82 minutes ago ‘Perfect paternalistic nonsense’: why Father of the Bride is my feelgood movie

The latest in our series of writers revealing their favourite mood-lifting films is an ode to the 1991 comedy in which Steve Martin is a farcically over-protective fatherI should hate this film. A possessive father loses the plot at the notion that his 22-year-old daughter – a sophisticated architecture student just back from a semester in Rome – is engaged to a man he hasn’t met. After she tells him the news at dinner, we see her saying it a second time through his eyes, as a seven-year-old. When the groom arrives, dad almost has an aneurysm at him daring to put his hand on her leg, and starts watching America’s Most Wanted every night looking for his face. He goes so cuckoo bananas over the prospect of their wedding that he loses it at the supermarket and briefly ends up in jail. “I was no longer the man in my little girl’s life,” he rues. It is paternalistic nonsense, and it is perfect.I first watched the 1991 remake of Father of the Bride (FOTB) as a kid because it is my dad’s f...

Politics

88 minutes ago 'I cancelled Christmas booking at Disney World after girlfriend's strange demand'

A man was accused of "ruining Christmas" when he changed his family's plans to go to Disney World. However, he claims he had good reason for making the decision

Politics

1 hour ago Female takeaway driver, 19, was on wrong side of the road when she ploughed into 82

Elderly Margaret Clarke - a 'very successful bowler' - was struck by 19-year-old Nicola Brokane in Sandwich in Kent before she went flying 'up into the air'.

Transport

2 hours ago Expert says common kitchen gadget can be used for Christmas dinner – including turkey

If you want to take all the stress out of Christmas, then Clare Andrews, air fryer expert and cookbook author, shared you can use a common kitchen gadget for basically anything

Politics

2 hours ago Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy reveals emotional tattoo two months on from star's tragic death

Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy has paid tribute to the late One Direction star with a special tattoo, two months on from his tragic death

Events

3 hours ago 'I cancelled family Christmas trip to Disney World over girlfriend's odd demand'

A man has been accused of ruining Christmas for his girlfriend's children after he cancelled a planned trip to Disney World - but he claims to have a good reason

Politics

3 hours ago Brenda Blethyn reveals Vera's biggest challenge ahead of finale in show first

Vera star Brenda Blethyn has opened up on a show first for her character as the ITV drama's final series - made up of two feature length episodes - gets set to air

Politics

5 hours ago Gavin and Stacey star reveals ‘fantastic sex’ between characters ahead of Christmas special

Gavin and Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden have teased what's to come in the highly anticipated Christmas special, revealing love could be in the air

Politics

6 hours ago The Christmas that went wrong: I met my new girlfriend’s family – and talk turned to my book on masturbation

My partner’s family knew I was writing about self-discovery and self-pleasure, but I wasn’t prepared for where the discussion would take usI flew from London to New York on Christmas Eve 2014 to spend Christmas Day with Cassie’s family. It’s the sort of thing you’re supposed to do when you’ve been going out with someone for 10 years, but I’d only known Cassie a few months. She came out to her father about dating me and it didn’t go down well. Then, a few weeks later, she told him over a family dinner that I was writing a book about masturbation. Her sister and mother took her aside in the kitchen afterwards. “Why didn’t you just tell him she’s writing a book on travel, or something?” her sister asked.Spending Christmas Day together was supposed to smooth things over, but no sooner had we sat down to eat than her father asked me about what I was writing. Maybe he thought I’d changed my mind, and gone for something a bit more Downton Abbey? Cassie’s sister looked at me intently, darin...

Politics