The Critics
A belly full of agitpropera
Opera really doesn’t need the help of activist directors when it comes to politics — it’s all there already
Non-nose job
In a free reworking of “Cyrano”, it takes pizzazz to rewrite French alexandrines in the manner of Eminem
The toughest role
The most successful modern actor-director, Clint Eastwood, rejects “the auteur crap”
Right-on cue
As usual, the Academy flagellates itself over insufficient African American Oscar contenders
Charlie’s cardboard feminists fall flat
Bad jokes, no chemisty, lame action: the snoozathon that’s not woke enough
Manners maketh answers
Rudeness does not make for good television
High notes go wrong
Flying is a macho thing for musicians. It shows they are in demand and living the good life
Schlock of the new
Those in charge are in thrall to vain provocateur directors
Old Romeo’s Almanac
Our theater gossip columnist spills the beans on his fellow actors and gives us some predictions for the new year
Most Read
The martyrdom of Young Bob
On ebbing power of the political influencer
Grooming gangs and the truth
We should not give ammunition to deniers of the grooming gangs scandal
Babies need women
Leaving children with only men who are not their parents is foolish and dangerous
Stop ignoring the Islamisation of our democracy
The British state is bending to Islamism, not attempting to defeat it
Losing control of the narrative
The British establishment no longer sets the terms of public debate over migration
American strategy in Iran is wiser than it seems
President Trump’s intervention will leave the world safer than it was
The testing of Giorgia Meloni
Italy’s first woman PM has proved a pragmatic conservative who has brought stability to her country
Brave new world or fools’ paradise?
For Dubai’s quarter of a million British expats, the Iran war is a mere blip in a luxurious lifestyle
The rise and fall of Nicola Sturgeon
The former SNP leader squandered her talents in a classic tale of hubris
Clarifying the fog of the gender wars
Michael Foran’s new book will undoubtedly be celebrated, but is it essential?
Rewatching a TV show from a lost world
In River Cottage, a chef escaped to Dorset from London in search of the good life
How the “Burnham bind” will rewrite British politics
If Andy Burnham wins in Makerfield, Labour has a bigger opportunity than people think
English football is not boring
Greater competition is being confused with dullness
Giles Treadwell
Old-style literary agent
An unpleasant man, and a genius
The most interesting people are not necessarily the most attractive
There is nothing authentic about Andy Burnham
The blokeish Labour man is as slimy a politician as the rest of them