I was a massive fan of Trigger Happy TV back in the day. It’s wild to remember having to wait a week to see each episode whereas now you can binge an entire series in one sitting. But I’d be ready and waiting – quite possibly stoned – to watch the show every time.

So sitting down to interview Joly all these years later was a bit of a thrill. The man himself is now in his fifties, like me, and the conversation kicked off with the inevitable talk of age (he’d said he thought the idea of Silver Magazine was “a bit sad”). I’d just come back from a festival where my brain had been having fun, but my knees told a different story. I said I’d decided my body might be too old for festivals.

“I always think I’m 21,” agreed Joly. “It’s pathetic, but there you go. Festivals are just full of people our age acting like 21-year-olds, whereas the 21-year-olds are just sitting there getting really embarrassed.”

He isn’t wrong about GenX, behaving like kids where many younger people behave more like adults than we do. But Trigger Happy transcends, apparently. I mention how my daughter, who’s in her twenties, and her friends are obsessed.

Her reaction when I told her I’d be interviewing him? “Oh my fucking God, we all love Trigger Happy TV,” she said, and promptly messaged all her mates.

I wondered if he knew he has an army of younger fans

Joly seems nonplussed. “I had no idea at all,” he said. “Even my own children don’t know who I am.” I assured him this new audience is real. For younger viewers, part of the appeal is the jump-scare quality, the surreal surprises, the ‘cringe’. But most of all, I suspect, it’s the authenticity.

Joly agrees the landscape has changed. “When I did Trigger Happy, the whole point was to make hidden camera cool. I grew up on Game for a Laugh and Beadle’s About, which were just naff. I think I did make it cool.

“But hidden camera has always been the lowest rung in comedy. If you’re smart in comedy, you’re supposed to go and write sitcoms. In America, improv goes on to make Curb Your Enthusiasm and Spinal Tap. Here, improv has a terrible name.”

Two and a half decades on from the show, you realise just how much the world has changed

When Joly filmed those original sketches, nobody else was standing on the street with a camera. Today, everyone is – and they’re all uploading to socials before he’s even finished the gag.

He found this out the hard way when he revived his old traffic warden sketch. “I put on the old outfit, parked a car in the West End with forty tickets and four clamps. Before I’d even done the sketch, there were a hundred people around me filming. I got angry! It felt like I was providing content for their Instagram.”

Some things still work though. “One of my favourites was going into a builder’s yard with a crazy list: bag of MC Hammers, a forty-foot bastard, soggy chimps. That yard’s still there by Paddington. We did it again, new list, and it was even funnier. That’s going out and I’m really excited.”

He hates how fake much of the genre has become. “Hidden camera is the biggest format in the world because it’s everywhere online. But it’s almost entirely faked, and that really irritates me. Real people tend not to react weirdly. In fake ones they always overreact. You can smell it a mile off.”

I asked how he copes with the awkwardness of putting strangers in surreal situations. “I thrive on awkwardness, actually. People have called it cringe, and I hate that. The Office is supposedly cringe comedy. I don’t cringe. I positively encourage awkward situations because I like weirdness. I’m most alive when that’s happening.”

This attitude spills into his online life too…

Joly is notorious for sparring with trolls on social media. “It’s a war I’m never going to win,” he admitted. “But it just makes me… I think people don’t realise how toxic online is. I love an argument. If you wouldn’t say something to my face, don’t say it on here.”

He knows he’s not converting anyone. “I’ll kill one online, and another hundred pop up. It’s like whack-a-mole with wasps. I call it whack-a-cunt.”

For him, the internet has destroyed nuance. “Most of us are in the middle, with nuance. And nuance doesn’t exist online. Basically, you don’t get clicks for saying, ‘Well, on one hand, but on the other…’ The internet is a fucking nightmare. If I didn’t have to use it – and I do, it’s part of my job – I’d go offline in a second.”

What irritates him most is the online commentary that comes with resurfacing old clips. “Every time I show an old clip, half the comments are: ‘London, back when it was British. You do that now, you’d be stabbed.’ Total bollocks. I’ve just been and done it, no difference at all.

“The problems aren’t that people don’t have humour. The problems are things being stolen, or people assuming you couldn’t do it because it’s all ‘woke.’ What was un-woke about Trigger Happy? It’s ridiculous.”

We circle back to Trigger Happy TV

The show ended in 2002, but its legacy is everywhere. “Every day I get people going, ‘All you’ve got is one joke, shouting into a phone.’ And I’m like, wow, there were forty jokes in each show. I’m proud of it. Then suddenly I thought – fuck, it’s 25 years old!”

The prompt to create a new show came from a reuniting with his co-creator Sam Cadman, who had returned from years working in LA. Over a drink, the pair decided it was time to mark the anniversary. “It’s like my wedding,” Joly reflected. “I’m still married to Stacey and incredibly happy, but I didn’t enjoy my wedding. It just happened. I didn’t realise how big [Trigger Happy] was. I loved making it, but I never really celebrated it at the time.”

The result is Trigger Happy Live, a stage show designed not as a reboot but as a celebration.

“Essentially, I get asked the same questions every day about Trigger Happy. So this is all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask but were too afraid to. Showing clips, what happened behind the scenes, some old characters on stage, stuff happening to members of the audience. If you love Trigger Happy, come along.”

“People say, ‘Is that all you’ve got, 25 years on?’ And I go, I bet you’ve got Oasis tickets. What do you think Oasis are doing? They’re just playing their first two albums.”

He’s tested the idea by screening two episodes in a cinema. “Watching it in a communal setting is incredible,” he said. “Everyone laughed. Watching as a group really holds up, it’s still funny. It’s nostalgic.”

Critics who accuse him of laziness miss the point

“People say, ‘Is that all you’ve got, 25 years on?’ And I go, I bet you’ve got Oasis tickets. What do you think Oasis are doing? They’re just playing their first two albums. For me, it’s just fun. I’m proud of Trigger Happy, I’ve got all these stories, why not?”

I obviously asked about the giant phone. The official story has been that it was stolen but I said I suspected it was because he was sick of it. “I couldn’t possibly comment,” he says, looking mock shifty. Turns out I was right, as the phone made an appearance on Saturday morning TV a week after our conversation. I strongly suspect it will make an appearance in the shows – how could it not?!

The Trigger Happy Live tour begins in October, with four shows planned. Southampton was meant as a dress rehearsal, but Joly pulled it in favour of playing it properly. “If those go well, maybe I’ll do some [more] next year,” he said. “I don’t know if I want to. It is a retro show, and I’m not massively interested in doing retro. But if it works, if it’s funny, maybe.”

There’s a lot more to Joly than Trigger Happy, though…

The truth is Joly has never wants to sit still. “Yeah, I’ve always called myself a crap polymath,” he told me. “I think I have two skills. One comes from nowhere: the ability to be funny in improv. I don’t use a script, I don’t know where it comes from, but I’m good at it. But I do need Sam. He’s like the bass player in Coldplay – Chris Martin’s the face, but something about us working together makes it work.

“And [the other thing is] travel writing. I grew up obsessed with it, and Trigger Happy opened doors. I started with The Sunday Times, I’m now on my tenth book. If I could just live on travel writing, I’d do that. I’ve been to 108 countries. I love writing, love that no one can fuck with it. It’s yours, you hand it over.”

