Channel 4 is hosting free events at London’s Regent’s Park on July 27 and 28 and at Roundhay Park, Leeds, on August 10 and 11, when it is co-hosting the Leeds mela.
* At Regent’s Park, the first England v India test match will be shown live from Lords on an 8m by 5m screen; a similar screen at Roundhay Park will relay live coverage of the second test.
* Tomorrow in Regent’s Park, there’s an open-air showing of Mira Nair’s exuberant comedy ‘Monsoon Wedding’ at 7pm. Leeds viewers will see the Bollywood classic ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ on August 10 at 6.30pm.
* British-Asian artist Nitin Sawhney is co-ordinating and performing in concerts at both venues (from 6.30pm-9pm on July 28, and 6.30pm on August 11), which feature, among other artists, the pop duo Badmarsh and Shri. There’s beach cricket on a vast sand pitch and lessons in ‘kabaddi’, the traditional Indian game of tactical combat.
* Channel 4 has scheduled popular and classic Indian films and documentaries about India and modern-day links between India and Britain during the test match period; Jon Snow will be presenting Channel 4 News from India.
* Channel 4‘s Howzat pack, a programme of curriculum materials including a CD-Rom linked to cricket, has gone out to 25,000 primaries.l Test coverage starts at 11am daily; for schedules visit www.channel4.comculture
