‘People always ask when I’m going on Strictly – never’

The Independent’s arts and culture newsletter [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1sbzVldmc2MGY4d2QmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Saturday, December 2, 2023   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50P2xpZD05MDh6b244cXRkaGUmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50P2xpZD00cjJhdHVqaGUzNmQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj Is Richard Curtis the king of Christmas? This was a question discussed by the Indy culture team this week. I have to tell you, I came down firmly on the side of “yes”. He is just so Christmassy! Mark Darcy in a reindeer jumper, guys. Emma Thompson crying about being given a Joni Mitchell CD from an erstwhile Alan Rickman. And now he has a new Christmassy film out – Genie, starring Paapa Essiedu. I [wrote previously](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3doeS1kb2VzLWV2ZXJ5b25lLWhhdGUtbG92ZS1hY3R1YWxseS1iMjI1MTM0NS5odG1sP2xpZD1qbHRiM3BwNTlsMmcmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) about how I don’t think Love Actually-bashing should be an annual festive sport anymore, and I am happy to stand by my belief that Curtis is our Christmas god. I felt this even more strongly after reading [Ellie Harrison’s brilliant interview](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3JpY2hhcmQtY3VydGlzLWdlbmllLXBhYXBhLWVzc2llZHUtY2hyaXN0bWFzLWIyNDU0NzY2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXZlZzU3dG42cWRhdCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) with him, in which he declared, “I think it’s lovely to watch happy films at Christmas… I’ve written lots of Christmas specials of sitcoms, and I do think it’s a delight to watch something sweet after you’ve eaten that enormous meal.” I am with you, Richard. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3JpY2hhcmQtY3VydGlzLWdlbmllLXBhYXBhLWVzc2llZHUtY2hyaXN0bWFzLWIyNDU0NzY2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWR5NWFpMHkwZWw4YSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ Richard Curtis's new leading man is Paapa Essiedu, who stars in his latest film, 'Genie' (Getty/Shutterstock) On Sunday evening, [the 2023 Booker Prize winner was announced](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2Jvb2tzL25ld3MvYm9va2VyLXByaXplLTIwMjMtd2lubmVyLXBhdWwtbHluY2gtYjI0NTM4MjYuaHRtbD9saWQ9eXB6bHhkOHJ6bndyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). In a shortlist that included three men called Paul, there was a strong chance that a Paul would triumph – and so one did. Irish writer Paul Lynch won the £50,000 prize for Prophet Song, the story of an imagined totalitarian future in Ireland. Was he the right choice? No, argued our chief book critic Martin Chilton – [the judges picked the wrong Paul](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2Jvb2tzL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3BhdWwtbHluY2gtd2lubmVyLWJvb2tlci1wcml6ZS0yMDIzLWIyNDUzODMzLmh0bWw_bGlkPTBic2Z6Ynk3aTd3biZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). It should have gone to [fellow Irish writer Paul Murray](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2Jvb2tzL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3RoZS1iZWUtc3RpbmctcGF1bC1ib29rZXItcHJpemUtMjAyMy1wYXVsLW11cnJheS1iMjQ0ODQzMS5odG1sP2xpZD1sNmhkcTUxeXA5aWQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) for his highly readable family tragicomedy The Bee Sting. Elsewhere this week: Mark Hudson wrote about why more people should know the name of [artist RB Kitaj](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2FydC9mZWF0dXJlcy9yYi1raXRhai1hcnRpc3QtcGlhbm8tbm9iaWxlLWV4aGliaXRpb24tYjI0NTI5ODMuaHRtbD9saWQ9dHFuN29sYm04ZDcxJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). Annabel