It frustrates him that people can’t reconcile the man in the squirrel suit with the man writing serious travel books. “People don’t like you jumping lanes. Trigger Happy was such a big hit, I’m pigeonholed. That’s fine, but I think some don’t take me seriously as a writer. I’ve done six serious travel books, a million words in print. What more can I do?”

Still, he loves the variety. “I like not being bored. It’s not a bad life. I’ve been lucky, but you have to keep working, keep reinventing, or you fade. Hunger is a creative drive.”

His new book takes him down yet another path

After immersing himself in conspiracy theories for his last project, he needed an antidote. “My new book is called The Soul Tourist: In Desperate Pursuit of Happiness. The idea being: as a late middle-aged, grumpy ex-goth, can I find happiness? Really, it’s me taking the piss out of wellness and happiness, but with the tiny hope I might stumble on something that works.”

His travels took him everywhere from India to Denmark. “I went to Rishikesh, where the Beatles went in ’68. I went to an Ayurvedic place in Bangalore. Drove around Denmark, supposedly the happiest country. Checked into a Benedictine monastery – didn’t last long. I went fly fishing, because my neighbour swore by it. It wasn’t for me. So yeah, I’ve been looking for happiness.”

…as a late middle-aged, grumpy ex-goth, can I find happiness? Really, it’s me taking the piss out of wellness and happiness…

I asked about comedy heroes. “Weirdly, I didn’t really grow up into comedy. I don’t watch much comedy, don’t go to see it. I was more into music. But Dennis Pennis was massive. I love Seinfeld. I’m obsessed with Larry David, and Spinal Tap.

“But the person that really influenced me, you’ll maybe never have heard of – Noël Godin. A Belgian anarchist. His philosophy was: there’s no better way of determining a person’s character than how they react when they’re custard-pied. He pied one newsreader twelve times because the guy kept overreacting. [And they never recorded it or screened it.] Totally pointless, gloriously weird. That’s what I love.”

It feels like a fitting influence. Before we wrap up, I asked what advice he’d give younger comedians today.

“When people say, ‘You couldn’t do this today,’ I don’t think that’s true. Whether something is funny or not is simple: if you’re punching down, it’s not funny. Punching up, it is. Absurd is just life. Don’t be frightened of stuff. It’s about intent.

“I say things that would probably get me ‘cancelled,’ but not because I mean harm. Some people think you can’t do things, but if it’s funny, it’s funny. If you don’t like it, scroll on. There’s no joke everyone finds funny – it’s subjective.

“So what I’d tell young comedians is: just start. Do it.”

Trigger Happy TV Live shows are in October
There are some Work in Progress shows too
Find out all the details at www.domjoly.tv/dom-joly-tour/

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Talking Trigger Happy, trolls, and travel with Dom Joly appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Martin Webb is not the sort of entrepreneur who fits neatly into a single box. Over the past three decades he has built and sold multimillion-pound businesses, volunteered thousands of hours as a police officer, mentored young people, and thrown himself into a range of charitable causes. Now he is turning his attention to politics, putting himself forward to be the first independent Mayor of Sussex in 2026.

Born and raised in Brighton, Webb left the city as a teenager to attend grammar school in Lancashire on a military scholarship before returning south to study business at the University of Brighton. By the ‘90s he had already co-founded what has been called “the largest hospitality company in the South.” Venue mix: pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, even a fitness centre. At its peak it had turnover of over £24 million, and more than 300 employees.

Selling that business might have been the end of the story for many entrepreneurs, but Webb has always been restless. He went on to open what he describes as the UK’s first social-enterprise pub in Brighton (the Robin Hood), where part of the profits were channelled directly into good causes.

He also set up a rural economy venture in France, hosted a business-based TV show, wrote a weekly business column for The Telegraph, and published his own crime novel, The Most Dangerous Man in Brighton. The ventures may have varied in scale and style, but they all share a focus on enterprise, creativity and community.

Working with the police…

Running in parallel with his business career has been a long commitment to volunteering. Webb signed up as a Special Constable with Sussex Police and went on to serve for many years as a Special Sergeant. He has saved lives on duty, earned medals and commendations from the Chief Constable, and was recognised for his contribution during the Covid pandemic.

He has also raised money for Greenpeace, supported the Off the Fence homeless charity, and mentored young entrepreneurs through the Prince’s Trust.

It is perhaps no surprise that this combination of commercial know-how and public service has led Webb to seek political office. He believes Sussex needs fresh leadership rooted in independence from party politics, and he is campaigning on issues that touch daily life: safer streets, better public transport, affordable housing, and more visible local policing. He talks often about his own family life in West Sussex with his partner, an NHS nurse, and their four children, linking his priorities back to the needs of ordinary households across the county.

In person, Webb is direct and energetic, the kind of man who clearly thrives on projects and ideas. His story so far is proof of a willingness to take risks. With the mayoral election on the horizon, he is stepping into a new arena – one where his mix of entrepreneurial drive and civic duty will face its biggest test yet.

I thought I’d put him through a few questions, find out what his plans are…

You’ve gone from the Brighton nightclub scene of the ’90s to standing for mayor of Sussex. How do you think your past has shaped the person you are today?

A lot has happened to me since the ’90s. I’ve set up loads of other businesses, been a TV presenter and writer, and spent nine years volunteering as a frontline police officer. I’ve also raised my family in Sussex. So yes, all those things combined have absolutely shaped who I am today – hopefully someone who’s grounded, sensible with lots of common sense and empathy.

Some people still remember you for that hedonistic nightlife era. Do you see that as a liability or an asset now you’re in politics?

One of the reasons I did well in the ’90s is that I wasn’t into the hedonistic party lifestyle myself. I was pretty sensible back then – busy building the business, employing lots of people and trying to deal with all the drama that being an entrepreneur throws your way. I’d like to think that building a big business in Brighton ought to be an asset in my campaign – it shows I’ve got a track record. And staying power.

You’ve built and sold several businesses. Which lessons from entrepreneurship are most relevant to running a county?

This is a really good question, as I’m always amazed that the ministers actually running the show have so little business experience.

One thing you learn in business is that if things are going badly, you need to do something positive to turn things around. That’s the opposite of what the government’s doing now.

As an example, the increase in NI contributions for employers is a tax on jobs. And as a result, businesses aren’t employing new people. It’s a crazy policy as it stops growth and will reduce tax income. It’s the opposite of what an entrepreneur would do, and shows a real lack of insight from those in charge.

On (TV show) Risking it All you mentored struggling entrepreneurs. What would you say to critics who think your success isn’t relatable to ordinary people?

I’d say my experience is totally relatable. I started with nothing – I didn’t have rich parents to help or any other form of outside help. I just worked my socks off doing something I loved doing. Can’t get more relatable than that, as I think that would be many people’s dreams.

You’ve written both business books and fiction. Do you think your creative side gives you a different perspective on leadership?

I’ve always tried to harness my creative side. My role as an entrepreneur has included being a designer, architect, advertising director, and so on. I love being creative and thinking of new, better ways to solve problems.

I think people are fed up with leaders banging away, using failed solutions, hoping things will turn out OK, when they clearly won’t. And I don’t want to do that. I aim to utilise originality and imagination to find solutions that work.

You spent years volunteering as a community police officer. What did that experience teach you about the realities of crime and policing in Sussex?

It taught me that there is too much crime and too few officers. It taught me that the police do their very best but get held back by lack of resources. Crime in real life is very unlike the angle you see in TV dramas. In reality, there’s so much crime linked to mental health issues and addiction.

