My big year

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

The Scotland back-row on childhood idols, saluting magpies and trashy television

RESPONSES TO H is for Hawk star Claire Foy on talking about grief [Issue 1701, 19-25 January] ↓ You don’t get over grief. It changes you, you become a new version of yourself. A stronger, more empathi

Love Big Issue and Lou, I think, who sold me the mag at St Paul’s station is a nice guy. Here’s a picture (above) that I took last week from my narrow boat on the River Lea where I have recently moved

IT MAY BE 2026, BUT MANY HARD-WON RIGHTS FOR WOMEN ARE UNDER THREAT. WE ASK GROUNDBREAKING ACTIVISTS, STORYTELLERS AND A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER HOW TO MAINTAIN HOPE AND EFFECT CHANGE, EVEN WHEN THE WAY FORWARD IS UNCLEAR

Silence is… very hard to achieve! I can sit in a quiet room and still be very loud inside my head. I’m trying to put my big headphones on less this year and be with my thoughts but, like everyone, I’m