A beady female point of view

They were bought, used, killed, and then discarded. Today, in some cases years later, their deaths go unsolved

Thirty years after the Yorkshire Ripper's reign of terror was finally brought to an end, fears over a new serial killer returned yesterday to haunt the city of Bradford.

The few minutes immediately before an actor or actress takes to the stage in the theatre is sacred; it's a time for total privacy and preparation. Which is exactly what makes the photographer Simon Annand's images, on display in a new exhibition at the Victoria & Albert museum from 25 January, so special. They are an insight into a hidden world.

The new generation of British actresses know each other, and many have appeared in the same films and TV dramas. James Mottram reports on a remarkable flowering of fresh talent

This breezy tale of two American tourists (Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall) who have their hormones and preconceptions shaken by two Spanish artists (Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz) is the return to form Woody Allen fans had given up hoping for.

Better than Match Point but far from the heights of Manhattan, this Spanish romance is a welcome return to form for Woody Allen.

David Nicholls trained as an actor before making the switch to writing. His TV credits include the third series of Cold Feet, Rescue Me, and I Saw You. He was co-writer for the film adaptation of Simpatico, which starred Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone. David's bestselling first novel, STARTER FOR TEN, was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in 2004. David wrote the screenplay for the film version, released in 2006, starring James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall and Dominic Cooper. He also wrote And When Did you Last See Your Father (2007), with Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth and a much-praised modern adaptation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles (2008), with Gemma Arterton for the BBC. His latest novel, ONE DAY, will be published on 11th June.

Channel 4's trilogy of films based on David Peace's 'Yorkshire noir' novels, will shock even seasoned viewers of crime drama, says Gerard Gilbert

"The film wouldn't work without its superb acting quartet. Johansson, the latest Allen muse, gives her best performance for him as the capricious Cristina... Yet fittingly it's the Iberian contingent who really shine." - Leigh Singer, www. channel4.com/film

Allen takes two girls on a summer holiday and produces his best work in at least a decade

The atmosphere of Frost/Nixon is so heavy with self-importance that you'd be forgiven for thinking that, in it, the very fate of Western politics hangs in the balance. Ron Howard and Peter Morgan have opened up the latter's stage play to embrace a world of ritzy hotels and stretch limos, but he has kept the quasi-documentary build-up to persuade us that what we're to witness is a duel as legendary as David and Goliath, and as enthralling as Ali versus Foreman. And the prize at stake in this momentous encounter? An apology on TV from a disgraced politician. Pardon me if I'm underwhelmed.

The cast of Frost/Nixon, including Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon and director Ron Howard, discussing the making of the film which is in cinemas from January 23rd.