ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE

Originally published in 1979, this eight-part epic by Barbara Taylor Bradford was a major success for Channel 4 when they first adapted it in 1985. The story of a Yorkshire housemaid's journey from poverty to becoming the leader of a retail empire—and the wealthiest woman in the world—remains as relevant today as ever. Emma Harte's life is filled with love, ambition, betrayal, and loss. We first encounter her as an older woman in a limousine traveling through New York City, j

The story follows five women and the circumstances that make them leave their lives to start anew in a garden on the outskirts of Tehran. Written in the late 1970s, it was immediately banned on publication. Shortly after, Parsipur was arrested and jailed for her frank and defiant portrayal of women’s sexuality. This groundbreaking book is now available for the first time in English, translated by Faridoun Farrokh. Set against the backdrop of the 1953 CIA-backed coup in Iran,

No sooner has Meryl Streep kicked off Miranda Priestly's click-clacking red stilettos, than she's stepping into another iconic woman's shoes. It's been confirmed that Meryl, who again plays the formidable Runway magazine editor in The Devil Wears Prada 2 (in cinemas from 1 May) has been cast as Joni Mitchell in a new biopic. The film will focus on the later years of the singer-songwriter famous for hits such as Help Me. Streep has previously received two Oscar nominations fo

This story of vocal powerhouse Chaka Khan reveals the woman behind the diva and charts her rise to stardom - with Alexandra Burke in the title role. Bold and heartfelt, the production showcases her unwavering passion for civil rights, defiance in the face of a toxic music industry, battle with addiction and the juggle of being a working mother. "Almost 17 years ago, I sang Chaka for my very first non-televised audition for The X Factor,' reveals Alexandra. "To think that all

The award went to novel A Family Matter, about a lesbian affair and a custody battle Claire Lynch was presented with the £30,000 award for her book A Family Matter at a ceremony in London last night. “I’m genuinely knocked off my feet,” said Lynch, adding that the prize will “give me a bit of permission. I didn’t realise that I needed a prefect’s badge or something to say ‘You’re a real writer’, but it feels a bit like that”. Nick Hornby, chair of the judges, said the book wa

Patricia Cornwell's iconic literary character is brought to life in this gripping eight-part series starring Nicole Kidman as Dr Kay Scarpetta. Using her unrivalled technical skill, she is determined to serve as the voice of the victims. This story is told across two timelines, from Scarpetta's early career as a chief medical examiner in the late 90s to the present day, when she returns to her hometown and resumes her former position while investigating a grisly murder. Jamie

Many people don't know the extraordinary story of Ann Lee, one of the few female religious leaders of the 18th century, though most have heard of the Shakers. This film details how an illiterate Mancunian became a guiding force in the religion, known for worshiping through ecstatic song and physically expressive acts of devotion. "The world doesn't know what an incredible woman Ann Lee was," says Amanda Seyfried, who plays her. Haunted by personal tragedy yet driven by a firm

BAFTA-winning actor and comedian Aisling Bea began her career in acting but found her true calling in comedy, winning the So You Think You're Funny? award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2012, and being nominated for best newcomer in the following year's festival. Bea is best known for creating, writing, and starring in the his Way Up on Channel 4. Now she is taking her stand-up show on tour, featuring tales of travel, home, history, sex and babies. Older Than Jesus is UK

Born in 1926, self-taught artist Beryl Cook shot to fame in the 1970s with her raucous takes on ordinary British life, including the bingo hall, pub nights and seaside scenes.  Now a free exhibition marking her centenary is on at the Box in Plymouth until 31 May. 'Pride and Joy' is the most extensive display of Beryl Cook's work to date with more than 80 works, from iconic paintings to rarely seen treasures from private collections and the Cook family archives. Visit theboxpl

The star-studded BAFTA Film Awards  2026 ceremony in London on Sunday also put a spotlight on Donna Langley , chair of NBCUniversal  Entertainment and the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio. The top executive, born and raised on the Isle of Wight in the U.K., took to the stage to receive the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA Fellowship , to a standing ovation before highlighting cinema’s power to bring people together. “We are … facing moments of cha

Award-winning director Lynne Ramsay, who was born in Glasgow, is to recognised with a special award more than 25 years after she made her feature film debut. She will receive the special award on March 6 at a special In Conversation event entitled “From Page to Pulse,” which will be hosted by Glasgow filmmaker Adura Onashile (Girl) and be part of the festival’s annual Industry Focus strand. In it, the director will take “a deep dive into her unparalleled approach to adaptatio

When the album dropped at the stroke of midnight on February 13, I found myself lying in the dark listening to Charli XCX’s Wuthering Heights. As her second soundtrack album (after Bottoms in 2023), this record was made for Emerald Fennell’s 2026 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. But this collection of songs also stands as a musical adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel in its own right. The opening track, House, struck me with its ability to succinctly get to the heart of w

Jessie Buckley is no stranger to the London stage, and she most recently appeared in Rebecca Frecknall’s award-winning Cabaret  as Sally Bowles alongside Eddie Redmayne’s Emcee. The pair took their performance to Broadway, and Buckley’s star has only continued to rise since then. Just this month, she won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for playing Agnes Shakespeare in the historical film Hamnet  (which was previously made into a West End play in 2023) and she has jus

LUCINDA WILLIAMS “We’ve Come Too Far To Turn Around” (feat. Norah Jones) Pioneering, multi-Grammy winning artist Lucinda Williams has released her soul-bearing, inspirational new song “We’ve Come Too Far To Turn Around,” featuring multi-Grammy winner Norah Jones on piano and harmony vocals. The track appears on Williams’ forthcoming album World’s Gone Wrong (out January 23rd), a hard-hitting wake-up call and a battle cry as a response to the socio-political chaos surrounding

November is heating up – artistically speaking, of course. Across London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, and beyond, artists and curators are rethinking how we tell stories – of nations, bodies, myths, and memories. Here are the shows to keep us warm as the cold nights settle in: Sudan Retold until 14 December 2025 at Almas Art Foundation, London, UK ArtFilm Festival Stockholm: SHAME runs from 6 November 2025, Stockholm, Sweden. Register here The Flesh of Space runs from 12 November

A Write Highland Hoolie Mallaig, November 7-9 This small festival in the Highland village of Mallaig has a strong line-up of authors and events, including an in-conversation event with Alexander McCall Smith and This Bright Life with Karen Campbell. a-write-highland-hoolie.com Push The Boat Out Pleasance, Edinburgh, November 21-23 This poetry and multi-arts festival in Edinburgh celebrates spoken word in all its forms, including hip-hop and spoken word from Scotland, the UK a

Marking an incredible 40 years in music, Toyah Wilcox is playing two live shows this month, the first at London's Union Chapel on 28 October, followed by Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry on 30 October. She'll be performing all her greatest hits, including It's a Mystery and I want to Be Free . A pioneering figure in the UK’s new wave and post-punk movement, Toyah has made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry with her unique voice, electrifying stage presence, and art

As we begin World Mental Health Day, in theory it is a great opportunity to shine a light on the many barriers and discrimination people...

Every autumn, 85,000 visitors flock to Faskally Wood in Perthshire for this immersive light and sound show. This year's theme is...

National Book Month 1 - 31 October Whether you pick up a new novel or dive into an old classic, reading a good book can do wonders for...