Since it landed on Netflix on December 25, Bridgerton has become the most talked-about television show since The Undoing puzzled its audience with its winding whodunnit.
The Pride and Prejudice meets Gossip Girl period drama has enthralled fans, with its luxurious costumes, flamboyant wigs and enviable 19th-century decor. But it's the the cast of previously little-known actors, now thrust into the limelight, who have predominantly got people talking.
Rege-Jean Page and Jonathan Bailey, who play Simon Basset and Anthony Bridgerton respectively, are major fan favourites; as is Martins Imhangbe, who plays Basset's boxing partner, Will Mondrich.
Fresh from the success of the show, Imhangbe has flown out to Dubai to ring in 2021 in style.
The British actor, 28, seems to have been taking advantage of the sunshine in the emirate, posting a picture from a New Year's Day boat trip, and another set of photos showing him flyboarding with Dubai Marina in the background.
"May all your fears be conquered this year," he captioned his January 1 post, "Another year to remain strong! Have a blessed New Year".
On his Instagram stories, he continued to document his watersports activities, posting photographs of himself jetskiing against a Burj Al Arab backdrop. He later posted a night-time photo from a Dubai Marina balcony, with the Ain Dubai in the background.
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Read more:
Five period dramas to stream now: from 'Bridgerton' to 'Anna Karenina'
The 12 most anticipated films of 2021: 'No Time to Die', 'Dune', 'Black Widow' and more
10 shows and films coming to Netflix in 2021: From 'Pieces of a Woman' to 'Cobra Kai'
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BMW%20M4%20Competition
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20Dh617%2C600%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