Nugent talked to novelist Ottessa Moshfegh about [adapting her debut novel Eileen for the screen](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL290dGVzc2EtbW9zaGZlZ2gtaW50ZXJ2aWV3LWVpbGVlbi1iMjQ1MzA5Ni5odG1sP2xpZD0xNjV5YXhxcWt4eDEmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). And, in a rare interview, supercool playwright [Annie Baker talked to Andrzej Lukowski](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3RoZWF0cmUtZGFuY2UvZmVhdHVyZXMvYW5uaWUtYmFrZXItaW50ZXJ2aWV3LWluZmluaXRlLWxpZmUtYjI0NTQzMDMuaHRtbD9saWQ9anpvMGgyMWphdmJnJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) about her new play Infinite Life at the National Theatre. I went to see it on Thursday and agree with Alice Saville's [gorgeous review](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2FydHMtZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC90aGVhdHJlLWRhbmNlL3Jldmlld3MvaW5maW5pdGUtbGlmZS1yZXZpZXctYW5uaWUtYmFrZXItbmF0aW9uYWwtdGhlYXRyZS1iMjQ1NjczMC5odG1sP2xpZD0xOGowdmRreXJzZXUmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). Baker's plays are things you have to tune into and await the small moments of enlightenment, which unfold amid her perfectly observed, tender moments of banal daily life. Plus, bookworms unite: the [first names for Hay Festival were announced this week](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2Jvb2tzL25ld3MvaGF5LWZlc3RpdmFsLTIwMjQtbGluZXVwLXRpY2tldHMtYjI0NTQwNzYuaHRtbD9saWQ9cmhpN3J1NDY3ZzJ3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~), giving us all something to be cheerful about in 2024. And finally… [a date for your diaries](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L25ld3MvY2hyaXN0bWFzLXR2LWd1aWRlLWZpbG0tYmluZ2Utd2F0Y2gtYjI0NDg0NDAuaHRtbD9saWQ9d2V1azdndHFhNmdmJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). On 13 December, Binge Watch duo Jacob and Annabel are teaming up with our TV editor Ellie for a live discussion on all things Christmas telly. It’s bound to be a blast, because these three are hilarious – and also very wise on the subject of TV, film and streaming recommendations. You can join the event for free [through the following link](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L25ld3MvY2hyaXN0bWFzLXR2LWd1aWRlLWZpbG0tYmluZ2Utd2F0Y2gtYjI0NDg0NDAuaHRtbD9saWQ9eXNoaDh3YTN3eGhjJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). Jessie [@jessiecath](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SiaHR0cDovL3d3dy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qZXNzaWVjYXRoP2xpZD0wNDAxcjcya2Zuc2kmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) [Black Friday](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2JsYWNrLWZyaWRheS9ibGFjay1mcmlkYXktYmVzdC1kZWFscy1zYWxlLTIwMjMtYjI0NDY5MzcuaHRtbD9saWQ9bmg4ZDZheTFyd3diJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) is here and our team of IndyBest experts are on hand to help you sift through[the torrent of deals on offer.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2JsYWNrLWZyaWRheS9ibGFjay1mcmlkYXktYmVzdC1kZWFscy1zYWxlLTIwMjMtYjI0NDY5MzcuaHRtbD9saWQ9czZwMGUzOHJpdXlqJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) We’ve scouted [the best deals on headphones](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2JsYWNrLWZyaWRheS9ibGFjay1mcmlkYXktaGVhZHBob25lcy1lYXJidWRzLWIyNDUwMzMzLmh0bWw_bGlkPXppaTh0dTU0Zm5mNiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~), [TVs](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2JsYWNrLWZyaWRheS9ibGFjay1mcmlkYXktdHYtZGVhbHMtYjI0NTE2NjQuaHRtbD9saWQ9eHU5d2FraXFoYXVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) and [bluetooth speakers](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2JsYWNrLWZyaWRheS9hbWF6b24tZWNoby1ibGFjay1mcmlkYXktYjIyMzMxOTMuaHRtbD9saWQ9bXQ5Y3M3azhrb2pmJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~), saving