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Features

<p>Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams in the sudsy gay phenomenon ‘Heated Rivalry’</p>

Comment

From Heated Rivalry to Stranger Things, are obsessive fans ruining TV?

The soapy new drama series about gay hockey players is a lot of silly, sexy fun – but you wouldn’t know it based on the pricklier, angrier and more territorial aspects of its fandom. Why is very unserious TV being treated quite so seriously, asks Adam White

<p>Traitors</p>

How The Traitors reflects society’s concerning biases

<p>L-R clockwise from top: Ledbyher, EsDeeKid, Girl Tones, Absolutely and The Guest List</p>

2026 culture guide

Riot grrrls, rap and Irish folk: the new music that will dominate 2026

<p>When it comes to the creative industries, AI is not a force for good</p>

State of the Arts

Ten commandments for a superior arts experience in 2026

Features & Reviews

<p>Jessie Buckley in ‘Hamnet’</p>

Oscar-primed Hamnet isn’t as manipulative as its critics claim

<p>The best medicine: Romesh Ranganathan (Dr Bill) and Sheridan Smith (Susan) in ‘Woman in Mind’</p>

Sheridan Smith’s wit can’t disguise the frivolity of Woman in Mind

Wooden acting and clunky scripts stop Lynley from being great comeback

<p>Rumoured new Bond Callum Turner in a very 007 get-up at a film premiere last August</p>

Comment

‘New Bond’ Callum Turner is very believable casting for 007

<p>Irish rock band Cardinals</p>

new sensations

Irish newcomers Cardinals on faith and the scars of British violence

<p>Ian McKellen in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’</p>

Inside film

How did The Lord of the Rings end up so beloved by the right wing?

<p>Josh Finan: ‘There’s a certain amount of pressure that builds up in your body over the days’</p>

Rising Stars

Josh Finan on his searing prison drama Waiting for the Out

<p>Literacy rates have stalled or declined across the Western world</p>

McCrum on Books

Doomsayers warn about a post-lit society – here’s why they are wrong

<p>Finan in 'Waiting for the Out'</p>

Poignant prison drama Waiting for the Out tackles modern masculinity

<p>Bowie endured a number of critical and commercial failures in the Nineties</p>

In Focus

A new Bowie documentary reassesses one of his most maligned periods

<p>Mika is preparing to release his first English-language album in six years</p>

The Saturday Interview

Mika: ‘Scrutiny over my sexuality was kind of brutal’

<p>Lena Dunham, Cynthia Erivo and David Hockney all have exciting new projects planned for the next 12 months</p>

2026 culture guide

The biggest books, art, plays, TV and films to look forward to in 2026

The Saturday Interview

<p>‘Sentimental Value’ director Joachim Trier with his stars Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård</p>

The Saturday Interview

‘Truthfully, you can never be a good parent’: Inside Sentimental Value, the year’s frankest, most emotional film

<p>Top of the pops: (L-R clockwise from bottom left) Brandi Carlile, Perfume Genius, Turnstile, JADE and PinkPantheress</p>

The Saturday Interview

JADE, Brandi Carlile and McKinley Dixon on their cultural highlights of 2025

Rising Stars

<p>‘It was awful timing. It was the biggest opportunity I’d had in my career. And we weren’t allowed to talk about it’</p>

Interview

Archie Madekwe: ‘It’s easy to get lost in the bigger picture – that’s when you fall into narcissism’

<p>Petticrew stars in a classic tale of forbidden love set against the backdrop of the Troubles</p>

Interview

Lola Petticrew: ‘Calling it the Troubles minimises what it really was’

Tom Blyth

Interview

Tom Blyth: ‘The Hunger Games taught me I don’t act to get attention’

<p>Sadler won the Best Scripted Comedy Bafta for her show</p>

Interview

Kat Sadler: ‘I don’t care if Such Brave Girls makes you uncomfortable’

Roisin O’Connor’s Good Vibrations podcast

Good Vibrations with KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall reflects on the ‘unwelcome side’ of her early fame

Ella Eyre is a guest on Roisin O'Connor's Good Vibrations podcast

Ella Eyre: ‘I’ve had to unlearn what I was shown early in my career’

Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi: ‘There have been days where I thought I was done’

Zara Larsson is the latest guest on Roisin O'Connor's Good Vibrations podcast

Zara Larsson ‘didn’t expect’ reaction to support slot for Tate McRae

News

The Countdown

<p>Tom Cruise and Michelle Monaghan in ‘Mission: Impossible III’</p>

The Countdown

15 times a director walked away from a blockbuster

<p>Overrated?: Daniel Day-Lewis in ‘There Will Be Blood’ and Cillian Murphy in ‘Oppenheimer’</p>

The most overrated films of the 21st century

<p>Glast from the past: A snapshot of the famous festival from 1982</p>

17 of the weirdest things we’ve seen at Glastonbury

<p>Not even music’s greats are immune to writing absolutely terrible songs</p>

13 worst songs by brilliant artists, from The Beatles to Taylor Swift

Independent TV

Watch: Explosive Traitor-on-Traitor showdown rocks castle

Stranger Things actor absent from finale speaks out

Traitors contestant’s admission finally confirms fan theory

<p>Traitors</p>

Secret traitor reveal leaves fans convinced they could win series

Explore news for you

Visit the USA

Art Me Up: A Gallery Guide to Miami’s Thriving Arts Scene

Sounds of the South: Exploring the Evolving Music Scene of Atlanta

Memphis to Maryville: Urban Adventures in Tennessee

<p>Scratch the surface or Orlando’s theme park scene and discover a world of culture and adventure experiences </p>

Discover Orlando’s hidden treasures beyond the parks

Entertainment deals

<p>Bag discounts on 4K, OLED and smart TVs</p>

Best TV deals for November 2025, from Sony, Samsung and more

<p>From tell-all memoirs to historical novels, there’s something for every taste </p>

Best Audible deals for January 2026 – how to save £20

<p>A fast and reliable internet connection means fewer dropouts</p>

Hyperoptic promo codes for January – the best broadband deals

<p>Upgrade your tablet with my pick of the best iPad offers.</p>

Best iPad deals for November 2025, selected by an expert

indy100

news

Man scales frozen waterfall in national park amid ‘very rare’ conditions

Man scales frozen waterfall in national park amid ‘very rare’ conditions

celebrities

Is Trisha Paytas going into politics? Influencer 'soft launches' 2026 congressional run

news

Snowed-in couple hail ‘good Samaritan’ farmer who cleared drive

gaming

What's going on with Highguard? Deafening silence since The Game Awards swirls speculation

gaming

NBA 2K26 Season 4 officially revealed: Everything that's new

gaming

NBA 2K26 Season 4 officially revealed: Everything that's new

tv

Sadie Sink gives her verdict on what happened to Eleven in Stranger Things finale

viral

Rare twins born to mountain gorilla family in Virunga National Park

Sponsored

<p>PlayStation 5</p>

Save money on quality refurbished tech from Back Market

Christmas at The White Company: Seasonal scents and thoughtful gifts

Simplify managing your business finances with Sage AI cloud accounting

Bettervits: the collagen supplement we’re adding to our basket