4 h. ago ‘I haven’t even googled how to write a play!’: Nima Taleghani bringing rap to the National Theatre

The Heartstopper star’s exhilarating reboot of Euripides is the first debut play to grace the hallowed Olivier stage – but it nearly didn’t happen. ‘Its not in my bones,’ he saysNima Taleghani seems astonished that I know anything about him. This is the man who plays Mr Farouk, quite beautifully, in the phenomenally successful Netflix series Heartstopper. He’s an established stage actor and has featured in a number of director Jamie Lloyd’s recent blockbuster theatre productions, from memorable turns in Lloyd’s bold new versions of Cyrano de Bergerac and Romeo and Juliet – where Taleghani’s skill as a rap artist helped him shine in the director’s stripped-back, miked-up productions.This month, Taleghani will be the very first playwright to have a debut play staged on the vast Olivier stage at London’s National Theatre. To top it all off, the production – a ferociously original, rap-infused take on Euripides’ Greek tragedy The Bacchae – will open Indhu Rubasingham’s inaugural season ...

Politics

5 h. ago Bournemouth vs Brighton preview, team news and predicted lineup

Both sides will be eager to pick up points as they seek European qualification this season when Bournemouth welcome Brighton to the Vitality Stadium

Politics

6 h. ago Toyah Willcox: I have used AI but always prefer to ‘pick up a pen and write’

The singer and actress has released a greatest hits album spanning 45 years of her music.

Politics

6 h. ago Strictly Come Dancing star picked own partner after 'rejecting' two professional dancers

Singer Toyah Wilcox danced with Neil Jones on the hit BBC Latin and ballroom dance show in 2024

Politics

6 h. ago Bernie Ecclestone believes McLaren ‘prefer’ Lando Norris to win F1 title over Oscar Piastri

Piastri currently leads Norris in the intra-team title battle by 31 points with eight races remaining

Politics

7 h. ago ITV This Morning's Dermot O'Leary defends Alison Hammond's NTAs speech

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary joined their This Morning co-stars Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard to pick up the Daytime award at the National Television Awards

Politics

7 h. ago Renfrewshire councillor calls for more education on debt write

The move was approved at a meeting of the local authority’s finance, resources and customer services policy board yesterday.

Politics

7 h. ago Has Ed Sheeran been using Chat GPT to write his cheesy lyrics? TIM DE LISLE gives a limp 2 stars to new album Play

Now Sheeran has a new album, Play. First, the good news: it's better than Autumn Variations. It's brisk and buoyant, which is impressive as he calls it 'a direct response to the darkest period of my life'.

Politics

8 h. ago Behind the scenes of the Downton Abbey grand finale: Cast reveal on

Julian Fellowes, Downton's creator, writer and producer, has put the cap back on his pen and it's carriages at midnight for everyone, after one last film.

Politics

9 h. ago Jason Heavey's horse racing tips on St Leger day two – 'he looked a smart prospect'

A Karl Burke juvenile is the top pick on day two of Doncaster's St Leger meeting on Friday, September 12, says Daily Star chief tipster Jason Heavey

Politics

15 h. ago Vance arrives in Arizona with Charlie Kirk's casket aboard Air Force Two

Vice President JD Vance flew to Salt Lake City aboard Air Force Two to pick up Charlie Kirk's casket and transport it to his home state of Arizona

Politics

17 h. ago Ed Sheeran instructs wife to release unreleased album when he dies

Ed Sheeran has included a posthumous album in his will called Eject to be released following his eventual death. He's asked wife Cherry to pick the unreleased songs to feature on the LP when the time comes. Ed has four more albums to come in his latest themed series.

Events

23 h. ago Big Little Lies: third season of starry HBO drama series on the way

Mr and Mrs Smith writer Francesca Sloane reportedly tapped to bring back A-list cast of hit seriesA third season of the award-winning drama series Big Little Lies is now in development.According to Deadline, Francesca Sloane has been tapped to write the first episode and she will also act as executive producer alongside series creator David E Kelley. Sloane is best known for co-creating Amazon’s Mr and Mrs Smith series with Donald Glover. Her credits also include writing for Atlanta and Fargo. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago ‘It’s like the Olympics’: Patrick Reed against Ryder Cup player payment

American players to receive stipend for participationFormer world No 6 said Europe have more ‘camaraderie’Patrick Reed believes it “unnecessary” that his fellow Americans will be paid for participation in the upcoming Ryder Cup. Reed, who has missed out on what would have been a fourth Ryder Cup appearance at Bethpage, also said Europe carry the advantage of having the more closely-knit team.US players plus their captain, Keegan Bradley, will be given $500,000 (£368,300) – $300,000 (£221,000) of which must be donated to charity – for taking on Luke Donald’s Europe. The remaining $200,000 (£147,320) has been labelled a stipend. The topic was largely lost in fevered discussion over whether or not Bradley would pick himself as a player but remains hugely significant. Europe’s contingent have always been adamant they will not seek monetary reward for Ryder Cup appearances. Continue reading...

Sport

24 h. ago 'This place has become absurd': Fury at surge in lazy MPs using AI

Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, hit out at 'ChatGPT-generated press releases' being read out from the Labour benches during a debate this week.

Politics

25 h. ago In plain sight: why Mandelson’s role as envoy to US was a big risk for Starmer

‘Withdrawal’ of Labour peer from US is more evidence of prime minister’s failure to pick right people, say critics

Events

25 h. ago Why the Mandelson affair raises questions about Starmer’s judgment

‘Withdrawal’ of Labour peer from America is more evidence of prime minister’s failure to pick right people, say critics

Politics

25 h. ago Octopuses prefer to use different arms for different tasks, scientists find

Creatures favour front arms for most tasks, study suggests, despite fact all eight arms are capable of all actionsWhile some humans find they have two left feet on the dancefloor, octopuses manage to coordinate eight highly flexible arms across a host of behaviours, from foraging to den-building, or moving around the seafloor.Now researchers say they have completed the most comprehensive study of its kind, not only identifying the actions and small motions involved in different types of movements, but revealing that – like primates, rodents and fish – the cephalopods prefer to use particular limbs for certain tasks. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago West Lothian primary school pick up Gold School Sports Award

Children at Southdale Primary were able to try a whole host of sports including basketball, gymnastics, boccia and taekwondo.

Events

29 h. ago Ten best reasons to travel solo – as three quarters say 'everyone should try it'

More than a quarter of Brits now prefer holidaying solo, with freedom and peace and quiet topping the list of reasons to ditch the travel companions, a new survey reveals.

Politics