Victorian British

Ghost in the Machine review – entertaining AI polemic dives into its dark history in race politics and eugenics

The roots of AI in rightwing ideology is examined in Valerie Veatch’s enjoyable doc, including an array of colourful, often crazed, figuresDirector Valerie Veatch made her name with documentaries such as Love Child (about an online gaming-addicted couple whose child died of malnutrition) and Me at the Zoo (about American vlogger Cara Cunningham), films that explore the intersection of real-world subcultures and internet communities. Her latest continues in this vein, although its self-set...

Ghost in the Machine review – entertaining AI polemic dives into its dark history in race politics and eugenics

The roots of AI in rightwing ideology is examined in Valerie Veatch’s enjoyable doc, including an array of colourful, often crazed, figuresDirector Valerie Veatch made her name with documentaries such as Love Child (about an online gaming-addicted couple whose child died of malnutrition) and Me at the Zoo (about American vlogger Cara Cunningham), films that explore the intersection of real-world subcultures and internet communities. Her latest continues in this vein, although its self-set...

Ex-Burberry boss Bailey steps in to help rescue Burleigh Pottery business

Stoke-on-Trent ceramics company employing 62 people is Britain’s last continuously working Victorian potteryBusiness live – latest updatesChristopher Bailey, the fashion designer who turned the British trench coat maker Burberry into a global brand, has acquired the Stoke-on-Trent company Burleigh Pottery along with a small group of private investors. The ceramics company, founded in 1851 and best known for its intricate floral designs, said Bailey’s investment would ensure that production...

How Britain Became as Poor as Mississippi

Illustrations by Joan WongWho broke Britain? Someone—or something—must have. The past 18 years, enough time for a whole lost generation to be born and brought up, have yielded nothing but stagnation and mass disillusionment.

Britain's dying high streets 'could be saved' by unlikely revival

Britain's dying high streets 'could be saved' by unlikely revival The first flushing public toilets were invented 175 years ago. Now 60% have vanished from our streets, and public urination is once again causing a health hazard. If a 19th century urine deflector or “wazzbaffle” had been protecting the West London wall where Lord Mandelson was caught short recently, it wouldn’t have been the first time the disgraced peer’s mistakes had come back to haunt him.

UK's most 'bog standard' biscuit looks like this to 'trick' people

UK's most 'bog standard' biscuit looks like this to 'trick' people There's a reason why Britain's most 'bog standard' biscuit looks the way it does One of Britain's most classic creations, sold for less than £1 in most supermarkets, has kept a unique piece of history to this day. Few actually realise why the popular Custard Cream stands out with such an "ornate" design compared to other baked goods. On Instagram (@Theotherbritishmusuem), radio host Annabel Port explores obscure aspects of...

Making sense of the latest BBL move that isn't 'a merger of the teams'

analysis What the looming sale of Melbourne Renegades means for fans and the BBL Wed 3 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm For cricket fans who just want to head to Docklands every few weeks and watch some folks in red shirts whack a white ball bowled by someone in a gold shirt, a lot of the talk of privatisation and franchise sales feels a little outside their purview. But it's becoming increasingly relevant as leagues grow into international businesses and our romantic notions of playing "for the love of...

Republicans vs. the Fourteenth Amendment

Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeIn this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on the Brexit vote, which was cast 10 years ago this month. David explains why Brexit has not only been a failure but has led to years of political instability in the U.K. in the decade following the British vote to leave the European Union. Then, David is joined by Professor David W. Blight to discuss the blood-soaked aftermath of the Civil War and the...

A Book I Wish I’d Read at 22

Paintings found in skip by dog walkers sell for £16,000 at auction

Paintings found in skip by dog walkers sell for £16,000 at auction A couple who spotted two paintings in a skip while walking their dog have seen them fetch £16,000 at auction. They had hung on the walls of their home in Pembrokeshire for several years before they decided to learn more about the artist, according to Rogers Jones Auctioneers. The couple then realised Louis Wain was a celebrated British artist known for his depictions of cats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.