Geordie Greig

Political novelist Robert Harris accuses Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer of making a “prolier-than-thou” appeal by emphasizing working-class origins despite benefiting from educational and social mobility. Harris predicts that Burnham’s desire to be liked and tendency to offer facile responses could eventually produce public disillusionment, while praising Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood as a formidable potential first female Labour leader. He also discusses the breakdown of his friendship with Peter Mandelson following Mandelson’s resignation as ambassador amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and recounts how his opposition to the Iraq War ended his close relationship with Tony Blair. Harris draws parallels between modern political power and the Roman world explored in his novel Agrippa, arguing that leaders risk becoming monsters as they acquire and exercise power.

A long-term review of the BYD Sealion 7 finds the Chinese electric SUV well suited to everyday British driving, including rural lanes, motorway journeys and family use. Its strengths include a quiet and spacious cabin, comfortable seats, strong range and charging performance, intuitive technology, effective driver assistance and a useful rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen. The review praises its smooth electric power and efficiency, while criticising the sometimes firm ride, awkward door handles and overzealous yawning and driver-monitoring alerts. Although questions remain about servicing, residual values and the long-term prospects of newer Chinese brands, the Sealion 7 is judged a serious and convincing competitor to established electric SUVs.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair discusses his book On Leadership: Lessons for the 21st Century in a wide-ranging interview with The Independent’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig. He reflects on power, political decision-making, Brexit, his dealings with leaders including Vladimir Putin, the Conservative government’s fourteen years in office, and Silvio Berlusconi’s role in helping secure the London 2012 Olympics. The conversation also covers Blair’s marriage to Cherie Blair and advice to his children.

The Independent and Refuge are asking the public to help raise £300,000 to build an innovative safe house for women escaping domestic abuse. The campaign highlights that one in four women experience domestic abuse during their lifetime and that some women and children cannot be accommodated in traditional shared refuges.

The documentary examines Aung San Suu Kyi’s rise from political prisoner and democracy icon to Myanmar’s leader, tracing how international allies celebrated her and awarded her the Nobel Peace Prize. It focuses on the political choices surrounding Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya and the country’s subsequent return to military rule, asking whether she was abandoned or “cancelled” by the international community that had once supported her.

The Independent’s editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig, announces that the Brick by Brick campaign with Refuge raised enough money to build two safe houses for survivors of domestic abuse, their families and pets, exceeding the original £300,000 target for one house. The campaign received support from public figures, the prime minister, the Queen, partners and readers.

William Hague discusses his campaign to become Chancellor of the University of Oxford, his views on the Cecil Rhodes statue, his personal connection to Oxford, and the need to expand access for state-educated students. He also argues that Donald Trump poses a threat to democracy and contends that contemporary conservatives have moved away from the ideals associated with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

In a 40-minute interview with The Independent’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig, former prime minister John Major discusses Brexit’s economic impact, Britain’s future relationship with Europe and the state of UK politics. Major claims Brexit has cost the country £100 billion a year in trade and £40 billion a year in tax, calls for rejoining the EU single market within five years, and says young people will drive renewed European integration. He criticizes Nigel Farage and Reform UK, praises Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and questions whether Andy Burnham is prepared for international politics.

Former UK deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg discusses Brexit in a 50-minute interview with The Independent’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig. As part of the Europe: The Way Back campaign, Clegg describes Brexit as a “massive cardiac arrest” and argues that the UK has inflicted exceptional economic and political harm on itself compared with other countries facing global crises.

Sadhguru plans to use Romania’s UNTOLD Festival to promote the Miracle of Mind app, which offers a seven-minute daily meditation to attendees, artists and staff. The initiative forms part of his ambition to reach three billion people under 35 and steer young people toward meditation rather than alcohol or drugs. He links the campaign to scientific research on meditation, his Save Soil environmental movement, and the Isha Foundation’s programmes in India, while rejecting criticism of the foundation’s finances and its blending of science with spirituality. Reflecting on more than four decades of spiritual work, Sadhguru says he may die without reaching his global goal—but would do so as a “blissful failure.”

Nick Rhodes says Mick Jagger’s advice in the mid-1980s persuaded Duran Duran to remain together when the band was close to splitting. In an interview with Geordie Greig, Rhodes discusses his decision to avoid drugs, his friendships with David Bowie and Andy Warhol, Princess Diana’s support for the band, and his enduring commitment to distinctive fashion and visual aesthetics. He also reflects on discovering Simon Le Bon’s talent, his role as Duran Duran’s synthesiser player and artistic custodian, and his interests in photography, pop art and collecting cheese labels.