You’ve spoken about being let down by the force during a crisis. What happened, and how has it influenced your views on how policing should be managed?

I had a collision with a drunk driver while I was on duty that resulted in me suffering from really bad PTSD. I was having panic attacks, insomnia for months afterwards, which led me to seek help for my mental health. It was awful; I literally thought I was going to die.

Sussex Police offered no support whatsoever. They acted as if they couldn’t care less, despite me volunteering two shifts a week and giving up most of my spare time to keep my community safe for years. It took them four months to even pick up the phone to see how I was.

I was shocked to learn the hard way that Sussex Police is a pretty poor employer. If I get elected, I’ll fight to change the culture at the top of Sussex Police. They need to do better for the brave and committed people who work there.

Do you think Sussex Police is currently fit for purpose? Where are they failing residents?

The latest Home Office report into Sussex Police rates them as ‘average’. I think the people of Sussex deserve better than average, and I’ll make sure we get the police service we need and demand.

The rank-and-file officers of Sussex Police are fantastic, but it’s higher up in the command team where things are less impressive. And change needs to happen quickly.

How would you balance the need for tougher policing with concerns about civil liberties?

I don’t think we have the balance wrong right now. I’m all for face recognition technology and other innovative ways to apprehend offenders.

Why Sussex? Why now? What made you decide to stand for mayor?

I’m a Sussex person, my family go back generations in the county, and it’s the place I love and call home. I’m also 60 years old, with a lifetime of relevant experience and skills.

Above all, I think I could really do the job well. I know I can make a real, positive difference to people’s lives by using two simple things: common sense and hard work. I’ve got the energy, vision and passion to make a real go of this.

What do you think is the single biggest issue facing Sussex today?

Crime is out of control in our towns and cities. This is the first thing I would address. People need to feel safer. We need to tackle the shoplifters. We need to crack down on anti-social behaviour. It’s simple.

How would your leadership style differ from career politicians?

I’ll be straight talking. I’ll listen. I won’t patronise people or speak in sound bites. I’ll be honest with people. I’ll be visible and not stuck behind a desk. I’m also not in it for the money like some.

You’ve created jobs through your businesses. What’s your plan for tackling unemployment and boosting local enterprise?

We need LOTS more investment that will lead to quality, well-paid jobs. I want to create an entrepreneurial culture in Sussex.

I’d like to see more investment and expansion in the areas we’re already excelling in; top-level manufacturing, media, and the tech sector

I also want to launch a mayor’s show to showcase Sussex products and services. We make, grow and produce some amazing wine, cheese, and other amazing items. We now need to shout from the rooftops about how great we are, across the UK, Europe, and even the USA – and get selling to the world.

Housing is a critical issue across the South East. What’s your approach to development versus protecting Sussex’s natural environment?

This is a massively complex problem, but in a nutshell, I’d favour brown-field over green-field development, and I’d want to ensure that large developments have conditions attached to provide infrastructure, such as doctors’ surgeries.

We need to build, but not at the cost of our amazing green spaces. Once fields disappear, they’re gone forever.

Do you see yourself as a populist candidate, or do you want to appeal to the centre ground?

I see myself as the local home-grown candidate who’s in touch with regular working people. I think I ‘get’ what concerns people most, and I think I can come up with practical, workable solutions to get our problems fixed.

Politically, I’m pretty much in the centre ground. But what’s more important is that I’ll always put Sussex first – I think that’s what people really want.

If you win, what’s the first tangible change Sussex residents will notice in your first year as mayor?

The first thing I’ll do is make our county safer and crack down on crime. In the first year, I’ll focus on shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, and rural fly-tipping.

People will notice more hi-viz foot patrols in our towns and cities. I’ll try to make people feel safer – if I can achieve that, it will be a good start.

As you can imagine, the first year will be incredibly busy for me if I am elected, and my other priority will be to do everything possible to boost business across the county.

www.martinwebb.com

(Martin Webb has neither paid for nor received any payment for this article)

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Martin Webb – the man who would be mayor appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Bob Dylan’s 2025 tour comes to the UK this November. The icon is back touring his 2020 album Rough and Rowdy Ways, following a run of performances at the Royal Albert Hall late last year.

Dylan is visiting eight different cities across the UK and Ireland this November, from Brighton to Killarney. Interestingly, no London date is scheduled for this tour. Fans in the south of England will have to try their luck at getting tickets to the one Brighton show scheduled. Or maybe head to Swansea where he’ll be performing for three nights!

Read more: Gary Kemp on ageing in the music industry

Keeping it exclusive

If you’re a Dylan fan, getting tickets to the tour is your only chance at seeing the 84 year old perform though. Dylan has partnered with Yondr (which works with educators, artists, organisations and individuals around the world to create phone-free spaces) to keep these shows completely phone free. So, for those who can’t get tickets, there’ll be no chance of watching footage on social media the following day. Or maybe little chance. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone snags any secret footage!

It seems like a rigorous effort though. Individuals will have to pop their phone away in a pouch when arriving at shows. The pouch locks in certain areas of the venue, preventing attendees from accessing them in auditoriums.

The phone free environment aims to encourage fans to connect with the music, and engage with the artist in the moment.

Bob Dylan sings “The Times They Are A-Changin’” in the East Room of the White House

This isn’t the first time Bob Dylan has employed phone locking pouches at his shows. In 2024, phones were banned in several shows of his European leg, including Dylan’s three-night run at the Royal Albert Hall. Other artists like Bruno Mars and Swedish rock group, Ghost, have also employed phone locking pouches at their shows in recent years.

Exclusive or exclusionary? It certainly brings a ‘you had to be there’ element to live shows, but does leave fans high and dry who couldn’t get a ticket or had other commitments clashing with tour dates.

After tickets?

Set your alarms, tickets for the UK & Ireland dates go on sale Friday 18 July at 10am.

You can find all dates and ticket availability on Bob Dylan’s website. (We’ve popped them down below for ease too!)

UK & Ireland tour dates

7 Nov: Brighton Centre, Brighton
9 Nov: Building Society Arena, Swansea
10 Nov: Building Society Arena, Swansea
11 Nov: Building Society Arena, Swansea
13 Nov: Building Society Arena, Coventry
14 Nov: First Direct Arena, Leeds
16 Nov: Armadillo, Glasgow
17 Nov: Armadillo, Glasgow
19 Nov: Waterfront, Belfast
20 Nov: Waterfront, Belfast
23 Nov: INEC, Killarney
24 Nov: INEC, Killarney
25 Nov: 3Arena, Dublin

GET TICKETS HERE

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Bob Dylan 2025 tour goes device free appeared first on Silver Magazine.

From fighter jets to Formula 1, makers of Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are once again putting audiences in the driver’s seat. Designed specifically for IMAX, F1: The Movie offers an unprecedented, immersive racing experience.  

Shot during actual live F1 races and enriched by the expertise of Lewis Hamilton as producer, this groundbreaking film captures the speed, danger, and drama of motorsport like never before. Take it from us. You are RIGHT there in the driving seat, literally and figuratively. 

We sent along F1 fan and aficionado Emily Tate to the premiere to check out the film before it hits the theatres. Here’s everything you need to know, from the first lap to the checkered flag. But first, a word from Brad.

