Graham Norton’s debut novel Holding attracted significant media attention and glowing reviews. Most likely because Graham Norton of The Graham Norton Show wrote a fiction crime novel. Presumably most reviewers would have liked to slate it for some kind of self-gratifying purpose. I hate it when celebrities get book deals. Half of them can’t write; it’s never usually because […]

I find the American healthcare system frankly disgusting. Life-saving drugs are marked up by hundreds, sometimes thousands or even tens of thousands, of dollars to exploit incredibly vulnerable people out of every penny they’ve got.  Even the average American spends a ludicrous amount on prescription drugs, averaging $1,200 per year since 2018, and this sum […]

When Charlotte Brontë called her sister Anne’s book The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a “mistake” and prevented it from being published for ten years, I do think she was being rather severe. Anne Brontë’s second novel is not the masterpiece Jane Eyre is or Wuthering Heights. I am hesitant to call it a masterpiece at all, but there are […]

We have all been there, desperate to bag a new dress for a night out or wanting that video game but the money just isn’t in the bank. There are now the likes of Klarna and Clearpay, buy now pay later schemes (BNPL), which allow you to purchase a wide variety of items while paying […]

This question occurred to me last month as I was appalled to see one of my younger cousins watching a video online. It was one of those family channels, and the mother was simply running around the house, showing her children going crazy over hundreds of Hot Wheels toys. My cousin was laughing along with […]

Natalie Haynes’ retelling of the Trojan War was attractive to me based on the description – a retelling from the view of the women.  After reading her book, Pandora’s Jar, I was more than excited to read and she did not disappoint. We all have heard of the Trojan War – Paris steals Helen of […]

Did you love the first Dr Strange and long for a sequel? Were you left wondering what happened beyond the end of WandaVision? Do you consider whether there really is a multiverse? You can get all three answers in just two action-packed and thrilling hours. Dr Strange, played by multiple-award-winning actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, casts a […]

It’s a well-known fact that water is necessary for survival, but how much do you use? And more importantly, how much do you waste? Water is being used constantly, in our tea, our fuel and even us, making it easy to forget that it is in fact, not entirely infinite. in the UK show that […]

Hayfever might be something you find ruining your picnic and making you feel grotty, but what is it, and why does it happen? Hayfever (also referred to as seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis) is the allergy to pollen, affecting 10-30% of people during the warmer months. Some of the symptoms include: Runny/Blocked Nose Itchy/swollen eyes […]

Having made quite a name for himself in the cult Netflix show Sex Education, Ncuti Gatwa was proclaimed the 14th Time Lord last week.  The Rwandan born actor who moved to Scotland when a mere two years old is replacing Jodie Whittaker, who played the show’s first female doctor. The Writer Speaks A far cry […]

It is very rare that a celebrity has as much success with their first name as they do their surname when riding solo with each. But for the Bajan born songstress and now beauty mogul, Rhianna Fenty,  both names carry as much weight individually as they do combined. Hear her voice Her first name is […]

Pregnancy and Childbirth are considered among the most precious times in a person’s life. But for some women, it can be a scary occasion. In the UK, compared to white women, black women are four times as likely to die in childbirth and during the post-partum period. Asian women are twice as likely. For years, […]

The Labour Party has always prided itself on its diversity and its commitment to liberalism and social justice. But recently, I have noticed that women of colour within the Party – many of whom are the reason for Labour’s popularity – have been sidelined. And the issues pertaining to ethnic minority women are all but […]

Royal Tours are usually done to show the monarchy in their element – shaking hands, doing fun little stunts so we can see they are human and giving speeches to uplift a cause. But the Caribbean Tour, to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was, to put it lightly, a disaster. It was already known that […]

What does Reality TV mean to you? Do you associate it with the concept of truth? Or perhaps screaming celebrities bent on jealousy and arrogance? Either way, I’ve watched reality television for a while now, and have grounded myself in real life enough to know that there are no two things with a greater difference. […]

For many, The Troubles in Ireland and their peak in the 1960s remain unknown and unspoken. The atrocities committed by the British in border counties like Fermanagh, Derry and cities like Belfast still affect Irish society today; with areas separated by ‘peace walls’ between Protestant and Catholic communities to prohibit further tensions. Despite the Good […]

Prince’s debut album, For You, gets overlooked as it doesn’t have the progressive rock and synth-pop fusion his later works have, like Purple Rain, or 1999. However, at 19, Prince engineered this entire album on his own and demonstrated his immense musical talents from the start. The titular song on the album, For You, kicks […]

Mhairi McFarlane’s 2020 novel If I Never Met You has been on my ‘to be read‘ list for a while – and I am so happy that I finally got around to it. The story revolves around thirty-six-year-old Laurie. She’s a lawyer, one of the best at her firm. Her partner, Dan, dumps her after […]

Dearest readers, welcome back. Bridgerton series two is out now and if you’re anything like me, you’ll have spent eight hours in bed binge-watching before allowing it to consume your being. (Ha, see what I did there…) If you didn’t do that – worry not, there’s plenty to look forward to. And plenty to think […]

Another day, another J.K Rowling tweet. Yay. The highly successful children’s author has criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer for saying trans women are women, under the Equalities Act. Starmer also added in this interview that a “more considered, respectful, tolerant debate about these issues” is needed. I’m guessing Rowling saw that part and also objected […]