The Independent’s Geordie Greig begins a long-term test of the BYD Sealion 7 Comfort, a £46,990 electric SUV. He finds its yawn-detection system, rotating touchscreen, journey logging and driver-assistance technology unusually attentive, while praising its spacious and quiet cabin, smooth ride, efficient performance and rapid charging. After driving through Somerset and visiting Bath and East Coker, he reports little range anxiety and concludes that the Sealion 7’s technology generally makes driving calmer and easier, despite minor concerns such as its door handles.

A 2,000‑mile New England road trip tracing the homes and landscapes of major American writers evolves into a deeper experience of shared time and connection. Visits to historic literary sites intertwine with scenic drives, local food, and conversations shaped by the region’s natural beauty and cultural legacy. Encounters with the places that influenced figures such as Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, and Louisa May Alcott highlight the enduring impact of New England’s history, while the journey itself becomes a reminder that travel’s greatest value lies in the relationships strengthened along the way.

Nick Clegg discusses Brexit’s impact in a 50‑minute interview with Geordie Greig, comparing it to a major self‑inflicted setback and reflecting on global challenges alongside the UK’s trajectory since leaving the EU.

John Major’s interview gained widespread attention for its sharp criticism of Brexit, arguing it caused significant economic harm and failed to deliver its promises. He backed the Bank of England’s calculations of a £100bn annual financial loss and condemned Brexit leaders for misleading claims. Major predicted the UK would eventually rejoin the single market, though acknowledging difficult negotiations ahead. He said most voters now view Brexit as a mistake and highlighted the widespread financial impact across the country.

Geordie Greig offers a deeply personal tribute to David Hockney, recalling nearly five decades of interviews, friendship and shared experiences. Hockney is celebrated for transforming everyday people and places—from Yorkshire and California to Normandy—through vivid color, distinctive line and constant experimentation across painting, drawing, photography and digital media. The tribute also highlights his opera designs, intellectual curiosity, opposition to cultural and social restrictions, response to the AIDS crisis, and generosity toward friends. His death at 88 is presented as a major loss, but his extensive body of work and a planned Tate Modern exhibition are expected to preserve his influence as one of the defining artists of modern life.

The Independent launches its “Europe: The Way Back” editorial campaign to examine the future of Britain’s relationship with Europe after a decade of Brexit-related division. The campaign will provide reporting, analysis, expert opinion, newsletters and live events focused on trade, investment, defence, migration, youth mobility and scientific cooperation. It advocates pursuing a closer and more prosperous relationship with European neighbours while acknowledging that the political and practical decisions involved remain complex. The initiative also invites readers to join a community and subscribe for additional analysis, events and extracts from Anthony Seldon’s book The Brexit Effect.

Baku is presented as an appealing short-break destination where the International Carpet Festival transforms the medieval Old Town into a large-scale display of woven art. The festival brings together practitioners and scholars from around the world and links carpet-making to national identity, economic development and contemporary art. The feature also highlights Baku's mix of medieval, oil-boom and futuristic architecture, its food and nightlife, and its wider tourism attractions, while noting that Azerbaijan's cultural modernization has been supported by oil wealth and partnerships such as BP. Three nights are portrayed as enough to explore the capital, though the country's mountains, beaches and festivals invite longer trips.

Uzbekistan is presented as an increasingly accessible, safe and underappreciated destination combining Silk Road history, monumental Islamic architecture, vibrant crafts and contemporary cultural ambition. The journey through Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva moves from the grand Registan and Timurid monuments to Bukhara's lived-in old town and Khiva's preserved walled heritage. Tashkent is portrayed as a modernizing capital with luxury hotels, ambitious arts projects, ornate Soviet-era infrastructure and entrepreneurial businesses. Traditional textiles, embroidery, shopping and generous cuisine—particularly plov, non bread and samsa—add to the country's appeal as a modern Grand Tour destination.

