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 [...]
‘Completely unique’: Roman mausoleum unearthed near Borough Market and London Bridge June 13, 2023 Archaeologists have discovered remains from a “completely unique” Roman mausoleum just a stone’s throw from Borough Market and London Bridge station. At The Liberty of Southwark site, owned by Landsec, experts have uncovered the walls and interior flooring of a mausoleum, a type of Roman funeral monument. In the middle of the floor is a [...]
Forget the Parthenon – Why alternative Athens is a must June 12, 2023 Away from the historical monuments, Ash Hiden gets to grips with Athens’ vibrant food and drink scene You will want to see the Parthenon. I get it. The imposing temple on the hill of the Acropolis serves as an ancient advertisement for Athens, stamping your mental passport like a marble version of the Hollywood Sign. [...]