These might be the cutest photos of the week!! Last night in Manchester, a celebrity football/soccer match was held for UNICEF UK Soccer Aid 2014. It was an English team versus “The Rest of the World” team, mostly Scots. The Rest of the World won!! Gordon Ramsay was the captain of The Rest of the World, and his team included James McAvoy and Jeremy Renner, apparently (I can’t find photos of Renner). I’m including mostly photos of McAvoy because CUTE CUTE CUTE.
The match raised £4.2 million for UNICEF, with the British government matching funds. So, they raised £8.4 million in one night. All for a great cause. Plus, we got to see McAvoy in action and it was glorious. I love that celebrities do this kind of thing – I know there are “celebrity” games in America too, but our American charity games usually feel budget, especially considering the turnout this UNICEF match got.
Also: who knew James McAvoy would look so hot in soccer gear? Damn.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oh dear god, yes. I’d toss his caber.
OT (sorry, really, really minor threadjacking):
Ok. Penny Dreadful was worth the ticket for Rory Kinnear flailing about naked, covered in blood and screeching. My FAVOURITE TV moment of the year so far.
I think there’s a rule that says thread-jacking is always allowed when it involves a Kinnear. That’s a great scene, and it contrasts so beautifully to the other “birth.” While I don’t think this show is perfect, I think it’s really well-crafted, and there’s a lot I really enjoy about how carefully it’s worked.
The Frankenstein my favorite sub-plot so far, although Miss Jane has a penchant for the Dorian Grey story. This week’s was quite good. We like how they aren’t afraid to stop the plot to give back story. I love the way in which the series recognizes its debt to the literary genre it’s using. It’s a lot of fun in that way. Plus, Timothy Dalton.
I’m still a bit disappointed by the sets and the cinematography, but yes to all that. It really is growing on me.
I don’t get how someone who watches BBC shows on a regular basis can be disappointed by the showtime sets. I also think the artificiality is part of its construct.
What’s your favorite penny dreadful? Mine is American. It’s called the Monks of Monk Hall. It’s brilliant.
Oh, even the BBC has been upping its game in that repect. I cite you Shetland and Hinterland.
Anything with Sweeney Todd, I think.
I haven’t seen either of those. The paucity of BBC America’s output is killing me. All we get over here are The Three Musketeers and a dodgy-looking zombie show.
I take your point about the artificiality. I think I was just um… expecting it to be some of that exceptional TV we have been treated to in recent years, especially given the stellar cast. Rather than it being lacking, I think perhaps my expectations were awry. And I am enjoying it – love the premise, the plotlines, the acting.
If the zombie thing is In The Flesh, then watch it. It *is* intended for the teen market but script, universe, acting, setting-wise, it’s wonderful. Rather blunt allegories of racism and rise of the right – but as I say, it’s for teens, so understandable. First class stuff, though.
PS: Musketeers is proper old school BBC, isn’t it? Sixlets loved it. I thought they reached a bit putting it at a 9pm slot. I think they should have killed fewer people and had it in the teatime Doctor Who/Merlin/Robin Hood slot. It kinda made me snore (except for lusting after Aramis).
You two are really making me want to watch this.
@T.Fanty, you did not just call “In The Flesh” dodgy! It’s not just one of the best zombie series, it’s a pretty brilliant series, full stop.
Yes, God in heaven yes. Any time, any day, always.
@ T I would catch it.
@kri,
Rats. Maybe I won’t toss it, then. Get up off your back, you hussy; I’m holding on tightly!
Hell yes, why is this still a question?
The answer is always yes. Always. YES.
Right? Just soooo cute!!
CUTE CUTE CUTE indeed ^__^
Why so adorable, James?!
I blame X-Men. And those interviews with Fassy. He was NEVER on my radar before that and now… like you said, the man is adorable in a manly, Scottish way.
He actually got on my radar primarily due to Filth. He’s so nasty and hilarious there, such a disgusting prick, but his acting was awesome, absolutely floored me!
