David Nellist as Daniel Blake at Northern Stage.
Pamela Raith Photography
As more people find themselves in poverty, the play’s mix of fictional story with real-life testimony powerfully tells the story of what it’s like to navigate the benefits system in the UK.
Chinese boy band TFBoys performing in Nanjing City.
WENN Rights Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
In social media posts during the pandemic, fans posit their idols as loyal to the nation, the people and the party state.
The Windrush arrives at Tilbury docks on 22 June 1948.
Contraband Collection / Alamy
The Windrush generation has a long and storied history encompassing empire, war, migration, multiculturalism, racism and scandal – a history that has transformed British society and culture.
Scarlett Johanson in Asteroid City.
Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features
To imitate Wes Anderson, you need to combine all his ‘ingredients’ in the right amount.
Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin in the final episode of Succession.
Courtesy of HBO
Though we desire the Succession ending we want, we long for something that violently prevents us from getting it at the exact same time.
Vin Diesel and Daniela Melchior in Fast X.
Courtesy of Universal Studios
The seemingly chaotic nature of the Fast Saga’s development is central to the Furious-verse’s appeal.
Tina Turner performing in 2009.
EPA/Britta Pedersen
Much of the media coverage of Tina Turner’s victim-survivor status overlooks the fact that as a black woman she walked a fine line in speaking publicly about her experiences.
Roman (Kieran Culkin), Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Kendall (Jeremy Strong) at their mother’s house.
Courtesy of HBO
In the end, nobody gets what they want – but they do, arguably, all get what they deserve.
Manchester City on the Premier League winner podium.
EPA/Peter Powell
City have become ‘hybrid monsters’, who can play with any formation and any player combination and still consistently challenge for European honours.
Jan Versweyveld
The book is a hard read and some say the play is an even harder watch - is it just trauma porn?
Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Courtesy of Disney
In The Little Mermaid, audiences finally get to see Ariel in all her powerful, adventurous glory.
Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) delivers a eulogy for his father.
Courtesy of HBO
Think about what story it is you want to tell about your loved one, how you want it to end and what you want your audience to take home.
Peter Howson with one of his most recent works, Wagner.
Greg Macvean
Painting with renewed purpose at 65, Peter Howson has overcome his demons to take his place as one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists.
Viiviien/Shutterstock
If your beer has no foam you could end up with terrible bloat.
Turner has died at the age of 83.
Gerard van Bree/Alamy
Her music can be found on dad rock compilations and on the set lists at drag nights.
A Chinese and English takeaway in Claughton village, Birkenhead.
Philip Brookes/Shutterstock
Citizens of former British colonies such as Malaysia and Hong Kong rented vacant fish and chip shops to start their Chinese takeaway businesses.
The Booker Prizes.
Judges called it a profound novel that asks the contemporary question: what happens to us when our memories disappear?
lightningreturns.
Even games with female protagonists had more dialogue from male characters.
The xenomorph from Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, Alien.
AJ Pics/Alamy
A new book explores the enormous Alien franchise spawned by the 1979 film.
Gameplay from Scarlet & Violet.
Courtesy of The Pokémon Company
The many visual errors in the latest Pokémon games have led to an unexpected glitch-chasing frenzy.
Wimbledon flags waving in the wind.
rarrarorro/Shutterstock
Russian players will now compete as neutrals at Wimbledon, ending a yearlong stance against their participation.
Kendall Roy listening to music in season four of Succession.
Courtesy of HBO
Hip hop’s swaggering braggadocio acts as a counterpoint to the Roy family’s rarefied worlds of high finance and plutocratic untouchability.
Stephen Chung/Alamy
Mae dillad sydd ddim yn ffitio'n dda ac yn ‘hyll’ yn ffasiynol bellach, felly gwisgwch sut bynnag y dymunwch.
An illustration by Beatrix Potter from The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies.
The Trustees of the British Museum
Beatrix Potter’s silence concerning her sources means the Brer Rabbit folktales that helped create her stories are passed over without acknowledgement or celebration.
The shortlisted books.
Courtesy of the International Booker Prize
Reflecting on themes as diverse as motherhood, war, religion and memory, our experts were impressed by the 2023 shortlist.