Emine Saner

Su Pollard reflects on her five-decade career, from growing up in Nottingham and discovering performance through amateur dramatics to becoming famous as Peggy in the BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!. She recalls meeting figures including Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, Diana, Princess of Wales, Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, as well as accidentally witnessing Tony Blair and Gordon Brown at the restaurant where their 1994 political pact was made. Pollard discusses her memoir Fully Charged, her working-class background, determination to keep working, and her continued stage and pantomime career. She also recounts the homophobic tabloid treatment surrounding her marriage to Peter Keogh and the loss of friends during the HIV/AIDS crisis, while emphasizing positivity, loyalty to audiences and a refusal to retire.

Trewley Precious Temple, a TikTok influencer and star of Channel 4’s Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives, discusses growing up poor on a Clacton council estate, her mixed Gypsy and non-Gypsy heritage, and the restrictive gender expectations imposed by her late father and traditional community. She describes leaving an unhappy relationship, questioning marriage and motherhood norms, and using television and social media to broaden opportunities for women. Despite her growing fame, Temple remains deeply attached to her estate and prioritises supporting her family and neighbours, including through food and school-uniform assistance. She also says she rejected a lucrative weight-loss promotion because it conflicted with her message of self-acceptance.

Tulisa Contostavlos discusses how a 2013 Sun on Sunday sting by Mazher Mahmood, followed by a collapsed criminal trial, damaged her career, finances and mental health. She also describes the public shaming caused by the publication of an intimate video by an ex-partner and the personal work that helped her recover. Contostavlos is campaigning through Fix the Press and Hacked Off for an independent press regulator with investigative and fining powers, arguing that IPSO is too closely controlled and funded by the newspapers it oversees. Although critics question whether newspapers remain the central threat in the age of social media and warn against state regulation, she argues that press reform and online harms require separate responses. A Paramount+ documentary will follow her life and campaign.

Three etiquette experts provide guidance on 36 awkward situations encountered on buses, trains and planes. Their advice emphasizes consideration for fellow passengers: offer seats discreetly, keep luggage and pets from occupying seats, limit personal grooming and strong-smelling food, avoid loud calls and music, respect personal space, and prepare tickets or payment before reaching queues. They also address children’s behavior, alcohol, begging, manspreading, seat reclining, shared taxis and handling unwanted conversation, generally favoring polite communication, awareness of context and prioritizing safety.

The 2005 British crime film Breakin’ the Cycle was created by Hackney drug dealers Colin Browne and D as an attempt to leave criminal life behind, even as they continued dealing drugs during production. The low-budget shoot faced gang threats, violence and resistance from an elitist film industry, while cast members including Bradley McIntosh, Lethal Bizzle and Big Brovaz performers were largely unaware of the filmmakers’ ongoing criminal activities. Browne was killed after filming, D was later imprisoned for drug dealing, and the film collapsed after police seized its rough cut. Editor Lewis Albrow has since recovered the footage and is editing it for possible release, alongside a BBC Radio 4 podcast exploring the film’s production, Browne’s ambitions and the difficult process of reckoning with past harm.

A year after Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s death, her brother Sky Roberts and his wife, Amanda, are continuing her advocacy work through the relaunch of Soar and a campaign to remove the federal statute of limitations for sexual-abuse cases. They are also pressing the US and UK authorities to release remaining Epstein documents and investigate allegations involving powerful figures, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, has intensified public scrutiny of Epstein’s network while portraying the long-term effects of childhood abuse, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and separation from her children. Her family believes she was failed repeatedly by institutions and wants her legacy to establish greater accountability and protections for survivors.

Fern Britton discusses her long television career, including a decade on This Morning, her abrupt 2009 resignation amid difficulties with Phillip Schofield, and her current work on ITV’s Inside the Vet’s. She recalls widespread sexism and sexual harassment in 1980s television, including an explicit proposition from Frank Bough, as well as an earlier rape, newsroom humiliation and persistent scrutiny of her weight and appearance. Britton also reflects on divorce, bereavement, depression, phone hacking and therapy, saying that writing novels, living in Cornwall, friendships and forgiveness have helped her build a lighter, more independent life.

