A Christmas Carol review: The Old Vic’s revival stars Stephen Tompkinson as the miserly Scrooge December 6, 2018 Matthew Warchus’ joyous adaptation of A Christmas Carol returns to the Old Vic, only this time with Stephen Tompkinson in the miserly lead role, rather than Rhys Ifans. Warchus is no stranger to adapting literary classics for the stage, having masterminded Matilda and The Lord of Rings previously. For Dickens’ greatest morality tale, he enlists [...]
The Crimes of Grindelwald review: Pure Potter fodder November 16, 2018 Two years on from Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, the Harry Potter spin-off returns. Set in 1920s Paris, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) escapes custody and is planning an uprising of Pure Blood wizards intent on overthrowing those loser muggles. To stop him, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as an [...]
Bloomsbury revenues rise as books buck the UK’s retail downturn October 23, 2018 Revenues at Bloomsbury Publishing have posted strong growth in the first six months of the year, as the group's seven-point turnaround plan starts to pay off. Bloomsbury's share price rose 2.24 per cent as markets opened this morning. The figures Adjusted profit before tax for the six months to August, which excludes costs associated with [...]
Why city parents are sending their children to boarding schools outside the M25 October 17, 2018 Every Sunday evening, there is a quiet exodus of teenagers from capital to countryside. Fleets of shiny, branded minibuses collect their young passengers from affluent London suburbs and whisk them through the darkness to the green and pleasant lands beyond the M25. Boarding school will be their home – until Friday night or Saturday afternoon [...]
Celebrities like Kanye West and Taylor Swift need to learn that we really don’t care what they think October 16, 2018 Taylor Swift, look what you made me do. Swifty has been a hallowed island of political neutrality in a sea of bad blood. But she’s now come out as a mid-term Democrat, and the love story is over. Maybe one day historians will look back and admire how Bob Geldof’s support for a People’s Vote [...]
Model maker Hornby on track to meet targets despite drop in sales September 26, 2018 Model train maker Hornby told investors its trading outlook was staying on track this morning, despite a drop in sales over the last six months. Ahead of its annual meeting later on today, the company gave a trading update – saying its decision to slow discounting has led to lower sales. However, it said not slashing [...]
Shares up after toymaker Hornby signs Warner Bros deal to use Harry Potter and DC superheroes franchise September 17, 2018 Shares in model railway manufacturer Hornby jumped more than 30 per cent this morning as it was announced the collectables group signed an agreement to create products using the Harry Potter and DC superheroes franchise. The agreement with Warner Bros will allow the company to release model railway and slot car sets under the Hornby Railways, Scalextric and [...]
Shares up after toymaker Hornby signs Warner Bros deal to use Harry Potter and DC superheroes franchise September 17, 2018 Shares in model railway manufacturer Hornby jumped more than 30 per cent this morning as it was announced the collectables group signed an agreement to create products using the Harry Potter and DC superheroes franchise. The agreement with Warner Bros will allow the company to release model railway and slot car sets under the Hornby Railways, Scalextric and [...]
As seen on TV: We get some tips on investing in film memorabilia September 12, 2018 I wasn't expecting to, but I grinned excitedly when I saw – with my very own eyes – two of the wand boxes from the first Harry Potter film. Maybe that’s just my inner fangirl shining through, but it’s that emotional reaction that has made the film memorabilia industry so huge. It’s that rare glimpse [...]
What I’m reading interview: Newgate Communications and Porta Communications boss Emma Kane on the book that changed the direction of her career August 13, 2018 As chief executive of Newgate Communications, co-CEO of Porta Communications, chair of Target Ovarian Cancer and chair of the Barbican Centre Trust, Emma Kane has an impressive roster of titles. City A.M. spoke to Kane about the book she's reading, what's on her reading list for this summer and the book she was given as [...]