Tracey Emin discusses Tate Modern’s 90-work exhibition A Second Life, which divides her career into periods before and after her 2019 cancer diagnosis. She describes extensive surgery, ongoing disability and recovery, while emphasizing that painting gave her purpose and helped her survive trauma, poverty, sexual violence and suicidal despair. The profile charts her transformation from a troubled young artist into one of Britain’s most prominent artists, while highlighting her support for artists in Margate through studios, housing and community projects. The exhibition runs at Tate Modern from 27 February to 31 August.

Alba Arikha’s debut play examines the collapse of a celebrity marriage after a famous actor, Peter, is cancelled over inappropriate and threatening behavior. As his novelist wife Fiona faces rising fame and a newspaper interview, the couple’s secrecy, betrayal and emotional manipulation spill over onto their adult daughter. The review praises the play’s major twist, taut marital dialogue, comic and shocking effects, and strong performances by Jay Villiers, Maryam D’Abo and Arianna Branca, while noting that later surprises are less powerful. Directed by Myriam Cyr, the production runs at London’s Playground Theatre until 7 March.

The Independent’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig asks readers to support the SafeCall campaign, a partnership with Missing People seeking to raise £165,000 for a free, round-the-clock service for missing and vulnerable children. The service will offer confidential support, advice, volunteer assistance and a chatbot designed with input from young people. Greig cites the publication’s previous Brick by Brick campaign with Refuge as evidence that reader donations can produce lasting social benefits.

David Hockney’s new exhibition at Annely Juda Fine Art in London presents bright, dynamic paintings and portraits that demonstrate the 88-year-old artist’s continuing energy and inventiveness. The show highlights his evolving “reverse perspective” technique, vibrant colour, and renewed engagement with friends and subjects, alongside iPad works created in Normandy in 2020. Despite his age and reduced mobility, Hockney remains committed to finding new ways to depict the beauty of the world; the exhibition will later travel to Paris and runs in London until 28 February 2026.

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin says the retailer has regained momentum after a damaging cyberattack that cost about £300 million and disrupted online shopping for six weeks. Strong food sales, improved fashion performance and a focused leadership team have helped restore confidence, but Machin warns that Rachel Reeves’s tax and regulatory proposals could reduce consumer spending, increase business costs and undermine growth. He specifically criticizes employer national insurance increases, packaging charges, the planned deposit return scheme, employment-rights reforms and proposed inheritance-tax changes affecting farmers, while calling for a more explicitly pro-business Budget.

Bob Dylan’s exhibition Point Blank, opening at London’s Halcyon Gallery, presents 97 new paintings inspired by roads, railways, American landscapes and everyday objects. The works combine vivid colour with influences associated with Hopper, Hockney, Blake and Van Gogh, transforming ordinary subjects into emotionally charged images. The exhibition offers an unusually intimate view of Dylan’s creative process and his belief that art should engage urgently with the human condition.

Grayson Perry discusses his exhibition Delusions of Grandeur at London’s Wallace Collection, which brings together ceramics, tapestries, collages, clothing, a bronze helmet and other new works through the fictional character Shirley Smith. He reflects on class, wealth, gender, artificial intelligence and the relationship between handmade art and technology. Perry describes his abusive, impoverished childhood and explains how therapy, his alter ego Claire and his teddy bear Alan Measles have shaped his identity and iconography. He criticizes wealthy people who use London to shelter money without contributing to society, while acknowledging that wealthy collectors buy his work. The interview also covers his continuing artistic ambitions and a forthcoming musical-theatre project.

David Hockney, aged 87 and recovering from a chest infection, insists he will attend his largest exhibition in 25 years, “David Hockney 25,” at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Curated by Norman Rosenthal, the show brings together more than 400 works spanning 1955 to the present, including paintings, landscapes, photographs and digital works. Rosenthal describes Hockney as the Picasso of his era, emphasizing his ability to transform familiar places such as Yorkshire, Los Angeles and California through his distinctive visual language. Despite declining health and decades of smoking, Hockney continues to paint, portraying artistic independence, pleasure and close observation as essential forms of freedom.

Barry Humphries's extensive private collection of rare books, manuscripts, art, costumes and Dame Edna spectacles is being sold in a series of Christie's auctions nearly two years after his death. The collection reflects his intense bibliophilia, artistic interests and flamboyant public persona, including Oscar Wilde's inscribed first edition of The Importance of Being Earnest, numerous works by British and Australian artists, and distinctive Dame Edna eyewear. His son Oscar believes the collecting began as an attempt to replace books his mother gave away during his childhood. The sale offers a final public glimpse of Humphries as performer, scholar, collector and private aesthete.