A scene from Apple Original Films’ “F1® The Movie,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

A (Brad) Pitt-stop 

The A-list cast from F1: The Movie has certainly revved-up expectations. Star of Fight Club, Inglorious Bastards and Bullet Train, Brad Pitt is no stranger to an action film. Speaking about F1: The Movie, Pitt share his awe at driving real F1 cars. 

“I still don’t know how we got away with it,” he said about how he, alongside producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski, made what Pitt called “the most visceral driving experience that’s ever been put on film.”

And what they got away with was putting Pitt and his fellow actor Damson Idris into professional race cars and filming them at top speeds. “The forces in these cars, the high-speed corners, the physics of it all want to rip your head from your shoulders,” says Pitt. “It’s shocking what these cars can do. And it’s a high unlike any high I’ve ever experienced before. We just couldn’t capture it any other way.”

Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in Apple Original Films’ “F1® The Movie,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Scott Garfield Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films

Joseph Kosinski and Brad Pitt on the set of Apple Original Films’ “F1® The Movie,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Scott Garfield. Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures / Apple Original Films

It’s a film that will appeal to everyone, not just F1 fans…

Pitt says that the magic of the movie is the way it will appeal equally to longtime fans of the sport and to anyone who’s never even heard of Formula 1. “Threading that needle was the biggest challenge. But I think we’ve done that; made it enlightening enough and understandable for newcomers without dumbing it down for ultra fans. It’s funny, it’s aggressive, it’s driving, and it’s surprisingly heartwarming. I love all these characters. I think this film is so damn entertaining on so many levels.”

Joining Pitt is Damson Idris as his teammate-come-rival Joshua Pearce. Poised as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic rising stars, you may recognise him from his role as drug kingpin Franklin Saint in FX’s Snowfall. Or from his roles in Black Mirror and Swarm.

Pursuing something more adrenaline-driven, Idris has always hankered after a heart-stopping physical opportunity like this film. Speaking to GQ recently, Idris says, “I said I wanted to play an athlete and along came F1.” Later, discussing the film in an interview with the NME he adds, “It’s relatable for people who aren’t even F1 fans because it’s not only about being an underdog, but about being given a second chance. That’s something everyone deserves.” 

DAMSON IDRIS as Joshua Pearce in Apple Original Films’ “F1® The Movie,” a Warner Bros movie. Photo by Scott Garfield Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films

Rounding out the star-studded crew (and offering the only strong female character in the whole show) is Kerry Condon, most recently from Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. And Javier Barden, who played a key role in the viral and critically acclaimed series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Capping this all off is Game of Thrones star, Tobias Menzies. 

Read more: You’re never too old, and it’s never too late

The premiere – our take on the film 

We asked Emily to attend this exclusive event for us because she’s an experienced F1 fan who’s worked in live events for years. She’s spent a lot of time at F1 tracks, and knows what’s she’s talking about. So, what did she think? 

“From what I had heard and seen I had a feeling it would be very different to any sport-based film I’d seen before, as it had been filmed so closely alongside the actual sport,” she says. “I thought it would give a good insight behind the scenes of Formula One. 

“I think the film felt amazingly immersive. Not just like being in an F1 car, but also the real-life races and racing environment. I loved that the film included real-time F1 drivers, team principals, broadcasters, and press.”

“I was also pleasantly surprised with the humour and comedy elements that were brought into it. You really felt as though you were almost watching a documentary or someone’s real life.” 

The film seems very male-oriented. In fact, most of the characters throughout are male. Is it just a lot of dick-waving macho behaviour, or is there more to it? 

“Kerry Condon, who played the first female engineer, really showed the strength that women in F1 actually have. It’s obviously a very male dominated sport, but her character really represented a strong and intelligent woman in a role that would have stereotypically been seen as a male role. 

(l-r) Kerry Condon as Kate and Kim Bodnia as Kaspar in Apple Original Films’ “F1® The Movie,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films

“I think Brad Pitt and Damson Idris were brilliant. Damson really stood out, and I think you could pick up the influence that Lewis Hamilton has had on the film. Maybe how he may have felt at the start of his own career as a young black, British F1 rookie.” 

Let’s talk about the driving scenes… 

“These were amazing and something I’ve never seen done so well in a movie before. Both drivers actually drove the cars in the film during live races. And you really felt as if you were in the car with them. Because the races were shot during real race weekends with the current drivers it felt very current, and very real! 

“It’s also something that true-blue F1 fans will love. There are so many references to in-jokes within the sport circles. There’s a lot of the real team owners, principals and drivers in it too, so you get to see the sport from so many different angles.” 

A scene from Apple Original Films’ “F1® The Movie,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films

The storyline is perhaps inevitably secondary to the incredible tech and visual experience that the film offers. And to be fair, it’s not exactly a plot that will have anyone scratching their heads to understand. Without giving away too many spoilers: 

“The storyline about the team being the underdog and the outcome of the races felt very predictable, until the final race comes around where it is touch and go, and you don’t know what might happen. I won’t say any more than that! 

“With the romance plot (there is one!), again because this did feel completely predictable. But I think it worked well within the overall story line so that it wasn’t just about the racing.” 

And so, any final words?  

“You could definitely feel the influence of Lewis in this film heavily. From how the drivers would interact with each other, how strategy meetings are led, how everyone interacts in the team garage to everything that goes on back at the teams HQ it just felt very real.”  

“Everyone and anyone will enjoy this film. It’s not an intellectual challenge, but equally, you really don’t have to be an F1 fan to enjoy it.” 

What do the critics say? 

So far, F1: The Movie has received glowing reviews:

• IMDb: 7.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
• Common Sense Media: 4/5
• The Guardian: ★★★★ – “Spectacular macho melodrama”

The consensus? F1: The Movie is ‘fresh’ and ‘fast-paced’. It delivers the emotional punch of an underdog story with the high-octane thrills of a live Grand Prix. Whether you’re a racing diehard or a total newcomer, this film puts you right on the track – and doesn’t ease off the gas.

F1: The Movie in UK cinemas from 25 June 2025.
F1: The Movie official website

Emma Cruickshank

Emma is a literature, TV, and film enthusiast. When she’s not writing, she can normally be found out in the Sussex countryside, walking her dog Herbie, or in a restaurant drinking an overpriced cocktail and dreaming up ideas for her next literary endeavour.

The post Brad Pitt on F1: The Movie and our review  appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Susanna Hoffs hasn’t really ever stopped producing music. But this new launch is different; this is a treasure trove of old songs from the ‘90s that didn’t get released. Hoffs recorded the tracks for The Lost Record in 1999. The songs were co-written with friends, including Bill Bottrell and Go-Go’s members Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin, with Dan Schwartz joining her to produce the album. And the tracks were recorded in her garage, a setting that holds special significance for her. “I love garage rock. Many of my favourite songs were written in garages, and I even lived in them during the ’80s.”

Susanna Hoffs is Zooming from — for reasons that sound like they should be more interesting, but actually aren’t — the spare bedroom of Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding’s house in California. She is dressed in pink and black; she’s always dressed in pink and black when we talk. She very much likes pink and black.

Susanna Hoffs, photo: Shervin Lainez

“Are you going to get my age right this time?” she teases. “You’re not going to make me any older than I actually am, again?”

