| Type | Sunday newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner | David Sullivan |
| Publisher | Sport Newspapers |
| Editor | Nick Appleyard |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Political alignment | None, (focuses on yellow journalism) |
| Official website | Sunday Sport on Twitter |
Sunday Sport is a British tabloid newspaper, published by Sport Newspapers, which was established in 1986. It prints plainly ludicrous stories, such as a double-decker London bus being found frozen in the Antarctic ice, or a World War II bomber found on the moon. Defenders of the paper pointed out that it was not intended to be taken seriously. Its controversial content also includes a high quotient of softcore female nudity. It ceased publication and entered administration on 1 April 2011.[1] However, it shortly returned to publication on 8 May after it was bought by businessman David Sullivan for £50,000.[2]
It always has a salacious edge, mirroring The Sun's page three, except spread across more of the pages. Following the departure of editor-in-chief Tony Livesey in August 2006, the paper moved towards more showbiz content spiced with sex, glamour and unique humour. Most issues came with a free gift, which could be free pints of lager, free downloads, free sex DVDs or even free tomato ketchup squeezy holders.
Its original publisher was also David Sullivan. Advertising in the Sunday Sport was once the responsibility of Sullivan's protegee Karren Brady, who went on to become managing director of Birmingham City Football Club and vice-chairman of West Ham United. The last editor was Nick Appleyard, appointed in September 2007. His predecessors included Michael Gabbert and Paul Carter. It had a sister daily title, Daily Sport.
In recent years, the paper has endured circulation difficulties as other publications mixing sex, humour, sport and news have launched and the Sport has come to be seen as outdated. The paper revamped its content and attempted to reposition itself, aiming to be a tabloid "for men". The managing director of Sport Newspapers, Andrew Fickling, said, "We think there is an opportunity to take readers from the Star and The Sun, as those papers feminise."[3]
The Daily Sport and Sunday Sport helped launch the careers of many page 3 models, including Linsey Dawn Mckenzie, Solange Hop, Cherry Dee, Zoe Parker, Josie Shaw and Dani Thompson.