Brian Mciver

Behind-the-scenes workers and volunteers supporting the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are celebrated, including Bob Hammond, who operates custom remote-control vehicles to retrieve athletics equipment; Hayley Crockett, who chaperones the Finnie unicorn mascot; Jemma Chalmers, who helps maintain the netball court; and Simon Lodge, who adjusts underwater cameras at the swimming venue. Their roles help improve safety, efficiency and broadcast coverage while adding to the event’s atmosphere.

John Niven is marking 20 years as a published writer with The Fathers, a darkly comic novel about Scottish parenthood that follows a television writer and a criminal whose lives become connected through their sons. The Irvine-born author reflects on moving from music and record-label work into writing, the success of Music From Big Pink and Kill Your Friends, and the emotional difficulty of publishing his memoir O Brother, which addressed his brother Gary's suicide. Niven, now the author of 12 books and a successful screenwriter, will promote the new novel on a UK tour including two Scottish dates.

A Channel 4 series explores biological age and follows eight volunteers attempting to lower theirs through manageable lifestyle changes. Recommended measures include regular movement and faster walking, squats, cycling, improved diet, reduced alcohol and smoking, adequate sleep, stress management, and grip-strength exercises. The central message is that small, sustainable habits may improve physical health and reduce biological-age scores.

Rose Byrne discusses her strong chemistry and friendship with Tiffany Haddish while making the comedy Like a Boss, in which they play friends running a struggling beauty business threatened by Salma Hayek’s corporate executive. Byrne credits improv, contrasting personalities and genuine affection for the film’s comedic energy, and praises Haddish’s resilience and life story. She also reflects on the importance of female friendships and says that moving between comedy and drama, including upcoming roles in Peter Rabbit 2 and Mrs. America, helps keep her creatively engaged.

Armando Iannucci adapted Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield as an upbeat period film addressing homelessness, poverty, mental illness and status anxiety alongside comedy. After consulting Shelter, he drew parallels between Dickensian housing conditions and modern overcrowding. The film stars Dev Patel in the title role and uses colour-blind casting, which Iannucci argues should be uncontroversial when actors are chosen for their suitability. He says the film marks a move away from political satire toward human stories, while also discussing his new sci-fi series Avenue 5 and his relief at leaving Veep before Donald Trump’s presidency.

Anthony Capaldi, Lewis Capaldi’s brother, secured his first major television acting role as the lead in BBC Scotland’s Burns Night short film Haggis. He was introduced to the production through customers at his father Mark’s fishmongers, where he works part-time. Anthony previously appeared in Lewis’s Someone You Loved music video and received acting advice from their relative Peter Capaldi. Haggis follows a Scottish family trying to reunite for Burns Night and features Anthony as a hillwalker attempting to propose in Glencoe.

Glasgow-born screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns celebrated 1917 winning the Golden Globe for Best Film after collaborating with director Sam Mendes on the World War I drama. She discussed the film’s unusual production, including its continuous-shot format and the decision to film a key water-crossing sequence at Govan’s Graving Dock, where her grandfather had worked. Wilson-Cairns also described her path into screenwriting, her family’s connection to the Glasgow film industry, and upcoming projects with Edgar Wright and the Russo brothers.

The directing staff of Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins say Scotland's Highlands, islands and cold coastal waters provide the show's toughest training environment. The fifth series, filmed on Raasay, returns to Scotland because of its importance to SAS history and special-forces training. Matthew Ollerton explains that the unpredictable weather, persistent cold and wet conditions test candidates physically and psychologically, while a hidden fifth directing-staff member adds mistrust to the competition. He also discusses how the programme helped him adjust to civilian life and gives former service members a renewed sense of pride.

The Daily Record previews the BBC Scotland documentary Murder Trial, which follows the investigation and trial of Edward Cairney and Avril Jones for the 1999 murder of Margaret Fleming. Fleming's body was never found, but prosecutors secured convictions in 2019 by highlighting the defendants' contradictory explanations, their conduct and evidence that Fleming could not have been living independently or at their Inverkip home. Prosecutor Iain McSporran and defence lawyer Thomas Ross discuss the challenges of the unusual case, including Cairney's decision to testify and his confrontational exchanges in court.

The filmmaking team behind Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake and Sorry We Missed You has released A Fork in the Road, a short election film urging voters to remove the Conservatives from office. Actors from Sorry We Missed You discuss zero-hours work, benefits, the NHS and the environment alongside footage of food banks, hospitals, protests and political leaders. Screenwriter Paul Laverty warns that another five years of Conservative deregulation would increase precarious employment, poverty, inequality and social tensions, arguing that voters must challenge the party’s record of austerity.

STV weather presenter Laura Piper has delivered around 100 forecasts in 2019 wearing clothing sourced mainly from the Big Pick social enterprise and charity shops. Her reused wardrobe cost about £1.50 per item, and she hopes her example will encourage other television presenters to embrace affordable clothing reuse and help keep garments out of landfill.

Radio DJ Robin Galloway underwent laser surgery in July to remove pre-cancerous nodules from his throat after listeners, his wife and friends noticed a change in his raspy voice. The growth was removed before it could develop further, but the procedure temporarily affected his ability to speak and raised fears about his broadcasting career. Galloway praised staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and urged anyone with a persistent voice change to consult a doctor. He is returning to radio as the breakfast host of the new DAB station Pure, which promotes Scottish artists and gives him greater creative freedom.

