All posts tagged: British

War Horse review: A celebration of British literature and puppetry

War Horse review: A celebration of British literature and puppetry

A star rating of 3 out of 5. From Roald Dahl to Jacqueline Wilson, Enid Blyton and Anthony Horowitz, there are certain authors that have played a key role in inspiring a love of reading in British children. One of these authors is Michael Morpurgo. Morpurgo has a signature storytelling style, blending lyrical language with first-person narrative, often featuring historical tales and stories about animals. Speaking of which, War Horse, the story of a horse during the battles of World War One, is one of his most beloved tales. Despite achieving little commercial success after its publication in 1982, Morpurgo was approached by then National Theatre Associate Director Tom Morris, seeking his permission to adapt the book into the play. Few could have predicted the immense impact this would have on the future of theatre. After a hugely successful run at the National Theatre, War Horse transferred to the West End where it ran for eight years after winning two Olivier Awards. Since then, it has toured the world, dominated the Tony Awards and reached …

British Army member dies in Iraq training accident | UK | News

British Army member dies in Iraq training accident | UK | News

A member of the British Army died in a training accident in Iraq on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said. UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, confirmed the incident took place in the north of the country on Sunday. The soldier’s identity has not been released and it has not yet known how the incident occurred. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Healey said: “A training accident occurred in Northern Iraq yesterday for which a service personnel from the British Army has died. The family has been informed and asked for a period of grace before further details are released. I know the thoughts of the House are with the family.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence added: “It is with deep regret that we can confirm that a training accident occurred in northern Iraq on Sunday 31 May 2026 in which a service person from the British Army died. The service person’s family have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released. Our thoughts and sympathies are …

The House Article | Michael Grade: I Am Very, Very Worried About The Future Of British TV

The House Article | Michael Grade: I Am Very, Very Worried About The Future Of British TV

10 min read25 min Former TV executive Lord Grade has just stepped down as chair of Ofcom. He tells Noah Vickers about his eventful career, enforcing the Online Safety Act and why critics of GB News are secretly ‘embarrassed’ Lord Grade is a titan of British television. Over four decades as an executive at ITV, the BBC and Channel 4, he greenlit and oversaw some of our most cherished programmes, including the launch of EastEnders and Casualty, the importing of Friends and Neighbours onto UK screens, and the broadcasting of Bob Geldof’s Live Aid concert in 1985. The 83-year-old peer has re-taken the Tory whip after sitting as a non-affiliated member for the last four years while serving as chair of Ofcom. Appointed to the role under Boris Johnson’s government in 2022, his term concluded in April this year. But despite his extraordinary career in television, he says that what drew him to the job was not in fact its role regulating the world of broadcasting. “What interested me about the …

British Museum Evacuated After Suspicious Device Found, Police Find No Threat

British Museum Evacuated After Suspicious Device Found, Police Find No Threat

The British Museum was briefly evacuated Saturday after staff discovered what was described as a “suspicious device” inside a restroom, prompting a police response at one of the world’s most visited museums. The Metropolitan Police were called to the museum’s Bloomsbury headquarters around 2:50 p.m. local time after reports of a suspicious package, according to The Independent. Officers investigated the object and later determined it posed no threat. Visitors were allowed back into the museum shortly after 4 p.m. and normal operations resumed. Related Articles In a statement, the museum said it had also received what it described as “malicious communications” before the evacuation. “The safety and security of our visitors, colleagues and volunteers is always our highest priority,” a museum spokesperson told The Independent, thanking visitors and staff for their cooperation during the evacuation. The museum declined to elaborate on the nature of the communications, citing the ongoing police matter. The incident unfolded at one of Britain’s busiest cultural institutions. The British Museum welcomed more than six million visitors last year, making it one of the most visited museums …

British Museum Reschedules Postponed Israel Lecture Amid Protest Fears

British Museum Reschedules Postponed Israel Lecture Amid Protest Fears

The British Museum pushed back a planned lecture called “The Ancient History of Israel and Judah,” claiming that a “significant proportion” of the people expected to attend wanted to protest the event. The London museum announced the postponement on Thursday, in a release that noted that the event was part of Jewish Culture Month but did not state the name or subject of the lecture. Then, on Friday, the museum said that “The Ancient History of Israel and Judah” would now take place “early next month,” without a date specified. Related Articles The reason for the delay, the museum said on Thursday, was that many attendees allegedly sought to “deliberately disrupt the event, preventing others from participating in good faith and undermining the purpose of the programme.” Who these individuals were, and how they sought to interrupt the event, was not explained in the museum’s statement. “The British Museum fully recognises the importance of lawful protest and freedom of expression in a democratic society,” the museum said on Thursday. “Equally, we have a responsibility to …

Supermarket picky-bit wars have begun, but why does British tapas feel so unhinged?

