DEBORAH ROSS: Forget loo roll... Derren shows we've run out of TV

Derren Brown: 20 Years Of Mind Control Sunday, Channel 4 Rating: Albion Sunday, BBC Four Rating: The time has arrived: we are running out of TV. All anybody thought about hoarding at the outset of the pandemic was toilet paper. And bleach. No one thought: but what if we run …...Read More

Great British boltholes: A review of The Swan in Lavenham, Suffolk

Advertisement To visit Lavenham, arguably England’s most perfect medieval village, is to discover a visual delight at every turn. No fewer than 340 listed buildings adorn its streets, while its beautiful church is regarded as one of the finest examples of late perpendicular Gothic architecture in the country and is …...Read More

Give your British mini-break some real style and book a stay in one of these 14 grand houses

Advertisement Whether, like Plumber Manor in Dorset, they’ve been owned by the same family for hundreds of years or are a cherished new project such as Caer Beris in Wales, manor hotels have a family at their hearts. Packed with history, these hotels pride themselves on delightfully old-fashioned hospitality with …...Read More

How to spot and avoid becoming a victim of a staycation holiday scam this summer

Every week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at an important holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: how to avoid a staycation scam. The staycation summer is set to stretch into September and beyond as holiday firms report high demand …...Read More

Top US body asks explosive questions on the origin of coronavirus

The US government’s leading health research body has raised a series of bombshell concerns over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and the activities of a secretive Chinese laboratory that was investigating bat diseases. The National Institutes of Health has asked if Covid-19 was linked to the deaths of three …...Read More

What it's like to ride across Iceland on a Norse horse

Advertisement It’s a hardy beast that can stand Iceland’s elements year-round. But even when lashing snow clings to their teddy-bear-like coats, Icelandic horses can. They are Viking stock, after all, having been purebred for 1,000 years, and, despite their low-slung bodies, I’ve been promised the smoothest horse ride in the …...Read More

Big-budget bravery... just when we need it

Tenet Cert: 12A 2hrs 30 mins Rating: Christopher Nolan is a brave, brave film-maker, and never more so than when it comes to his much-anticipated, oft-delayed new film, Tenet. He’s brave when it comes to pressing ahead with a brain-befuddling plot, often opting to elaborate when others might simplify. He’s …...Read More

From Ralph Macchio in Cobra Kai to Quacks and Beyond Appearances:The best on demand TV this week

NETFLIX Cobra Kai On the surface, a spin-off sequel to The Karate Kid made by the teams behind the Harold & Kumar films and Hot Tub Time Machine doesn’t sound too promising. But this comedy drama is more entertaining than it has any right to be, and it even secured …...Read More

From Jimmy Anderson and friend's Tailenders to Who The Hell Is Hamish?: This week's top podcasts

Tailenders Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White are, it’s fair to say, pleased as punch that cricket has returned. Their laid-back BBC podcast was originally slated to have a short run but it proved so popular that it recently celebrated its 100th episode. Greg James, Jimmy Anderson (above) and …...Read More

SIX MILLION furloughed workers broke rules by doing jobs from home in lockdown, major report finds

Six million furloughed workers broke the rules by doing their jobs from home during lockdown, according to a major report. Almost two-thirds of the 9.4 million people whose salaries were paid by the Government worked during April and May, despite businesses being banned from claiming for employees who did so. …...Read More