12 h. ago Vandals torch children's beloved story characters within Ayrshire beauty spot

The willow sculptures have been a popular fixture within the local beauty spot for the last three years and were part of a set of 11 such sculptures.

Politics

37 h. ago The books they’ll remember forever: Children’s classics on sale now

From bedtime favourites to nostalgic keepsakes, these beloved children’s books are now up to 70% off in the Amazon Book Sale, running until 28th April.

Politics

6 d. ago EastEnders fans admit exit story for four major characters felt 'rushed' and 'could have been worthwhile'

The final episode of the week saw viewers say goodbye to several veteran characters

Politics

6 d. ago Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape Two) review – love, grief and self

PC, PS5, XBox; Don’t NodThe concluding half of this two-parter may be lacking in interactive challenges, but is profound, sensitively structured and emotionally resonantOne thing you realise as you get older is that memories are plastic and that the stories you tell about your life change with every recollection, depending on who you are at the time. This is one of the themes – and indeed the mechanics – of Lost Records, a narrative adventure about four teenage girls who develop an intense friendship in rural Michigan during the summer of 1995. In the first instalment, they form a band, discover an old shack in the woods to use as a clubhouse, and encounter a supernatural force emanating from a deep hole they discover nearby. But as autumn draws in and the girls plan a climactic rock gig, tragic secrets are uncovered.Cleverly, the story is told mostly in flashback, as the characters meet again, decades later, in their long-abandoned home town – they’re older, wiser and with new pers...

Politics

9 d. ago David Oyelowo's Government Cheese character is based on an incredible true story

David Oyelowo's new Apple TV+ series Government Cheese is a surreal period drama that follows one man's quest to reinvent himself

Politics

1 week ago How we made Muriel’s Wedding: ‘No one wanted a film about a plus

‘I wanted to do an Australian Mike Leigh film. I was convinced it was terrible – but we showed it at Cannes and they went crazy. Audiences had never seen a character like that treated sympathetically’The kernel of the story was my family, and my sister’s stormy relationship with our dad. He was a local politician and, like Trump, obsessed with success. I’m one of seven and my sister and I are the oldest. To use my dad’s language, we were the most useless because we wanted to be artists and so were unemployable. He was very dismissive of us. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Children’s hospice chef scoops over £340 in Aldi Scotland Supermarket Sweep

Marking the first official event of Aldi Scotland’s new partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), the beloved Supermarket Sweep recently arrived in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire. CHAS chef Eddie Haggerty took on the challenge, raising an impressive £344.67 and setting the bar high for future Sweeps.

Economics

2 w. ago Vandals torch play area leaving council with a four figure repair bill

The damage to the facility, near Barry Island, will cost an estimated £4,500 to fix

Politics

2 w. ago Minecraft mania: how millions of rowdy kids saved the box office

Video game adaptation broke records over the weekend as reports pour in about chaotic screenings and TikTok trendsMinecraft has jumped from game consoles to movie screens, and theaters across the country are shaking with perhaps the most vocal fan participation this side of an Avengers finale. As the film broke box office records, reports (and phone-shot videos) have been pouring in across the internet of the game-based fantasy-comedy inciting near-riots of applause, cheersand popcorn-chucking as the youthful target audience expresses their gratitude for references to the source material’s characters, memes and attendant lore – particularly the Chicken Jockey, a visual reference to a relatively rare but well-known phenomenon within the game. If you don’t know any more than this, there’s no real need to investigate further; the answer doesn’t matter. Even for someone actively watching A Minecraft Movie, it has absolutely no bearing on the actual story or characters at hand.The reacti...

Politics

2 w. ago Mike White says The White Lotus season three ending addresses season one criticism

‘There was some criticism,’ White said of one particular character’s story arc

Events

3 w. ago Spring by Michael Morpurgo: Salute to spring by our most beloved children's author

In his ode to spring, beloved author Michael Morpurgo recount the joys of the life bringing season.

Culture

3 w. ago Coronation Street star Vicky Myers reveals family 'DNA' link to DS Lisa Swain

The actress, who plays Weatherfield's resident crime fighter, said that a sentimental item once owned by her great-grandmother inspired her character's back story

Politics

3 w. ago How Val Kilmer's beloved children have followed in his footsteps: Top Gun star's daughter and son have stepped into the limelight

The screen icon, who passed away on Tuesday ages 65, was known for his role as Iceman in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun and as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1995 Batman Forever.

Politics

3 w. ago Inside Val Kilmer's tragic life – horror hot tub death, cancer and losing voice

Hollywood star Val Kilmer, who has died aged 65, had his devastating health issue written into his iconic character's story when he returned in Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Events

3 w. ago BBC This City is Ours fans baffled by one thing in opening episode

The series has been a huge hit with viewers and fans have been left gripped by the story of James Nelson-Joyce's character Michael, who has been involved in organised crime for all of his adult life

Politics