Early last year I conducted a flurry of interviews with Hoffs, best known as one of the co-founders of The Bangles (where I got some dates wrong, hence the teasing). She’s often described as the lead singer of the band that, from the early ‘80s onwards, tore up the charts with singles such as Manic Monday, Walk Like an Egyptian, Eternal Flame, and their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s Hazy Shade of Winter. Which (whisper it) I always thought was better than the original. But The Bangles — Hoffs, Vicki Peterson, Debbie Peterson, Michael Steele (the latter replaced founding bassist Annette Zilinskas, who later rejoined the band) — was always a four-vocals group.

Last year she realised a long-held ambition and saw her debut novel, This Bird Has Flown, published. And now comes the release of The Lost Record.

I tell Hoffs that it’s 40 years since the release of the Bangles’ debut album, All Over The Place, which would produce the singles Hero Takes a Fall and Going Down to Liverpool. “Are you sure?” says Hoffs. “You know what you’re like with dates.”

And yet, impossibly, it is. The band had previously released a five-track EP in 1982, but this was their first proper studio album. And it would bring them to the attention of not only the music industry, but artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Huey Lewis, who would get the band to open for them. And, most crucially, Prince.

The Bangles 1984. Photo: Aurelio Jose Barrera, Los Angeles

By the time the Bangles released Manic Monday in 1986 and Eternal Flame in 1989, their superstardom was assured — the latter single hit number one in nine countries. But the Bangles of five years earlier in 1984, when Hoffs was 25, was a less polished, more raucous affair.

“It was a very thrilling and exciting time to be in a band,” says Hoffs. “I mean, those pre-internet days. We advertised shows mostly by flyers, ads in free magazines like Recycler,” It was a real punk ethos, crystallised when she went to see what would turn out to be the last Sex Pistols live concert, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco in 1978, when Hoffs was a student at the University of California, Berkeley.

She began studying theatre, then switched to dance, and finally settled on art, which was what she graduated with. “I jumped around a little, but by the end that all kind of coalesced into one big love of art in all its forms. And when I put that ad in for band members I think it was because at that point the idea of being in a band just seemed like the ultimate art project to me.”

Hoffs turned 65 in January. It seems a significant age.

I tell her that in the UK it was always a long-standing joke that when you hit that point you get your bus pass, though I have no idea if that’s still true. She laughs. “I know! Over here, we’d say I’m now eligible for Medicare!”

In the ‘80s especially, Hoffs was considered one of the most beautiful women on the planet. Before our interview she had posted on her social media a cover from Spin magazine, for which she was the cover girl for their “first annual swimsuit issue”. Given that the Bangles started off as a punky guitar band, how did she handle being called a sex symbol?

Hoffs laughs a little awkwardly. “I think part of that came from the rise of MTV in the 1980s,” she says. “Suddenly it wasn’t enough to just put out a record, there had to be a video with it. There were so many iconic videos at that time, and artists like Madonna were really pushing the sexuality. I used to handle that by creating a persona, really, for when I was performing.” She breaks out into a broad grin. “It’s like Nigel Tufnel in Spinal Tap. This dial goes up to 11. And that’s what it was like for me. I dialled it up to 11.”

Hoffs is a huge movie fan. Last year she did a feature for the Criterion film collection, highlighting her favourite movies. She included Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, La Piscine and Klute among her eclectic selections. One night she emails me out of the blue to ask if I’ve ever seen The Servant, the 1963 psychological thriller starring Dirk Bogarde.

It’s no surprise Hoffs loves film. She was born in LA in 1959, and her mother Tamar was then a film-maker, her father Joshua a psychoanalyst. Celebrities regularly visited the house (especially for her father’s expertise in a field that was in its relative infancy). One family friend was Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy, who appeared in the video for Going Down to Liverpool. She is married to Jay Roach, the film director with the Austin Powers movies on his CV, among many others, with who she has two sons. She is currently writing the screenplay for the movie adaptation of her novel This Bird Has Flown, which was published a year ago.

Hoffs has appeared in movies. Notably as the delightfully-named Gillian Shagwell in the Austin Powers movies, part of the band Ming Tea. And in the 1987 movie The Allnighter, directed by her mother. The cover of The Allnighter very much leans into Hoffs’ sex symbol status, featuring her in pink underwear.

I wonder if Hoffs still considers herself a sex symbol. She is very active on social media, especially Instagram. Her Facebook account has comments turned off on posts, but within minutes of her putting up a video on Insta, there are thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, many of them from men declaring they are in love with her, in lust with her, and worse.

Last summer, when she was over in the UK to promote her book, we met for lunch in London, and I mused that her direct message inbox must be an absolute bin-fire. She winced a little, and said that she has someone to filter out the worst of it before she sees it. So, I ask her. Does she still feel like a sex symbol today?

“I don’t think of myself as a sex symbol. I don’t think of myself that way. Or are we talking about sex? I mean, I’m 65 now, I’m not going to retire from it, that makes zero sense. A lot of my friends are my age and older and, you know, we talk about it and we’re not going to retire from that, ever.”

I don’t think of myself as a sex symbol. I don’t think of myself that way

I find myself blushing. That said, there’s a fair bit of sex in her novel, This Bird Has Flown. It’s the story of Jane Start, an ever-so slightly faded pop star who goes to London to recharge her batteries, and ends up in a swoonsome relationship with a slightly uptight but good-looking Oxford professor. Jane is pretty much a one-hit wonder, now resorting to doing private shows for bachelor parties in nightclubs, her big success a song gifted to her by international superstar Jonesy. There has been speculation that Jonesy is a Prince analog; the purple one gifted the Bangles the song Manic Monday, and acted as something of a mentor for Hoffs. There was endless speculation about whether they were in a relationship, which Hoffs keeps her own counsel on.

She does call him a “supernatural talent” though, saying his live performances were just incredible to watch. In the 1990s Prince would help her indirectly, as well… when she was about to go on stage, when she was ramping up that public Susanna Hoffs performance to 11, she would listen to Let’s Go Crazy on her Walkman to get into the zone.

“It enabled me to make that transition from me to the other me” she says. “Things got giddy and crazy. And sometimes it took a while to come down from that, to get back to me.”

Susanna Hoffs Self Portrait in Garage 1994

Hoffs still performs and writes music. Around the same time her novel came out last year, she released a new album, The Deep End, her fifth solo album, before The Lost Record this year. For her, ageing is not something to be necessarily worried about.

“I think ageing is about learning to love yourself,” she says thoughtfully. “Acceptance is very important. We have to accept changes in our lives and bodies, because anything other than accepting who you are is going to drive you crazy.”

Hoffs often posts videos and photos of herself on her social media without make-up, just dossing around her house. “I think that’s important, too,” she says. “At least to me. Being comfortable in who you are, and who you’ve become. I think the trick is to stay positive, if you can, to find the joy in life, to keep active, to seek inspiration everywhere. One thing is guaranteed, we all get older, and I think life is better if you follow the direction of that river than fighting against it. We just need to embrace ageing and get on with life.”

“…You’re going to get older. The only thing about that which makes sense to me is just embrace it. I mean, what’s the alternative?”

It being 40 years since the first Bangles album came out, would Hoffs swap being 65 for being 25 again, if that magic of the movies could work? She laughs, “Oh, no chance. I think the wisdom and experience that comes with living is far more valuable.”

If we were going to employ that movie magic so Hoffs could meet her 25-year-old self, what would she tell her?

She thinks about it. “My job at that time was really stressful. Don’t get me wrong, it was very enjoyable, and I feel so lucky that I got to do it. There was so much travelling, and it was very difficult to stay grounded and to carry on relationships.

