Reeta Chakrabarti has presented the news for years. Now she is making it herself with her debut novel. Deana Luchia is ready to read When Reeta Chakrabarti walks into a café next to Broadcasting House, the historic BBC headquarters on London’s Portland Place, I recognize her at once. No wonder. She has, after all, been presenting news bulletins on our screens since 2014. We’ve chosen the cafe for its proximity to the studios. After we’ve finished chatting about her debut nove

What on earth are men for? Marcus Brigstocke’s latest tour, which calls in at Twickenham this month, is about to reveal the answer. Here the funny, fast-talking comedian gives Deana Luchia a few hints Who were your male heroes growing up? Depending on the day of the week or the month or my age, sometimes my dad, but also sometimes specifically not my dad. Which is normal and healthy and right. He’s a great guy. The Fonz was very influential growing up. A man in his 40s who hu

Music lessons shouldn’t be a chore. Deana Luchia salutes a school that hits the right note I'm standing inside the vault of the old Barclays bank in the middle of Twickenham. Soon, this iconic building will be one of the rehearsal rooms for Britain’s first School of Rock. Guitar riffs, drumbeats and punchy vocals will be the currency that fills this vast space. I’m being shown around by Matias Puga Hamilton, School of Rock’s master franchise owner (and sometime drummer). He’s

★★★★ (4 out of 5) In a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Emma, playwright Ava Pickett and director Christopher Haydon go big on laughs in this hilarious, crowd-pleasing rom-com, playing at Kingston’s Rose Theatre until October 11 th . Pickett, an award-winning playwright and this season’s Writer in Residence at The National, adheres to Austen’s depiction of Emma Woodhouse as a meddling matchmaker, prone to boldly giving blunt and unkind critiques of her fam