you time and hard-earned cash. [Click here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2JsYWNrLWZyaWRheS9ibGFjay1mcmlkYXktMjAyMy11ay1kYXRlLWIyMzkxNDI4Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWRmZXNvZGp3c2ttayZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) to see a constantly updated list of the best deals. What to do this weekend Music | [i/o by Peter Gabriel](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0S1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2FydD9saWQ9N2kyOHZ5eDJzMDBvJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) I’m loath to call i/o a grower, because I’m often an impatient consumer of music. But the tracks on i/o grow both on and in a listener like seeds germinating. Those who like their song structures neat and tidy may struggle with the jazz odysseys, but Peter Gabriel asks very little of his fans – just time. Give him that, and you will find this album gently becoming part of you on a cellular level. Once you’ve processed the tracks on the “Bright-Side mix” you can wait for a night-time drive to experience them on the slightly murkier lower-fi “Dark-Side mix”. It’s great to have Gabriel back. Helen Brown | Music critic   Theatre | [Macbeth](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3RoZWF0cmUtZGFuY2U_bGlkPWxrdXNzcmpxN3h2dyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma’s Macbeths are [a well-matched couple](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P4QTAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2FydHMtZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC90aGVhdHJlLWRhbmNlL3Jldmlld3MvbWFjYmV0aC1yYWxwaC1maWVubmVzLWluZGlyYS12YXJtYS1yZXZpZXctdGhlLWRlcG90LWxpdmVycG9vbC1iMjQ1NTUxMS5odG1sP2xpZD12azFzbXhrc2tmZjkmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj); the power balance between the two is not exaggerated too much in favour of the latter. This only makes Varma’s Lady Macbeth a more agile and intriguing presence, as she switches from charming hostess to murderer by proxy with just a subtle modulation of pitch and tone. As Macbeth, Fiennes starts out on the verge of breathlessness and seems to slow throughout, a man weighed down by his past and future, though he still manages to bring dashes of manic levity, especially during the banquet scene. Katie Rosseinsky | Senior culture and lifestyle writer   TV | [Doctor Who: The Star Beast](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0S0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2P2xpZD1ocGF2dWd3dXN4bW4mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) This return is great fun, and you have to feel for Ncuti Gatwa, who will have his work cut out when he takes over the Tardis. It will be like going on after Freddie Mercury at Glastonbury. [David Tennant captures the essence of the Doctor](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3R2L3Jldmlld3MvZGF2aWQtdGVubmFudC1kb2N0b3Itd2hvLXRoZS1zdGFyLWJlYXN0LXJldmlldy1iMjQ1MzYwMi5odG1sP2xpZD0xdTRmZ21kZDN4NXgmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). He really does feel like a time-traversing alien trying to pass for a human, and it will be a daunting act to follow. Still, that’s a worry for another day. For now, Who-heads will be relieved and delighted to know that, after the lows of the Chibnall years, the Doctor is back to his eccentric best. Ed Power | TV critic   Film | [Eileen](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L3RoZWF0cmUtZGFuY2U_bGlkPTNsYTBzemNmY3R3MSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) William Oldroyd’s debut, 2016’s Lady Macbeth, cannon-shot Florence Pugh towards stardom. A taut, economical period drama, it practically curled itself up at the