68 m. ago EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Celebrity darling Ottolenghi's 'messy' split from husband

He's knocked off nearly a dozen effortlessly inventive cook books and hosted a medley of TV shows. But 2026 has not dawned happily for Yotam Ottolenghi.

Politics

14 h. ago 14 best hotels in Chicago, from serene hideaways to architectural treasures

Immerse yourself in all that the Windy City has to offer with these top hotels to book in 2026

Events

14 h. ago Travel expert shares top tips to save hundreds when booking 2026 holidays

This Saturday is the UK's busiest day for holiday bookings and prices will soar. Gavin Lapidus, eShores company director, shares his top tips for cutting costs.

Politics

16 h. ago Former BBC boss says Strictly should take 'fallow year' to 'save show’s reputation'

‘I think it’s time to take a leaf out of Glastonbury’s book and consider a fallow year for 2026,’ says a former Head of Communications at the BBC

Politics

16 h. ago Andrew Miller: ‘DH Lawrence forced me to my feet – I was madly excited’

The novelist on how The Rainbow made him want to write, the strange genius of Penelope Fitzgerald and finding comfort in TintinMy earliest reading memory Sitting on the sofa with my mum reading Mabel the Whale by Patricia King, with beautiful colour illustrations by Katherine Evans. I think it was pre-school. My mother was not always a patient teacher, and I was often a slow learner, but the scene, the tableaux, in memory, has the serenity of an icon.My favourite book growing up Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Eagle of the Ninth. It’s a story set in Roman Britain; the Eagle is the lost standard of the ninth legion. I was a boy already obsessed by all things Ancient Roman (the alternative to the kind of boy obsessed with dinosaurs). One of the places I remember reading it is in bed with my dad. On Sunday mornings my brother and I would climb into the big bed. My parents had long since split up. There was a picture on the wall, a modest reproduction of Velázquez’...

Politics

19 h. ago Blank Canvas by Grace Murray review – a superb debut from a 22

In this energisingly original novel, an emotionally detached English student at college in New York tells a big lieLies offend our sense of justice: generally, we want to see the liar unmasked and punished. But when the deception brings no material gain, we might also be curious about what purpose the lie serves – what particular need of their own the liar is attempting to meet. This is precisely what Grace Murray’s witty, assured debut explores: not just the consequences of a lie but the ways in which it can, paradoxically, reveal certain truths.At a small liberal arts college in upstate New York, Charlotte begins her final year by claiming that her father has just died of a heart attack. In fact, he is alive and well back in Lichfield, England. This lie is the jumping-off point for an unpacking of Charlotte’s psychology, as well as the catalyst for her relationship with fellow student Katarina, a quasi-love story that forms the book’s main narrative. Continue r...

Politics

38 h. ago Stuart Kelly: 'These are the books I'm looking forward to reading (and re

The new year promises much from some of the most interesting writers in Scotland and beyond , writes Stuart Kelly, but there will also be opportunities to re-read a few old favourites thanks to reissues from Penguin Classics

Events

39 h. ago Ryanair launches huge seat sale with £15 flights to destination with 20 degree temperatures

Ryanair has launched its biggest-ever seat sale with more than 10 million summer 2026 seats on offer at big discounts for early bookers.

Economics

39 h. ago I’ve already read some of 2026’s biggest book releases – these are the 4 to look out for

Bookmark these titles for your 2026 reading pile

Politics

42 h. ago Full list of 2026 bank holidays so you can book time off work now

If the end of the Christmas season has got you feeling a bit glum, then you may already be looking at what time off or holidays you can get booked in 2026

Economics

43 h. ago Googoosh: A Sinful Voice by Googoosh with Tara Dehlavi review – the extraordinary story of an Iranian icon

Her voice soundtracked the 60s and 70s, but the revolution silenced her. The legendary singer finally has her say in this uneven memoirIf you ask any Iranian to name the most important female pop star in our country’s history, they’ll say Googoosh. Nobody else comes close. Over six decades of revolution, suppression and exile, Googoosh has gone from singer to cultural icon, a symbol of a country’s grief for its murdered, imprisoned, and muzzled artists, and a living link between pre-revolutionary Iran and the diaspora.Googoosh was just three years old when she started singing in small halls and cabaret venues where her father worked. By her teens she was a film actor and a fashion icon. In the 60s and 70s, when my mother was a teenager, Googoosh was everywhere: on television, in films, magazines, on the radio. She kept recreating herself – her style, her moves, her hair. (My mother and many of her university classmates copied Googosh’s famous wispy haircut.) For ...

Politics

46 h. ago Five of the best books of 2025 that deserve a spot on your 2026 TBR list

2025 was a big year for books, and here are five of the best new releases that you won't want to miss out on

Politics

61 h. ago From the World Cup to the return of Michaela Coel, 2026 promises to excite and bring joy

A very Long Wave-coded book, a landmark Nigerian film and more Black art, culture and sport on its way in the next 12 months• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThe week between Christmas and New Year is a unique time. You’re free to not worry about what day of the week it is, or think too heavily on anything beyond your current state. But as we reach the new year, it is equally fun to think about the things we hope will bring some much-needed collective joy in the year ahead.This week, our colleagues from across the diaspora have shared the Black cultural events that they are looking forward to in 2026, from books and TV shows to Ghana beating England at the World Cup. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago I've read 240 books this year and here are top 5 you need to read in 2026

Senior Social News reporter Danielle Kate Wroe has managed to make her way through a whopping 240 books this year, and she's shared her top five in the hopes of inspiring you in 2026

Politics

3 d. ago Families can save up to 25% on Orlando theme parks visits in package seller’s huge January sale

Dreaming of the Florida sunshine for 2026? Now is the time to get booking! Right now, holidaymakers can save up to 25% on major Orlando parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. AttractionTickets.com January Sale AttractionTickets.com’s sale kicked off on Boxing Day, and runs until 2nd February. This gives you plenty of time to...

Politics

3 d. ago Insider's Choice: Scottish debut novels to look out for in 2026

There are some highly promising literary debuts lined up for 2026, writes Vikki Reilly

Politics

3 d. ago The best holidays to book for February 2026, from Austrian ski slopes to French carnivals

Yet to fill your snow boots or bask in some far-flung winter sun? Here are some holidays to inspire travel in the final month of winter

Politics

4 d. ago I'm a food writer who ate at 14 brilliant Welsh restaurants in 2025 you must book for 2026

Picking a place to eat can be a real faff sometimes, so here's a round-up of the best places I've dined at in 2025 for you to consider in 2026

Society

5 d. ago New Year's Eve: 10 London restaurants putting on a show on December 31

From restaurants with incredible views to traditional, high-end dining rooms, here’s where to book to ring in 2026

Politics

1 week ago What to read in 2026: recommendations from booksellers and publishers in Abuja, Nairobi and Brighton

A selection of the best Kenyan, Nigerian and black diaspora writing from 2025 – and some to look out for next yearFrom the richness of Nigeria’s modern literary scene, to the thriving publishing ecosystem of Kenya and the booming creativity coming from black British and African American writers, we asked an African publishing house, a UK bookshop dedicated to black authors and Nairobi’s oldest bookshop for some recommendations on what to read in the coming year. Continue reading...

Politics