38 m. ago France has survived revolutions and wars: its crisis now is deep, but not terminal | David A Bell

From the raid on the Louvre to the spectacle of Sarkozy in jail, it is tempting to think France is on a downward spiral. But history tells the tale of its resilienceIn the classic dinner-party scene in the film Notting Hill, Tim McInnerney’s character promises a brownie to “the saddest act here”. In response, the guests (including the glamorous movie star played by Julia Roberts) try to outdo each other with tales of their painful suffering and pathetic failures.In our gloomy autumn of 2025, western democracies could play quite a convincing version of this game. There is the depressed United Kingdom, where Keir Starmer’s approval ratings have fallen to record lows and Reform leads in the polls. There is the deeply broken United States, where a supine opposition seems incapable of preventing Donald Trump from chopping away one guardrail after another of our constitutional order. There is Spain, where this summer a Socialist party scandal threatened to topple the fragile minority gove...

Events

22 h. ago Down Cemetery Road to Jimmy Carr’s Am I the A**hole? The seven best shows to stream this week

Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson team up in the cracking new thriller from Slow Horses creator Mick Herron, and Jimmy Carr’s new comedy will draw gasps by the minute. Plus: there’s a new Witcher!When a gas main explodes in a quiet Oxford street it initially comes as a merciful respite from the awkward dinner party being hosted by Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson). But soon, the fallout from the explosion becomes more disconcerting. Sarah (by day, a bored art historian) turns detective when an attempt to deliver a card to a child injured in the blast drags her into a conspiracy; soon she’s in cahoots with Emma Thompson’s spiky PI Zoe Boehm and getting entirely out of her depth. As befits a thriller adapted from a novel by Slow Horses creator Mick Herron, it’s an enjoyably astringent, increasingly nervy mixture of edgewalking intrigue and unsentimental, pitch-black humour. Apple TV, from Wednesday 29 October Continue reading...

Transport

39 h. ago Hollyoaks' Nancy Osborne star Jessica Fox speaks out as fans threaten to boycott show

Hollyoaks' Nancy Osborne was left fighting for her life after a plane crash in the village, and actress Jessica Fox has now broken her silence on the dramatic scenes

Events

47 h. ago Nick Grimshaw & Angela Hartnett on the one dinner party guest they can't agree on

Broadcasting legend Nick Grimshaw and Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, hosts of the Dish from Waitrose podcast, reveal what really makes a great night in

Politics

56 h. ago MAFS UK's Divarni's journey 'comes to an end' after shock decision

After last night's Married At First Sight UK cliffhanger, Julia-Ruth and Divarni made a shock decision - leaving fans and the rest of the participants in shock

Events

65 h. ago Celeb Traitors' Joe Marler left pregnant wife sobbing on floor

Joe Marler, who is currently competing on The Celebrity Traitors amongst a host of other famous faces, has recalled a moment he was the 'most ashamed' he has ever been in his life

Politics

3 d. ago ITV Emmerdale spoilers see worrying Kev update and it's bad news for Aaron

Emmerdale is set for dramatic scenes next week involving Kev Townsend, Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle

Politics

3 d. ago Former EastEnders star says 'the door open' for return in major update months after exit

The actor left with one of their co-stars in dramatic scenes on the BBC soap

Politics

3 d. ago MAFS UK bride admits 'I lost myself' as she addresses dinner party 'freak out'

The Married at First Sight UK star has issued a statement after she had an 'absolute freak out' during the latest dinner party

Politics

3 d. ago Reform UK candidate who challenged bizarre defeat using fake AI court cases hit with £19,000 bill

Liz Williams was beaten to the post in dramatic scenes by Green candidate Hannah Robson in a rural Worcestershire election

Economics

4 d. ago MAFS UK couple spark chaos at dinner party as star issues apology

Married at First Sight UK stars Julia-Ruth and Divarni have continued to be the hot topic of conversation due to their rocky marriage

Events

4 d. ago MAFS UK dinner party descends into chaos as star forced to issue apology

Tensions rose during a dinner party on Married at First Sight UK, as Julia-Ruth and Divarni left their co-stars confused and frustrated

Events

4 d. ago MAFS UK bride brands rival ‘a stupid b***h’ in explosive clash as boozy dinner party descends into chaos

LAST night Married At First Sight UK teased that a bride will brand another bride from a rival couple as a 'stupid b**h' in front of everyone tonight. Last night's episode of MAFS UK displayed the usual trials and tribulations of each set of couples on the programme. But at the end of the episode,...

Events

4 d. ago MAFS UK Bride breaks down as relationship 'ruined' after shock confession

MAFS stars Rebecca and Bailey faced huge tension and heartbreak after a revelation about Rebecca’s crush.

Events

6 d. ago Come Dine With Me's Whisk Man reveals what he regrets most from becoming an overnight celebrity

Kev Riley, 44, became a meme when his dinner party trick on Com Dine With Me became an internet sensation in 2012. Today he has revealed what he regrets most after going on the show.

Politics

7 d. ago The Last Dinner Party: From the Pyre review – baroque’n’roll band’s speedily released second album is overheated

(Island Records)The London five-piece throw the kitchen sink at these dizzyingly dense songs, often crushing their melodic pleasures in the processIn an era when new bands struggle to break into the mainstream, the Last Dinner Party’s unusually swift rise (they were supporting the Rolling Stones a mere eight months after their first gig, and won the Rising Star Brit award just two years later) meant they spent much of the press cycle for their Mercury-nominated, chart-topping 2024 debut rubbishing suggestions they’d been manufactured by the music industry. As its follow-up arrives, the London five-piece still seem defensive. “While it may seem to an outsider that we have moved quickly on to a second album,” they write in a self-penned press release, “this timing felt like a natural progression to us.”From the Pyre certainly doesn’t sound opportunistically rushed out. Quite the opposite, in fact: this is a dizzyingly dense collection of long, intricate tracks that layer biblical imag...

Society

8 d. ago New Music Friday: The Last Dinner Party, Tame Impala, Sudan Archives and more big releases this weekend

Something for the weekend? Our pick of some of this weekend’s biggest album releases from the musical world.

Politics

9 d. ago Homes evacuated after huge fire erupts in residential street

Dramatic footage from the scene showed fire crews trying to bring the blaze under control.

Events

9 d. ago Homes evacuated and emergency crews tape off street as huge fire erupts in south Manchester

Police, paramedics and fire crews raced to the scene of the dramatic blaze

Events

1 week ago Scottish city with low traffic and strong internet named UK's most driver

Scotland’s roads are known for dramatic scenery but also for steep hills, winding routes, and busy city centres, making driving challenging, especially in colder, darker months.

Politics