actor’s feet, happy to warm itself by the fire that burnt in her eyes. Oldroyd’s follow-up, [the Sixties-set thriller Eileen](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL3Jldmlld3MvZWlsZWVuLXJldmlldy1hbm5lLWhhdGhhd2F5LWIyNDU0NjQ2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXN0amFic3R2a2xxMyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~), could, at a glance, offer the same to its lead Thomasin McKenzie. But she’s already shown us her knack for this kind of electrically-repressed woman, the mouse with a roar in her stomach, in Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho. Instead, the thrill of Eileen lies in how McKenzie plays off the film’s inciting spark, a blonde-bobbed enigma played by Anne Hathaway. Clarisse Loughrey | Film critic   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlL2FwcD9saWQ9a2R0ZHJ0d2J6dzh3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0StaHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL25vNXgvZDI1ZTc0Y2M_bGlkPWlid3piZ2NrbDd4MiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ [The Saturday Interview – Simon Pegg](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3NpbW9uLXBlZ2ctdG9tLWNydWlzZS1taXNzaW9uLWltcG9zc2libGUtYjI0NTY5NzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9bGU0dHlvdDk2a2Y3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3NpbW9uLXBlZ2ctdG9tLWNydWlzZS1taXNzaW9uLWltcG9zc2libGUtYjI0NTY5NzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9NzkyZXd2b2MzOWxpJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Simon Pegg is lending his voice to a Quentin Blake animation for BBC One this festive season (Dave Willis) Annabel Nugent met [Simon Pegg (and his very cute puppy) for a brilliant conversation](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3NpbW9uLXBlZ2ctdG9tLWNydWlzZS1taXNzaW9uLWltcG9zc2libGUtYjI0NTY5NzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9b3RyMmZtY2gwa3RkJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) all about family life, body image, mental health and Mission Impossible. ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3NpbW9uLXBlZ2ctdG9tLWNydWlzZS1taXNzaW9uLWltcG9zc2libGUtYjI0NTY5NzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9czNnM2x1Z3h2ejFjJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ Pegg will voice 'Quentin Blake's Box of Treasures' this Christmas (Eagle Eye Drama / BBC / Charlie Clift) Read an extract from our Saturday Interview below… This is how Pegg likes it: school runs, country air, dog s***. “I’m so hard to get out of the house,” he says, with that familiar irony and a wide grin. In fact, he’s wearing a souvenir from his last venture into the real world: a Death Cult T-shirt he picked up when the goth legends’ 40th anniversary tour hit Brixton recently. None of this comes as a surprise. For as long as his career, which gained rocket boosters in 2004 with the seminal zombie-comedy Shaun of the Dead, Pegg has been cast as the British everyman: a pub-goer who stumbled into Hollywood and didn’t really care for it, ducking in only to film blockbusters like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible (the eighth entry of which he’s soon due to resume shooting with his good pal Tom Cruise) before retreating to the domestic contentment of Hertfordshire where he lives with his wife, Maureen, and their teenage daughter, Tilly. Plus their two, now three, dogs. [Read the full interview here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2ZpbG1zL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3NpbW9uLXBlZ2ctdG9tLWNydWlzZS1taXNzaW9uLWltcG9zc2libGUtYjI0NTY5NzEuaHRtbD9saWQ9cHhtcXlrM2E4c3ZmJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvd2luZS93aW5lLWNhc2UtZGlzY291bnQtcGVyZmVjdC1jZWxsYXItYjI0NTMzNDIuaHRtbD9saWQ9cnlvaXl0c3I1YWN1JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Enjoy