TV review: My Child’s Big Fat Birthday

My Child’s Big Fat Birthday Party, BBC1 Photograph: BBC/North One Television /Karen Zetter/BBC I wish I was a kid again. It looks brilliant now, especially if you’re filthy rich and spoiled rotten. The birthday parties I remember involved a few chocolate fingers, a paper cup of squash,... 

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This week’s new dance

Natalia Osipova performing Giselle by the Bolshoi Ballet. Photograph: Damir Yusupov The Bolshoi Ballet, London Three kinds of Russia are brought together in the Bolshoi’s mixed bill, which takes its title from Alexei Ratmansky’s wittily crafted celebration of Russian folk dance.... 

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Radio review: Face the Facts

John Waite from Radio 4′s Face the Facts. Photograph: BBC/Martin Morrell/BBC “So here we are, four years later,” John Waite began in Face the Facts (Radio 4). He hovered over the word four for emphasis as he spoke to Elaine Hanson, who had been waiting that long for... 

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Radio review: Victoria Derbyshire interviews PC David Rathband

Victoria Derbyshire: moving interview with PC David Rathband. Photograph: BBC/Karl Grant/BBC There were many extraordinary moments in the interview with PC David Rathband on Victoria Derbyshire (pictured, 5 Live) yesterday. The policeman, who lost his sight when shot by Raoul Moat, spoke from... 

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Arcade Fire discover beauty within the darkness of The Suburbs

Up in flames … Win Butler, left, and Richard Parry of Arcade Fire during a performance in London on 7 July. Photograph: Barney Britton/Redferns Pop has always loved a visit to the suburbs, whether in the sleazy undertow of Suede’s eponymous debut album or the high-street hellraisers... 

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