91 minutes ago ‘I am nothing if not persistent’: Lesley Imgart, winner of our graphic short story prize 2024

It was fifth time lucky for Imgart in this year’s Observer/Faber award for emerging cartoonists, with her spellbinding tale about the life of a young witchRead winner Lesley Imgart’s Witch Way? hereRead runner-up Elly Bazigos’s LANSA Flight 508 hereSpeaking to the winner of the annual Observer/Faber graphic short story prize is always a highlight of my year, but this time around the experience was especially lovely. Lesley Imgart, whose brilliant broomstick-ridden story Witch Way? we publish today, has entered the competition five times in the past six years, and when she talks to me from her home in Edinburgh, she still sounds amazed finally to have triumphed. “It’s unbelievable,” she says. “It was this thing I just did every year I keep forgetting I’ve won, and then 15 minutes later, ...

Politics

1 hour ago Andy Murray’s next career move is not as surprising as you might think

Murray will coach his long-time rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, but a shock new partnership has deep roots

Politics

2 hours ago Davina McCall makes surprise appearance on I'm A Celeb after brain surgery

Davina McCall has made a surprise appearance in the I'm A Celebrity jungle after undergoing brain surgery to remove a benign tumour last week, leaving Ant and Dec thrilled

Politics

2 hours ago The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze by William Saroyan review – vividly crafted Depression

The US author’s debut collection from 1934 focuses on impoverished individuals in precarious times using language that is punchy and full of compassionMany of the 26 stories in William Saroyan’s 1934 debut collection – reissued this month with an introduction by Stephen Fry – take place in Depression-era San Francisco and explore the experiences of ordinary people trying to get by. California-born, the son of Armenians who fled the genocidal Ottoman empire, Saroyan draws on his own heritage. His narrators are often struggling young writers, such as the protagonist of the title story, who lives on a diet of “bread and coffee and cigarettes” and laments the lack of “weeds in the park that could be cooked”.Despite the focus on poverty, there is an ebullience to Saroyan’s punchy prose. Take...

Politics

2 hours ago Ruben Amorim introduces second Man Utd ban as new boss puts his foot down

Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in laying down the law at Manchester United and has made it clear to his players that they cannot use international breaks as holiday opportunities

Politics

3 hours ago 'Creepy' Specsavers optometrist who 'whispered 'f*** the monarchy' to female colleague days after Queen Elizabeth II died and branded a customer 'horny'' is suspended

A Specsavers optometrist whispered 'f*** the monarchy' into a female colleague's ear just days after Queen Elizabeth II died, a disciplinary hearing was told.

Economics

3 hours ago New wind warning issued as Storm Bert threatens ‘danger to life’ flooding

The Met Office has warned of the potential for fast flowing or deep floodwater on Sunday.

Events

3 hours ago BBC Strictly Come Dancing viewers say it's 'the little things' as Dianne Buswell move spotted

The professional dancer was back in the ballroom alongside Chris McCausland after the pair made it through to week ten of the contest

Politics

3 hours ago Moment in back of prison van after 5 bottles of wine changed mum's life forever

Lilly Lewis's life had been blighted by addiction and toxic relationships - but the 53-year-old mum had a moment of clarity in the back of the prison van as she made her way to jail

Events