31 h. ago I am sick of seeing the rich and powerful on my screen. Where are all the TV shows about normal people? | Rebecca Shaw

I personally don’t really want to watch another movie about a billionaire – unless he is in some sort of trapGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailIt’s important in any healthy relationship to be able to “call each other in” – gently point out issues you are having with behavioural patterns, and ask for some space when needed. I’m thinking particularly about a good friend of mine. Always there when I’m in need, even there when I’m not in need (rarely). That’s right, I’m talking about television (I’m normal).I love my television and everything it brings me, but I do have a gripe I need to get off my chest, while I’m lying down on the couch. Mrs TV, love you girl but I’m calling you in: I need TV shows to stop focusing on satirising class only via the lives of rich white people (and occasionally the people around them). This issue has become more obvious since the latest season of The White Lotus, but is not at all restricted to The White Lotus. Recent years have seen TV and movi...

Culture

6 d. ago New York is vapourised in a nuclear strike. The President has six minutes to decide to end the world. This is the horror when he makes the choice

The day of the all-out nuclear war dawns like any other. There is no warning and people are going about their normal lives in capitals across the world.

Events

9 d. ago 'People say the name I gave my dog isn't normal – but I love it'

A woman has shared the unusual name she gave her adorable golden retriever puppy - and while she loves it, it seems it's not gone down to well with everyone else

Politics

2 w. ago Fire Max 11 dubbed 'best Amazon Fire tablet ever' cut by £70 for 'limited time'

The Fire Max 11 is a great budget-friendly option that is said to deliver a powerful peformance with a brilliant screen.

Economics

2 w. ago Growing up surrounded by boys, I’m fascinated – and a bit scared – by the dynamic between sisters | Rebecca Shaw

Many of the sister relationships I have witnessed balance extreme loyalty and care with a unique ability to press each other’s buttonsOne thing about living this crazy little thing we call life is that even though you might be a haggard lesbian in her 40s, you can still learn things about yourself. I was recently having a conversation with friends about the family dynamics of people we’ve dated, and all of a sudden a very clear pattern emerged that I’d never noticed before. Every single person I have ever dated, casually or seriously, has had one sister and no other siblings.Even though I’m aware this could sound like some strange special interest of mine, it’s not deliberate. I’ve actually never narrowed down prospective romantic interests based on siblings, but I did find this sister realisation notable. Is there something about me that queer people with sisters are attracted to? Is there something about having one sister that informs the kind of personalities I am drawn to? Did o...

Politics

2 w. ago The one change that worked: I conquered my fear of public speaking – with just one night of pure panic

When I agreed to plug my book at a literary festival, I was expecting some kind of low-key Q&A. Imagine my terror when I discovered I would have to monologue for almost an hourI never understood quite how much public speaking came with being a writer, because after I wrote my first book no one asked me to do any. They didn’t ask after my second book either. That was fine with me: I had never done any public speaking and, like all normal people, I was terrified of the prospect.Then in 2014, with the publication of my fourth book still a couple of weeks away, I was invited to a literary festival. I hadn’t been to many literary festivals, but for some reason I was sure I knew what to expect: a kindly interviewer would sit on stage with me, a small table holding a pitcher of water between us, and ask me a lot of softball questions about my process. I wasn’t comfortable with this either, but I said yes. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Paul Mescal 'will undergo drastic lifestyle change' to play Paul McCartney in Beatles biopic

The Normal People star will appear in the Beatles biopics in April 2028

Politics