Etiquette experts provide 47 practical rules for navigating summer clothing, hygiene, public behavior, eating and drinking, group holidays and travel. The guidance generally favors consideration, moderation and respect for shared spaces: shirtlessness, towels and flip-flops are mainly reserved for beaches and pools; workplace attire should reflect professional norms; loud music, early lawn mowing and intrusive public speakers should be avoided. Readers are advised to communicate openly about holiday costs, chores, bedrooms and itineraries, avoid treating childfree companions as babysitters, and behave thoughtfully on planes, trains, in hotels and at buffets. The article also stresses responsible treatment of animals in hot weather, including contacting emergency services or the RSPCA when a dog shows serious signs of overheating.

Food-storage experts recommend chilling red wine, eggs, ripe tomatoes, leafy greens, citrus, opened jams, natural nut butters, milled seeds and sensitive seed oils, while keeping bread, olive oil, coffee, chocolate, honey, avocados before ripening, onions and garlic outside the fridge. Butter can remain at room temperature for short periods, potatoes can be stored in a cool dark cupboard, and condiments are generally shelf-stable but last longer when refrigerated. Freezing is recommended for long-term storage of coffee, nuts, bread and overripe bananas.

A new Channel 4 documentary series traces three decades of activism that helped end apartheid, from the risks faced by ANC figures and their families to the British movement’s use of sports boycotts, demonstrations, music and mass concerts. Peter Hain recalls being targeted while campaigning against apartheid, while Dali Tambo describes the constant threats endured by his father, Oliver Tambo, and other activists. Campaigns surrounding rugby and cricket tours, Artists Against Apartheid and the 1988 Wembley concert helped shift public opinion and amplify political pressure. The series also explores Nelson Mandela’s transformation from a figure demonized as a terrorist into a globally admired president, while personal recollections emphasize his warmth, resilience and connection with ordinary people.

Modern phone etiquette should prioritize other people’s time, attention and accessibility needs. Phones should generally be put away in theatres, cinemas and restaurants; loudspeaker calls, public ringtones and lengthy voice notes should be avoided, while headphones should be removed during brief interactions. Texting late at night or outside working hours can create unwanted pressure, so senders should schedule messages or use email when appropriate. Unannounced calls may feel invasive to younger people, making a brief warning text or scheduled call more considerate. Generational differences also shape how punctuation, emojis and youth slang are interpreted, and unfamiliar communication styles should not automatically be treated as rude or unintelligent.

The growing presence of dogs in restaurants, offices, shops, public transport and potentially aircraft has intensified debate over whether public spaces are becoming too dog-friendly. Gizzelle Cade’s viral complaint about a dachshund being brought into a London restaurant highlighted concerns about hygiene, allergies, personal boundaries and racist online abuse. Experts say outings can enrich dogs but owners must account for their need for rest, individual temperament and the safety of children. Assistance Dogs UK warns that uncontrolled pets and misrepresented emotional-support animals can interfere with trained assistance dogs. The rise in dog ownership during and after the pandemic, flexible working, declining numbers of children and increasingly accommodating businesses have all contributed to the shift. Possible responses include clearer rules for assistance animals, better owner education, public-space restrictions and renewed licensing, with responsible coexistence seen as preferable to unrestricted access or blanket bans.

Psychologist Lindsay C Gibson argues that emotional maturity can be developed at any age and that parents can repair harm even after years of difficult interactions. She urges parents to recognise children as sensitive individuals, take their feelings seriously, encourage autonomy, set limits without authoritarianism, and apologise when they cause hurt. Emotional maturity involves self-reflection, empathy, conscience, emotional regulation and the ability to repair relationships; it does not require perfect parenting. Gibson’s approach has resonated with adults who identify with emotionally immature parents, though critics say the concept is broad and can encourage over-pathologising. Her new book applies these ideas to parenting from infancy through adolescence.

Jennie Garth reflects on becoming famous at 18 through Beverly Hills, 90210 and the lasting effects of growing up in the entertainment industry, including typecasting, sexism, body-image pressures and difficulty forming relationships. After the end of her marriage to Peter Facinelli triggered a mental-health crisis, rehab and years of therapy, she began rebuilding her life through self-help, spirituality, a podcast and the memoir I Choose Me. Now 54, Garth says she has learned to reject shame, comparison and the need for external approval, while becoming more selective about acting roles and embracing a renewed sense of purpose in midlife.