Supermarket picky-bit wars have begun, but why does British tapas feel so unhinged?

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free We’re all familiar with the millennial picky-bit tea: Babybels, olives, leftover roast chicken, mystery charcuterie, more cheese, definitely more pickles than necessary and whatever else can be assembled with minimal effort. Eventually, someone rebranded the whole thing as “girl dinner”, which made eating half a baguette, six cornichons and a family-sized tub of hummus sound less like giving up and more like a lifestyle choice. Now, though, it has evolved into something else entirely and invariably involves burrata, giant butter beans with chorizo and £50-a-kilo Serrano and Iberico cheese “rollitos”. Somewhere along the way, the humble picky tea has had a middle-class rebrand. It has also, like any Great British pastime, become a bit unhinged. After record-breaking May temperatures last week that saw parts of the UK hotter than Spain, Greece and Portugal – where this kind of slothful grazing is, ironically, completely normal – …

Love Island USA unveils season 8 cast, including British islander and Paralympic athlete

Love Island USA unveils season 8 cast, including British islander and Paralympic athlete

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The cast for the eighth season of Love Island USA has been revealed. The hit dating show, which is hosted by Ariana Madix, returns to Peacock on June 2. As in previous years, the reality series will follow a group of singles as they enter a secluded villa hoping to couple up and compete in games and challenges. The cast includes a number of notable contestants, including a Paralympic athlete and a British-born islander whose brother competed in a previous series. Meet the 12 islanders below: Aniya Harvey is the daughter of retired NBA player Donnell Harvey (Peacock) Aniya Harvey Aniya Harvey from Tyrone, Georgia is the daughter of retired NBA player Donnell Harvey. Beatriz Hatz is a medal-winning Paralympic athlete (Peacock) Beatriz Hatz Beatriz Hatz is a Paralympic athlete from San Diego who was born without a fibula in her …

British Painter Talks Design of Proposed 0 Bill Featuring Trump

British Painter Talks Design of Proposed $250 Bill Featuring Trump

Iain Alexander, a British painter who has exhibited in Palm Beach, Florida, designed a proposed $250 bill recently sent by the Trump Administration to the Treasury Department. In an interview with the Washington Post, Alexander said that Trump had reviewed his design and gave the okay for adding the colors of the US flag and a logo commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, which is being celebrated this year. “He likes to call me his favorite British artist,” Alexander said of Trump. Related Articles The Trump administration has been pursuing a 250 dollar bill featuring the real estate mogul-turned-president since last year, despite the fact that US law prohibits living figures from appearing on US bills. According to the Post, US treasurer Brandon Beach and senior advisor Mike Brown pushed staff at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to create prototypes of the 250 dollar bill, including one featuring Trump’s face designed by Alexander. Alexander’s signature appears below the mock-up, per the Post. Alexander said that he had proposed featuring Betsy Ross, who famously …

British conductor and Air France pilot Daniel Harding selected as LA Phil successor

British conductor and Air France pilot Daniel Harding selected as LA Phil successor

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The Los Angeles Philharmonic has named Daniel Harding, a British conductor who also serves as an Air France pilot, as its next music director, ushering in a new era for the esteemed orchestra after nearly two decades under the charismatic Gustavo Dudamel. Harding, 50, primarily known for his work with European ensembles, has signed a six-year contract set to commence with the 2027-28 season, the LA Phil announced on Tuesday. This marks his first appointment by an American orchestra, though he made his U.S. professional debut with the same ensemble in 1997. “It couldn’t have come a day sooner. I’m very glad it didn’t come a day later,” he said in a telephone interview from his Paris home. “The perfect timing, the right moment, and here we go.” He will initially conduct eight weeks in his first season, expanding to 12 …

Metallica urge British fans to donate blood and ‘be part of something bigger than the show’

Metallica urge British fans to donate blood and ‘be part of something bigger than the show’

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Metal legends Metallica are calling on their British fanbase to donate blood and plasma as they prepare to kick off the UK leg of their highly anticipated world tour. In an unprecedented collaboration between UK blood services and a global music act, the iconic band is urging followers to contribute around their upcoming concert dates. The initiative sees England’s NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the Welsh Blood Service, and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service working together with the American group. Their aim is to encourage both existing donors to return and new volunteers to come forward. UK blood services have highlighted the constant demand for donations, noting that blood has a limited shelf life of just 35 days. Donors play a crucial role in supporting the treatment of trauma victims, cancer patients, new mothers, and individuals managing long-term conditions such as sickle …