John Boyne and the bitter truth about the Polari Prize
The news that the Polari Prize for LGBTQ+ writing is not to be awarded this year after outrage that the…
Terence Stamp bent the Swinging Sixties to his will
There are two famous images of the late Terence Stamp, one taken from one of his films, the other from…
God save the great British pudding!
There are certain names of puddings that, if whispered to an Englishman of a certain age, will bring back near-Proustian…
King Charles’s poignant VJ Day reminder
It has been one of the hallmarks of King Charles’s reign so far that, when he makes a commemorative or…
Did I underestimate Harry and Meghan?
It is important for any self-respecting writer to admit when they get it wrong. So it is with an element…
The truth about Meghan and Harry’s renewed Netflix deal
It is important for any self-respecting writer to admit when they get it wrong. So it is with an element…
Tesco has debased the honourable English sandwich
If you want one indication of the decline of Britain in 2025, it is the image that Tesco put out…
Could Prince Andrew’s reputation sink any lower?
Even the most seasoned royal watchers may not have expected the revelations that came from the serialisation of Andrew Lownie’s…
Sydney Sweeney, Gwyneth Paltrow and the misogynists
Dear God, please help me. The winged monkeys of incel outrage have mobilized in their millions. Basement warriors have exerted…
Will Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight ruin James Bond?
Up until yesterday, I was beginning to feel cautiously optimistic about the new James Bond film. After a long hiatus…
Is Stephen Fry the right choice to play Lady Bracknell?
Last year, the National Theatre staged The Importance of Being Earnest in a new production by Max Webster. It attracted…
Princess Diana and Jeffrey Epstein
When I was promoting the various books I wrote about the British royal family, I was asked a number of…
Why are the Macrons suing Candace Owens?
As bizarre conspiracy theories go, the rumours about France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron take some beating. The stories that have…
The trouble with Gillian Anderson
Imagine, for a moment, that a respected middle-aged British male character actor – Jason Isaacs, let’s say – had been…
The sad saga of Lena Dunham
I preface this review by saying that – unless you are the greatest admirer of Lena Dunham or anyone in the (admittedly impressive)…
MasterChef must die
As Oscar Wilde didn’t quite put it, for one MasterChef presenter to depart because of a scandal may be regarded…
King Charles and Harry won’t be reconciling any time soon
The news that appeared in the Sunday newspapers was intriguing, to say the least. A meeting has taken place at…
King Charles’s bromance with Macron is true soft power
As the once-promising bromance between King Charles and Keir Starmer appears to be fading, the monarch has found another leader…
Is this the end of the Jeffrey Epstein case?
The death of the financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein at Manhattan’s notorious Metropolitan Correction Center has been ruled to be…
The Royal Train’s retirement is a loss to Britain
King Charles is a man acutely aware that the monarchy has to be seen to provide value for money in…
Take me back to Glastonbury
Judging by the coverage of this year’s Glastonbury festival, and the reaction in certain quarters, you would be forgiven for…
How the drive-thru took over Britain
Britain has received many things from America that we have little reason to be grateful for: Black Lives Matter, Instagram,…
Starmer may regret bringing forward Trump’s state visit
One of the most notable features of Keir Starmer’s otherwise undistinguished premiership is the bromance that he seems to have…
We don’t deserve such an awful tribute to Elizabeth II
The winner of the contest to design a memorial to the late Elizabeth II has been announced, and it’s not…
Whatever will Meghan think of selling next?
Well, you can’t say that we weren’t warned. Repeatedly. At the beginning of this week, the Duchess of Sussex wrote…
