Dancing On Ice semi-finals kick off in style

Viewers saw the most touching edition of Dancing On Ice‘s to date on Sunday evening, as the four remaining contestants battled for positions in next week’s grand finale.   During the semi-final, Perri Kiely broke down in tears as he gained the first 40 of the series after dedicating his second routine of the night to his … Read more

MUST READS

Ian McEwan’s latest novel is set in 1982, but not that of historical record. Here, after a disastrous British defeat in the Falklands, Labour leader Tony Benn is demanding the resignation Mrs Thatcher.

Ardal O’Hanlon on how he plans to vanquish the ghost of Father Dougal

Humour, Ardal O’Hanlon chuckles, is no laughing matter. Best known as lovable eejit Father Dougal McGuire in the classic comedy Father Ted, the Irish actor and comedian is passionately defending the popular but frequently frowned-upon sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys. ‘It is very funny in that gag-driven, old-fashioned way,’ says O’Hanlon, 54. ‘Its heart is in … Read more

The hot new trend…that’s 400 years old 

Why a kimono is the timeless cover-up that will always take your outfit up a notch  Madonna at the 1999 Grammys. A striking image by photographer and kimono devotee Akira Times. Thom Browne’s menswear take, 2016. A modern Japanese version at the V&A. East meets West on the Duro Olowu catwalk, 2015. Alexander McQueen goes … Read more

More pupils face missing out on their first choice of secondary school because of teacher shortage

More pupils face missing out on their first choice of secondary school because of teacher shortage and ‘bulge’ in pupil numbers, experts warn One year ago nearly 115,500 missed out on their first choice secondary school  A lack of teachers could exacerbate the problem of over-subscribed schools Education Policy Institute think-tank report warns teaching numbers … Read more

Arizona is the capital of cowboy country – here’s our steer on how to saddle up for glamour too!

Arizona made the cowboy famous. The term had been rousting around the Wild West since 1870-ish, mostly synonymous with the more pejorative ‘rustler’ tag. But a decade or so later the Copper State took accidental ownership of brand cowboy when it became the hideout of the notorious Cochise County Cowboys.  A loose association of hoodlums, … Read more