Paul Jones laughs a lot as he happily looks forward to the next few months. The singer, harmonica player, actor, radio personality and television presenter has had a stellar career – yet at the age of 79 he’s going on the road again with the band he made his name with, the Manfreds. Not only that: the group will be ...

By Jamie Thrasivoulou Derby Theatre 9–17 October 2021 Derby County fans have not had much to shout about in recent years. Currently, they are facing one of the bleakest periods in their history: millions of pounds in debt and slapped with a 12-point penalty for going into administration, which means they are likely to be relegated to League One. But ...

Reviews are coming in for my first crime novel, Storm Deaths. Book-mad Lou described it as a “fabulous debut novel” while Michelle called it “amazing” and “gripping”. The former Nottinghamshire coroner Dr Nigel Chapman said it is a “great read” and he “couldn’t put it down. It kept my interest from start to finish.” Emily F said she “struggled to ...

By Ayub Khan Din The Birmingham Repertory Theatre and National Theatre Venue: Birmingham REP 3–25 September 2021 Twenty-five years after its world premiere in the smallest space at Birmingham REP, Ayub Khan Din’s comedy drama about a mixed-race family trying to be accepted by the community in Salford in the early 1970s is back – this time on the theatre’s ...

By John Willard, adapted by Carl Grose The Classic Thriller Theatre Company Venue: Derby Theatre 7–11 September 2021 There is always a danger when calling yourself The Classic Thriller Company that audiences might not agree that a play you put on deserves the epithet “classic”. Bill Kenwright’s organisation could hardly be accused of that with its presentations of Sidney Gillat ...

They’re the unsung heroes who are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Yet many people don’t realise that the Derby Mountain Rescue Team is made up entirely of volunteers who dedicate themselves to helping others as well as holding down a full-time job. Whenever reports appear about the mountain rescue team going on a callout, readers ...