business

One day in October 2024, Chris Swales, 54, a smoked-salmon producer with a confident demeanour and a stubbled jaw, stood at the gates of an industrial estate in east London staking out the units. There were teenagers loitering about, knackered cars, XL Bullies; everyone seemed to have more than one phone. It didn’t seem like … Read more

I mean, it sounds mad now. I know this even as I write, it sounds impossible, like a weird lie you tell kids to show them how good they have it, but listen: in the late 1990s and early 2000s when I worked in a fancy underwear shop, I had to wear heels that were … Read more

I never really gave much thought to the nature of love until it became a problem. Throughout adolescence I suffered through a series of intense, mostly unrequited crushes, but just assumed this was the exquisite agony of desire that poets and lyricists work so hard to capture in words. As a neuroscience PhD student in … Read more

Portrait of Jill Halfpenny in 1981 in her first holy communion outfit, and recreating the photograph in 2025Jill Halfpenny in 1981 and 2025. Later photograph: Pål Hansen/The Guardian. Styling: Andie Redman. Archive photograph: courtesy of Jill Halfpenny Born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in 1975, actor Jill Halfpenny landed her breakout role as Nicola Dobson in … Read more

Nothing feels more like spring to me than roast lamb, and we know that season is coming the moment we start putting it on our restaurant menu. We buy the whole animal and use every part of it, but my favourite cut is definitely the chops. When I was growing up, my mum would always … Read more

Bridget on Sacha What were you hoping for?A man with teeth, good posture, social skills and character. First impressions?Smiley, friendly, chatty– and good posture. What did you talk about?Tennis. Yoga. Dr Martens. Growing up. Our careers. Travels. Spike Milligan and much more. It was an evening full of talk. Most awkward moment?I’m immune to awkwardness, … Read more

Born in Essex, Pauline Black, 71, worked as a radiographer before becoming lead singer of the Selecter in 1979. The band’s hit singles include On My Radio, Three Minute Hero and Missing Words. Black was made an OBE in 2022 for services to entertainment. A documentary about her life, Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story is … Read more

“ In a hostile world, many parents might be anxious about how to raise a kinder generation – and if so, science backs you. Children who are more empathetic “tend to have more positive interactions and more satisfying relationships with friends and family,” says Jessica Rolph, co-founder of early childhood development company Lovevery. Studies show … Read more

I’m a big fan of seasonal bakes – there’s something special about a treat reserved for a short window of time. Their rare appearance makes them something to look forward to, and to relish. Supermarkets like to push the limits of these seasons, though, and these days hot cross buns are available for a surprisingly … Read more

Nima Bank was meant to be on the plane soaring overhead in this image. Unfortunately, he had been daydreaming in Istanbul airport, enjoying a coffee, and lost track of time. Once he realised his error, and that he would be stranded in the airport for the rest of the day, he says, “I found myself contemplating how … Read more