That a tale of an ultra-orthodox Jewish family living in a closed Jerusalem community should attain a position in the affections of television viewers around the world says much about the enduring power of great storytelling. Maybe, coming as it did, as a global pandemic (and global isolation) unfolded did something to accentuate the power

I first met Derek Sharman a few years back at the Superpro Samui gym in Thailand. It was the late afternoon Muay Thai class – two-hours in blistering heat. Hands were being wrapped, Tiger Balm was being applied to tightened limbs, and the trainers were busy rallying students. This towering Adonis of a man approached

I’ve been lucky. My professional and personal lives bring me into contact with a vast array of people. I work in the boardroom advising chairmen and chief executives. While, at the totally opposite end of the spectrum, I walk into a boxing gym twice a week - you try doing that with any pretentious side,

Once again, we have the extremes of opinion muddying the waters and, in the process, probably doing more harm than good. I’m actually rather tired now of constantly hearing from some quarters that because I’m white I neither care nor have a conscience. I know how to treat my fellow human beings regardless of race,

The final issue of Lonely Planet Travel Magazine is out - and what a sad day it is for any of who care about the finest in print journalism. For many years, it's been one of the world's very best travel publications with terrific long-form features, the most captivating writing, absolutely stunning, transportive photography, and

I had a call from an 85-year-old acquaintance last night. She had an amazing career and, in her ninth decade, remains one of the most socially and politically aware people I know, exceptionally well-read, always beyond party politics and looking to the wider, most balanced and inclusive argument to any debate. She is also someone

If lockdown has taught me one thing it’s that elements of social media can be every bit as toxic as I’d previously feared. And, heaven knows, we’ve seen the very worst (alongside the very best) of human nature since we all went to ground in late March. I’m talking mostly about Twitter. Facebook can, at

The image of the sorry looking solo holidaymaker of old has been largely consigned to the bin – and the number of people travelling alone continues to rise. The reasons people now choose to holiday alone has shifted from one of necessity to situations dictated by personal preferences, interests and circumstances. The travel sector still

A couple of years ago I read an article by Janet Street-Porter in which she claimed the problem with this country is that for a worryingly large number of people the way they think can only ever been framed in black or white. Challenge them to engage in a grey, middle ground and they -

We all expect children to be active, curious and challenging when it comes to the world in which they’re developing as human beings – but it’s no easy ask in a digitally-driven age when screen time can take priority over just about everything else and in which technology can appear a dominant force from infancy.