American actor and filmmaker with a long-standing humanities-focused public profile
The seventh Despicable Me film has opened with strong box office but divided critics, who note its self-referential mood, experimental pacing, and reliance on Easter eggs for cinephiles.
New consumer data shows tequila is now surpassing gin as the UK's preferred summer spirit, driven by rising sales, celebrity brands, and popular cocktails like spicy margaritas. The trend reflects a shift in drinking habits, with tequila's popularity growing rapidly across the UK.
Maureen Beattie has been cast as Lear in a new Pitlochry Festival Theatre production adapted and directed by Finn den Hertog. The show, staged by artistic director Alan Cumming, has opened a run from 4 July to 1 August 2026 and reframes King Lear as a matriarchal tragedy performed by a largely Scottish company.
George Clooney has been chosen to receive the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which runs from September 2–12. He has described the honor as tremendous and noted it may mean he is old. Venice holds personal significance for Clooney, including his 2014 marriage in the city.