City news and city life — London and UK urban centres
Olivia Hartley Karl Howman is an English actor, writer, director, and producer widely recognised for playing Ben “Jacko” Jackson in the BBC sitcom Brush Strokes. He was born in Woolwich, London, and his career has spanned more than five decades, from early stage work to prime-time television and independent filmmaking. Although the role of Jacko in the … Read more
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (1788–1824), was a major British Romantic poet, celebrity, political radical, and philhellene. His best-known works include Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Don Juan, The Corsair, Manfred, and numerous shorter lyrics. His turbulent life helped shape the modern image of the artist as rebel, exile, and outsider. Byron’s fame was sudden and … Read more
Himesh Patel is a British actor who gained widespread recognition for his role as Tamwar Masood on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He later transitioned to Hollywood with leading roles in Danny Boyle’s Yesterday and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. His upcoming appearance in Nolan’s The Odyssey has drawn significant attention. Despite his rising profile, Patel is … Read more
John Conteh is a former British professional boxer from Liverpool who held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1977. Born on 27 May 1951, he is 74 in 2025 and was awarded the MBE for services to boxing. Conteh came through the amateur ranks with a middleweight gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth … Read more
Jake Gyllenhaal has built a career defined by intense, physically demanding roles and a willingness to explore the darker corners of human experience. From his breakout in Donnie Darko to his Oscar-nominated performance in Brokeback Mountain and his chilling turn in Nightcrawler, he has become one of the most respected actors of his generation. This … Read more
Junior Andre is a British singer, television personality, and social-media figure. He is the eldest son of singer Peter Andre and model and television personality Katie Price, and grew up in the public eye through his parents’ reality-television careers. Now 21, Junior is actively forging his own path in entertainment, pursuing music, acting, and presenting … Read more
Duncan Bannatyne OBE is one of the most recognisable entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom, thanks largely to a decade‑long stint as an investor on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. He built a fortune from scratch, starting with an ice‑cream van and eventually creating a nationwide health‑club and leisure empire. His biography is a classic rags‑to‑riches story … Read more
The Ultimate Guide to Tree House Stays in the UK Luxury tree-house stays in the UK range from adults-only cabins near London to large Forest Holidays-style treehouses that sleep up to ten. The right choice depends on what matters most: proximity to the capital, facilities for children, a private hot tub, or enough space for … Read more
Mark Epstein is best known as the younger brother of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose 2019 arrest and death in jail became an international story. A former artist who later moved into property development, Mark spent most of his adult life outside the public eye. That changed after his brother’s death, when questions … Read more
Melanie Griffith is an American actress whose career spans more than five decades. Born August 9, 1957, in New York City, she is the daughter of actress Tippi Hedren—known for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Marnie—and advertising executive and former actor Peter Griffith. Britannica’s fact page on Griffith confirms these details. Griffith grew up in … Read more