26 h. ago My favourite family photo: ‘It’s a snapshot of our goofy bond’

Since my mum died, family photos can be painful to look at. But this one of me and my brother is a reminder we still have each otherMy only sibling is seven years older than me. That means he has forever been seven years ahead of me in life, sitting somewhere between a willing co-conspirator and knowledgable surrogate parent – protective but fun, and always aware of the secrets of existence I am yet to discover. It was his aside that spoiled the secret identity of Santa Claus; he who laughingly revealed the mechanics of sex; he who gave me my first sip of beer. Yet, when he found out I was sneaking cigarettes from my dad’s stale dinner party supply, he chastised me before either of my parents could, and when my mum was diagnosed with cancer and I was just 15, he was already a 22-year-old medical student, able to speak in a doctor’s shorthand and advocate for her care while my father and I floundered.Ever since my mum died in 2013, family photos have been a source of bittersweet pain...

Culture

43 h. ago My favourite family photo: ‘I can still feel my mother’s arm around my shoulder’

I love the way we are both looking in astonishment at my son. It shows the unwavering support she gave me when he was bornThis picture of my mother, me and my eldest son, Theo, was taken the morning after he was born in May 2002, in University College Hospital, London.There are a lot of things I love about it. I love the fact my mother is exquisitely dressed – she’s wearing her pearls! She always looked very elegant at this time in her life and enjoyed clothes (we bought that suit on a day out together). I love the composition too – our three dark heads, faces in profile and the way our three hands are aligned. I love the miracle of my son’s intricate little shell of an ear, the nose (his dad’s) and lips (mine) still visible now in his 23-year-old face. Continue reading...

Culture

50 h. ago My favourite family photo: ‘I was six, with mumps and diarrhoea – and having the time of my life’

When I went to Saudi Arabia in the 1980s to see my Dad it felt like visiting another planet. But beyond the scale and shininess of the country was the feeling of my family finally being togetherIn the 1980s, the British construction industry was hit hard by recession. At the same time, Saudi Arabia had the opposite problem; lots of money and a desire to build infrastructure, but not enough skilled workers. As a result, thousands of British labourers found it was the only place where they could earn a wage. My dad – freshly out of work with a young family to support – was one of them. We travelled out to see him twice, once to Riyadh and once to Jeddah.Objectively, the Riyadh trip was better. Dad lived on a worker’s compound, and there was a pool and a restaurant and loads of room to run around. Jeddah, less so – but that’s where this photo was taken. Dad shared a tiny flat on the city’s noisy Palestine Street with one of his colleagues. I caught mumps basically upon landing and (acc...

Culture

67 h. ago My favourite family photo: ‘My mother stares dreamily into the distance, looking like an extra from Mad Men’

I found solace in looking through my father’s slides after he died. They made me gasp – and my childhood turned from monotonous monochrome to glorious TechnicolorWhen my sister handed me a box of old Kodachrome slides last summer, I almost didn’t bother looking through them. Unusually for pre-smartphone times, my camera-crazy father had extensively documented our lives, filling dozens of photo albums. What could the transparencies possibly reveal that we hadn’t already seen countless times? I dimly remembered him ambushing us to watch slideshows, until we were old enough to rebel.My father died in 2012. Not long before, I had developed an interest in photography myself and, after he was gone, I found solace in my viewfinder. It was, and still is, a way of feeling connected to him. What prompted me to set up my iPad as a makeshift lightbox to view the slides was technical interest. Continue reading...

Culture

3 d. ago My favourite family photo: ‘I bucketed 30 years of tears that day – then smiled my smiliest smile’

After more than three decades together, Simon Hattenstone and his partner Diane Taylor decided to have a civil partnership. It was a beautiful celebration before the shock of the pandemicDiane and I had been living together for more than 30 years, and our children were 28 and 26 when we got civilled. We’d never wanted to get married. It seemed a bit too pipe and slippers. It also felt like tempting fate. We were really happy without being married, so why change things? And you can’t have more of a commitment than children. But we always said if they introduced civil partnerships for heterosexual couples, we’d get civilled.I think friends assumed we did it primarily for tax reasons – to ensure that if one of us died, the other wasn’t left in the shit. There was an element of that. But more importantly, we actively wanted to get civilled. It actually felt really romantic – tying the civil knot as an expression of love after all this time together. It was such a beautiful day, in every...

