Culture
Love Actually: Is it a Christmas classic or an unwatchable schmaltz-fest?
![Montage of stars of Love actually](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1591-Film.jpg?w=768)
Love Actually: Is it a Christmas classic or an unwatchable schmaltz-fest?
Bad Taste by Nathalie Olah review – relentlessly anti-capitalist
![Bad Taste: Or the Politics of Ugliness by Nathalie Olah](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1592_Books_Bad-Taste_HERO.jpg?w=768)
Bad Taste by Nathalie Olah review – relentlessly anti-capitalist
This hidden gem Hull music venue counts Paul Heaton, Jarvis Cocker and Idles as friends
![Kaiser Chiefs headline The Adelphi in Hull's 30th birthday party](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/KaiserChiefs-1-credit-Ian-Rook-1.jpg?w=768)
This hidden gem Hull music venue counts Paul Heaton, Jarvis Cocker and Idles as friends
Napoleon review – a man at war with the world and himself
![joaquin phoenix as Napoleon](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1592_FIlm_Napoleon_Photo_0105.jpg?w=768)
Napoleon review – a man at war with the world and himself
Meet Museum of Homelessness poet Surfing Sofas: 'There's a special kind of love on the streets'
![Poet Surfing Sofas](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Surfing-Sofas.jpg?w=768)
Meet Museum of Homelessness poet Surfing Sofas: 'There's a special kind of love on the streets'
The LadBaby nightmare is finally over: What's next for the Christmas number one single race?
![Ladbaby promoting their bid for Christmas number one in London](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LadBaby.jpg?w=768)
The LadBaby nightmare is finally over: What's next for the Christmas number one single race?
'Meltdown averted for now': Grassroots music venues' relief at Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
![The Court House in Bangor - grassroots music venues were relieved at the autumn statement](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/court-house-First-Night-14.jpg?w=768)
'Meltdown averted for now': Grassroots music venues' relief at Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
Leonard Bernstein: Exploring the American composer behind Bradley Cooper's musical biopic Maestro
![Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1592_Music_Maestro_20221020_23291r.jpg?w=768)
Leonard Bernstein: Exploring the American composer behind Bradley Cooper's musical biopic Maestro
'The wine trade is changing': Is technology the solution to the great wine fraud?
![Illustration of a spilt glass of wine](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1591-Books-Illustration-1.jpg?w=768)
'The wine trade is changing': Is technology the solution to the great wine fraud?
Russell T Davies on returning to Doctor Who, queer representation and 'maddest' episodes yet
![Russell T Davies](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1591_Doctor-Who_Russell-T-Davies_448118.jpg?w=768)
Russell T Davies on returning to Doctor Who, queer representation and 'maddest' episodes yet
Listen to Sleaford Mods cover Pet Shop Boys classic West End Girls to raise money for Shelter
![Sleaford Mods have released West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys for homelessness charity Shelter](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Sleaford-Mods-Shelter.jpg?w=768)
Listen to Sleaford Mods cover Pet Shop Boys classic West End Girls to raise money for Shelter
Queens of the Stone Age review: Saving lives with joyous mayhem
![Queens of the Stone Age live in Glasgow on their The End is Nero tour 2023](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/QOTSA-live-Glasgow.jpg?w=768)
Queens of the Stone Age review: Saving lives with joyous mayhem
The Cure's Lol Tolhurst: 'I'm making a playlist for my funeral. It's about five hours' worth'
![A black and white picture of The Cure from 1986 with Lol Tolhurst on the right](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Cure-credit-Trinity-Mirror-Mirrorpix-Alamy-Stock-Photo.jpg?w=768)
The Cure's Lol Tolhurst: 'I'm making a playlist for my funeral. It's about five hours' worth'
Astronaut Chris Hadfield on sustainable space travel, Elon Musk and the modern-day space race
![Chris Hadfield next to an astronaut's suit](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1588-future-of-travel-space.jpg?w=768)
Astronaut Chris Hadfield on sustainable space travel, Elon Musk and the modern-day space race
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair review – a compelling account of the Rastafari movement
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1591_books_How-to-Say-Babylon_HERO.jpg?w=768)
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair review – a compelling account of the Rastafari movement
Top 5 quite interesting books about sport – selected by QI's James Harkin
![Close-up of a dartboard with a dart in the bullseye](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/anastase-maragos-X4zx5Vc_LZU-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Top 5 quite interesting books about sport – selected by QI's James Harkin
BBC Strictly's Angela Rippon: 'I'm showing that actually, people of a certain age can still exercise'
![Angela Rippon, Strictly Come Dancing 2023. Image: BBC](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1590_Angela-Rippon_444252.jpg?w=768)
BBC Strictly's Angela Rippon: 'I'm showing that actually, people of a certain age can still exercise'
Shock £300k bill from bankrupt council threatens Woking's only grassroots music venue
![Live band on stage at Fiery Bird grassroots music venue, part of the Phoenix Cultural Centre in Woking - Big Issue Venue Watch](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fiery-Bird-hero.jpg?w=768)
Shock £300k bill from bankrupt council threatens Woking's only grassroots music venue
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq review – coming of age in the Tundra
![Split Tooth book cover](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1591_books_Split-Tooth_HERO.jpg?w=768)
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq review – coming of age in the Tundra
The Big Issue's Christmas art wrapping paper is back – these are the stories behind the designs
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-design-17.jpg?w=768)