“I think I’d tell 25-year-old Susanna not to be so hard on herself. To not judge herself so harshly. To worry less. I’d tell her not to question herself so much and to be less afraid, to be more fearless.

“I think being in your 20s can be very anxiety-inducing, and I suppose that goes the same for young women today. You’re trying to figure out your place in the world. One thing is certain, and it’s probably not what young women want to hear or think about but it’s unavoidable. You’re going to get older. The only thing about that which makes sense to me is just embrace it. I mean, what’s the alternative?”

We wrap things up. Susanna Hoffs has a screenplay to write, and a new book to think about, and a new record to promote. The bus pass will just have to wait, it seems.

Buy Susanna Hoffs The Lost Record here, released 18 October 2024

Buy This Bird has Flown, novel by Susanna Hoffs here

David Barnett

David Barnett is an author and journalist, originally from Wigan and now living in West Yorkshire. His latest novel is the folk horror WITHERED HILL, from Canelo, and forthcoming, a magical Christmas rom-com, THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS LIBRARY (Orion). He is married to Claire, a journalist, and they have two children, Charlie and Alice.

The post Susanna Hoffs: The Lost Record… and the good life appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Dying with dignity on your own terms has historically usually meant a trip to Switzerland. But there is an alternative for those who want some control over their ending. Meet the ‘Living Will’.

To some, death can be a scary concept. However, for many people, the thought of being kept alive in a state where you are unable to move, communicate, and/or recognise yourself and loved ones can be equally or even more terrifying.

…if ending your days on this planet hooked up to a ventilator, feeding tube, or oxygen mask isn’t something you’d choose, there is something you can do about it

There are a number of conditions that can affect your brain and body, including dementia, degenerative diseases, or those that affect the central nervous system, such as motor neurone disease. People with terminal illnesses like cancer can also end up having their lives prolonged way past the point anybody would wish.

There are also traumas, such as a catastrophic brain injury, car accident and so on. You get the picture. Any or all of these could leave you in a state where life is never going to improve, but you’re kept alive because that’s the law.

But if ending your days on this planet hooked up to a ventilator, feeding tube, or oxygen mask isn’t something you’d choose, there is something you can do about it.

Read more: Swedish death cleaning – get your affairs in order before you die

Have you heard of a Living Will?

Many people are unaware of Living Wills. In fact, according to a  2020 report, only 13% of UK adults have a written Living Will.

It’s also a good idea to discuss your options with healthcare professionals

A Living Will, also known as an ‘advanced decision’, is a form that allows you to refuse medical treatment if you do not wish to have it in the future.

It is legally binding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and allows you to outline your treatment choices to your family, carers, and health professionals if you don’t have the mental capacity or are unable to communicate your wishes yourself. You plan this in advance, when you’re still fit and able. And it’s logged, ready to be activated when you can no longer advocate for yourself.

This means today you could protect the future you from having to endure the indignity of being helpless whilst you genuinely just wait to die.

It might sound brutal, but people may opt for a Living Will for many reasons, including:

– Not wanting their life artificially prolonged
– Want to make it easier for their family
– Wanting to be prepared and in control of their own choice
– Been diagnosed with a serious illness

How does this all work?

Whilst there are several ways to set something like this in motion (ask your solicitor), Compassion in Dying is the UK’s most recommended and trustworthy Living Will service provider.

Their main goal is to improve the dying experience in the UK by allowing people to take charge of how they want to end their lives.

To be clear; this is NOT the same as euthanasia. The refusal of treatment is not the same as asking someone to help you end your life.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are the acts of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve their suffering. They are illegal under British law. However, creating a Living Will allows you to make your own choices ahead of time, and is perfectly legal.

How to set it up

With a step-by-step guide, Compassion in Dying has helpfully made it easy. You must be over the age of eighteen and have the mental capacity to make a Living Will.

Their service includes a card, which you carry with you, a bit like the old organ donor cards

What should I think about?

Consider the circumstances where you’d want to be able to opt out of living if you could. Getting diagnosed with a terminal illness, for example, being catastrophically injured and left helpless or catatonic. But think also about the lives of those who care about you. It’s a journey that you and the loved ones surrounding you will face together, so it’s important to discuss this with them too.

It’s also a good idea to discuss your options with healthcare professionals. Explore the risks and benefits of different treatments that are available in the future, and consider what refusing treatments can mean.

In the end, your decision is yours and should be respected. If you have the mental capacity to think about how you want to be treated or not, then you should have the right to do so.

“What matters most is ensuring my family don’t have to make hard decisions about me and my health.”
Compassion in Dying

Elena Harris

Elena is one of Silver’s interns. She has a love for illustrating, reading, and all things media-related. She is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur who spends her free time in coffee shops sketching and journalling.

The post Dying with dignity: choosing your own exit strategy appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Sam on BBC radio, doing an interview, and talking all things Coming of Age, and why it’s worth hanging in there. Why things get better, and what there is to look forward to after 50. And the strength that comes from sharing that midlife is tough, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, and she’s living proof.

Click below to listen to the full interview. If you want to read Sam’s article, the one that kicked off this interview, you can read that here…

What is Midlife Coming of Age? It’s bloody brilliant, that’s what

Click here to listen to full interview

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The post Sam full interview on BBC radio – Midlife Coming of Age appeared first on Silver Magazine.

To celebrate the month of June, we’re brushing up on our LGBTQ+ history with seven of the most influential icons of the community. We’ve got a long old history of hard-fought fights and iconic individuals, so why not show some, er, pride?! But who are the most influential and famous LGBTQ+ icons through history? 

We’ve tracked some extraordinary people doing extraordinary things, from the 1700s to the present day.  In no particular order…

Marsha P Johnson

Marsha P Johnson (1945-1992)

As one of the most well-known names on this list, Marsha P Johnson was a self-identified drag queen and rights activist. She was a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and vital to the Stonewall riots of 1969. 

The Stonewall riots began what we know as Pride today, a protest and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Johnson was essential in the formation of Pride – some even say she threw the first brick. 

The ‘first brick’ story has since been debunked, but that doesn’t make Johnson’s involvement and continued activism any less amazing. 

Beyond Stonewall, Johnson was a vocal activist, forming multiple organisations to support fellow members of the LGBTQ community. She protested for the rights of gay and transgender people, as well as supporting those affected by the AIDS crisis.  

Whether she threw the first brick or not, Marsha P Johnson will always remain one of the most influential icons of LGBTQ+ history. 

Alan Turing

Alan Turing (1912-1954) at Princeton University, 1936

Alan Turing is among the most well-known LGBTQ+ figures, and for good reason. As a World War Two computer scientist, Turing cracked the German cipher in an essential breakthrough for the war effort. He was also the source behind many other scientific breakthroughs, such as the Turing machine, which solves abstract mathematical conundrums. 

Sadly, despite Turing’s crucial work, he was still prosecuted in 1952 for his homosexuality, undergoing outdated medical treatment to both ‘cure’ and punish him. He died just two years later. Whether this was by suicide or whethr he was poisoning remains a mystery. 

Turning’s death is truly a tragedy, but his legacy lives on in countless memorials, from buildings, to awards, to computer programs and more. As a truly influential figure of LGBTQ+ history, Turing is also memorialised in the 2013 Alan Turing law. This law pardoned him and many of their crime of homosexuality. Homosexuality is no longer a crime in the UK today, and Turing is one of many to thank for that. 

