Beagle lands on front pages

Many of Friday's newspapers are disappointed by the Beagle 2 spacecraft's failure to send a signal to Earth, to indicate it has landed safely on Mars.

The headline writers of the Sun and the Daily Mirror are inspired by the film ET using their front pages to urge the craft to follow the extra-terrestrial's example and phone home.

The Daily Star's headline takes its cue from a different film: "The Beagle is stranded".

But the Daily Mail says the mission should not be seen as a failure but a very British triumph of the human spirit.

The Independent says just putting the craft into space should be lauded as a success and the scientists behind the project should be regarded as role models who deserve the highest praise.

Fox poll

The Daily Express supports the findings of a Countryside Alliance survey suggesting most people believe a ban on hunting should be a low priority for the government.

The paper says it is scandalous so much time has been spent debating the issue, when the government should be tackling international terrorism and violent crime, and improving the health service and education.

The Independent says the traditional Boxing Day hunt may be a bizarre pursuit - but if people want to do it, so be it.

The Daily Telegraph warns about the dangers of banning hunting.

It highlights the example of the Australian Northern Territories, where the number of crocodiles has risen 10 fold in the 30 years since they became a protected species.

Terrier alert

Max Hastings, in the Mail, paints a picture of a tense Christmas at Sandringham.

Imagine the silences, he writes, the reproachful looks, the muffled snuffles from the monarch's end of the table.

The reason? The death of one of the Queen's corgis, after being attacked by Princess Anne's bull terrier.

Many papers picture the Princess Royal outside Sandringham Church, speaking to a well-wisher who had brought his corgis with him.

The Telegraph calls it a "corgi encounter of the awkward kind".

The Express says the Queen has dumped Anne in the dog house.

And the Sun is somewhat crueller: "Here's a rare sight", the paper says, "Princess Anne and two healthy corgis".

Financial goal

The Times leads with what its says are radical plans to shake up football.

The paper says ministers are waiting to act on a report on the growing financial crisis facing the game.

It is expected to call for clubs to be more transparent about their finances, and to propose direct tax help for supporters groups that help to run their clubs.

In an editorial, the paper welcomes the plans, saying a new financial literacy on the terraces might help keep some clubs on the straight and narrow.

Silent fitness

The Sun reports one out of every four people who get exercise equipment to fight the post-Christmas flab will use it only twice.

Researchers have calculated there are more than two million fitness videos gathering dust, more than a million exercise bikes laying idle, and more than one and a half million sets of dumb-bells out of action.

The Telegraph suggests people would do well to maintain their New Year fitness regime.

The paper says researchers have found exercise can make people more alert.