Entertainment

Say what one will about genre fiction, usually expressed with a long-nosed sniff of disdain while ice cubes clink against the side of a swirled glass, yet it remains true that thousands, even tens of thousands of readers will derive much more enjoyment from the latest ‘dead body staining the white wicker in the sun room’ than you will from the latest Man Booker approved bit of indulgence where otherwise silent characters drone on and on in an endless interior...

Southbank Centre’s iconic Brutalist venues, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, will reopen on Monday 9 April 2018, following over two years’ extensive redesign and refurbishment. They open with a programme of events that pays tribute to the historic legacy of the venues, and the many legendary artists who have performed there over the past fifty years. A dynamic blend of contemporary and classical work sees vibrant performances, events, installations and a free programme for all ages across the venues....

Stormzy cleaned up at tonight’s Brit awards, winning best male artist and best album for “Gang Signs & Prayer.” But the biggest talking point of the ITV music awards was this blistering performance of a new song that asked: "Theresa May where's the money for Grenfell, what you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?" Stormzy has used performances before to make sure people do not forget about those that died and were left homeless by the tragic blaze. At his...

A major new production of Strangers on a Train is now running in theatres across the UK, with a week-long stint in Richmond, London this week. The gripping thriller is based on the taught psychological drama by the celebrated writer Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr Ripley), immortalized by Alfred Hitchcock’s Academy Award-winning film. Playing at Richmond Theatre until Saturday 24th February, the show picks up with a fateful encounter between two men in the dining carriage of a train crossing...

Singer-songwriter Hero Fisher is back with the new track 'Lonely'. The British-born, French-raised and London-based artist has collaborated with Alison Mosshart and Boy George in the past, with her 2015 debut album winning her fans in The Horrors and Blur. Fisher’s new song ‘Lonely’ is a masterclass in reinvention. Rich in ambience and with a slow crawling beat, her subtle and tender vocal performance evokes a deep sense of isolation amidst the cluttered mysteries of daily life. Drums, pianos and synths all...

Hammersmith Apollo has seen many great performances in its time, but on Saturday the venue was tinged in sadness as the final ever performance by Wild Beasts took place. The four-piece band from Cumbria announced last September that their decade long adventure was coming to an end. While the reason behind the split was hidden behind a veil of abstract quotes from the band members, it was clear that the shouts from the crowd to ‘stay together’ were falling on...

A musical adaption of George Bizet's Carmen has started a run at Union Theatre. The production will showcase Bizet’s unforgettable tunes re-conceived as musical theatre, stirringly bringing to life the story of a dangerous, seductive Spanish heroine recklessly playing with her fate and that of her lovers at a time of civil unrest and political uncertainty. Described as an "easily accessible, invigoratingly fresh look" at one the "most familiar, beloved and popular operas ever written", the show tells the story of...

A rare "sex manual" from 1720 revealing the most bizarre beliefs of Georgian England has been unearthed and could fetch hundreds of pounds at auction. The 300-year-old book offers a fascinating insight into attitudes towards sex at a time in Britain when witches were still burnt at the stake. They include weird tips to help women avoid giving birth to children "with a hairy lip, wry mouth or great blubber-lips". It also advises men to eat meat, blackbirds and sparrows...

Controversial comedian Jim Davidson was yesterday (mon) branded a "diva" and "bit of a d**head" after he got into a spat with bar staff before a show. The 64-year-old winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2014 was accused of sexism after ranting at a female member of bar staff who didn't let him bring his beer glass on-stage. He came under fire after branding the seaside town of Cromer, Norfolk, as "hell" and bragging of being paid £15k for the show...