Five Independent writers recommend books as Christmas gifts across fiction, biography, history, poetry, memoir and social commentary. Their selections include spy novels by William Boyd and Nick Harkaway, historical works on Winston Churchill and George Villiers, biographies of Thom Gunn and literary figures, memoirs by Hanif Kureishi and Leslie Jamison, and books addressing motherhood, abortion, death and women’s lives. The recommendations are largely personal and enthusiastic, with particular emphasis on literary quality, compelling storytelling and books that offer fresh perspectives on identity, politics, sexuality, illness and relationships.

William Hague has criticized Peter Mandelson’s bid to become Oxford’s next chancellor while also potentially serving as Britain’s ambassador to the United States, arguing that the roles require incompatible commitments and frequent physical presence in Oxford. Hague rejects Mandelson’s claim that Oxford has had a Tory monopoly, citing former Labour chancellor Roy Jenkins. In an interview, Hague also opposed trigger warnings and speaker bans, defended his criticism of Donald Trump, and warned Conservatives not to imitate Trump or embrace Nigel Farage. The final vote for Oxford’s chancellor is due the following week.

A travel itinerary combines Mexico City’s energetic art, food, architecture and historic districts with Oaxaca’s handicrafts, Indigenous heritage sites and relaxed atmosphere, before ending at the Pacific beach town of Zihuatanejo. Highlights include the Frida Kahlo Museum, Teotihuacan, Monte Albán, Yagul and Mitla, as well as local foods such as chapulines and quesillo. Journey Latin America offers a 12-day package covering hotels, domestic flights, transfers and guided excursions from £3,880 per person, excluding international flights.

Robert Harris discusses Precipice, his historical novel about the relationship between Liberal prime minister H. H. Asquith and the much younger Venetia Stanley. Drawing on 560 surviving letters and research into the couple's private car journeys, Harris concludes that their relationship was physical, although Stanley's own letters were destroyed by Asquith. The affair also involved serious breaches of national security because Asquith sent her confidential Cabinet papers. Harris rejects a simplistic predatory interpretation, arguing that Stanley was a strong and willing participant who ultimately ended the relationship. The interview also turns to contemporary British politics, with Harris condemning austerity, Brexit-era nationalism and what he calls a decade of failed statesmanship under successive Conservative leaders.

Tony Blair says his ambition for political power was shaped by the trauma of his father’s stroke when Blair was 10 and his mother’s death when he was 22. In an interview about his book On Leadership, he reflects on the attraction and responsibilities of power, his decade as prime minister, lessons from policy failures, his emphasis on public safety and modernization, and the importance of learning while governing. Blair also discusses his marriage to Cherie, his children, Christian faith, difficulty with scientific subjects, relations with critics, and his work advising governments through the Tony Blair Institute. He says he will work with democracies and dictators when they pursue reforms toward greater openness and effectiveness, while hoping history will ultimately judge his record kindly.

Tony Blair argues that Brexit weakened Britain and failed to deliver its promise to reduce immigration, instead shifting migration from Europe toward Asia and Africa. He urges Keir Starmer to repair relations with the EU and supports greater youth mobility. Blair warns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates the need for sustained Western support and that deteriorating US-China relations could trigger a global conflict. He also stresses the strategic importance of artificial intelligence, pragmatic engagement with controversial leaders such as Donald Trump, and Britain’s continued alliance with the United States. On his own legacy, particularly the Iraq war, he says history may produce more varied judgments over time.

Keir Starmer discusses the personal experiences and family relationships that motivate his political drive, including his parents’ struggles, his mother Josephine’s lifelong illness, his father Rodney’s experience of class prejudice, and the homophobic attack on a childhood friend. He describes his wife Victoria as his rock and acknowledges his teenage children’s worries about moving into Downing Street if Labour wins the 4 July election. Starmer says anger at inequality and bullying fuels his determination to change the country, while emphasizing that he would follow NHS waiting-list procedures like other patients. He also regrets never telling his late father that he loved him.

