Harvie

Jac Harvie, 25, is one such member who enjoys the social aspect of the club as most of his friends are not into tabletop gaming. “I’ve got anxiety and can struggle sometimes, but here I feel like I’m among friends,” he said.

“We share a lot of the same likes and talk about things like new books that have come out.”

Crossfire Gaming Club
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Jac Harvie and Connor Leitch

Even when he’s losing, Mr Harvie is still having fun.

He explained: “Even the bad nights are good because you enjoy yourself.”

Crossfire Gaming Club
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Kevin McMail

Kevin McMail, 39, is another member who believes the club offers an important lifeline to those seeking friendship.

Due to the effects of lockdown, he found himself in front of a screen a lot.

“I realised I was probably spending more time at home with the dog than out and about the way I had before. I was like, ‘I’ve got to get away from this’.”

Crossfire Gaming Club
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Mr Mooney and Mr McMail

Mr McMail said unlike basic video gaming, there are “extra elements” to the hobby as participants can express their artistic side through the painting of their battle figurines.

He added: “I think a lot of people are attached to screens a lot, but you don’t feel the same level of social experience when you’re playing online games with people.

“That level of social connection, I think it’s important for a lot of people. And that’s what you get here – just an unbelievably supportive community.”

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Prince William has had a lot to say this week – but is anyone listening?

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Prince William has had a lot to say this week - but is anyone listening?

Prince William has had a lot to say this week, attending three events about the environment as part of London Climate Action Week and giving three speeches.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t really heard what he had to say. The eyes of the world have, understandably, been elsewhere.

Conflict, not the climate crisis, has been the primary focus of world leaders and continues to be – a problem you could say for William and all those trying to whip up momentum ahead of COP30 in Brazil, with only four months to go until the UN’s climate conference in November.

It was William and his team who specifically convened a meeting at St James’s Palace on Thursday with the Brazilian ministers in charge of the summit and indigenous leaders from other parts of the world.

Pic: AP
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Prince William attended an event called ‘Nature’s Guardians’ at St James’s Palace this week. Pic: AP

Prince William receives a gift from Kleber Karipuna, Indigenous leader of the Karipuna people from Amapa.
Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

With Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, just a few seats away, William made a call to action, saying: “We’ve made bold commitments: to halt deforestation, restore ecosystems, and protect 30% of land, sea, and water by 2030.

“But these goals will remain out of reach unless we move from promises to action – grounded in respect, equity, and shared responsibility.

“Looking ahead to COP30 in Belem and beyond, we must act with greater ambition and deeper collaboration. This is a moment for courage.”

When I put it to a palace source that maybe it all feels a bit futile in the current climate, with attentions firmly elsewhere, I was told there is “no change in course” – the prince always has and will continue “to use his platform to spotlight the need to restore the planet”.

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‘If we save the sea, we save our world’

In the past, we’ve been more used to his father being more vocal.

The King’s involvement in London Climate Week was more fleeting, albeit involving a handshake with a giant gorilla puppet, and a discussion with the Brazil delegation in which he hinted that he would love to attend the summit in November, saying: “It’s fitting it all in.”

Attendance by either the King or the Prince of Wales hasn’t been confirmed yet, although it’s looking likely William will go. He told one person this week: “I’ll be in the area”, with his Earthshot Prize being held in Rio in the days running up to the climate conference.

But in the coming months, we do now know that father and son will be meeting with one key player, who has certainly voiced very different views on the severity of the climate crisis.

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Prince William and David Attenborough’s call to save oceans

This week, it was confirmed that Donald Trump’s full state visit to the UK will go ahead later this year, likely in September.

His potentially disruptive presence when it came to the climate debate was hinted at on Tuesday, in front of Prince William, during a speech by former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Mr Bloomberg, a global adviser to Earthshot Prize, said: “There’s a good reason to be optimistic, lots of problems around the world, America has not been doing its share lately to make things better, I don’t think. Nevertheless, I’m very optimistic about the future.”

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The King and Prince William have worked in this environmental sphere long enough to weather the frustrations of other distractions, a lack of interest or momentum.

I’ll never forget in 2015 ahead of COP21, when Islamic State and Syria were dominating the news agenda, Prince Charles told me very firmly that of course there was a link between the civil war in Syria and climate change.

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He said there was “very good evidence indeed that one of the major reasons for this horror in Syria was a drought that lasted for about five or six years, which meant that huge numbers of people in the end had to leave the land”.

“It’s only in the last few years that the Pentagon have actually started to pay attention to this,” he added at the time. “I mean, it has a huge impact on what is happening.”

But as a family, they know how much their global profile and ability to get people in the room can help attract attention that others simply can’t.

It’s easy to be sniffy about that convening power, but as one delegate at an Earthshot event put it, they have an ability to “bring people together not around politics but purpose”. And in a currently noisy, fractured world, it feels like that is needed more than ever.