Plus I love some gruffiness 😉
I’d bang him like a screen door in a hurricane. Jeebus he is one fine man.
HA! Yes.
Who knew? I did. There is NOTHING the Mac is not hot in.
I mean, I even got turned on by him in Gnome form.
Hahaha that’s the true power of APPEAL in action 😀
I completely agree.
Why is it SOCCER aid? Shouldn’t it be football aid if it’s in the UK?
It really makes no sense for it to be called SOCCER aid. But then again there’s a popular football chat show in the UK called Soccer AM. Weird…
It’s not (scuse the double negative) NEVER called soccer in the UK. Soccer is an abbreviation of the association part of association football, which is the “proper” name of the sport. Rugby, for example, is “properly” called rugby football. Some people say soccer – it’s not exclusively an American thing, nor did the name originate stateside. This thing is international, so soccer is a reasonable name.
But mostly, I should imagine it’s because SoccerAid trips off the tongue more easily than FootballAid.
@Sixter: Thanks for the explanation. I’ve always wondered where the word “soccer” originated.
Tripping tongues? Where do I sign up?
I kept wanting to peel the gnome costume off him.
Haha, I thought he was hot in Narnia when he was half goat!
The 4.2 million already include the matching funds by the UK government.
And Michael Sheen was the starting captain for the rest of the world.
Agreed blue marie!
Hot, Hot and Hot!!! Can I say more? The second picture killed me.. that tongue..!!
Ooh, me likes ‘im dirty!! Is that Obama in the white gear in that last pic?!
LOL I thought the same!
I’d hit him. Hard.
Gordon too. Call me crazy…find him sexy, lol
You’re not crazy.
Or we’re both crazy…
I’d let Gordon scream obscenities at my lady garden any day.
Sorry, I’ll show myself out…
LOL! Exactly!
I…..didn’t fancy him, but the image you’ve just put in my head is changing my mind. WHAT
Thank you for the laugh and the mental picture. I think.
I think it’s Gordon’s nutsyness that makes him bangable hahah sign me up too.
IKR?
Just maybe seeing him on the street you’d think “Meh…maybe”
But damn…as soon as he starts cussing and screaming about overcooked risotto and scallops and I get all twitterpated and my panties fly across the room.
Well, overcooked risotto has that effect on some people.
WORD.
Ramsey. SWOON.
WORD.
Ramsey. SWOON.
He could yell at me too. Happening.
He’s the only man I’ve ever seen pull off skinny jeans. Yummyyyyyy!
Until it hurt
Like the fist of an angry god
Like he stole something.
OMG YES YES. Man just keeps on getting hotter and hotter.
Hell yes!
TEAM CABRERA
But yes, McAvoy looked lovely too. And very tiny!
I was team Cabrera!
Can I have them both? A pocket sized James for that long commute and Santiago waiting at home?
*SIIIIIIIIIIIGH*
Hell yeah. Dirty, sweaty and all.
Oh god yes!
I’m trying to find my new favourite clip of him from the X men interviews where he sings line of “Bring Him Home” from Les Mis while explaining how Jackman’s singing put a BB gun fight into slow motion. It’s too funny! In case anyone goes digging it’s him next to Fassbender on a sofa with Jackman; Stewart, Page, and Dinklage are also there.
Was so chuffed the Rest of the World team won. Great idea for charity, really enjoyable to watch.
Watching Jose Mourinho trip Olly Murs up and walk away laughing is now one of my highlights of 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ninzFW4MIo
Did you watch it all, Lindy? For those of us with Sixlets, it was required viewing.
I can confirm Jeremy Renner got on the pitch. For all of six seconds or somesuch.
Yep we were watching. Renner looked like he had no idea who or where he was and that other guy from Man Vs Food who had lost 100lbs (I’m reliably informed by Mr Lindy when I asked who he was), got on for a total of 5 minutes.
The Glee guy was worse, he seemed a bit lost throughout the whole process including the celebration. Just stood to the side bouncing and clappping like a random bless him.