Geordie Greig reflects on his career as a reporter and editor before arguing that journalism must restore public trust through hard facts, accountability and compassion. He criticizes partisan coverage by sections of the Conservative press, particularly its treatment of Brexit, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, while defending his own record of challenging Conservative governments despite supporting the party at times. Greig highlights campaigns and investigations by The Independent, including reporting on Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs, the cancellation of HS2’s northern leg and an Afghan pilot’s asylum case. He also describes The Independent’s digital growth, global audience, video expansion and planned focus on artificial intelligence, concluding that the media must resist conspiracy theories and culture-war distortion while scrutinizing both an incoming Labour government and the wider political system.

Keir Starmer has issued his strongest warning yet that a future Labour government will not grant junior doctors’ demand for a 35% pay rise, while saying negotiations should find a way forward. The warning comes as doctors prepare for a five-day strike during a period of extreme heat, major public events and disruption from a cyberattack on London hospitals. More than 1.4 million NHS appointments have been rescheduled since strikes began in December 2022, at an estimated cost of £3bn. The BMA says doctors’ pay has fallen 26% in real terms and warns Starmer not to repeat the government’s approach, while Labour says restoring pay would be a gradual process linked to economic growth and NHS investment.

Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of delaying decisive action over allegations that Conservative candidates and officials used or possessed insider information to bet on the general election date. The Conservatives withdrew support from Craig Williams and Laura Saunders after internal inquiries, though both remained on the ballot because the deadline had passed. The Gambling Commission and Metropolitan Police were investigating several related cases, while additional figures, including Alister Jack, denied wrongdoing. Polling found that 63% of the public believed candidates who bet on the election date should be barred from standing. Starmer’s criticism was complicated by Labour’s own scrutiny over the timing of its suspension of Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali.

Theresa May called for compromise and warned that political polarisation, amplified by social media, is damaging public life. Speaking at the Hay Festival, the former prime minister reflected on her career, her departure from Downing Street, perceived gender bias over her emotional farewell, and her support for greater opportunities for women and victims of modern slavery. She declined to label Brexit either a success or failure, saying the effects of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine made conclusions premature, while acknowledging that border controls had harmed some local businesses. She also recalled her interaction with Donald Trump at the White House and rejected the idea that she had grabbed his hand.

Vicken Parsons's exhibition at Cristea Roberts Gallery in Mayfair presents 25 small abstract paintings that explore space, depth, memory and colour. The review praises the works' delicate scale, carefully balanced hard and soft forms, and emotionally resonant minimalism, while linking Parsons to Mondrian, Matisse and Howard Hodgkin. It also notes her growing recognition through collections at Tate and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and her artistic independence despite frequent comparisons with her husband, Antony Gormley. The exhibition runs until 2 June.

Tracey Emin discusses surviving severe cancer, the removal of her bladder and reproductive organs, and the calmer outlook she developed during recovery. She describes sobriety as transformative, reflects on obsessive-compulsive disorder and her renewed drive to paint, and explains that her new Brussels exhibition explores love, life and death. Emin is also establishing a foundation to dedicate her wealth, properties and art to supporting young artists and cultural activity in Margate. She criticizes Brexit, Boris Johnson’s conduct during the pandemic and poverty in Margate, while emphasizing her commitment to art as a force for renewal.

An exhibition at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham pairs Stanley Spencer’s religious paintings with contemporary artist Roger Wagner’s biblical scenes. The review argues that the show’s focus on God and Christian faith is striking in a largely secular, abstraction-oriented art world. Spencer and Wagner are presented as complementary painters whose narrative works draw on biblical imagery, metaphysical poetry and ordinary modern settings, including Battersea Power Station and Sizewell A. The exhibition is portrayed as a powerful dialogue about faith, mystery, trust and the possibility of finding heaven in everyday life.

New Mexico is presented as an appealing destination combining dramatic desert and mountain landscapes, Native American heritage, arts, distinctive Southwestern food and relaxed road-trip travel. The feature highlights Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, along with attractions including the Rio Grande Gorge, Bandelier National Monument, Route 66, the Trinity test site and museums devoted to art and UFO history. Visitors can experience Pueblo culture, green and red chilli cuisine, hot springs, casinos, film locations and outdoor activities, with a rental-car journey recommended for exploring the state.