Anne Lister

Anne Lister (1791-1840)

Anne Lister was born in Yorkshire in 1791, and grew up to be a landowner, a lesbian, and an all-round awesome icon in our history. 

Lister was a hot topic of conversation back in day for her masculine gender presentation, and her ‘masculine’ position as a landowner. Both were very uncommon for women at the time, making her stand out against the status quo. 

She is best known today from Gentleman Jack, a TV show based on her diary entries and letters to partner Ann Walker. Same-sex marriage was illegal at the time, but that didn’t stop the pair from deciding they were married anyway. That’s an incredible level of confidence you just have to respect. 

Clearly Lister was no sheep, no matter the stares or insults she faced. Gentleman Jack even names itself after a common insult for Lister, a modern day slap in the face to those who mocked her. Needless to say, she’s an absolute icon of LGBTQ+ history.

Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk (1930-1978) at Gay Pride, San Jose 1978

Harvey Milk, born in 1930, was the first openly gay US official. He was elected to public office in California following a proud history of gay rights activism. 

Milk was an outstanding figure of protest, with intense and brilliant quotes such as, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” He was tragically killed in this exact way. Just a year after entering office, he was assassinated by a fellow American politician. 

His short time in office didn’t stop Milk from fighting for essential changes to US laws. He strived for the protection of LGBTQ+ Americans, sponsoring a bill which banned sexuality-based discrimination in housing and employment. This bill passed, marking an incredible milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in America. 

He’s celebrated today with the 2008 film Milk, based on his incredible life as an activist, politician, and influential LGBTQ+ icon. Though his political career was cut short, his contributions to LGBTQ+ history were essential in the fight for change. 

Another article you may like: What your transgender child wishes they could tell you 

April Ashley

April Ashley (1935-2021)

Born in 1935, April Ashley was one of the first people to undergo gender-affirming surgery in the UK. As a transgender rights activist, Ashley was prominent in the fight for equality. Even her own divorce case was used for positive legal change to benefit the transgender community. 

In the 1960s, her husband requested an annulment on the grounds that Ashley was not legally a woman. This atrocious reasoning was then approved, with their annulment being granted in 1970. All because Ashley’s legal gender was stuck as male with no way to change it. 

Even though Ashley lost the case, her story was still used in 2004 to help pass the Gender Recognition Act. Through this, she was finally allowed to change to her legal gender to female after over 60 years. 

As a vocal transgender activist, and key figure in the fight for gender-affirming laws, April Ashley continues to be remembered as an incredibly influential figure in LGBTQ+ history. 

Radclyffe Hall

Radclyffe Hall (1880-1943)

Marguerite Antonia Radclyffe Hall (known by her penname John) was an English poet and author born in the late 19th Century. She is best known for her 1928 novel The Well of Loneliness, a novel that truly cements her legacy as an icon of LGBTQ+ history. 

The novel depicts a lesbian relationship – still very much taboo for the time – and ends with the extraordinary line, “Give us also the right to our existence.”  

Unsurprisingly, such an iconic work was banned for its “scandalous” content, but that didn’t stop Radclyffe Hall’s influence from spreading far and wide. Especially among those who needed it most. 

Radclyffe Hall’s work became symbolic of those stuck in the closet (to use a more modern term). It represented LGBTQ+ people unable to represent themselves in a world where self-expression remained a crime. Having offered a voice for those who needed it most, Radclyffe Hall deserves to be celebrated as a brilliantly influential LGBTQ+ icon. 

Chevalier d’Eon

The Chevalier D’Eon (1728 -1810) from the London Magazine 1777, British Cartoon Prints Collection

Born in 1728, Chevalier d’Eon was one of the first transgender and gender non-conforming people in modern European history. They were a French diplomat, soldier and spy as part of a secret organisation under King Louie XV. An incredibly cool figure for our queer history tour. 

They presented as both masculine and feminine in their lifetime until 1777. That year, the king officially recognised d’Eon as a woman, so long as they presented as feminine for the rest of their life. A pretty bizarre deal for gender recognition by today’s standards. But it did come with a free wardrobe courtesy of the king himself. And d’Eon got to keep their incredible undercover life.  

D’Eon is known by many for their fencing prowess. Including defeating a French soldier in one particularly influential duel while presenting as a woman. Their legacy has been celebrated by many well-known figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft, for their incomparable contributions to both women’s rights and transgender rights. 

As a remarkable soldier, spy, and one of the first to legally transition, d’Eon is definitely an LGBTQ+ icon to be proud of.

Lady Phyll

Phyll Opoku Gyimah (1974 – )

Phyllis Akua Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, is a political activist, campaigning for both LGBTQ+ rights and anti-racism. For anyone noticing the use of present tense there, you read right. Lady Phyll remains an influential rights activist to this day, still going strong in her co-founded charity and event UK Black Pride. 

UK Black Pride was formed in the hopes of uniting and celebrating LGBTQ+ people of colour, promoting unity and advocating for anti-racism within and towards the community. Self-described as both a party and a protest, its contribution to LGBTQ+ history is essential, fighting for a more inclusive LGBTQ+ community. 

Lady Phyll will undeniably go down in history as an influential icon of the LGBTQ+ community. And she continues to be politically active today, acting as Chief Executive of her own charity. Her influential story is far from over, and so is the fight for change. 

The future of Pride 

We can learn a lot from the influential LGBTQ+ icons of the past. What unites us all is not our struggles, but instead the strength of our community. It is our united fight for a better future that makes Pride what it is today.  

And it’s not over yet. We still have a long way to go in our fight for equality. 

To get involved, consider checking out the official Stonewall website for more information on events, charities and protests.  

Aiden Winn

Aiden is an editorial and production staffer at Title Media. He’s constantly looking for opportunities to have fun and get creative, whether it be art, baking, storytelling… you name it!

The post Pride. The kickass famous LGBTQ+ icons through history appeared first on Silver Magazine.

As you can imagine, we are all over this. The Silver Marketing Association (SMA) supports promotes best practice and ethical marketing to the mature market. This means everything from promoting causes like the Age Friendly Employer Pledge to undertaking important research work into the various aspects of the silver sector. They champion businesses in the sector – Silver Magazine included – and the business awards are a highly contested badge of honour for those who win. Here are the Silver Marketing Association awards.

About the awards

These awards recognise and celebrate the companies and organisations that have delivered a successful marketing campaign in the last year, focusing on the older demographic and showing creativity, empathy and measurable results. The entries are judged by a brilliant lineup of informed and impartial judges. The awards’ headline sponsor this year is Boom Radio – so the host for the event will be Boom co-founder and presenter David Lloyd (below). We’ve seen him speak before and he’s hugely entertaining – worth going to the event just for him!

