Boldy James returns with a hooky new sound

The songs that are hot on our playlist this week

i Newspaper
 
TheIPaper
The Independent around the web
E-break Time
Independent Crossword

Review: Kylie and Jason reunite to put the Eighties magic back in Christmas at Hit Factory Live

Cool isn’t really what it’s about when you come to see this show

Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler, The Scala, London

Emma-Lee Moss and her Ash frontman beau get into the festive groove

Knees up: Simon Russell Beale, centre, camps it up in Privates on Parade

IoS theatre review: Privates on Parade, Noel Coward Theatre, London
Viva Forever! Piccadilly Theatre, London
In the Republic of Happiness, Royal Court, London

Simon Russell Beale is priceless as the drag queen built like a tank, but for newer recruits to the stage he's a hard act to follow

IoS theatre review: Privates on Parade, Noel Coward Theatre, London; Viva Forever! Piccadilly Theatre, London; In the Republic of Happiness, Royal Court, London

Simon Russell Beale is priceless as the drag queen built like a tank, but for newer recruits to the stage he's a hard act to follow
David Beckham: 'The foundations are there now in this league. It will continue to grow'

Australian side Perth Glory end pursuit of David Beckham

Former England captain is yet to find a new club

Not being able to carry a tune isn't going to stop Pippa from conquering the charts

Employment: Author, hack – is there nothing Pippa can't do?

After scathing reviews for her book Celebrate (not to mention its appearance in bargain bins), Pippa Middleton has turned to journalism to poke fun at her "glaringly obvious" advice by writing this week's Spectator diary. The magazine's editor, Fraser Nelson, tweeted: "Pippa Middleton's brilliant Spectator diary launches what ought to be a long and glitzy career in journalism. She's a natural!" Having already tried her hand at being an author and a journalist, let's see what other careers Middleton is completely unqualified for that she could try next.

Spice Girls ‘Viva Forever’: a round-up of the reviews

The long-anticipated musical featuring songs from the Spice Girls opened last night to mixed (mainly negative) reviews.

All the wrong moves: Radio 1 DJ Vernon Kay

The Week In Radio: Vernon Kay is Strictly out of step with this dancing debacle

"It’s saturday morning and it’s just gone 10 o’clock,” bellowed Vernon Kay. “and we are here! We are here! We are live!” Where, Vernon? I bellowed back from my kitchen.

Gosh, haven't they all done well! Indie losers having the last laugh

During their brief lifetime, student band Talulah Gosh were dismissed as the epitome of twee, "shambling" indie pop. But 25 years on the group has spawned a Turner Prize winner, Britain's top company mergers expert and a musical legacy cited as an influence on Nirvana and Radiohead.

Spice up my life (again)!

Will the new Spice Girls-inspired West End musical be a smash? Lifelong fan Alice Jones hopes so

Rylan Clark axed from the X Factor

Rylan Clark is the latest hopeful to be given their marching on orders from the X Factor.

Monday's child? The Saturdays Rochelle Humes expecting a baby

Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes is expecting her first child with her JLS star husband Marvin, she revealed on Twitter.

David Beckham joined LA Galaxy in 2007

Four directions home for Becks

When David Beckham announced that he's to leave the reigning MLS champions LA Galaxy for new climes, speculation was soon rife about the next stop in the Beckham roadshow. We thought we'd help Beckham with his decision with a compass point-friendly guide to potential new clubs. David, you're welcome:

TV presenter Richard Arnold waltzes off Strictly Come Dancing

Television presenter Richard Arnold became the latest contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing on the week the show swapped the Strictly ballroom for Wembley Arena.

Career Services

Day In a Page

Independent Travel Shop See all offers »
Lake Como and the Bernina Express
Seven nights half-board from £749pp Find out more
Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian coast
Seven nights half-board from only £859pp Find out more
Prague city break
Three nights from only £199pp Find out more
Budapest city break
Three nights from only £229pp Find out more
Paris by Eurostar
Three nights from £259pp Find out more
Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over