Brenda Blethyn OBE, chats to Lara Kilner about life after Vera , her acting regret and why now, more than ever, the idea of retiring is far from her mind…

Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight

HOW are you feeling today, Mum?” Anne asked as she kissed Elaine on the cheek and sat down in the chair opposite her. “I’m slowly getting there. But I’m still so cross with myself for taking that tumb

Actor Jill Halfpenny on losing loved ones, leaving London and moving to the seaside, and starting a podcast

I lived in Walsall when I was growing up and I still go back to see my dad, who’s in his 90s. It was a bustling place, there was a thriving market life. Every Saturday, me and my mates would walk thro

For more than four decades, she has been one of Britain’s most beloved comic voices. From the outrageous, anything-goes sketches of French and Saunders to the warm-hearted Geraldine Granger in The Vic