Oscar Branning, portrayed by Pierre Counihan-Boullier, in ‘Eastenders’, has to be one of TV’s most problematic characters in decades. Oversexed and manipulative, he represents the bisexual representation problem. In fact, he embodies it. Flitting between two lovers, Jasmine and Josh, who both happen to be twins, he goes to one- or both- of them whenContinue reading “The Oscar Problem”
Tag Archives: Pop culture
Overlooked Classic: Japan – Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Stroking that rare sweet spot between art and pop, Japan eschewed easy or definitive classification. Of course, they were always inextricably linked to Japanese artist Yellow Magic Orchestra and in particular Riuyichi Sakamoto, who wrote the final track here- ‘Taking Islands In Africa ‘ – but there are classical influencers in the won ton soupContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: Japan – Gentlemen Take Polaroids”
From The List Archive
Live Review: A Girl And a Gun Taking pot shots at potboilers Share: Author: Lorna Irvine Taking pot shots at potboilers Louise Orwin’s funny yet trenchant show, A Girl and a Gun, exists in a hinterland where the good girl (in white) is every bit as damaging and pernicious as the femme fatale (in red) andContinue reading “From The List Archive”
Anatomy Of A Classic: Strawberry Switchblade
Everyone adored their hit single, ‘Since Yesterday’, but Strawberry Switchblade’s eponymous album had many more beautiful songs. In their aesthetic and musical DNA lies a plethora of influences. Sixties icons Brigitte Bardot and The Shangri-Las. Their look is the first obvious jumping -off point. There’s a strong goth look in the Siouxsie-esque make-up and corsets,Continue reading “Anatomy Of A Classic: Strawberry Switchblade”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8: Update
Mama Ru’s latest batch of UK queens: bloody hell, they’re a shady lot and no mistake. Don’t hold back, bitches! No sooner had the dust settled on the KY Kelly v Paris Baby furore, than there were yet more kerfuffles. Even the brilliantly named Anita Piss (pictured below) was getting in on the in-fights, andContinue reading “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8: Update”
Film Review: The Rolling Stones:Stones In Exile
Talk about first world problems. This insightful documentary from Stephen Kijak follows the (in)famous moment in rock history when The Stones were living as tax exiles in France in 1972, recording the classic, frankly brilliant ‘Exile On Main Street’ . Baked…and then there’s BAKED. Keef, chilling in the sun. In their fabulous interior at VilleContinue reading “Film Review: The Rolling Stones:Stones In Exile”
Anatomy of A Classic: Siouxsie and The Banshees- Peepshow
The apotheosis of everything they’d done up to that point, Siouxsie and The Banshees’ ninth album ‘Peepshow’ released in 1988, was arguably the best of their work, next to ‘JuJu’. Influenced by the flickering expressionist shadows of early German cinema, the Weimar Republic and torch songs, the album saw Siouxsie take off her signature CleopatraContinue reading “Anatomy of A Classic: Siouxsie and The Banshees- Peepshow”
Goodbye Dr. Bonnie Greer
Bonnie Greer, who has passed away after a short illness at seventy seven years old, was a courageous writer, playwright and broadcaster. She could often be found on ‘Question Time’ squaring up to right-wing bigots like Lawrence Fox and Nick Griffin. She was never bolshy, quiet and measured but outspoken. We are lesser without thisContinue reading “Goodbye Dr. Bonnie Greer”
T Shirt Day 2026
Do the Kardashian family or Justin Bieber really like metal? I can’t imagine either Kim, Justin or many of these other vain, moneyed celebs actually listening to metal, let alone going to their gigs, but at the risk of sounding like a gatekeeper, I will say it’s up to them. This led to Steve Lamacq,Continue reading “T Shirt Day 2026”
Five Perfect Pavement Songs
I woke up with Spit On A Stranger this morning as an earworm and it’s both caustic and beautiful, so here’s that very song along with four other beauties. Don’t say I’m not good to you.
