4 d. ago My cultural awakening: a Steve Carell film made me realise I was being abused

After my dad died, my mum and I endured the coercive control of her new partner for years. It was The Way Way Back that freed us bothIn the first five minutes of the 2013 comedy drama The Way Way Back, a teenage boy has a conversation with his stepfather in a car bound for Cape Cod. You can only see the stepdad’s eyes in the rearview mirror, but you instantly know it’s Steve Carell. At this point, I loved Carell. He’s the reason that I, then a teenager, watched the film.“Duncan let me ask you something,” Carell’s character says. “On a scale of one to 10, what do you think you are?” Duncan responds shyly that he thinks he’s a six. Any normal adult would balk and correct him. Tell him he’s nothing less than a 10. “I think you’re a three,” says Carell’s character, Trent. Suddenly, I hated Carell with a blind fury. He was a vision of pure evil. I didn’t want to watch him in anything else, ever. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Brit who drowned in Portugal hotel pool tragedy 'died trying to save his best friend'

King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, died after being pulled from a hotel swimming pool in Albufeira, Portugal, and were pronounced dead at the scene

Events

3 w. ago My cultural awakening: Miss Congeniality helped me to save my friend’s life

A scene from Sandra Bullock’s 2000 film gave me the courage to intervene at a crucial moment – and eventually led me to a career in journalismIt was a brie and cranberry panini that nearly killed my friend George. Six of us were squashed on to one picnic bench in Edinburgh, nine years ago, on our lunch break at a magazine. I felt an instant click with George when he we first met. I was an intern when I first met George, nauseous with first-day nerves. “Is that a Welsh twang I can hear? Sorry, I’m George!” he’d said, before talking me through the office milk-buying etiquette. We had that frenetic compatibility that makes you assume you’ll be friends for ever.Within a couple of years I’d become part of the team. That day at lunch, as someone cracked a joke, George mistimed his bite. He cleared his throat while we slapped his back and chuckled. Then the colour drained from his lips. His coughs turned to rattly gasps, his fingers flew to his collarbone and his eyes rolled back. Continue...

Politics

3 w. ago Brit tourist who drowned in Portugal hotel pool 'died trying to save his friend’

King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving on holiday in Albufeira, on Portugal's southern coast

Events

3 w. ago Sister pays tribute to drowned Briton who ‘died trying to save his friend’

The family of King Edonmi say the 29-year-old died a hero while trying to help friend Mo Liasu during tragic hotel pool incident

Events

3 w. ago First aid to save your pet – follow these 8 tips from our Star Paws expert

Our award-winning Star Paws columnist Catherine Lamb is here with your weekly update on all things pet-related. It could even save your furry friend’s life

Politics