UK technology news, gadgets, AI, software and reviews
Craig Newton 
Most people know Luc Besson for The Fifth Element’s colorful chaos or Léon’s perfectly calibrated violence, but fewer realize his visual language was shaped long before he held a camera—by growing up the son of scuba instructors and diving until an accident forced him to look up. He turned to filmmaking after that accident. Born: … Read more
If you’ve ever hummed “My Shot” or wondered who wrote “How Far I’ll Go,” you already know Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work. He’s the mind behind Hamilton, a musical that reshaped Broadway and pop culture. But behind the Tonys and Grammys lies a story of obsessive-compulsive disorder, creative gambles, and the controversy that follows any artist who … Read more
Few British broadcasters have logged as many air miles as Ben Fogle, the man who once rowed the Atlantic and raced to the South Pole for a living. Beyond the extreme expeditions and Sunday Times bestsellers, a tangle of online speculation about his health and marriage doesn’t always match the public record. Born: 3 November … Read more
A goalkeeper who started as a midfielder in a small Cumbrian village now finds himself competing for one of the most scrutinised positions in world football. James Trafford’s rise from Cockermouth grassroots to the Manchester City first-team squad is marked by a record-breaking loan spell and a rapid ascent through England’s youth ranks. Date of … Read more
There’s a certain thrill in discovering that the man who wrote the definitive Cold War spy novels was himself a spy. David John Moore Cornwell, better known as John le Carré, didn’t just imagine the world of double agents and mole hunts — he lived it. That experience left an indelible mark on every page … Read more
When Anna Richardson first landed on British screens, it was as the straight-talking host of The Sex Education Show. She’s since become a bestselling diet author, a libel litigant against Arnold Schwarzenegger, and part of one of TV’s most talked-about breakups. Full name: Anna Clare Richardson · Date of birth: 27 September 1970 · Occupation: … Read more
There’s a bittersweet irony in the way we remember Caroline Aherne. The comedian who brought the Royle Family into our living rooms spent much of her own life battling serious illness out of the public eye. Age at death: 52 · Date of death: 2 July 2016 · Born: 24 December 1963 · Occupation: Comedian, … Read more
Peter Ustinov’s off-screen life was as linguistically rich and varied as the roles he played. In this biographical dossier we weave together the facts behind his death, his heritage, his gift for languages, and the real numbers behind his wealth. Born: April 16, 1921 · Died: March 28, 2004 · Cause of Death: Heart failure … Read more
It’s one thing to sell over 120 million records and pack stadiums for six decades, but Rod Stewart’s real juggling act might be the one he does at home. The rock legend’s family life, spanning eight children and a wife 26 years his junior, has seen its share of medical scares and headlines. Born: 10 … Read more
There is a particular warmth that comes with hearing the name Thora Hird — a voice that could turn the simplest line into a moment of character. For decades, she was a fixture of British television and film, beloved for her roles in Last of the Summer Wine and Alan Bennett’s monologues. This article traces … Read more