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Sunburn isn’t just red skin – here’s what’s happening underneath the burn

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Sunburn isn't just red skin - here's what's happening underneath the burn

The government is warning that the NHS will be under even more pressure this weekend as temperatures soar, so looking after yourself in the sunshine is crucial.

Read more: Amber heat health alert issued for England

But how much do you know about the science behind sunburn… and how to prevent it?

What is sunburn?

While we all know what sunburned skin looks like – red and sore – it might not be so clear what is happening underneath the skin.

“Essentially, it’s inflammation,” said Dr Rachel Abbott, a consultant dermatologist who specialises in skin cancer for the Cardiff and Vale University health board.

“It’s triggered by ultraviolet radiation, primarily UVB but also by UVA.”

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A tourist shows her sunburned leg. File pic: AP
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A tourist shows her sunburned leg. File pic: AP

Ultraviolet radiation is carcinogenic and when it is allowed to penetrate the skin, it triggers an inflammatory reaction, said Dr Abbott.

Histamines – chemicals produced by the body’s immune system – and prostaglandins – compounds that help the body deal with injuries and illness – are released as your body begins reacting to the damage.

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How to keep pets cool during a heatwave

Although the inflamed, red, itchy skin will fade, those carcinogens will do permanent damage to your DNA, according to Dr Abbott.

“The redness and pain can be managed symptomatically, but that DNA damage is permanent,” she said.

“We’ve all got DNA repair mechanisms in our bodies. But this is why we’re seeing such a massive increase in skin cancer, because [as we get older], the battle between the DNA damage and the skin cells becomes more than the immune system can cope with.”

A sunburned man lies on the grass. File pic: Reuters
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A sunburned man lies on the grass. File pic: Reuters

Since the early 1990s, the number of skin cancer cases in Britain has more than doubled and last year, the number of cases was predicted to hit an all-time high of 20,800, according to Cancer Research UK.

The cancer charity partially attributed the rise in cases to older groups of people knowing “less about the dangers of tanning in their youth”, who “may have taken advantage of the cheap package holiday boom from the 1960s”.

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This would lead to increased sun exposure and more damaged DNA, increasing the risk of skin cancer further down the line.

The ‘most effective’ protection (and it isn’t suncream)

There is currently no conclusive treatment to deal with the DNA damage caused by sunburn – although Dr Abbott said there is “exciting” work being done in that area.

A peeling, sunburned back. File pic: iStock
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A peeling, sunburned back. File pic: iStock

Instead, the way to stop yourself from sustaining long-term damage is to protect yourself from UV rays.

“A lot of people associate temperature with the heat of the sun, whereas actually it’s the UV index that’s the critical thing. And that usually peaks around midday,” said Dr Abbott.

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What is a heatwave?

Contrary to what some may think (or hope), suncream should be a last resort.

Shade “is the most effective thing”, she said, but if you have to be out in the sunshine, “obviously we recommend hats, clothing and then sunscreen”.

“It is a last resort for those areas that you can’t cover up with clothing and hats, and sunglasses.”

The cancer care charity Macmillan recommends a suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50, or at least 30, and to reapply it regularly.

“There is no such thing as a safe suntan,” advises the charity.

It also recommends using around six to eight teaspoons of suncream for an adult – one teaspoon for each limb, one for your chest, one for your back and one for your head and neck.

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Robbie Williams addresses Glastonbury rumours – as excitement builds for ‘secret’ sets

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Robbie Williams addresses Glastonbury rumours - as excitement builds for 'secret' sets

Pulp tried to quash the rumours, Robbie Williams was happy to fuel them – sharing a picture of a blue plaque in his name apparently slapped over a famous Glastonbury sign, before seemingly backtracking.

“30 years later…” he captioned his first social media post early on Friday morning – a reference to his headline-grabbing attendance in 1995.

This was the year Williams was famously pictured partying with Oasis‘s Liam and Noel Gallagher, shunning the boyband shackles with bleached-blonde hair and a blacked-out tooth. The writing was on the wall, and the announcement of his departure from Take That came just a few weeks later.

At Glastonbury this year, is the writing quite literally on the wall for a comeback?

Well, maybe not. A few hours after his post, Williams shared another, less cryptic message to say he would not be performing, along with his list of recommended acts to go and see – The 1975, Busta Rhymes, Charli XCX, Self Esteem and Reverend And The Makers, if you’re interested.

Is he bluffing? Double-bluffing? Who knows, but along with celeb spotting and mud, if there’s one topic of conversation that makes headlines when it comes to Glastonbury, it’s speculation about secret artists. Williams has got everybody talking.

