Category : Focus

Tim Westwood pleads not guilty to rape, sexual assault and indecent assault charges

Former Radio 1 DJ pleads not guilty to a total of 15 charges at Southwark crown courtTim Westwood has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.The former DJ stood in the glass dock wi...

Last Days review – Leith’s opera imagining the final moments of Kurt Cobain is truly disturbing

Linbury theatre, LondonAn alter ego of the Nirvana frontman is hounded by a stream of fans, friends, Jehovah’s Witnesses, deliveries and even a private investigatorWe first see him clambering around, slowly, under the scaffolding that supports his cr...

Baby review – an astute portrait of people lost in the system

Abandoned by his parents and fresh out of juvenile prison, the wide-eyed Wellington meets a charismatic hustler on the restless streets of São PauloChannelling the urban restlessness and vibrancy of São Paulo, Marcelo Caetano’s bracing drama centres...

‘Kids can’t buy them anywhere’: how Pokémon cards became a stock market for millennials

A surprising economic bubble is making it hard for anyone to buy Pokémon cards – especially childrenPokémon has been huge since the late 90s. Millions of people have fond memories of playing the original Red and Blue games, or trading cards in the pl...

The Effingers by Gabriele Tergit review – a vivid portrait of Berlin before the Nazis

Written in 1951 and now translated into English for the first time, this family saga by the acclaimed German author recaptures a golden age for Jewish lifeIn 1948, the German Jewish author Gabriele Tergit travelled to Berlin. There, in ruins, was the...

The Tale of Silyan review – farmer adopts stork in delightfully cockle-warming mud-caked folk tale

This story set in North Macedonia stars non-professional actors and follows ageing farmers trying to survive in a cockle-warming family filmLike director Tamara Kotevska’s previous feature Honeyland (which she co-directed with Ljubomir Stefanov), thi...

‘It went gangbusters’: the play about the Iraq war – told through the eyes of a starving Baghdad zoo tiger

As bombs fell on the capital, a Bengal tiger was left all alone – until a US marine shot it. Rajiv Joseph explains why he brought the beast back from the dead for his Pulitzer-nominated dramaA play that dramatises the thoughts of a tiger on the bombe...

The 50 best films of 2025 in the UK

Brilliant biopics, daring documentaries and a host of chillers and thrillers – our critics pick the best from another sensational year of cinema• More on the best culture of 2025*** Continue reading...

Conan O’Brien serves up a Beatles geekfest: best podcasts of the week

The big-name US talkshow host goes all Fab Four superfan in this historical take on the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Plus, Naomi Fry delivers a rich deep dive into The Doors’ legacyThe popular show’s two-part special on the Fab Four has, bi...

TV tonight: the ketamine dealer connected to Matthew Perry’s death

Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to selling the drugs that caused Perry’s death. Plus: Christmas cooking with Jamie Oliver. Here’s what to watch this evening9pm, BBC ThreeThe story of the last, troubled years of Matthew Perry’s life is told in this docu...

‘Portrait of a man’, who was 18th-century Corsican independence leader, goes on sale

Painting of Enlightenment figure, whose constitution for the island inspired revolutionaries in US, is up for auctionThirty years ago, a painting by the British artist Sir William Beechey was sold as “portrait of a man”.The anonymous buyer, however,...

‘He’s a son of a bitch – but he’s usually right’: why did Seymour Hersh quit the film about his earth-shattering exposés?

He is the prickly, hotheaded journalist who uncovered the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and torture at Abu Ghraib prison. Finishing Cover-Up, a film about his astonishing life and countless scoops, was never going to be easyOne morning last month, Seymo...

‘A producer grabbed me, and I thought, Oh, for God’s sake’: Patricia Hodge on sexual harassment, drugs – and being in her prime at 79

Until she reached her 50s, the actor was a constant presence on stage and screen. Then the offers disappeared. Now, as her renaissance continues, she is taking on Mrs Malaprop in The RivalsAfter six decades as an actor, Patricia Hodge says she still...

Deck Derby's Market Hall This Christmas!

Derby Market Hall is set to be the star of the show this festive season as it celebrates its first Christmas since its £35.1 million restoration. With a bustling host of independent local traders, festive pop-up markets, diverse eateries, bars, free...

Advertorial: Highwood Motorhomes Celebrates Double Recognition in One Week

It’s been a landmark week for Highwood Motorhomes, with the company achieving two prestigious industry accolades that highlight its commitment to excellence in motorhome sales, hire, and servicing. The workshop has been recognised under the Approved...