54 h. ago I see time as a grid in my mind. I remember the birthdays of friends I haven’t seen for 65 years

Judy Stokes, a retired GP, shares her experience as a spatial-sequence synaestheteRead more stories of synaesthesia in the way I feel seriesDid someone with spatial-sequence synaesthesia design the calendar app on mobile phones? Because that’s how time and dates look in my brain. If you say a date to me, that day appears in a grid diagram in my head, and it shows if that box is already imprinted with a holiday, event or someone’s birthday. Public holidays and special events like Christmas and Easter are already imprinted for the year, and the diagram goes backwards to about 100,000BC and then forwards all the way to about the year 2500 before tapering off.It was only in my 60s that I discovered there was a name for this phenomenon – not just the way time appears in this 3D sort of calendar pattern, but the colours seen when I think of certain words. Two decades previously, I’d mentioned to a friend that Tuesdays were yellow and she’d looked at me in the same strange, befuddled way t...

Politics

1 week ago John Torode breaks silence on Masterchef replacement in 'right thing' admission

John was last seen on the BBC series presenting its Christmas special with Grace Dent

Events

2 w. ago Mark Wright branded 'cruel and nasty' as most brutal TOWIE scene ever resurfaces

A resurfaced TOWIE clip from a Christmas special has left fans shocked as Mark Wright calls Lauren Goodger a vile phrase before leaving her at a party

Politics

2 w. ago BBC Death in Paradise return confirmed as new detective shares major series update

Death in Paradise's new detective, Mervin Wilson, has addressed the return of a fan favourite, who made a surprise return in the Christmas special

Events

2 w. ago Gogglebox star breaks down minutes into episode after husband's sweet gesture

The Channel 4 reality show was back with a Christmas special, and one star was left emotional within minutes of the episode starting

Politics

2 w. ago Claudia Winkleman's surprise sovereign connection: How The Traitors host's sister Sophie married into the royal family and described their life as 'total hell'

The Strictly host, 53, who will step away from presenting duties after the Christmas special, is not the only familiar face in the Winkleman family.

Politics

2 w. ago The Apprentice’s charity ginger biscuits branded ‘worst ever’ by fans who insist they ‘HURT to eat’

CELEBRITY Apprentice fans may have seen team Gary The Penguin emerge victorious in the boardroom – but their online reviews are scathing. In the second of the two-part special, the budding celeb entrepreneurs were split into two teams and set about making, marketing and selling special Christmas-themed gingerbread biscuits. Raising money for Children in Need,...

Politics

2 w. ago Celebrity Apprentice sparks fix row as viewers claim one star's 'unfair advantage' should lead to 'instant disqualification'

Airing on Monday and Tuesday night this week, the special saw a group of celebs flown to Lapland by Lord Sugar to create and market their own special Christmas cookie.

Society

2 w. ago Celebrity Apprentice fans slam star's 'unfair advantage' on show

The Celebrity Apprentice Christmas special premiered on Monday, with fans quickly sharing their complaints

Society

2 w. ago Festive finger food: how to use Christmas leftovers to make New Year’s Eve canapes | Kitchen aide

From ham and chicken croquetas to potato-filled fishcakes, there are plenty of interesting ways to use up the bits you have left over from the festivitiesWhat canapes can I make for New Year’s Eve with my Christmas leftovers that will still feel special?Ella, via email Finger food needn’t be fancy, so New Year is a good opportunity to clear the decks. The only real rule is to keep things to just one bite – no one wants to be manoeuvring a fork, after all. “People just want a big hug of comfort food with a decadent twist,” says Max Bergius, founder of Secret Smokehouse in east London. “If you’ve got a bit of smoked salmon left, get that on blinis and top with lumpfish caviar, which is only £2-£3 per 50g pot.” Mini fishcakes would also be just the ticket: “Whether you’ve got leftover smoked haddock or hot smoked salmon, fold it through mashed potato, mix with dill, lemon and fried leeks, then roll in panko and deep-fry.”Ella could also have a ball with croquetas, too, says Nieves Barr...

Politics

2 w. ago Death in Paradise fans 'expose' identity of Mervin's brother and you've seen him before

Death in Paradise fans are sharing theories about who DI Mervin Wilson's brother Solomon might be after the Christmas special

Events

2 w. ago The Celebrity Apprentice divides BBC viewers as they 'switch off' minutes in

BBC viewers took to social media to share their frustrations during The Celebrity Apprentice Christmas special on Monday

Politics

2 w. ago Emmerdale's Danny Miller flooded with support after rare photo alongside famous dad

Emmerdale star Danny Miller marked Christmas with a special photo showing three generations of his family

Events

2 w. ago Ayrshire social housing provider brought Festive cheer to under

The initiative made sure every child living in a Riverside Scotland home had something special to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Politics

2 w. ago ‘What goes ‘woof woof’?’: Mastermind blasted for ‘embarrassing’ celebrity Christmas special questions

BBC’s Mastermind has been branded “embarrassing” after celebrities were handed a particular line of questioning during the show’s Christmas special.

Politics

2 w. ago Celebrity Mastermind Xmas blasted over 'easy' questions like what goes 'bow wow'

BBC's Celebrity Mastermind has been on the air since 1972 but the latest Celebrity Christmas special has left viewers divided over 'dumbed down' questions

Politics

2 w. ago BBC Mastermind viewers issue complaints over 'embarrassing' Christmas special

BBC Celebrity Mastermind's Christmas 2025 special sparked viewer complaints after featuring questions like 'what pet says woof woof' and 'who played Bridget Jones'

Politics

2 w. ago Death in Paradise's Don Warrington returns to role as he reunites with new detective

Death in Paradise fans were thrilled to see the return of a popular character in the BBC's Christmas special

Events

2 w. ago Kevin Fletcher's wife Liz reveals his 'dream woman' in 'he got me' admission

The pair travelled to Austria with their children for their new ITV Christmas special

Events

3 w. ago Death in Paradise fans say the same thing minutes in as beloved character returns

Death in Paradise fans were delighted after a beloved character made a surprise return in the BBC Christmas special

Events