With the release of her latest album Laurel Hell, Mitski has solidified herself as one of the best singer-songwriters of the past decade. From her gorgeously grating 2012 debut Lush, to her critically acclaimed latest work, including the smash hit Puberty 2 and personal favourite Be The Cowboy, the Japanese-American star has paved the way […]

We are six days into the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. While a lot of effort is being made to help Ukraine – from economic sanctions to aid – some efforts have been rather unhelpful. The British Home Office is not waiving visa requirements for all Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, which isn’t surprising. But they […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared war on the eastern European country of Ukraine. Here is everything you need to know about the situation so far. Why Ukraine? Putin has referred to Ukraine as “ancient Russian lands”. He also says the invasion is about the “de-Nazification” of the country, accusing it of committing genocide against […]

The Killers’ latest album Pressure Machine was released August 2021, so soon after their 2020 release Imploding the Mirage. A concept album and ode to frontman Brandon Flowers’ hometown of Nephi, Utah— the ‘Mormon capital’ of the USA— the track serves stories of different people from the town in flash recordings at the beginning and […]

I love a good Netflix documentary – true crime is a guilty pleasure and this one will have you yelling at the screen. The Tinder Swindler tells the story of Shimon Hayut, who used the name, Simon Leviev, a conman who seduced women on Tinder and conned them out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. […]

This week in the beautiful town of Cambridge, Massachusetts, an ugly yet familiar tale of abuse in universities emerged. Three Harvard graduates are suing the university for allegedly ignoring the sexual harassment of students by a professor who they said threatened their academic careers if they reported him. The professor, John Comaroff, was sanctioned by […]

On Friday the 11th of February, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. My science teachers have been encouraging us all to write a piece commemorating overlooked women in science.  Nettie Stevens Nettie Stevens was an American geneticist who suggested that chromosomes were responsible for determining sex. Through her studies on […]

It was announced this week that bakery giant Greggs is teaming up with High Street store Primark for a range of goods. The eleven-piece line will be available in 60 of the chain’s stores later this month. While this may not be the more conventional union we are accustomed to such as Nike and Michael […]

Tonight will see the 2022 Brit Awards ceremony taking place at the O2 Arena, in London. Playing host this year is none other than Mo Gilligan and the event will be televised live on ITV for those wanting to watch a who’s who in popular music battle for a coveted award. With performances from the […]

Manchester United football player Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of rape, with further investigations into sexual assault and threats to kill ongoing. It came after footage was posted on social media alleging incidents of violence. There is a focus on how Mason Greenwood’s career has been ruined by these allegations. It looks at how […]

I am sure that everyone has some recollection of the carefree days of their own childhood; when days would seem longer, our imaginations were endless and when our ideas seemed “awesome” all of the time despite it sometimes being a tiny bit dangerous. In a way, it was as if every day was a new […]

A Monster Calls is one of the most renowned books of the 21st century. Patrick Ness, its author and flame-carrier, is just as renowned. There is a reason for that. A Monster Calls is one of the most moving, brilliantly executed, and informative novels I’ve read in a while. I’m possibly too old to be considered the target […]

One of the most loveable beer brands, BrewDog, is facing fresh scrutiny after BBC’s Disclosure documentary revealed many shocking things about the company. It seems a revolutionary Scottish beer brand that has posed itself as the rockstars of craft beer and an amazing place for many young people to work, is nothing more than a […]

The fashion world lost one of its most iconic contemporary designers this week. Thierry Mugler, 73, was ‘the’ designer who overstepped boundaries and adorned some of the most recognised bodies in popular culture. Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, David Bowie, Demi Moore and countless more called on him throughout his tenure as a designer. His […]

Amy Winehouse needs no introduction. As the most recent addition to the 27 Club, the songstress established herself with her debut album Frank and went on to seal her musical significance with her second album, Back to Black. While the media honed in on her off-stage antics during her short-lived career, there was no denying […]

Following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, charity shops have been overwhelmed with donations flooding in. Households had plenty of time to have a thorough sort out of their old or unwanted possessions. January is also a good time to consider having a proper tidy up of your room. Christmas time can often be a bit […]

During the pandemic, the impact of Covid on schools, students and education has been a constant concern. It’s not only education that’s taken a hit. Covid has affected relationships, mental health and the way students view their learning over the last two years. Online Lessons The first lockdown came as a bit of a surprise, […]

Yet another young woman has been murdered. Ashling Murphy was a 22-year-old school teacher and strangled to death last week on the banks of the Grand Canal, Tullamore, County Offaly. The phrase “she was just…” has been a notable slogan used in response to the murders of women. “She was just walking home,” echoed after […]

Recently, social media influencer Molly-Mae Hague has come under fire for her beliefs on hard work and material wealth. In a podcast episode of Diary of a CEO, Hague shares shares that she believes “we all have the same 24 hours in a day” and, therefore, the onus of how our lives shape up to be […]

As with every new year, 2022 has brought with it an onslaught of hope and motivation for self improvement. Energised by this fresh start, 1 in 7 of us have decided to set ourselves a new year’s resolution or two. Right now, in the middle of January, we’re witness to the rare sliver of time […]