Author: INDEPENDENT

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Alan Cumming was bored. It was the late Nineties, he was making a film called Buddy with Rene Russo, and Hollywood wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. “I was young and wanted to have fun,” the Scottish actor recalls, “but I felt like I was always missing the party.” Russo tried to shake him from his torpor: “You’re making studio movies, you’re in Hollywood –…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Dame Helen Mirren has expressed her profound excitement over a new Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) curriculum, designed to revolutionise the teaching of Shakespeare in UK secondary schools. The Oscar-winning actress, who joined the global theatre company in the 1960s and has graced stages in productions such as Antony And Cleopatra and Macbeth, lauded the initiative as a vital step forward.Appearing alongside Sir Ian McKellen at a London…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe Prime Minister has urged John Swinney to end the ban on nuclear energy in Scotland after announcing the UK’s first small modular reactor in Wales.Sir Keir Starmer said the SNP had “bottled it” on nuclear which has caused jobs to “vanish”.Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, accused the First Minister of “student politics”. He has promised to end the ban if he becomes first minister after the…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsGrocery price inflation has slowed in some good news for consumers as retailers ramp up festive deals ahead of Christmas, figures show.Supermarket prices were still 4.7% higher than a year ago in October, but this was down from September’s 5.2%, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator, formerly Kantar.Spending on deals climbed by 9.4% to just under 30% of all grocery purchases, while spending on full-priced goods…

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailMorrisons has said it will shut 52 of its in-store cafes along with some of its convenience stores, florists, meat and fish counters and pharmacies.Eighteen market kitchens, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies will also be affected.The supermarket said the closures are part of a shake-up which will result in 365 people facing redundancy.open image in galleryThe supermarket said the closures are part of a…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe Co-op has said it is pushing forward with a number of new stores and major refurbishments as it bounces back from a damaging cyber attack.The retailer said 50 stores will be opened or re-opened by Christmas as it urged the Government to reform business rates ahead of the autumn Budget.It said reforms will be “vital” to encourage further high street investment as it continues with its own…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsScotland’s Finance Secretary has requested an urgent meeting with the Chancellor amid reports she will raise taxes in her Budget this month.Shona Robison set out what she said were three tests Rachel Reeves must meet when she delivers her tax and spending plans on November 26.They include ditching her fiscal rules and delivering investment “to grow the economy and support people with the cost of living”, ensuring “every…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter John C Reilly eyes me warily as I approach him at the deli in the San Fernando Valley where he’s suggested we meet for lunch. He’s standing near the door, dressed in a tan fedora with black suspenders holding up his slacks, looking like a man out of time. His shirt sleeves are rolled up in acknowledgement of the Southern Californian heat, and he appraises me with…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe Government should cut energy bills by removing renewables subsidies, reducing system costs and implementing efficiency standards for landlords, a think tank has urged.Green Alliance says the measures could reduce the typical household fuel bill by £178 a year by 2030 – and much higher savings of up to £587 for families renting draughty, inefficient homes.Reports suggest the Treasury is eyeing up removing VAT from energy and cutting efficiency…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Actor Eddie Marsan has claimed people like Laurence Fox are “scared of a level playing field” after being named one of the new vice presidents of a leading UK drama school.The 57-year-old British actor hit out at “posh boys playing working-class characters” and hailed drama Top Boy as “one of the saving graces” for actors from black communities, in an interview with Sky.Marsan’s comments follow his appointment…