boutique wines from just £12 a bottle with £50 off selected cases only with The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvd2luZS93aW5lLWNhc2UtZGlzY291bnQtcGVyZmVjdC1jZWxsYXItYjI0NTMzNDIuaHRtbD9saWQ9YWNhdDlwM2Z3M2puJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3Vud3JhcHBpbmctdGhlLWJlc3Qtb2YtZmVzdGl2ZS10di1hbmQtZmlsbS10aWNrZXRzLTc1NjE1MTMxNzk0Nz9saWQ9ZmZubHZ5djBpajA5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jby51ay9lL3Vud3JhcHBpbmctdGhlLWJlc3Qtb2YtZmVzdGl2ZS10di1hbmQtZmlsbS10aWNrZXRzLTc1NjE1MTMxNzk0Nz9saWQ9czZpemoxMmJhYzY3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [INDYBEST](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0P2xpZD12Ymo3djBvNG1xMWsmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) / [BEST BUYS](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHk_bGlkPWVkano2NnJxNDU2cSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [Prophet Song](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Jvb2tzL2ZpY3Rpb24tYm9va3MvcHJvcGhldC1zb25nLWJvb2tlci1wcml6ZS0yMDIzLWIyNDU0ODgzLmh0bWw_bGlkPW84eTdydGd2NnpxOCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Irish author Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize 2023 this week with his dystopian novel Prophet Song – [here's how to pick up a copy.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L2Jvb2tzL2ZpY3Rpb24tYm9va3MvcHJvcGhldC1zb25nLWJvb2tlci1wcml6ZS0yMDIzLWIyNDU0ODgzLmh0bWw_bGlkPWd3em41ZDd1M2FzbCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)   OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Simon Calder's Travel Week] Simon Calder's Travel Week Twice a week Written by Simon Calder [Join now](~/AAAHagA~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~) [Simon Calder's Travel Week] Simon Calder's Travel Week Twice a week Written by Simon Calder [Join now](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P4TUAmh0dHBzOi8vMDIuZW1haWxpbmJvdW5kcHJvY2Vzc2luZy5ldS9wcmVmZXJlbmNlX2NlbnRlci92MS9leUpoYkdjaU9pSlNVekkxTmlKOS9leUp6ZFdJaU9pSndZM1l4SWl3aWFXRjBJam94TnpBeE5UQTBNVEl4TENKbGVIQWlPakUzTXpNd05EQXhNakVzSW1RaU9pSWtNQ1EzTlhKYVdHbzJVbGsxY1RCa1JHMHZUbkJrZURoQlBUMGtZaThyWVd0VmFXWlZOVkJ5UkRCWmJWTndTa2R6UkUxUmVFRldiMnAwU25GNVFrWkpaM1JJTHpkck1Hd3hkbmRJUkhkNFYydFdOak5TYVhSeVhHNTViMkZrSWl3aWFDSTZJakF5TG1WdFlXbHNhVzVpYjNWdVpIQnliMk5sYzNOcGJtY3VaWFVpTENKaklqb2lNVGM0TVNJc0ltMGlPaUkyTlRaaE1UVTVaakkyTkdZNU5EQXdOR05pWlRBMVlqRWlmUS9kZzYyc2gwNEhoMTlPa0ExMVBGWURJX3Y0NGhRM3hHbzhuOWdtS201cjdoSExET2M0U3VMeklQLTdEMXo5ZVZCUVFXWjZENFQtZXlBZ3o0aW9qbGk1QW5GWDZLX1V6UVJETEh6WmN2WTZPQkJYaXhSeFJocUZ2a3ZEelh6LW95dC0tTFUtQ2k5MnJVaU4tNzYweHV6Mkw5VE1hd1ZXVmFENXlmSHFFLVRpeWZCWUsxYjlzMzNSRmQ5d1lhMWJ2NjJ2aC1BLWo0RW52Qk1HaHVGc3IwS0dFc05LbFJWWjM2RERiWS0tenBKSTJRbWlJUm1WSC1rWmZuNjE5bUJTTU1TQkpjSUtMclgyM1hYLWt6SlViNFZaa3ZjRGxScVJSSEk2SWJwNEktZG1aTUdQUEt1QlgxYW9pR1h4M1gyTGQ1WlQ1UVRiMTBUVEE0VmJrQVFlanNKZ2dXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [The Lifestyle Edit] The Lifestyle Edit Every Wednesday, 2pm (UK time) Written by Ellie Muir [Join now](~/AAAHagA~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~) [The Lifestyle Edit ] The Lifestyle Edit Every Wednesday, 2pm (UK time) Written by Ellie Muir [Join now](~/AAAHagA~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~)   The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge](~/AAAHagA~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~) and the [National Domestic Abuse Helpline](~/AAAHagA~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): 0808 2000 247 [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD16c2xzaHNna3U1aTImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SgaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9JbmRlcGVuZGVudD9saWQ9N28xb2lxNzg5aXEyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Instagram](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SmaHR0cHM6Ly9pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL3RoZS5pbmRlcGVuZGVudD9saWQ9dWoycjNoYm5uemtnJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Facebook](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0SvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL1RoZUluZGVwZW5kZW50T25saW5lLz9saWQ9NzRmMDVmaHlzNzk0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SW5keUFydHMgTmV3c2xldHRlciAwMi0xMi0yMyZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfQ3VsdHVyZV9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmVqe-RqZT0PTl1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Download the free Independent app [Google Play](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0StaHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPTBlMHdzbTd6OGk3NCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [Apple App Store](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0StaHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPXRiNWpiYWxvZDBvbyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [Google Play](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0StaHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPWxrNml0ODg2dXRudSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [Google Play](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0StaHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL3dnaUEvaGdvaG9veno_bGlkPWJ1bnN3eTUyMnFvdiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's IndyArts newsletter. To unsubscribe from The Independent's IndyArts newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please [click here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P4TUAmh0dHBzOi8vMDIuZW1haWxpbmJvdW5kcHJvY2Vzc2luZy5ldS9wcmVmZXJlbmNlX2NlbnRlci92MS9leUpoYkdjaU9pSlNVekkxTmlKOS9leUp6ZFdJaU9pSndZM1l4SWl3aWFXRjBJam94TnpBeE5UQTBNVEl4TENKbGVIQWlPakUzTXpNd05EQXhNakVzSW1RaU9pSWtNQ1EzTlhKYVdHbzJVbGsxY1RCa1JHMHZUbkJrZURoQlBUMGtZaThyWVd0VmFXWlZOVkJ5UkRCWmJWTndTa2R6UkUxUmVFRldiMnAwU25GNVFrWkpaM1JJTHpkck1Hd3hkbmRJUkhkNFYydFdOak5TYVhSeVhHNTViMkZrSWl3aWFDSTZJakF5TG1WdFlXbHNhVzVpYjNWdVpIQnliMk5sYzNOcGJtY3VaWFVpTENKaklqb2lNVGM0TVNJc0ltMGlPaUkyTlRaaE1UVTVaakkyTkdZNU5EQXdOR05pWlRBMVlqRWlmUS9kZzYyc2gwNEhoMTlPa0ExMVBGWURJX3Y0NGhRM3hHbzhuOWdtS201cjdoSExET2M0U3VMeklQLTdEMXo5ZVZCUVFXWjZENFQtZXlBZ3o0aW9qbGk1QW5GWDZLX1V6UVJETEh6WmN2WTZPQkJYaXhSeFJocUZ2a3ZEelh6LW95dC0tTFUtQ2k5MnJVaU4tNzYweHV6Mkw5VE1hd1ZXVmFENXlmSHFFLVRpeWZCWUsxYjlzMzNSRmQ5d1lhMWJ2NjJ2aC1BLWo0RW52Qk1HaHVGc3IwS0dFc05LbFJWWjM2RERiWS0tenBKSTJRbWlJUm1WSC1rWmZuNjE5bUJTTU1TQkpjSUtMclgyM1hYLWt6SlViNFZaa3ZjRGxScVJSSEk2SWJwNEktZG1aTUdQUEt1QlgxYW9pR1h4M1gyTGQ1WlQ1UVRiMTBUVEE0VmJrQVFlanNKZ2dXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our [privacy notice](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc2VydmljZS9wcml2YWN5LXBvbGljeS1hNjE4NDE4MS5odG1sP2xpZD13bnM1OWJ0MTJ0dDAmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JbmR5QXJ0cyBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDAyLTEyLTIzJnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9DdWx0dXJlX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZWp75GplPQ9OXVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) and [cookie policy](~/AAAHagA~/RgRnTWl7P0TCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc2VydmljZS9jb29raWUtcG9saWN5LWE2MTg0MTg2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWFmc2V1dTJqMjV0NyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPUluZHlBcnRzIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMDItMTItMjMmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX0N1bHR1cmVfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgplanvkamU9D05dUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)