Why Las Vegas’ El Cortez hotel in ‘Old Vegas’ is the city’s best stay April 11, 2023 The El Cortez hotel’s recent renovation shows how Las Vegas is finally celebrating its history, says Adam Bloodworth If you thought the Las Vegas Strip was nuts, try Downtown Las Vegas, which one local tells me has recently adopted the nickname of ‘Drowntown.’ “Growing up here, everything is crazy,” he says, his expression suggesting he’s [...]
These photos of Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage in London in the 1980s show what an icon she was April 7, 2023 Paul O’Grady, who has sadly died, was beloved as a TV and radio presenter. But in the 1980s and 1990s he was more famous as pioneering drag queen, Lily Savage, who was integral LGBTQ representation on British TV in an era before drag queens were mainstream. Many of the UK Drag Race queens today owe [...]
One Fine Morning, film review: Lea Seydoux’s Parisian portrait lacks focus April 7, 2023 Léa Seydoux, aka Dr. Madeleine Swann in Spectre and No Time To Die, is a fine actor with huge range. She’s immensely watchable in One Fine Morning, whether she’s casting a flirtatious eye across a road or acting the repercussions of a heart-rending break up, and in ponderous new drama One Fine Morning she gets [...]
New Harry Potter TV series is happening with JK Rowling on board, reports say April 4, 2023 A new TV series based on all seven Harry Potter books is due to go into production if the deal can be finalised. HBO Max is reportedly finalising a deal with Potter author JK Rowling who retains creative control over the way her books are adapted for the screen. Rowling is in talks to work [...]
A Streetcar Named Desire, Phoenix Theatre, review: Paul Mescal isn’t the best bit April 3, 2023 A Streetcar Named Desire, Phoenix Theatre, review and star rating: ★★★★ Paul Mescal’s cheeky grin has saved us on many an occasion: once from lockdown in the pandemic-defining drama Normal People, and then in Aftersun, the rumination on fatherhood that got him an Oscar nom and made everyone go ‘He’s not just Connell with the [...]
New James Bond story will focus on London and King Charles’ Coronation March 31, 2023 Ian Fleming productions has announced a new James Bond story will be released to coincide with King Charles’ Coronation in May. The story will be called On His Majesty’s Secret Service, following on from the original Ian Fleming novel, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The new story will be written by Charlie Higson, who has [...]
London bar where Paul O’Grady became famous as Lily Savage pays touching tribute to late star March 30, 2023 The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, one of the gay bars where Paul O’Grady became famous performing as his drag persona Lily Savage, has paid tribute to the star, who died suddenly two days ago. The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is a historic LGBT bar, where there are nightly live cabaret performances. O’Grady performed here in the 1980s [...]
Bake Off’s Prue Leith: Why I’m simulating sex on London stage March 30, 2023 Bake Off’s Prue Leith tells Adam Bloodworth about her latest work, a riotously funny one-woman show Just last month, Prue Leith was on This Morning talking about libido enhancers for the overeighties. Her husband, sat in the audience, was asked whether he’d like Leith to take some herself. “Don’t give her anymore!” he said, as [...]
Grenfell Athletic: 95 per cent of our players have mental health issues March 27, 2023 “I had mental health problems before Grenfell, witnessing it was a disaster to my life,” says Joseph John, a Grenfell Tower survivor. “I went to the Grenfell Athletic training sessions and was greeted with love. I keep going every week. We won the league. We won the cup, and I have never looked back.” Almost [...]
Actors on how to save Vault Festival: ‘Batman and DC Comics could cough up £150k’ March 17, 2023 Vault Festival, the UK’s second-biggest arts festival behind the Edinburgh Fringe, has lost its premises for 2024 and beyond as its landlords are favouring more commercial work. Here, two professional actors reflect on how Vault Festival shaped their careers – and how it’s vital for all new actors, writers and directors and must be saved. [...]