It’s another freezing winter in Ukraine as the war with Russia continues. A war of attrition is still being fought along a front in the east of the country, with North Korean troops now taking part in combat. Territory is gained, lost and regained at

What do you really know about William Tell and the famous scene, where a young boy has an apple shot from his head by his father? Perhaps you’re aware of the story but not sure of its context, when, or even how it happened. Yet it’s been a central im

Even as a child, I always knew I was ill – having a chronic illness permeates every moment of your life. But as a child, it wasn’t something I worried about. I was the first baby in the world to be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis by the heel-prick tes

When I was 11 years old, I remember my grandad dragging me out of my dad’s house and lecturing me for hours after I was outed to my family by my so-called best friend. He told me I was too young to know who I was. I remember sobbing on the drive as n

I always say adolescence is a war for everybody – no one gets out unscathed. But, at 16, I was pretty mainstream. I was a basketball player. That was my obsession. I was captain of the basketball team – maybe that was when I was 17 – and president of

In under 12 months, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has appeared in five films – The Color Purple, Origin, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, The Deliverance, and now Nickel Boys – all directed by black filmmakers. “Is there an intentionality in that? Yea

SAM OATES, 42 I was homeless when I started selling Big Issue three years ago. I come from Bideford, I’ve lived here my whole life and I got into quite a bit of trouble growing up – I got into parties and drugs and drink. I was homeless for six years

James Acaster is due a revelation this week. On Thursday 9 January, the still fresh-faced comedian turns 40. “It feels wild,” he says. “With the pandemic, suddenly we were two years older. I feel like, ‘No, I’m still 37, aren’t I?’ When I turned 30,

Over the past two decades the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has conducted a Survey of Adult Skills, assessing literacy and numeracy levels among more than 30 of its member countries. For the UK, its latest report relea

“When a boy walks into the theatre, they are no longer a pupil – they are a practitioner,” reads the strapline for Eton’s drama page. The tone is so overblown I send it on to Private Eye for Pseuds Corner. I’m researching music and drama faculties in

The second-toughest Sudoku in Britain The first correct drawn entry to the crossword will win a copy of this week’s random book selection, The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too by Tim Clare Send entries to: Cro

I found Streetwise Opera when I was losing my brains. I was homeless. I was a one-on-one carer and I used to live-in. When I injured my hand, I had nowhere to go. I got pretty desperate and my GP sent me to a psychologist who recommended I go to The

Nearly a third of landlords are looking at selling up in the wake of Labour’s reforms to renters’ rights. This exodus could fuel the country’s homelessness crisis and is the single biggest threat to renters, the National Residential Landlords Associa

Remember Wonga? Dave Fishwick does. The Burnley businessman and Bank of Dave supremo made it his business to tackle the payday loan companies when he first heard about their extortionate interest rates and the misery they were bringing to people. His

Zel is new to Street Art – their work is published here for the first time. They created this very personal sculpture at the 240Project in London, an activity centre empowering West London’s vulnerable community. “I always dreamed of being artistic l

RICASO’s bright and energetic collage art is published for the first time in Big Issue, following an encounter with long-time regular Street Art contributor Geraldine Crimmins, founder of the collective Drummond Street Artists. “It was already months

By Liam Geraghty Big Issue Deputy Digital Editor Yasmina was living in her car on the edge of Newcastle city centre, struggling to keep up with her studies at university when spending a night at a strangers’ house “changed her life”. The then-30-year

VASILE NICOLAE, 28, AND MAX I enjoy selling the magazine. I’ve got my dog Max with me on my pitch. He’s only four months old – he’s a Bichon puppy and he’s from Romania. The customers like him too much if anything! They stop and play with him, they l

If I went back and told the 16-year-old what’s happened in my life he wouldn’t be able to believe a single word. Because actually quite a significant part of my life has been spent thinking, I’m not supposed to be here. Somebody’s gonna tap me on the