Even before his posts, the Let Me Entertain You singer was among the artists rumoured to be performing secret sets this year, along with Pulp and Haim. Lewis Capaldi and Lorde too, with both “TBA” acts turning out to huge crowds on Friday.

Liam Gallagher And Robbie Williams at Glastonbury Festival in 1995. Pic: Brian Rasic/Getty Images
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Liam Gallagher And Robbie Williams at Glastonbury Festival in 1995. Pic: Brian Rasic/Getty Images

In recent years, these surprise sets have turned into some of the event’s most memorable moments – think Foo Fighters as “The ChurnUps” in 2023, Pulp’s comeback in 2011, and Lady Gaga treating fans to a small performance in one of the festival’s after hours areas, Shangri-La, in 2009.

Franz Ferdinand, famous for hits including Take Me Out and Do You Want To in the mid-2000s, were the first to do it back in 2008. This was actually due to Pete Doherty’s band Babyshambles pulling out last-minute, but the approach to announcing the switch was, at the time, a novel one.

While officially, the act was “TBA”, frontman Alex Kapranos wasn’t great at keeping the secret, worried people might not turn up. He and bandmates handed out fliers, and word spread.

Franz Ferdinand perform a secret gig on the Park Stage during day one of the Glastonbury Festival, Somerset. Pic: Yui Mok/ PA
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Franz Ferdinand played the first ever big ‘secret’ set back in 2008. Pic: Yui Mok/ PA

“We played on the Park Stage and we thought, ‘nobody’s going to know we’re playing’,” Kapranos told Sky News ahead of a return performance on Friday. “It actually ended up being one of the most amazing gigs we’ve ever played, people were so up for it and going crazy.

“We weren’t keeping it secret. We were walking about like, ‘we’re playing later on, check it out’. We’re a band from Glasgow called Franz Ferdinand.”

These now not-so-secret performances have become bigger and bigger as each festival rolls around, with leaks making headlines in the run-up to the event.

Providing handy tips and hints – and often eventually confirmation, just in time for fans to be in position – is the Secret Glasto team. They have no official ties to Glastonbury, but over the years have become a reliable source of information.

The account’s founder, who now works in a team of six, spoke to us on site – incognito, of course.

“We’ve got our own sources and we can start checking things because we’ve now had enough years that we can check in with several people,” he said. “And they trust us because we are quite sensible with when we time announcements, which I think is the key thing.”

Sometimes acts themselves will confirm, they said. Their success rate for predictions is “in the low 90%” – but dragged down mainly by inexperience in their first year, which was 2014.

Capaldi’s comeback yesterday, two years after struggling on stage at Glastonbury in 2023, was a special moment.

“It was really, really heartwarming to see him get back up,” Secret Glasto said. “There was such goodwill in the crowd and it was just magical. It’s just what secret sets should be about.”

British band Pulp perform on the Arena Stage as 'surprise guests' at Glastonbury Festival in Glastonbury, England on Saturday June 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Mark Allan)
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Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker performing on the Park Stage for a secret set at Glastonbury 2011. Pic: AP/ Mark Allan


On Saturday evening, a non-existent act called Patchwork have a pretty important billing just before Raye and then headliner Neil Young on the Pyramid Stage.

Pulp keyboard player Candida Doyle dampened rumours by reportedly saying in an interview earlier this month Glastonbury “weren’t interested” in booking the band.

But is this true?

“It happens a few times,” Secret Glasto said, of artists maybe telling little white lies to keep the secret for as long as possible. “They’ve got to keep the suspense somehow…

“Sources that we got for Pulp were really, really strong. It’s just so exciting for us, for the whole team. This is the most exciting secret set that Glastonbury’s ever done.”

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It’s a fine balance – not spoiling the surprise but giving fans enough time to get where they want to be. When a festival is this big – home to around 200,000 people over the weekend – at a lot of stages, fans need to be in place early.

“The point is to always make sure people can get to the set if they wanted to.” But if a huge artist is going to surprise fans on a very small stage, sometimes they have to keep schtum for safety concerns over huge crowds. “Sometimes we’re like, we can’t print this.”

So, will Williams be playing? The rumour is that he could be joining his mate Rod Stewart, who is performing on the Pyramid Stage in the “legends” slot on Sunday.

“Robbie Williams entered this area without accreditation, authorisation, or alignment with prevailing taste,” according to the blue plaque in his social media tease, of his attendance in 1995. “His presence was uninvited, unofficial and ultimately inevitable.”

In his candid documentary series, and biopic Better Man, both released last year, Williams has been open about his struggles with fame and imposter syndrome, and how as an artist known for pop he craved respect from those seen as more credible at a time when indie music reigned.

Officially this year, there is no Robbie Williams on the line-up. Unofficially, who knows? But 30 years since his partying with the Gallaghers, pop music is embraced – and there would be a lot of love for the star if he did make an appearance now.

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