Diva exhibition at the V&A, review: a serious celebration of icons June 22, 2023 If the word ‘diva’ still holds any negative connotations, then those notions are scrapped wholeheartedly by the V&A’s new Diva exhibition, the first of its kind in the world. A kaleidoscopic collection of outfits that has taken five years to bring together, the exhibition subverts the idea that a diva is someone who demands bottles of champagne [...]
Dear England review: Gareth Southgate play hits the back of the net June 22, 2023 There is something inherently cruel about making English people sit through a play about their national team taking penalties. Much of our collective psyche seems tied up in our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, failing in the most heartrending possible way. This new play written by the prolific James Graham follows [...]
Inside the National Portrait Gallery’s smart £41million refurbishment June 22, 2023 Finally, there’s a proper entrance! The National Portrait Gallery, closed for refurbishments since 2020, reopened this week. £35 million in investment has bought it a smart new look, and a genuine push for diversity. There are new galleries and social spaces, but first, the doors. The Portrait Gallery’s pokey side-door entrance on Charing Cross Road [...]
How Glastonbury is keeping the Churchill legacy alive June 22, 2023 Find the Glastonbury lineup here and watch at home on the BBC There may be throngs of paparazzi waiting for Elton John at this year’s Glastonbury, but if you fancy experiencing his heights of fame yourself, head to the festival’s Theatre & Circus fields, where a roaming group of photographers may chase you for your [...]
Oliver Stone on Putin, nuclear power and feeling like an outsider June 22, 2023 As we sit down to start our interview, Oliver Stone makes a point of putting his own dictaphone on the table to record our conversation. “To protect ourselves,” he says, before going on to speak non-stop for 45 minutes with absolutely no filter, on virtually any topic I raise, and quite a few I don’t. [...]
Forget Marvel: Meet the Barbie Universe, says Mattel boss Ynon Kreiz June 21, 2023 Ynon Kreiz is the CEO of a $6bn company, responsible for some of the world’s most recognisable brands, and I’m pressing him on whether or not he has a favourite Barbie. “I wish I had one so I can give you a straight answer,” he says after the third time I ask him. “But I [...]
It’s no John Wick, but Extraction 2 still delivers where Extraction 2 counts – in thrills, kills and chills June 15, 2023 Action movie Extraction was a bold gamble for Netflix, which reportedly spent big on what they hoped would be their first big movie franchise. But while it boasted huge viewing figures, it’s not exactly talked about in the same breath as John Wick. Nevertheless, Chris Hemsworth is back as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2. He [...]
The Flash is a fantastic blockbuster and closure to DC Universe June 15, 2023 In the spirit of the film’s theme, here’s a very quick explainer of The Flash’s offscreen origins. Producer James Gunn was recently brought in to oversee a complete reboot of the DC Universe films using The Flash’s Multiverse time travel plot to essentially start from scratch. This turning point has been hampered by star Ezra [...]
Miriam Margoyles Vogue interview: The 5 best bits June 14, 2023 This Morning stalwart, Harry Potter icon and general outspoken telly fave Miriam Margoyles has spoken to Vogue for Pride Month and the interview is predictably colourful, but wonderfully touching too. All sorts of stories and revelations feature in the wide-ranging interview, so we thought we’d share our favourite parts. Below are the five best moments [...]
Burnt Faith: A cool new brandy distillery in Walthamstow June 13, 2023 When you imagine a Cognac distillery – if you imagine one at all – it’s probably a bucolic scene set around the rolling vineyards of the French countryside. It is almost certainly not a commercial estate in Walthamstow. But thanks to Burnt Faith, that’s exactly what you can now find at the rapidly-expanding Blackhorse Road [...]