36 h. ago Scots charity shop staff stunned to uncover rare edition of The Hobbit

The much-loved classic was tucked among a pile of old children’s books

Politics

42 h. ago Charity shop staff ‘thrilled’ as rare edition of The Hobbit fetches £3,000

The edition of JRR Tolkien’s much-loved classic was among a pile of old children’s books donated to the Oxfam bookshop in Stirling.

Economics

3 d. ago Roger McGough: ‘How often do I have sex? Hang on, I’ll find out Alexa, how often do I have ’

The poet on running across a minefield, being bewitched at a bus stop, and his 88th birthday celebrationsBorn in Liverpool, Roger McGough, 88, worked as a teacher before forming the Scaffold with John Gorman and Mike McGear in the 1960s; they performed poetry, sketches and comic songs and had a No 1 hit with Lily the Pink. McGough hosts Radio 4’s Poetry Please and has published more than 100 poetry books for adults and children, including Collected Poems 1959-2024. He has four children and lives in London with his second wife.When were you happiest? Last Sunday when all the family came round to celebrate my 88th birthday. (Or was it Saturday. Or the week before, perhaps?) Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago How do bears know when to wake up from their hibernation? The kids’ quiz

Five multiple-choice questions – set by children – to test your knowledge, and a chance to submit your own junior brainteasers for future quizzes Submit a questionMolly Oldfield hosts Everything Under the Sun, a podcast answering children’s questions. Do check out her books, Everything Under the Sun and Everything Under the Sun: Quiz Book, as well as her new title, Everything Under the Sun: All Around the World. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Sarah Moss: ‘I never liked Wuthering Heights as much as Jane Eyre’

The author on the trouble with the Brönte novels, what she gained from reading John Updike and Martin Amis – and the brilliance of Barbara Pym My earliest reading memory Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome, aged seven. I didn’t learn to read in the first years of school and became entrenched in illiteracy until my grandmother, a retired primary school teacher, intervened. I loved the Swallows and Amazons series, and especially Swallowdale in which a shipwreck is redeemed and the adults provide exactly the right support when the children mess up.My favourite book growing up The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose politics I now find obviously objectionable. I often tell students that what you don’t get is what gets you, and I’m sure the obsession with rugged independence and the repression of foundational violence did me no good, but I liked the landscapes and the combination of domesticity and adventure. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make surprise appearance at Oprah launch event for book about the perils of smartphones and social media on children

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dialled in remotely to speak with authors Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, who have just released The Amazing Generation.

Politics

5 d. ago David Walliams grimaces with a dog lead over his neck as he is seen for the first time since being dropped by publisher and children's charity over claims he harassed young women

David Walliams, 54, has been seen for the first time walking his dogs after he was dropped by his publisher HarperCollins amid allegations he harassed a junior female colleague.

Events

6 d. ago Is Alton Towers hurtling towards disaster? New David Walliams problem, accusations of being 'grotty' and 'overpriced'

The Staffordshire theme park, owned by Merlin Entertainment, attracted 2.5 million visitors in 2024 but has endured a challenging few weeks - and faces stiff competition from two new parks.

Events

8 d. ago Coatbridge counsellor and psychotherapist turned author releases children’s book

Michelle McQuillan's 'Angry Angie' champions emotional awareness and healthy expression.

Culture

9 d. ago Actor and writer Paterson Joseph: ‘Tilda Swinton asked me a question that changed everything that came next’

Joseph on sussing the school system at the age of four, an awkward audition for the National Youth Theatre, and why he loves his ‘horrible’ Peep Show characterBorn in Willesden, north-west London, in 1964, Paterson Joseph is an actor and writer. A graduate of Lamda, he worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving into TV and film, with roles including Alan Johnson in Peep Show and Keaty in The Beach. He published his award-winning debut novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, in 2022. His children’s book, Ten Children Who Changed the World, is out now. Joseph is a judge for the debut fiction category of the 2025 Nero Book Awards. The winners will be announced on 13 January.This was taken by my sister Glenda, who had decided she wanted to get into hair and makeup. She was pulling together a portfolio and used me as a guinea pig, something my sisters had done since I was small. I was going for that slightly curmudgeonly old man express...

Politics

1 week ago Newborn babies could be given Digital ID in 'deeply sinister' expansion of controversial Labour policy discussed in secret by ministers

Ministers have privately raised the prospect of the new technology being issued to children at birth alongside the 'red book' of health records given to new parents.

Politics

2 w. ago Matt Lucas to receive OBE in New Year Honours as David Walliams snubbed

Little Britain star Matt Lucas is set to be made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles - but his famous co-star is not being given the same treatment

Politics

2 w. ago Matt Lucas ‘scrutinised’ OBE letter as he thought it could be a prank

The comedian has been honoured for services to drama.

Politics

2 w. ago ChatGPT, cooking and Christopher Walken: how parents got their kids to love reading in 2025

Fewer children are reading for fun - but parents are trying everything from AI to dramatic voices to keep them engagedIt’s been a tough year for our brains. Merriam-Webster dictionary editors chose “slop” as 2025’s word of the year. New York Magazine recently dropped its “Stupid Issue”, with a cover story exploring America’s collective “cognitive decline”. There are big problems in the humanities: reading test scores are down for students nationwide, and undergraduates cannot read full books any more.Even storytime – a comfy couch, a cardboard book, a kid’s rapt attention as their parent reads them a story – is an endangered activity. According to an April report from HarperCollins UK, parents have lost the love of reading to their children, with fewer than half of gen Z parents calling the activity “fun for me”. According to the survey of 1,596 parents of children aged zero to 13, almost one in three found reading “more a subject to learn” than an experience to enjoy. Only a third ...

Society

2 w. ago Would I Lie to You viewers question David Walliams’ appearance on Christmas special

BBC panel show episode featuring comedian aired weeks after allegations against him

Politics

2 w. ago Would I Lie to You viewers complain David Walliams ‘ruined’ Christmas special

BBC panel show episode featuring comedian aired weeks after allegations against him

Politics

2 w. ago BBC viewers issue same complaint as David Walliams appears in controversial episode

BBC panel series Would I Lie To You? returned to screens with its Boxing Day special featuring David Walliams, sparking viewer complaints on social media.

Politics

2 w. ago BBC sparks backlash from viewers over unexpected David Walliams appearance

Would I Lie To You? returned to screens on Boxing Day with David Walliams appearing alongside Call the Midwife's Helen George, sparking viewer complaints on social media

Politics

2 w. ago Scots teacher hopes debut book will help dyslexic children discover their potential

The book is titled There’s Lots Of Different Types Of Clever

Society

2 w. ago BBC risks backlash after airing Boxing Day episode of Would I Lie To You? featuring David Walliams as he faces allegations of inappropriate behaviour

BBC One aired a festive edition of Would I Lie To You? on which Walliams appeared as a panellist, in the wake of allegations of inappropriate behaviour levelled against him.

Sport