One morning in March 1995, my father and I were having coffee at the kitchen table when somehow the conversation deviated to my brother Marshall. As always, I had questions. “He was tall for his age,” my father said, gazing at the memory of his estranged son, as if he was standing beside us in the kitchen. “At … Read more
Even Donald Trump knows that the price of concert tickets is too damn high. Recently, flanked by the preposterously dressed Maga rocker Kid Rock, the president signed an executive order to protect fans from “crazy prices” by cracking down on scalpers and hidden fees. “Make America Fun Again,” Kid Rock declared. It will take more … Read more
One minute the house is full – when I walk in the oldest one, and his friend, and the middle one, and my wife are all fussing over a manual juicer the oldest one has brought back from a car boot sale. “What’s going on?” I say. “We’re juicing,” says the oldest. There are 20 … Read more
Denise on Federico What were you hoping for?Someone drop-dead gorgeous – Matthew McConaughey. First impressions?He’s not Matthew McConaughey. What did you talk about?Theatre (I hope I gave him tips on staging his play next year). The excellence of British theatre and TV. The joy, for me, of being raised in London. Even though we didn’t … Read more
Spicy, salty, sweet and sour all at the same time, kimchi is perhaps the perfect condiment. This Korean staple is traditionally made by salting cabbage to preserve it and add crunch, then fermenting it in a pungent paste often made from glutinous rice porridge, gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes), onion and enough garlic to keep a … Read more
Born in Nigeria, Nikki Amuka-Bird, 49, studied at Lamda and began her career with the RSC. In 2017, she was Bafta nominated for her role in the BBC adaptation of Zadie’s Smith’s book NW. The same year, she played the lead in the Donmar’s production of Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea. Her recent television work spans Armando Iannucci’s comedy … Read more
How often do you come across a beauty product that genuinely changes the game? Not just a nice-to-have, but something that actually works, solving a problem you’d given up on. The shampoo that really defrizzes. The foundation that lasts all day without creasing. The serum that calms, rather than irritates, sensitive skin. The Guardian’s journalism … Read more
In the spring of 1995 I was studying for my A-levels in Cambridge, along with my best friend, Kate. For her final art exam, Kate wanted to create a male torso in the style of a classical sculpture, which she would present along with her written assignment on the male nude. She asked if I’d be the model … Read more
Learning to drive – and the sense of freedom and independence that comes with it – is a milestone many look forward to. But for today’s learners, the journey to getting on the road is proving longer, more uncertain and more expensive than ever. What was once a fairly straightforward process, from lessons and the … Read more
The questions 1 The longest direct flight from London goes to which city?2 Until 1752, when did the new year officially begin in England?3 Which action film hero suffers from ophidiophobia?4 AE Stallings succeeded Alice Oswald in what role?5 Which country’s president was shot by his intelligence chief in 1979?6 Which marsupial is native to … Read more