13 h. ago Critics may sniff at Ed Sheeran’s Persian fusion hit Azizam – but we Iranians love it

With its Iranian melodies, instrumentation and backing singers, Sheeran’s joyful new single is a reminder of how culture transcends bordersThe Farsi word “azizam” – meaning my dear or my darling in English – may not have the same level of global resonance as habibi or ma chérie, but to us Persians it’s a daily refrain. We use it with our family, partners, friends; my cat probably thinks it’s her middle name by now. So it felt huge when Ed Sheeran announced that the lead single from his new album would be called just that: Azizam.The track, inspired by the Iranian heritage of Stockholm-based producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, has divided critics, with a Telegraph review calling it “a slice of pure pop froth that couldn’t be any more generic and upbeat if it was written by an AI programme”. But these reproaches are missing a whole other dimension: that the song has triggered a huge emotional response from millions of Iranians around the world. “Hearing a beloved artist embrace our language wi...

Events

40 h. ago ‘Everyone can have a bit of White Lotus in their wardrobe’: how fashion fell in love with the hit show

As the third season of the social satire draws to its finale, the costumes featured in the series are selling out fastThe third season of The White Lotus finishes on Monday, marking the end of group chats and column inches devoted to the Thai hotel and its super-rich guests.While some of this chatter has been dedicated to theories of who kills who in the finale, or the alleged fallout between creator Mike White and composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, a lot is focused on something else – the fashion. Continue reading...

Events

66 h. ago Your ultimate guide to Spring TV: 30 treats you won't want to miss

Deliciously suspenseful dramas, tantalising true-crime documentaries, shiny new game shows... we've picked a fresh bunch of beauties for you.

Politics

3 d. ago Netflix currently streaming hit blockbuster that made fans ‘fall in love with Val Kilmer’

One of the late, great Val Kilmer’s most iconic roles is currently available to stream on Netflix

Sport

8 d. ago Inside Outlander star Sam Heughan's stunning £1 million home near Glasgow

Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser in the hit Starz show, has spoken about his love for Scotland where he owns three different lavish homes, including one in Glasgow

Economics

1 week ago Strictly pro taken aback as former partner confesses 'I fell in love with you'

Strictly Come Dancing icon James Jordan was left red-faced as new Channel 5 host Vanessa Feltz confessed she'd 'passionately fallen in love' with him during the hit BBC show

Politics

2 w. ago Married at First Sight Australia star reveals what it's really like behind the scenes

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Jane Roza and Telv Williams hit it off and seemingly fell in love after being matched on Married at First Sight, but since then, Sarah has gone through a radical transformation

Politics

2 w. ago Netflix announces competition series inspired by hit film and Squid Game fans will love it

Squid Game fans are in for a treat as Netflix has just announced a brand new competition series.

Sport

2 w. ago EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy says 'I am sorry' as she aims dig at Meghan Markle's Netflix show

EastEnders icon Natalie Cassidy has hit out at Meghan Markle's new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, after being left unimpressed by the Duchess of Sussex's cooking skills

Politics

2 w. ago The Spin | Off the scent: how Atherton and Katich thrived in cricket without all senses intact

The season’s onset brings a host of evocative smells, which two esteemed players have never been able to savourOn the weekend, a friend and I went walking. As we strolled along the River Goyt, a sweet smell hit us like a packet of Love Hearts, which, as it turns out, is pretty much what it was. We had inadvertently walked past the Swizzels factory – producer of Parma Violets, Rainbow Drops and more in the Sett Valley since the company moved out of blitzed London in 1940, to an old textile mill in New Mills, Derbyshire.Alongside the sugary cloud drifted a junk shop of memories, sweets handed out at jelly and ice-cream parties, shared on the curb outside the corner shop, sucked on the way home from school. Later on, we passed a man pushing a mower to and fro on his front lawn and that fresh hit set off a whole other chain of flashbacks. As a cricket lover, you probably know where this is going. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Love Island's Gaby Allen hit with huge debt after dad's death

Love Island: All Stars winner Gabby Allen was left heartbroken when her father passed away when she was 21 - and she has now opened up about her loss for the first time

Events

3 w. ago Vogue Williams hits out at specific 'disgusting' Meghan Markle moment in Netflix show

Vogue Williams, who is married to Pippa Middleton's husband's brother Spencer Matthews, has hit out at Meghan Markle's new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan

Politics

3 w. ago Meghan Markle's J.Crew cashmere vest is back in stock but this alternative saves you £100

Meghan Markle's new Netflix series With Love, Meghan has been a huge hit, and it's not just the cooking inspiration we've been loving - we've also been coveting her wardrobe

Economics

3 w. ago Maura Higgins true feelings on Danny Jones' wife as she 'struggles' after kiss

Love Island star Maura Higgins has reportedly "hit rock bottom" after footage emerged of her allegedly sharing a "drunken kiss" with I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! campmate Danny Jones

Politics

3 w. ago Maya Jama fumes at 'weird' Gary Lineker over Ruben Dias relationship jibe

Love Island presenter Maya Jama hit back at Match Of The Day's Gary Lineker after he seemingly revealed her relationship status with Manchester City star Ruben Dias

Politics

4 w. ago The Darkness review – retro rockers are still in acrobatically high spirits

Swansea Building Society ArenaFresh from Taylor Swift’s endorsement, Justin Hawkins and his hard-riffing band can still strut and peacock with the best – so it’s a shame about the bad sound mixMidway through the deliriously profane Get Your Hands Off My Woman, Justin Hawkins demands that the crowd claps along. Before you know it, the frontman is standing on his head and joining in by slapping together the heels of his pointy white shoes. There has already been bountiful swearing and ripping guitars, and now there is showing off. All is right in the Darkness’s world.Hawkins has never misplaced his desire to peacock in front of an audience, and yet his acrobatic high spirits do appear to be supercharged at an interesting moment in the group’s long career. Fresh from becoming a side quest for Taylor Swift’s legion of fans due to her admiration of their 2003 hit I Believe in a Thing Called Love – a song dispatched here with undimmed bombast – the Darkness have a new record out shortly t...

Politics

4 w. ago King Charles' bond with top British pop star revealed as he unveils his favourite songs

The pair got on 'like a house and fire' and Charles has now included Raye's hit Love Me Again in a new playlist of 17 of his favourite songs to celebrate Commonwealth Day

Politics

4 w. ago Maura Higgins flaunts her svelte figure in skintight unitard as she touches down in LA after escaping Danny Jones BRITs kiss drama with work trip abroad

The Love Island star, 34, hit the headlines this week after being spotted sharing a drunken kiss with the married McFly star, 38, at Universal's BRIT Awards afterparty last weekend.

Events