Jodi Kantor’s book How to Start grew out of conversations with anxious Columbia University students and her own period of major transition, including cancer treatment, turning 50 and her daughter leaving for college. She argues that people should identify work that energizes them rather than allowing dread, financial pressure or bleak predictions about AI and the economy to determine their futures. Her advice emphasizes observing personal interests, accepting calculated risk, developing durable skills or “craft,” and building human relationships to navigate increasingly impersonal recruitment systems. Kantor acknowledges the legitimacy of financial security and disengagement from work, but urges readers who want meaningful careers not to surrender their ambitions before they begin.

Grace Dent and Anna Haugh discuss taking over as the new presenters of MasterChef after the departures of Gregg Wallace and John Torode amid misconduct allegations. They say they are focused on creating an authentic, supportive experience for contestants rather than revisiting the programme’s troubled recent history. The pair also discuss culinary ambition, the mixed value of TikTok recipes, pathways into hospitality, their working-class backgrounds and the importance of resilience, authenticity and healthier kitchen cultures.

Biscoff has evolved from a Belgian airline coffee biscuit into a major social-media food sensation, driven by nostalgia, affordability, versatility and collaborations with other brands. TikTok and Instagram creators have popularised recipes such as Biscoff Japanese cheesecake, contributing to a 30% year-on-year rise in volume sales during one January week. Lotus Bakeries reported a 10% revenue increase in 2025, with more than half its revenue coming from Biscoff, and is expanding production in Thailand and the United States. Analysts expect the trend to continue because the flavour offers novelty paired with familiarity, although concerns about palm oil, ultra-processed foods and the limits of Biscoff’s use in savoury dishes may constrain its growth.

Brooke Nevils discusses her allegations that former NBC anchor Matt Lauer sexually assaulted her during the 2014 Sochi Olympics and later assaulted her again. She describes how intoxication, a major workplace power imbalance, self-blame, dissociation and the need to preserve her career led her to maintain contact with Lauer and question whether she was a victim. The #MeToo movement helped her reinterpret what happened, prompting her 2017 complaint to NBC, which rapidly investigated and terminated Lauer. Nevils’ new book examines the complexity of consent, counterintuitive victim responses and the social structures that protect powerful people, while reflecting on her subsequent trauma treatment, recovery and life after public scrutiny.

Psychologist Leanne ten Brinke explains that psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism and sadism exist on a continuum and can appear in families, workplaces, politics and institutions, not only among criminals. Warning signs include manipulative or impulsive behavior, boundary violations, lack of empathy, excessive self-focus, love bombing and confidence mistaken for competence. She recommends observing behavioral patterns over time, checking verbal inconsistencies, setting explicit boundaries, documenting negotiations and using appropriate rewards to encourage constructive behavior. Dark personalities are overrepresented in senior management and may exploit uncertainty to gain power, while research suggests cooperative, humble leaders are more effective. Leaving an abusive relationship can be dangerous and requires specialist support; personality traits can also change through sustained efforts to develop compassion and agreeableness.

Pete Tong discusses his six-decade career in dance music, from early hip-hop and rave culture to his enduring BBC Radio 1 show, record-label work and Ibiza Classics performances. Now 65, he describes hearing loss in his right ear as an occupational consequence of years around loud music, explaining how earplugs and occasional hearing aids help while acknowledging the stigma attached to ageing and hearing devices. Tong also reflects on avoiding burnout, the professionalisation and commercialisation of club culture, the effects of VIP pricing and smartphones, and his continuing enthusiasm for discovering new music. He is campaigning with Boots Hearingcare for more routine hearing tests and greater awareness among older ravers.

Nadiya Hussain discusses reclaiming control of her career after the BBC declined to commission further cookery programmes following Rooza and Nadiya’s Quick Comforts. She describes feeling reduced to a palatable version of a Muslim woman, experiencing racism, unequal pay, industry gaslighting and pressure to remain grateful. Hussain says she is now embracing her faith, speaking more openly about injustice and creating work on her own terms, while continuing to focus on comforting food, books and potentially television.

At 18, Gary Williamson developed sudden and severe vision loss while travelling alone and sleeping rough in Gibraltar. With no money and little understanding of his condition, he eventually secured a lift in a lorry back to Britain, where he was diagnosed with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, a genetic condition with no cure. He adapted by finding independence through disability youth work and later pursued photography, using movement, blur and black-and-white contrast to create art. Nearly 40 years on, he continues working in disability services and describes his life as challenging but ultimately shaped by resilience, family and artistic achievement.