In alphabetical order, the shortlisted entries in each category, together with the sponsors, are:

Best Radio/Podcast Campaign – sponsored by Senior Response

Shortlisted:

• Age Co – Things Get Better with Age Co
• Boom Radio & One Traveller – One Traveller radio campaign
• Intergenerational England – The Talking Generations Podcast
• Vintage Travel – Vintage Travel – Silver Awareness

Best Print Campaign – sponsored by Saga Magazine

Shortlisted:

• Age Co– Things Get Better with Age Co
• Alfa Travel – Alfa Travel 2024 brochure
• BlueStar Media & Silver Travel Advisor – Silver Traveller Magazine
• BlueStar Media & Ambassador Cruise Line – Ambassador Cruise Line – Fair Winds Magazine

Best Outdoor Campaign – sponsored by Mash Marketing

Shortlisted:

• Centre for Ageing Better - Age Without Limits
• The Kite Factory and Don’t Panic – Oxfam – Staying In The Fight
• YourStride – Grassroots Bowls Clubs

Best Direct Mail Campaign – sponsored by Eight Days a Week Print Solutions

Shortlisted:

• Audley Group – Audley Luxury Retirement Villages
• Granite & TREND Transformations – Merry Christmas
• McCarthy Stone – Time to open a new chapter

Best Social Media Campaign – sponsored by Silversurfers

Shortlisted:

• Accord Marketing & Ambassador Cruise Line –  Ambassador Cruise Line
• Ageism Is Never In Style – #ILookMyAge
• Granite & TREND Transformations – Sustainable Kitchen Makeover

Best TV Campaign – sponsored by ITV

Shortlisted:

• Accord Marketing & Ambassador Cruise Line Ambassador Cruise Line – Enjoy yourself
• The Kite Factory and Don’t Panic – Oxfam – Staying In The Fight
• TVADSWORK and Doro – The Doro TV Commercial’ Campaign

Best PR Campaign– sponsored by Marketing Radar

Shortlisted:

• Finn Partners & The Advantage Travel Partnership  – Travel Triumph: Targeting the Silver Traveller for The Advantage Travel Partnership
• LOTUS & Visit Guernsey – Visit Guernsey – Renoir in Guernsey; 1883
• Wallacea Living – The Time of Your Later Life

Best Digital Marketing / Age Tech campaign – sponsored by AgeSpace

Shortlisted:

• CareCall – CareCall
• Dementia Adventure and Freddie’s Flowers – Blooms of Connection: Celebrating Dementia Adventure’s 15th Birthday with Freddie’s Flowers
• Granite & TREND Transformations – Digital Lead Generation Campaign
• Mistral Hotel – Singles in Crete & Copywrite That - New Sunday Best Friend

Best Overall Multi-Channel Campaign – sponsored by Precision Platinum

Shortlisted:

• Accord Marketing & Ambassador Cruise Line – Ambassador Cruise Line – Enjoy yourself
• Centre for Ageing Better – Age Without Limits
• McCarthy Stone – Time to open a new chapter
• Wallacea Living– The Time of Your Later Life

Good luck to everyone taking part! The awards will be presented at a sparkling drinks reception on Tuesday 25 June 2024 at the Cavendish Centre, London W1 from 17:30 -18:30 following the Silver Marketing Summit.

Please contact enquiries@silvermarketing.org if you would like to attend the Silver Marketing Association awards.

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If you’d like to receive a regular mini-magazine direct to your inbox with a selection of editorial features to read at your leisure, please sign up for our newsletter. We also run the odd competition and offer and whatnot, and newsletter members get the heads-up first.

The post Silver Marketing Association business marketing awards appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Suzie Kennedy talks about being a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and how she plans to take that job a step further in Making Marilyn, a new play by Julie Burchill and Daniel Raven.

What inspired you to become a Marilyn Monroe impersonator?

Somebody said I looked like Marilyn Monroe. I never thought anyone could make money out of looking like somebody. It was bizarre to me! But once I honed my skills and was cast in an After Eights commercial with Naomi Campbell and Stephen Fry, my world opened up. It was the best decision I ever made.

How are you preparing for the title role in Making Marilyn?

Right now, I am rehearsing lines over and over again. I’m excited because I can hear Marilyn’s voice in the script. It’s easier to learn because it seems very much like her. I feel like she’s talking and breathing, so that’s how I prepare. I embody that feeling and can feel those words coming from her.

What aspects of Marilyn’s life and personality do you find most compelling?

Her complexity. In the play, she talks about how people have this image of her and, no matter what they find out about her to contradict it, they don’t want to accept it. I think we all have our own personal Marilyn, like we have our own personal Jesus. In that way, we view her personality to suit our own needs. Do we ever actually really know her? Did she ever know herself? Do we know ourselves? What I find most compelling is how much she represents us – and how we think and feel and project it onto her.

Can you share any interesting experiences from performing as Marilyn?

I’ve been so lucky, I’ve travelled all over the world. I was in films such as Blade Runner, and The Theory of Everything, which is about Stephen Hawking’s life. I got to sing to Stephen Hawking.

And I’ve been in the house where she filmed The Seven-Year Itch. I wore a white terry cloth robe exactly like the one she wore when she was hanging out of the window. It was completely crazy to literally walk in her shoes.

At the biggest-ever auction of her belongings, I got to wear her clothing. There will never be another sale like it because everything has now been sold.

What sort of things did you get to wear?

Her dress from Some Like It Hot, her ring, watches, jumpers, costumes and earrings from How To Marry A Millionaire and The Seven-Year Itch. I’ve been so blessed.

Suzie in several shoots as Marilyn

What challenges come with portraying Marilyn on stage?

Marilyn Monroe was a film actress, so we’re used to seeing her in close-ups and hearing her soft, breathy voice, which do not resonate on stage. With that comes a freedom. She never appeared on stage, so there is freedom to be creative. But it’s hard to put a film actress into the theatre and live up to people’s expectations.

How do you capture the essence of Marilyn Monroe?

It’s going to be easy to create her essence because Julie and Daniel’s writing has captured that essence of her. They have captured her voice for my Marilyn so well. All I have to do is bring my experience of nearly 30 years of playing her, combined with their words. And spraying some Chanel N°5 will help.

Read more: A history of lipstick through the ages

What do you hope audiences take away from this show?

I hope it challenges how they see Marilyn Monroe, how they see technology, how they see others, how they view others, how they use others. And it makes them question their relationships. What’s more important? Money, fame, or relationships? You have to see the play to know what I mean.

How has Marilyn Monroe’s legacy influenced your life?

She encouraged me to go for my dreams, to not be a victim of where you come from or what happened to you. Marilyn died young, but she had such bravery to overcome so much adversity. She champions my belief in all the complexities of being a woman – to be feminine, to be a bitch, to be an angel, to be sexy, to not be sexy.

Are there any moments in the play that really resonate with you?

This whole play resonated with me when I first read it. I was just thinking, please Julie, let me be Marilyn because this is my Marilyn. It’s the Marilyn I hear, the Marilyn that I feel. If I was in the hotel room with her, she would say these things.

There are scenes where she talks about how she is misunderstood if she doesn’t live up to expectations. She talks about feeling trapped by the studio to play dumb blonde parts. She talks about how you can be the loneliest woman in the world, yet have people around you. She’s wise, she’s hilarious, she’s tragic, she’s funny. It sums up her complexities and it sums up what it is to be a woman.

What advice would you give to aspiring performers who want to portray iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe?

To be able to play any iconic figure, you have to love them. You have to embody them and really take on what you think they were like. I love Marilyn Monroe and I love the fact that sometimes she’s not lovable, because sometimes I’m not. To play her is to accept all that she is. if you want to play anybody you have to accept everything about them, because that’s what love is. I accept every single part of Marilyn Monroe, including the parts that she said people found unacceptable.

• Making Marilyn runs from 3-4 May 2024 at Horatio’s Bar, Brighton Palace Pier. Tickets from £13. To book, click here

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

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