I fell about when I saw poor littlr Renner – he probably had no idea that all the zlebs get overexcited and REALLY MEAN IT!
Rik Mayall
F*ck…
Don’t be mean, it was for charity. The celebrities who started the match are all football fanatics who have played regularly all their lives and quite a few of them played at a high level when they were younger. Renner probably hasn’t played in a match since he was in high school and because he is filming The Avengers he missed most of the training. It is amazing Marvel let him do it all and they probably limited how much time he could play. Renner came on at half time and played for at least 10 minutes, kept up with the play, positioned himself well and had a few tackles and touches, which was more than many of the celebrities. But anyone who went on the pitch deserves a huge pat on the back, it must have been really scary.
Lindy – I just said that to you elsewhere. Sad Sixer.
Katie – it was sympathetic sniggering rather than mean.
I would, repeatedly.
This guy is so cute it’s unbelievable. I swear I love him more every passing day!
They should sell DVDs of the game to raise more money. I’d buy it. Seriously. I WANT TO SEE THIS GAME.
I also want to see it! Not only because of McAvoy, I actually love football. It’s a strange affliction and I wouldn’t call myself a die hard fan (I’m not even sure I know all the rules) but I always watch European Championship and World Cup games. Ah… the thrill, the emotions, the sporty, sweaty, possibly handsome men… yes. Can’t wait for Thursday when the World Cup starts.
I watched Filth this weekend. That movie is crazy and he is totally depraved in it. And I’d still hit it.
And his wife is older than me 🙂
(I’m petty that way, just let me have this victory.)
I love Filth. It’s so nastily hilarious.
Just rented it on itunes, plan to watch tomorrow night.
Share your impression then? ^_^ Plus, there are some pretty interesting interviews McAvoy and Welsh did when promoting Filth, you can find them on YouTube if you like the film and care to learn more about it.
Dreadful confession – I am not a football fan, but I was on a first date last night and we accidentally ended up in a pub that was showing football. THIS FOOTBALL.
I really, really hope my date was not offended by my shouting YES TAKE YOUR SHIRTS OFF at the end.
*lol*
If he was offended he wasn’t the right date anyway. 😉
Laughing at Gordon Ramsey’s pose in the second pic. Looks like he’s about to fly away, Superman style.
Can I call Mcavoy Jim or Jamie or something? My brother’s name is James….
Scottish Thunder works too.
😉
MY GOD!!!
McAvoy does all sorts of things to me. I would hit the front door, side door, and the back door!!
That second picture where he’s very focused and licking his lips. He was thinking about me yall.
(side note: I was just very upset about something work-related. I saw his picture and my mood is 10x better.)
Likewise. Words fail me. I’m actually salivating and there are a few other moist parts as well….
Hey where’s the rest of the Rest of the World hotties? Michael Sheen, Jeremy Renner, Sam Worthington, some random hot British actor I thought was a real footballer he was so good (looked like a mini version of GOT Drogo). Not to mention the hottest coach of all time, Jose Mourinho! I’m glad they beat the typical overconfident and dirty tactics English team. McAvoy is one of the better celeb players, he works hard. Gordon just hogs the ball and tries to show off, typical.
Santiago Cabrera – my new crush! Aka Aramis to Brit TV watchers. I think he played school/college footie and was pretty good.
Also Heroes (he was the artist who saw the future and drew that huge painting on his floor) and Merlin where he played Lancelot (to perfection, I might add).
Oh good, I’m not the only one that thinks Mourinho is hot.
Considering our height difference it would probably look a lot like Death-by-Snu-Snu but yes, until his hips break!! He’s the cutest and most talented and HOTTEST!!
Dear James MacAvoy, please do something adorable each day. We need you.
I usually hate sports films, but McAvoy seriously needs to do one now so I can watch him run around in soccer football shorts, sweaty and competitive.
Hell yeah.
I’ll have an extra helping of hell yes please.
Ok, first of all these comments are hilarious – I never knew there were so many euphemisms for shagging. Every time I see his tongue, which let’s face it is a lot, parts of me melt