Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The arts have barely registered on the political agenda recently, but a nasty row is threatening to engulf Britain's biggest cultural institution, the National Museum of Science and Industry.
The arts have barely registered on the political agenda recently, but a nasty row is threatening to engulf Britain's biggest cultural institution, the National Museum of Science and Industry.
Staff at the NMSI - who went on strike in February over pay and conditions - have now launched a personal attack on their director, Dr Lindsay Sharp, one of the most highly-paid "quangocrats" in the UK.
They have written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport outlining 14 complaints against Dr Sharp's regime. The letter, seen by Pandora, alleges cronyism, financial waste and misuse of expenses. Offices at the Science Museum, it claims, have been converted into a flat for Dr Sharp, forcing staff into temporary accommodation. It also complains that Sharp has appointed two friends, Clive Gordon and Matthew Pudney, to his staff.
The NMSI - which runs the Science Museum, the National Film, Photography and Television Museum in Bradford, and the National Railway Museum in York - denies any wrongdoing. An independent review of its funding arrangements is under way.
"The Trustees take any such allegations very seriously and as a public body we're under intense scrutiny," said a spokesman yesterday. "When people known to the director are appointed, it's always through the proper recruitment procedure. Dr Sharp pays rent on his flat that was set by an independent body; and travel expenses are covered only when he's on official business."
First Jamie Oliver invaded school canteens; now Heston Blumenthal is sticking his spatula into their classrooms.
The Royal Society of Chemistry has asked Blumenthal, left - this week voted "best restauranteur on earth" by Restaurant magazine - to help write a teaching aid for a new GCSE course on the science behind cooking.
"The new courses are based on some of the discoveries I made a few years back which have affected our whole approach to cooking," he says. "There are 15 to 20 areas to look into, ranging from cooking vegetables - why do they stay green, or not? - to making ice cream."
A spokesman adds that the society approached Blumenthal after seeing a series he made two years ago, called Kitchen Chemistry.
Although he has often been tempted to swap his chef's whites for a lab coat, I gather Blumenthal will not be actually setting foot in the classroom. "He doesn't have entirely happy memories of his schooldays," explains a chum.
Kevin Spacey is at last backing a safe horse in a bid to kick-start his reign at the Old Vic. Arnold Wesker one of our greatest living playwrights, has sold him the rights to a new play.
"It's called Groupie, and is planned for February," Wesker tells me. "I showed the script to Sally Greene, who said you must show it to David Liddiment. He passed it to Kevin Spacey, who liked it very much."
The play - about an elderly artist's relationship with a female fan - is described as a "feelgood" piece. Sadly, for fans of the Hollywood star, Spacey is unlikely to be taking a hands-on role in its production.
"At the moment they are looking for a director," adds Wesker. "We will cast it together. I asked Kevin if he would direct it, but he said he didn't want to, and he's too young to star in it himself."
Angus Deayton has never quite recovered from the day a call girl shopped him to The News of the World, so it's sad to see him hit another setback on the long road back to respectability.
Hosting Hell's Kitchen on Monday, Deayton drew attention to contestant Aby King's fondness for her head chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli.
"Does Aby fancy Jean Christophe?" he asked, cheerily. "Is the Pope Catholic? In fact he probably isn't at the moment."
The gag met with an uneasy pause - as well it might, given the state of papal affairs. Sources at ITV yesterday described it as a "slip", and are hoping the Catholic Church won't take offence.
Howard Flight's political career might have been shot to pieces, but he's reaping an unexpected health benefit from being sacked as an MP.
The former Deputy Tory Chairman - known as "Fag-Ash Flight" on account of his 40-a-day cigarette habit - has given up smoking, in order to please his long-suffering wife, Christabel.
"Poor old Christabel has been on at him to quit for ages, but Howard's always refused to budge," says a chum. "However, since she had such a difficult time during his sacking, he thought he ought to have a decent go."
Apparently, Mr Flight - who is wearing nicotine patches on several intimate parts of his anatomy - has now been off the weed for over a week. Good luck to him, I say.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments