Michael Palin: I wish I'd written Pulp's Common People
For a longer train journey I need something more meaty so I've been reading A Delicate Truth by John le Carré. There's a lot of anger in his books, which I like.
EL Doctorow is a confident, absorbing storyteller and of all his output I'd most like to have written The Book of Daniel, about the trial of and executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.
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The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘Premier League should be trembling' – Fans in meltdown as Pep Guardiola shows off shock new look
PEP GUARDIOLA has sent Premier League fans into meltdown after he debuted a stunning new look. The Manchester City boss is hoping to mastermind his squad back to winning ways next season after finishing third in the league and going trophyless. 3 3 3 City's squad returns to pre-season on July 28 following their exploits in the Club World Cup. But the Spaniard forced fans to do a double take after spotting him with a remarkable new facial feature. Guardiola, 54, ditched his usual beard for a striking moustache. The new look quickly went viral as fans discussed it. One fan said: "The league is not ready for a bald moustache Josep Guardiola." A second said: "You can't just post 'Pep Guardiola' now has a moustache' and expect us to get on with our lives." A third added: "Bro what???" A fourth said: "Premier League should be trembling now." A fifth said: "Pep Guardiola saw the announcement of the start of production for the fourth season of Ted Lasso and decided to pay tribute to his idol." Ted Lasso recently announced its return for a fourth season, but Guardiola previously appeared in the last episode of season three of the Apple TV show, which he is a big fan of. Pep Guardiola and stunning daughter Maria belt out Oasis classic as Man City boss parties with Gallagher family at gig Guardiola could have even been inspired by a moustache he saw in 2021. He told TNT Sports correspondent Fred Caldeira at the time: "I really like your moustache, Fred. "You are so attractive and sexy." And he may be hoping the new look can give City a fresh push towards silverware. City have a pre-season game against Palermo on August 9. They then kick-off their Premier League season with an away trip to Wolves. Tottenham then visit the Etihad for City's first home game of the campaign.
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Luke Littler celebrates making darts history - and £200k payday - on stage with his girlfriend... after confirming relationship with subtle gesture on live TV
Luke Littler capped off a sensational night at Blackpool 's Winter Gardens by confirming his relationship with his fun-loving beautician girlfriend after clinching the 2025 World Matchplay title. The 18-year-old secured £200,000 in prize money and became the youngest player ever to complete darts' prestigious Triple Crown, by defeating James Wade 18-13. His haul was just the latest milestone in a year where he bagged £500,000 for the World Championship and earned in excess of £500,000 from Premier League success, propelling his career earnings to over £1.5 million. In a breathtaking display on the night, Littler logged a 107.24 three-dart average, a 42 per cent checkout rate, and no less than 17 180s. In front of the cameras on Friday, the world champion shared a passionate kiss with Faith Millar, 19, prior to his quarter-final clash with Andrew Gilding. And after his triumph on Sunday, Littler finally confirmed that the pair are an item, after months of insisting they were merely friends. A reporter said to the teenage sensation in an interview: 'Your family and girlfriend are here', to which Littler nodded his head. The gesture was all but a verbal admission that he and Faith have gone official. The pair were first pictured together in May when Littler shared a photo of them together to his 1.9million followers on Instagram. Mail Sport had exclusively revealed in March that the duo had bonded, though a source insisted they were just pals. A source said at the time: 'Faith and Luke have become firm friends and enjoy one another's company a lot. 'Faith and Luke met a few weeks ago. They just clicked and since then have spent quite a bit of time with each other. 'They live quite close to each other so it's been easy to meet up. 'Faith has met Luke's mum and dad and some of the friends he grew up with and she's been round to his mansion a few times. Both Luke and Faith were keen to play down their relationship for months and insist that they were just friends 'Faith was with him at a BoohooMan event on Monday. 'But despite trying to stay in the background, she's been pestered quite a bit by his fans who are keen to know who she was. 'But there's no bit story there - she's a very ordinary, very sweet, normal girl. ''She works as an eyelash technician in Wigan but realises the fact that she hangs around with Luke, who is really famous, means that people will show her a bit of interest as well, she realises that. 'Faith is a very sweet girl, very bubbly and kind. It's no surprise that she and Luke get on so well.' Faith declined to comment about the friendship when approached outside her family home. But a spokesman for Littler confirmed that he and Faith had struck up a friendship but said: 'That's as far as it goes, they are just good friends for now. Nothing more. 'Luke doesn't want a girlfriend at the moment, he's focusing on his darts and is too busy travelling around the country to start up a relationship.' Millar comes from Wigan, just 15 miles from Luke's home in Warrington, Cheshire. Littler previously dated beauty consultant Eloise Milburn, who watched on at the 2024 World Darts Championship as an unknown Littler became an instant sensation by reaching the final. However, Littler reportedly ended the relationship in July of last year after his hectic schedule made it difficult for the pair to spend time together. Sunday night's win has placed Littler in rarefied air. He is now just the fifth man ever - alongside Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Luke Humphries - to complete Triple Crown. This includes winning the PDC World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay titles. Littler achieved the monumental milestone after just one and a half years as a professional.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Louise Thompson proudly displays her stoma bag in a yellow bikini as she admits she notices people staring at it and urges others to 'be kind'
Louise Thompson proudly displayed her stoma bag in a yellow bikini as she admitted she feels people staring at her and urged people to 'be kind'. The former Made in Chelsea star, 30, who nearly died when giving birth to her son in 2021, revealed last April that she had been fitted with a stoma after years of battling with ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of body waste into a medical device, which the person can then empty. But taking to Instagram on Sunday, Louise admitted in a candid post that she us wearing less bikinis and switching to swimsuits, in part because she notices people looking at her stoma. Louise went on to say that she feels confident having her stoma on show now, but gave advice to those unfamiliar with them to 'be kind', not judge and let people with them wear what they want in peace. Sharing a snap and clip of herself in the yellow two-piece, Louise wrote: 'I'm not a big bikini girl these days. I don't think it's a confidence issue, I just really enjoy the comfort of a swimsuit. It's very practical and dare I say it - when you reach your mid 30s I think practicality equates to sophistication. 'There's another thing. I don't LOVE people looking at me that much. Stoma or no stoma. It doesn't happen to me often now I'm a bit older and a mother (gone are the days of men checking me out on the tube or the beach), but regardless of circumstances - you definitely get more attention with a random black or grey bag glued to your abs. Unsurprising really. 'I have no doubt that if I saw someone in a similar situation as me I'd look on in fascination/with curiosity/appreciation for what they might have gone through. It's natural. We are intrigued by uniqueness. We intrigued by medicine and health.' She continued: 'On the note of appreciation I've actually been serving myself lots of self-appreciation recently. Yesterday I got out of the shower and went straight to my phone to write down the words "remember you can get through TOUGH shit, ur tough as nails'" on a WhatsApp thread I have with myself (where I dump all my creative [thoughts]) because I really believed it. I wanted you to too. 'Regardless of the above I feel no shame when I look at my body. I don't attach much emotion to it at all. It just exists. That's the main thing. It's a privilege to exist. Literally. Metaphorically. 'But I fancied giving my tummy a bit of tan time/vit d on holiday… so here she is. The old bod. Me and Winnie hanging out. Wearing her with pride. I think I've still got it. I feel good. I roamed freely in the villa. I didn't feel the need to display my tummy in the beach clubs because tbh I'm not really a big lie down and tan kind of girl anymore. I think I dress really well and v freeely and vvvv ME regardless of my stomach situ.' Louise added: 'I don't feel held back at all, but I know some do and I want to remind anyone out there that doesn't really understand what this is that lots of normal and nice people in the uk have them (100k) and to be kind. 'Don't judge. Let people wear what they want. Ask nice questions if you really can't help it. You might learn something cool. #stoma.' In holiday snaps from earlier this month, Louise showed off her incredible figure in the two-piece, before slipping into a black swimsuit. Louise and fiancé Ryan Libbey have been enjoying a short trip 'just the two of them' at the luxurious Maslina Resort on Hvar island. Louise recently opened up about suffering a 'horrendously debilitating' stoma leak while out in central London. Since her diagnosis, Louise has continued to spread awareness and proudly show off her stoma, which she's nicknamed Winnie, in a hilarious reference to Winnie The Pooh. However, taking to her Instagram on Wednesday, she revealed she'd had a leak the day before, which left her in tears and needing some time out by herself. She explained she had headed to Marylebone with her fiancé Ryan on his motorbike for an appointment and a coffee, before going to record a podcast. However, Louise explained that despite their 'great start', she suddenly realised her stoma bag had unfortunately leaked, forcing her to rush to the nearest hospital for supplies. Sharing several selfies of her and Ryan on their bike journey before everything went wrong, she wrote: 'Yesterday I found myself in a really depressing situation. 'l had a great start to the day. I had a medical appointment at @ in the morning with Ryan... we biked there to get ahead of the traffic and managed to shave off 20 minutes from the journey. 'Then was off to record a podcast with 2x good friends which has been in the diary for ages. Had a lot of excited energy in my belly following a c**p week of of c**p health. 'We got off the bike in Marylebone blissfully happy and headed to @watchhouse for some delicious coffee and cookies pre-recording because we were a smidge early, but then I felt something a bit wet in my pocket. I looked down and had had the most horrendously debilitating stoma leak.' She recounted how she was left 'too overwhelmed' to explain the situation, but Ryan had stepped in, while she was left in a bathroom for an hour waiting for staff to try and source any new stoma bags, while 'covered in mess'. Louise said: ' I had to hobble to the nearest hospital which was a private one so a bit awkward. I was actually too overwhelmed to speak when we got to reception so thankfully Ryan who I was with handled it for me. 'I then literally waited locked in a bathroom for an hour sat on the loo covered in mess whilst they dug around to see if they had any stoma bags for any of their [sic] inpatients.'
