Everybody loves Raymond: How Blanc launched a thousand careers November 13, 2015 Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons first opened its doors 30 long years ago, to instant acclaim. A year later it won two Michelin stars; it still has them today. Many of its former chefs have gone on to become the biggest names in the culinary world – Sat Bains, John Burton-Race, Heston Blumenthal, Marco [...]
Films to see this weekend: Tangerine, The Hallow, Fathers and Daughters, The Lady in the Van November 13, 2015 The Lady in the Van (12A) ★★★★☆ This adaptation of Alan Bennett’s play about his 15 year friendship with an eccentric old lady (Maggie Smith) who lives in his driveway is a cosy film with a van-load (sorry) of charm. After an hour of ‘odd couple’ shenanigans between the two leads, the final act delivers [...]
Henry V at Barbican, theatre review: The RSC’s production lacks emotion but it’s riotously funny November 13, 2015 Barbican | ★★★★☆ The RSC’s production of Shakespeare’s Henry V is curiously lacking in drama, but more than compensates with a brilliant injection of humour. Serious passages often lack emotional clout, but traditionally straight characters are successfully played for laughs. The Archbishop of Canterbury, for instance, becomes an ecclesiastical Sir Humphrey and the Dauphin is a [...]
Theatre review: Waste at the National Theatre November 13, 2015 Lyttelton Theatre | ★★★☆☆ “The road to hell is paved not with good intentions but with high ideals”; it’s a statement delivered as a sardonic zinger but it turns out to be sadly prescient for the hero of Harley Granville-Barker’s 1906 play. This dense, long-winded story focuses on the political intrigue surrounding a bill to disestablish [...]
Steve Jobs review: Fassbender carries a poignant biopic of Apple’s dysfunctional tech messiah November 13, 2015 12A | ★★★★☆ You can’t code, you’re not a designer, you’re not a programmer,” says exasperated Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogan). “But every day I read that Steve Jobs is a genius. What do you actually do?” This is the billion-dollar question asked by Danny Boyle in his follow-up to the London 2012 Opening [...]
Alexander Calder: Performing Sculpture at the Tate Modern November 13, 2015 Tate Modern | ★★★★☆ Alexander Calder is said to be the man who introduced mobiles to the art world in the 1920s (the things that hang over babies’ cribs rather then the phones). The first room in the Tate Modern’s retrospective of his work is dedicated to his early, figurative pieces. Deceptively complex wire sculptures dangle [...]
Josh Harris: What can Crystal Palace fans expect from the next American billionaire to invest in the Premier League? November 13, 2015 Crystal Palace look set to be the next Premier League club to welcome foreign investment, with American private equity tycoons Josh Harris and David Blitzer on the cusp of buying an 18 per cent stake each in the Croydon club. The pair co-own National Hockey League franchise the New Jersey Devils, while Harris' interest in sport [...]
ATP World Tour Finals 2015 prize money: £1.5m earnings boost on offer for Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and others at O2 Arena November 13, 2015 Up to £1.5m in prize money is on offer for the eight best mens' tennis players at the ATP World Tour Finals at this year. The ATP Tour's curtain call event in London is the most lucrative of the year outside the four Grand Slams with a $2.28m (£1.5m) cash prize awarded to an undefeated [...]
World Cup-winning coach Jake White wants to succeed Stuart Lancaster – but only if first choice of England’s rugby bosses November 12, 2015 World Cup-winning former South Africa coach Jake White has told England’s rugby bosses that he is interested in succeeding Stuart Lancaster – but only if he is their first choice. White has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Lancaster, whose departure as England head coach was confirmed on Wednesday following a review [...]
England boss Roy Hodgson admits being unsure of strongest Three Lions side despite being months from Euro 2016 November 12, 2015 England manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that he does not know his strongest side despite only having a handful of matches remaining before next year’s European Championships in France. Hodgson has confirmed that skipper Wayne Rooney will be rested for Friday's friendly clash with Spain in Alicante, but that he is set to return against [...]