Culture

3 d. ago Family favourite restaurant chain is running out of time to stop collapse as 20 locations face closure

THE company behind a family favourite restaurant chain has filed its third notice to line up administrators as it seeks a more secure rescue deal. Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group, which runs TGI Fridays’ UK operations, is finalising an insolvency plan which could come as soon as next week. The firm filed a notice of...

Society

6 d. ago Anthony Joshua issues first public update after fatal car crash in Nigeria

Boxer posts photo with his mother and three womenTwo of Joshua’s team members died in the accidentAnthony Joshua has issued his first public update after the car crash in Nigeria which injured him and killed two of his close friends and team members.Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, also known as Latz, died after the vehicle they were travelling in along with Joshua struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos on Monday. Joshua was taken to hospital before being discharged on Wednesday and he has flown back to the UK ahead of the funerals of Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, one of his trainers. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Iconic Hollywood actress enjoys family holiday in Scotland & calls it her ‘favourite adventure’

HOLLYWOOD star Liv Tyler has hailed Scotland after spending the festive period north of the border. The model and actress, 48, shared amazing images of her travels up and down the country with her £2.5million Instagram followers. She dubbed it her “favourite adventure” as thousands of fans rushed to comment on her two posts.  One...

Culture

9 d. ago Gogglebox's Siddiqui family supported by fans after heartbreaking double death

The Siddiqui family have been a firm favourite on Gogglebox since the very first series, and fans have rushed to support them after they went through a heartbreaking double death

Sport

1 week ago Adam Peaty's estranged brother makes cryptic Instagram post after being banned from wedding

James shared photo of himself with mother Caroline outside Bath Abbey before deleting it after 15 minutes

Events

1 week ago Adam Peaty's brothers' dark 'Godfather' post outside of wedding venue

Adam Peaty's brother James posted a photo of him and his mother posing outside of Bath Abbey hours after his sibling married Holly Ramsay there, with a disturbing song choice

Politics

1 week ago Adam Peaty's estranged brother shares photo of himself and his mother alone outside Bath Abbey wedding venue after they were dis

Adam Peaty's estranged brother James has shared a pointed message with a 'dark hidden meaning' to his sibling after being uninvited to his wedding.

Culture

2 w. ago EastEnders’ Heather Peace and wife congratulated as they welcome new addition to family

EastEnders favourite Heather Peace and her beloved wife have revealed some exciting family news to fans

Society

2 w. ago Zoe Ball addresses her 'tough year' despite being 'in the frame' for Strictly job

Rumoured as a favourite to host Strictly, the family money is already on Zoe Ball says dad Johnny. But could the presenter - who has just left her radio show on BBC Radio 2 - be about to return to our TV screens?

Politics

2 w. ago Hotel experts told us their favourite family stays including one Audrey Hepburn visited

Lift the spirits and venture into nature by planning a unique late winter or spring getaway for the family - uncover the delights the stunning UK countryside has to offer from the Lake District to the Jurassic Coast

Society

2 w. ago Trivial Pursuit rule people don't know could mean you're cheating this Christmas

Trivial Pursuit has been a family favourite for over 40 years, but it turns out that many people have been playing the game wrong - and it could mean you're cheating

Politics

2 w. ago Home Alone villain is living very different life 35 years after iconic Christmas film

Home Alone remains a family favourite during the Christmas period – even though it's 35 years since the movie came out. In fact, many of the actors are living very different lives now

Society

2 w. ago King Charles’ former butler lifts lid on Royal Family Christmas: Favourite tipples, cheeky gifts and William’s secret shopping trips

King Charles’ former butler has given a rare insight into the Royal Family’s Christmas, from the monarch’s favourite tipples, cheeky gifts and Prince William’s secret shopping trips.

Economics

2 w. ago Toddler dies after dad 'falls sleep in hot tub with daughter in his arms'

18-month-old Azariah Hough was described as "a real talker" who was loved by her family and enjoyed playing with her favourite Bluey toy, her relatives said in an obituary

Events

2 w. ago 'Underrated' comedy with 'perfect ending' and Hollywood icon on ITV tonight

This family favourite film has been a huge hit, since its release over 30 years ago in 1993 and the rave reviews are numerous with some calling it the lead actor's 'absolute best performance'

Culture