About this issue: Overview
“Dear Tim, when you are 39 you are going to be told that you have leukaemia. It is going to be terrible. But listen to me, you ain’t going to die.” In a heartfelt letter to his younger self actor Timothy Spall says he divides himself into before and after his illness and describes the “uncomfortable” period of his life when he was famous but unemployed.
The H has been relocated to Hull, the O to Otley and, after much blagging, the Y has been planted in York. In a special three-part feature this week we meet the film makers and actors picking up Hollywood’s pieces in Yorkshire.
Writer Gary Ryan also heads for Yorkshire – to muggle through quidditch tryouts. He finds the sport evolved beyond recognition from its fantastical beginnings in the Harry Potter books, but says JK Rowling’s core message of acceptance and tolerance remains.
In Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre 100 detainees are making demands through peaceful protest including hunger strikes. On our news pages we speak to one of the women at the centre of the strike.
We have reviews, interviews and previews on the latest, books, films, music, telly, and theatre, columnist Ali Schofield makes the case for toads, and there’s a competition to win tickets to see Legally Blonde the Musical in Blackpool. Not forgetting our crossword and Sudoku, of course.