The Guardian Culture

Maggie O’Farrell: ‘Fiction comes from what you don’t know’

From a young age, the author was told that one of her ancestors had drawn some of the first maps of Ireland. Then she found a photograph, and embarked on a journey to discover his story Every family has its myths. In mine, we were told that one of our antecedents had worked on the first maps of Ireland. As a child, I used to picture a solitary person in unspecified period dress – a tailcoat, perhaps some kind of cravat – striding pensively about fields and mountains, pen in hand. On su

entertainment  May 31, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Are ‘mind children’ the future of reproduction?

Forget dirty nappies. In Silicon Valley, there’s increasing chatter about virtual offspringA few months ago, an AI researcher from Europe attended a dinner party in Silicon Valley. During one of the many courses, the host addressed his guests, all of whom worked in AI. The researcher paraphrased his message like this: “Isn’t it amazing that we are the last generation of humans who will need to think about procreating biologically? We were lucky enough to be born at a time where we can simply upl

entertainment  May 31, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Cupcakes, bunting and a bus stuck in the mud: the funeral of Martin Parr – in pictures

The photographer loved to record the small details of life, so it was only fitting that his family should organise a send-off inspired by his work. ‘Funerals can be really beautiful,’ says the person tasked with recording the eventFunerals are conventionally designed to smooth a person into graceful solemnity, carefully editing out the unsavoury bits of a life. But Martin Parr spent more than half a century sending up the idiosyncratic and the awkward, in a way that was sometimes unflattering, m

entertainment  May 31, 2026

The Guardian Culture

‘I don’t listen to indie music any more’: Ed O’Brien’s honest playlist

The Radiohead guitarist once serenaded a girl with the Smiths and thinks George Michael was a genius. But what is his favourite football song?The first single I bought Ally’s Tartan Army, the 1978 Scottish World Cup song, because England hadn’t qualified. I loved that Scottish team – Alan Rough, Martin Buchan, Gordon McQueen, Kenny Dalglish – and the 10-year-old me got completely swept up in World Cup fever.The first song I fell in love with When I was 17, I fell in love with a girl called Mar

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Variety

Kanye West and Travis Scott Concerts Banned in Italy

Italian authorities have banned upcoming concerts by Kanye West and Travis Scott that had been schduled to take place in July in the northern city of Reggio Emilia citing security concerns. West, now known as Ye, was scheduled to headline the Hellwat Festival on July 18 at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia. The venue […]

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Variety

Jay-Z Brings New York Flair to Philadelphia for Triumphant Roots Picnic Performance Featuring Jazmine Sullivan, Bilal and Meek Mill: Concert Review

As it turned out, Jay-Z had been quietly setting the stage over the past few months for what we could expect during his headlining show at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. On streaming, he’d changed his name from Jay-Z to its original spelling, JAŸ-Z, perhaps a wink and a nod that it would be a […]

entertainment  May 31, 2026

The Guardian Culture

From bikinis to cat bowls: how museum gift stores became the place to shop

Curated edits mean people are treating museums as stand-alone shopping destinations rather than simply exit points First it came for bookshops. Then your favourite coffee shop. Now there is a new frontier when it comes to upping your merch game: museums.Instead of art print postcards and coffee table books, you are now more likely to find everything from slogan T-shirts to coffee mugs when you “exit through the gift shop”, as museums look to merch-maxx in order to boost revenue Continue reading.

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Gary L. Pudney, Former ABC Television Executive, Dies at 91

Under his leadership, Pudney's associated productions accumulated over 50 Emmy Awards.

entertainment  May 31, 2026

The Guardian Culture

TV tonight: a major new culture wars drama from the great Russell T Davies

Alan Cumming and David Morrissey star in the gripping Manchester-set series. Plus, a wild tale of charity shenanigans involving One Direction. Here’s what to watch this evening.9pm, Channel 4A harrowing scene on a regular residential street in Manchester ropes you into this new drama by Russell T Davies. It then rewinds a few weeks to tell the lively story of how the main characters – Canal Street bar owner Leo (Alan Cumming) and electrician Clive (David Morrissey) – ended up in such an awful si

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Variety

‘Only Murders in the Building,’ ’48 Hours’ Among This Year’s CrimeCon Clue Awards Winners

Hulu led this year’s CrimeCon Clue Awards, winning two major categories: “Only Murders in the Building” won the award for outstanding scripted series, while the streamer’s “Girl on the Run: The Hunt for America’s Most Wanted” landed the prize for outstanding docuseries. Those were among the winners of the 2026 edition of the Clue Awards, which were announced Saturday […]

entertainment  May 31, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Badenoch-supporting US rapper Azealia Banks to attend Spectator summer party in London

Magazine’s editor Michael Gove will welcome performer who described Conservative party leader as ‘iconic’The American rapper Azealia Banks said she had been invited to the Spectator magazine summer party in London. The performer, known for her social media feuds with numerous celebrities including Nicki Minaj, Zayn Malik and Lana Del Rey, wrote on X on Saturday: “Ill be in London July 3 for @spectator.” Her message received a response from Michael Gove, the Spectator editor and former Conserva

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

After Slamming “Boring” Freedom 250 Concert Dropouts, Trump Says “Cancel It”

The president made a post on Saturday morning against the “third rate artists” who have dropped out of the event.

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

‘Love Island USA’ Drops Islander Ahead of Season 8 Premiere After Alleged Use of N-Word

The initial slate of islanders who will appear on season eight of the reality series was released on Thursday.

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Jason Blum, James Wan on ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ “Saving Our Industry” and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster “Disney of Horror” Future

The horror leaders also discussed the state of the genre during a PGA panel, with Blum saying, “There’s almost this feeling of the ’70s, of a new generation of young people making edgy movies that are connecting in theaters in a crazy way,” referring to 'Obsession' director Curry Barker, 26, and 'Backrooms' director Kane Parsons, 20.

entertainment  May 31, 2026

Variety

‘Love Island USA’ Dismisses a Cast Member for Using the N-Word — for the Second Year in a Row

For the second year in a row, “Love Island USA” has kicked an islander out of the villa after social media posts surfaced of them using the n-word. 25-year-old Vasana Montgomery will no longer appear in Season 8 of the reality dating series, which premieres on June 2. The news comes just two days after […]

entertainment  May 30, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Niall Horan Reflects on Liam Payne’s Death: “Our Friendship Was a Bond That Was There Forever”

“When I think of Liam’s passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh and smirk because of the memories we had,” the former One Direction singer said in a new interview.

entertainment  May 30, 2026

Variety

Michael De Luca Warns About the Danger of Hollywood Cutting Development Funds for Original Material: ‘If You Cut Too Deep Your Pipeline Dries Up’

Warner Bros. Pictures chief Michael De Luca offered a master class in being a studio executive during his session Saturday at the Produced By conference hosted by the Producers Guild of America. “The North Star [is] the relentless pursuit of new talent and fresh voices, and a way to refresh the pipeline, because if you […]

entertainment  May 30, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Trump Says He May Replace “Third Rate Artists” Who Dropped Out of D.C. Concerts With Himself: “The Man Who Gets Larger Audiences Than Elvis”

The president said he may instead "give a major speech," as many musical acts have announced they're exiting the Freedom 250 event.

entertainment  May 30, 2026

Variety

Niall Horan Opens Up About Liam Payne’s Death: ‘There Is Sadness, But it Also Makes Me Laugh and Smirk Because of the Memories We Had’

In a recent interview with The Times of London, Niall Horan opened up about the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who died in 2024 at the age of 31 after falling three floors from a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Horan said he was with Payne in Argentina just a few […]

entertainment  May 30, 2026

Variety

‘Growing Pains’ Star Kirk Cameron Says He Left California Because of ‘Terrible’ Politics and ‘All the Other Things That Make it Difficult to Raise a Family’

“Growing Pains” star Kirk Cameron recently explained on the “Adam Carolla Podcast” that he left California for Tennessee to escape the Golden State’s “terrible politics” and “all the other things that make it difficult to raise a family.” “When you’re a kid in California it’s great because your parents are paying for everything,” Cameron said. […]

entertainment  May 30, 2026