A panel from The Independent taste-tests and ranks Christmas sandwiches and seasonal drinks from major UK supermarkets, cafés and fast-food chains. Pret’s Boxing Day Toastie is the top sandwich, praised for its generous filling and balanced festive flavours, while Co-op’s Christmas Market Sandwich comes second for its size, vegetables and distinctive ingredients. Tesco’s Chicken, Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce Sub finishes last because reviewers find it bread-heavy, bland and insufficiently Christmassy. Starbucks’ Hazelnut Crunch Hot Chocolate is the drinks winner, with Pret’s Merry Berry Hot Chocolate also earning top marks. Caffe Nero’s Florentine Mocha and Pret’s Gingerbread Latte perform poorly for lacking distinctive festive flavour.

A former London Evening Standard editor recounts bizarre meetings with Mohamed Al Fayed at Harrods, including an attempted charitable donation followed by offers of Viagra, whisky, teddy bears and raw stag testicles. The encounters also involved Al Fayed’s conspiracy theories about MI6 and Princess Diana, elaborate security precautions and allegations of surveillance. The writer recalls Al Fayed’s volatile response to a Sunday Times article about the Duke of Windsor’s home, including withdrawing millions of pounds in Harrods advertising after editors refused to dismiss the reporter, while acknowledging that his eccentricity coexisted with occasional kindness.

Jacob Rothschild discusses commissioning Joana Vasconcelos’s 12-metre ceramic Wedding Cake sculpture for Waddesdon Manor, where it joins a giant teapot and Lafite magnum towers. He presents the works as humorous modern follies continuing the Rothschild family’s tradition of ambitious collecting and patronage. Rothschild also recalls his relationships with Lucian Freud and David Hockney, his leadership of the National Gallery, family-funded buildings in Jerusalem, and a lifetime of collecting art, while identifying Chardin’s Boy with the House of Cards and Gainsborough’s The Pink Boy as especially important works in the collection.

Barnaby Thompson’s documentary presents Noël Coward as a brilliantly versatile artist whose difficult childhood gave way to immense fame, luxury and a carefully crafted society persona. It explores class as a recurring theme in his work, his pivotal relationship with the United States, his career decline amid 1960s kitchen-sink drama and his late resurgence. The film is praised as an energetic, stylish and affectionate portrait of a talent whose work has become timeless.

Frank Auerbach's exhibition Twenty Self-Portraits presents 20 intensely varied paintings and drawings made largely during the pandemic, when the 92-year-old artist was unable to work with his usual sitters. The works confront ageing, physical decline and mortality through forceful paint marks, dramatic colour and an exploration of the face as space and form rather than conventional likeness. The exhibition places Auerbach within the tradition of expressive late-career painting and emphasizes his status as a major post-war British artist and Holocaust survivor. Presented free of charge in a small Mayfair commercial gallery, the show sold out in its opening hour and runs until 14 July 2023.

Gilbert and George discuss their 55-year personal and artistic partnership, their life as deliberately eccentric “living sculptures,” and their belief that art should be accessible to everyone. They describe their new Gilbert and George Foundation gallery in Spitalfields, privately funded with £11 million and opening with rotating displays of more than 400 works. The artists discuss exhibitions addressing sex, death, fear, race and religion, as well as patriotic prints celebrating King Charles III’s accession. They also reflect on marriage, privacy, sexuality, attacks they have experienced, their conservative sympathies, and their conviction that art can provide a form of lasting cultural life.

At 85, David Hockney discusses Bigger & Closer, an immersive 4D exhibition combining his paintings, drawings, photographs, opera designs, animation, music and commentary. Created with Nick Starr and 59 Productions, the 55-minute experience uses 27 cameras and vast projections at Lightroom in London, with plans for international presentations. Hockney sees the project as a new form of cinema and theatre that could bring art to mass audiences. He also reflects on his creative life in Normandy, his continuing interest in technology and perspective, his relationship and collaboration with Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, declining mobility, music, mortality and his opposition to restrictions on smoking. Despite his age, he remains focused on reinvention and returning to painting.

Lucian Freud’s gambling was closely connected to his artistic temperament: he sought the tension and risk of betting, accumulated substantial debts and often relied on patrons, friends, dealers and bookmakers to settle them. His financial obligations also included supporting former partners and children. Bookmaker Victor Chandler became both a close friend and creditor, providing Freud with personal assistance while collecting large gambling debts. Freud was eventually banned from many racetracks but continued attending in disguise, and he reportedly paid Chandler between £3 million and £4 million over the years. Gambling and painting were portrayed as similarly high-risk pursuits, with Freud’s portraits of bookmakers sometimes serving as a practical way to reduce his debts.