Meet England’s octogenarian matador

It’s a sunny October morning at a bull-breeding ranch north of Seville, and 82-year-old Frank Evans is preparing to step into the ring. Born in Salford, Evans is one of the few British men ever to become a professional bullfighter, or torero. There is something of the retired rock star about him. He is dressed in the traditional matador’s outfit of black trousers, white shirt and red-and-black waistcoat. Although a little frail, he is toned. His thinning hair is dyed brown but still reaches his shoulders.

Evans and I are here for a tienta – a practice session in a private bullring, in which young cows and bulls are assessed for breeding. The two-year-old females (vacas) that he will face aren’t as big as the four- or five-year-old males, but it would be a mistake to underestimate them.