Ecurie Ecosse, the Edinburgh racing team founded by accountant David Murray, defeated factory-backed Jaguar, Ferrari and Aston Martin at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1956 and repeated the victory in 1957. The article contrasts this achievement with the better-known 1966 Ford-versus-Ferrari story, highlighting the team's careful engineering, organisation and resourcefulness despite its limited budget. Ecurie Ecosse later helped launch the careers of Scottish drivers including Jackie Stewart, Allan McNish, David Coulthard and Dario Franchitti. After financial difficulties forced the original team to close in 1971, it was revived and now aims to return to Le Mans while developing the road-legal LM69 supercar.

Actor Wendell Pierce said he hopes Meghan Markle remembers that millions of people care about her after the negative media scrutiny surrounding her marriage to Prince Harry. Pierce, who played Markle's father on Suits, also discussed his abandoned idea for a prequel film to The Wire starring Samuel L. Jackson, his roles in Jack Ryan and other productions, and the enduring influence of The Wire.

Andy Murray will discuss his two-year struggle with a debilitating hip injury in the Amazon Prime Video documentary Andy Murray: Resurfacing, released on November 29, 2019. The film includes footage of his surgeries, rehabilitation and family life, while Murray describes the physical and mental difficulties of trying to save his career. His recovery culminated in winning the European Open, his first singles title since returning to tennis.

The article outlines eight health checks available in Scotland that can detect serious conditions early, including cervical smears, bowel cancer screening, eye tests, breast mammograms, blood pressure checks, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, bone-density testing and dental examinations. It highlights proposed home urine testing for cervical cancer, eligibility and frequency for several screenings, and the potential for early detection to improve survival and prevent complications.

Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have adopted Blondie, a Labrador-Poodle cross rescued from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. The puppy has settled into the family's Essex home, become close to their other dog Bubbles, and gained a reputation as a Celtic fan. Stewart and Lancaster discuss the adoption on ITV's For the Love of Dogs.

Anthony Daniels discusses 42 years of playing C-3PO, including the physical pain of wearing an ill-fitting metal costume in Tunisia and his deep hurt at being excluded from publicity and celebrations surrounding the first Star Wars film. He reflects on the less satisfying experience of the prequels, his eventual appreciation of the franchise's fans, and his return to a more prominent role in The Rise of Skywalker. Daniels says working with J. J. Abrams made the latest production a warm and satisfying farewell, though he expects C-3PO to continue living through games, animation, merchandise and other Star Wars appearances.

Ken Loach and Glasgow writer Paul Laverty’s film Sorry We Missed You examines the pressures faced by delivery drivers, home carers and families in insecure work. Inspired by research into delivery depots and real cases involving illness, caregiving and excessive workloads, the film depicts zero-hours contracts, bogus self-employment, unpaid risks and the damage that exhausting work can inflict on family life. Loach argues that insecure employment is a consequence of the free market and calls for political intervention, including ending bogus self-employment, directly employing care workers and supporting Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.

The article surveys hangover foods from around the world, contrasting Scotland’s roll and square sausage with dishes such as Hawaii’s loco moco, Israel’s shakshuka, Canadian poutine, Thai drunken noodles, Chinese congee, Brazilian açai bowls and Italian midnight spaghetti. The recipes generally emphasize rich carbohydrates, salty ingredients, eggs, meat or spicy flavors as ways to recover after drinking.

Comedy writer Andy Bollen’s book, A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects, explores the absurd, controversial and tragic episodes omitted from conventional football museums. The feature highlights stories including Jimmy Johnstone’s drunken rowing-boat adventure, Rod Stewart’s chaotic Scottish Cup draw, a police horse’s repeated collision with journalist Alex Cameron, expensive Rangers and Celtic transfer flops, Chic Charnley’s traffic-cone confrontation, the alleged Jim Baxter and Ferenc Puskás party, and Paul Gascoigne’s inflammatory flute mime during a derby. Alongside the humour, Bollen addresses darker subjects including sectarianism and Willie Johnston’s career-damaging drug ban, arguing that Scotland’s ability to laugh at its football culture is an important part of the game’s identity.

Still Game: The Final Farewell premiered to a sold-out audience at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro after 21 years of Jack and Victor. The review praises Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill and the supporting cast for delivering sharp dialogue, musical numbers, callbacks to classic material, fourth-wall breaks and surprise appearances from the show’s earlier history. Gavin Mitchell and Mark Cox receive particular praise, while the production’s emotional farewell moments complement its consistently comic tone. The show is presented as a triumphant and moving conclusion to one of Scotland’s best-loved comedy series.

The Daily Record identifies ten Scottish locations with limited mobile coverage, including Ben Nevis, Glen Etive, Arran, Skye, the Pentlands and the Torridon Hills. The lack of connectivity is presented as an opportunity for digital detox and outdoor recreation. Shackleton Whisky, working with Creeside Farm, is supporting a legal campaign to protect parts of the Galloway Forest Park UNESCO Biosphere from new mobile networks and establish what would be described as the UK’s first offline sanctuary.

The 2019 Kids Rich List highlights young influencers earning substantial fortunes through YouTube, Instagram, gaming and social media. Eight-year-old Ryan Kaji tops the list with an estimated £17.7 million from Ryan Toys Review, while Fortnite world champion Kyle Giersdorf is valued at £2.6 million and twins Taytum and Oakley Fisher at about £880,000. Childcare.co.uk founder Richard Conway says the figures demonstrate the power of young audiences and may encourage parents to view online influence as a viable career, while also underscoring the growing commercialization of children’s entertainment.