English singer, songwriter, actor; art-house pop icon and chameleon of rock
A roundup of continuing festival talk across Scotland and the UK. Belladrum in the Highlands has named Fatboy Slim, James and Amy Macdonald as headliners for 2027, with Reading/Leeds, Glastonbury, Download and TRNSMT still shaping up. Primavera Sound 2027 and TRNSMT remain unresolved as organisers weigh acts and schedules.
Muna has built a reputation as a fierce live act with support from major stars. Their early setback at Pet-A-Palooza became a comic memory, while moves by RCA and Phoebe Bridgers helped them find direction. Today the trio balances punk-energy, electronic textures and personal songs that resonate with diverse fans.
Meta promotes an optimistic view of AI, arguing the future is for everyone and that the benefits of technology should be widely distributed. The campaign contrasts its stance with rivals warning of job losses and security risks. The push includes a video ad featuring Zuckerberg and a message about keeping social media free and accessible.
Ronnie Le Drew, known for operating the Rainbow puppet Zippy, has died after a short illness. He trained at the Little Angel Theatre and co-founded the London School of Puppetry. His presidency of the British Puppet Guild and his contributions to puppetry are being remembered by colleagues and peers.
McFly is crafting a new album inspired by Oasis and pub-energy, aiming to merge crowd-friendly anthems with arena-ready sound. The band reflects on past setbacks, a later restart with Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory, and a push to balance four members’ ambitions.
UK music charts have seen Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s Rein Me In extend its lead as the longest-running No. 1 in UK history, spending 19 non-consecutive weeks at the top. Reports from The Guardian, Reuters, Independent and BBC Business confirm the track’s record and discuss cultural implications amid streaming-driven fragmentation.
Tim Curry has died at his Los Angeles home on 25 August at age 80, his longtime manager Marcia Hurwitz has confirmed. The English actor had been wheelchair‑bound after a major 2012 stroke and had a history of kidney cancer; the death certificate lists those conditions as contributing factors. He had originated Dr Frank‑N‑Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and enjoyed a six‑decade career across stage, film and voice work.
A London court of appeal has ruled that the so-called box-shifting practice, used to avoid business rates on vacant offices, cannot amount to beneficial occupation. The City of London Corporation, backed by local authorities, has argued that the scheme defers tax revenue for years. The decision threatens a £500m to £1bn annual loss in potential relief for landlords and a wider reform of business rates.
Sir Paul Smith reflects on an eight-decade journey from Nottingham beginnings to a global, owner-led fashion house. Threads: My Life in Style chronicles his discipline, curiosity, and hands-on leadership, stressing real shops, careful growth, and lasting brand control.
The Rules restaurant in Covent Garden has donated its 34-35 Maiden Lane building to the National Trust for £11m, securing the site’s future as a living heritage site. The restaurant will continue trading as a commercial tenant, with rent supporting conservation; the deal preserves the historic interior and collections and marks the Trust’s first entry into restaurant ownership.