Stephen Armstrong
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Ratlike cunning, a plausible manner, a little literary ability and an ability to believe passionately in second-rate projects
Articles by Stephen Armstrong
Gervais grasps for his former spark with gags about Savile and woke trolls
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Generation X is about to inherit a fortune. Here's why that's bad news
It's being dubbed the “Great Wealth Transfer”. Over the next 30 years, as much as – well, figures range from £5.5 trillion to an astounding £27.9 trillion – will pass from baby-boomers to Gen-Xers and millennials in the UK alone. It will be the greatest transfer of wealth between generations in history and, frankly, it looks like Generation X might mess it up. First, let's look at the possibilities.
How Netflix became the home of 'cancelled' comedians
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Emma Willis saved her husband from drink and drugs. Can she save Strictly?
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Emma Willis saved her husband from drink and drugs. Can she save Strictly?
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Emma Willis saved her husband from drink and drugs. Can she save Strictly?
If the rumour that Emma Willis is going to present Strictly Come Dancing is true, then fans of the show should breathe a sigh of relief. A producer who worked on a reality show with Willis a few years ago says: “If anyone can turn things around for Strictly, it’s her.
Criminals loved his cop show. Now he’s lifting the lid on casinos
Tony Schumacher’s award-winning police drama The Responder is not like other cop shows.
Harry Enfield’s comedy still packs a hell of a punch, even without his chums
Harry Enfield is back on stage Harry Enfield can’t see a zeitgeist without crushing it into a perfect catchphrase, proving, in this two-hour account of his life and career, that after 41 years, he’s still nailing it. His crumpled suit and genial self-deprecation disguise unexpectedly sharp personal revelations, edgy political jibes, and herald a cavalcade of beloved favourites, including Stavros, Loadsamoney, Kevin the Teenager, DJ Dave Nice and the Scousers.
Watch tonight! Martin Compston’s seething tension powers Red Eye’s thrills, starting 2026 with a bang
Red Eye season 2 starts 2026 with a bang If Red Eye needed a statement of intent for season two, it’s found one in the arrival of Martin Compston — and from the opening moments, he lands with purpose. As RSO Brody, head of security at the American embassy in London with a past connection to DS Hana Li (Jing Lusi), he combines authority with just enough ambiguity to immediately complicate everything.
Here We Go’s chaotic and hilarious New Year special tonight is a seasonal must-watch
Here We Go's New Year special is a must-watch If you’re after a New Year’s Eve TV pick that doesn’t involve bagpipes, sentimental heartstrings or a terrifying reminder of the actual news from this chaotic year, Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza has you covered. The BBC sitcom has had a busy year, with season three dropping earlier in the year and season four on the way.
Watch tonight! Two Doors Down’s loving Christmas special is a heartwarming tribute to its co-writer
Two Doors Down's special is a loving tribute There’s always been something quietly radical about Two Doors Down. In an era of big gags, big guest stars and bigger Christmas specials, this Glasgow-set sitcom has always found its laughs in awkward silences, petty grievances and the slow, unavoidable intimacy of living next door to people you can’t escape. People don’t compare it to The Royle Family for nothing.
Don't miss Madame Blanc’s white-knuckle thriller of a Xmas special tonight (we were surprised too!)
Don't miss Madame Blanc's thrilling Xmas special The Madame Blanc Mysteries is not the usual place to find a full-blown race-against-time thriller with a ticking bomb and real-time attempts to solve its secrets. And yet, that’s exactly what this Christmas special delivers. Yes, really. Channel 5’s much-loved cosy crime drama returns with a feature-length festive episode that pushes Jean White further than ever before.
I'm a Celebrity's Ant and Dec FUME as more contraband dethrones Shona and Ruby becomes new camp ‘dictator'
Less than 24 hours after she was elected camp leader, I'm a Celebrity's Shona McGarty fell on her sword when contraband butter was found in the food trunk.
Ruby Wax is already I'm a Celebrity's most hated and here's how she blew it from the start
One episode in and already Ruby Wax has attracted enough heat online to make the jungle seem positively chilled. The 72-year-old comedian made headlines after slamming her pre-camp hotel, calling it “trash” and demanding a room change. But it was her on screen attitude that drew viewer’s ire.
Ruby Wax is already I'm a Celebrity's most hated and here's how she blew it from the start
One episode in and already Ruby Wax has attracted enough heat online to make the jungle seem positively chilled. The 72-year-old comedian made headlines after slamming her pre-camp hotel, calling it “trash” and demanding a room change. But it was her on screen attitude that drew viewer’s ire.
Sunday night's must watch: Gillian Anderson's Trespasses is a 'breathtaking' Troubles-set drama
Believe the hype: Trespasses is this autumn’s drama everyone will be talking about. In fashion they call it the Thirty Year Rule of Cool, and whilst 'cool' is a difficult word to apply to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, there’s no doubt that Belfast and the surrounding six counties are the backdrop of the year for great drama.
Sunday night's must watch: Gillian Anderson's Trespasses is a 'breathtaking' Troubles-set drama
Believe the hype: Trespasses is this autumn’s drama everyone will be talking about. In fashion they call it the Thirty Year Rule of Cool, and whilst 'cool' is a difficult word to apply to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, there’s no doubt that Belfast and the surrounding six counties are the backdrop of the year for great drama.
Strictly Come Dancing’s shock exit means its soul is up for grabs - but which way will it go?
Ellie Goldstein’s dramatic departure from Strictly this week – thanks to a unanimous judges' decision – was, like all great dance moves, all about timing. It’s not just that Ellie went home, breaking a nation’s collective heart and ensuring no dry eyes in the Strictly studio. It’s not just that Strictly voted off its best storyline – it’s that her exit came just as Tess and Claudia’s departure looms. The momentary on-screen absence of Tess herself on Saturday felt like an omen.
You haven’t heard of it. Your children are obsessed by it. And it’s giving Disney nightmares
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The conservative American talk-show host wiping the floor with liberals
Greg Gutfeld’s talk show has 3.3 million viewers on cable-only Fox - Roy Rochlin/Getty Images Hollywood is in shock this week after the long-standing chat-based TV institution The Late Show – previously hosted by David Letterman – was axed by its network, CBS. Late-night talk shows, featuring a comedy monologuing host and mainly A-list guests, have been a profitable US TV staple since 1954 thanks to their low cost, high ad revenue and younger audience.
The conservative American talk-show host wiping the floor with liberals
Hollywood is in shock this week after the long-standing chat-based TV institution The Late Show – previously hosted by David Letterman – was axed by its network, CBS. Late-night talk shows, featuring a comedy monologuing host and mainly A-list guests, have been a profitable US TV staple since 1954 thanks to their low cost, high ad revenue and younger audience. The Late Show has long been the biggest late-night money-spinner. But no more.
Secret codes and shortcuts: 15 ways to use Netflix like a pro
Netflix is the UK’s favourite streaming service – around three in five households have a subscription, as of the start of the year. It’s all grown up – offering ads, sports, video games and live programming – but it’s basically looked the same since launch while all its rivals caught up. So, the streamer is launching a full redesign on May 19.
The savage Hollywood feud that led Conan O’Brien to host the Oscars
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The savage Hollywood feud that led Conan O’Brien to host the Oscars
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
The savage Hollywood feud that led Conan O’Brien to host the Oscars
Jay Leno is rooting for Conan O’Brien to do well hosting the Oscars this Sunday. “I think he’ll be great,” Leno, 74, told the New York Post. “He’s a very funny guy. He’s very creative. I’ll watch, sure. He’ll do good.” Warm, supportive, friendly. Right? No. “I did get asked twice,” he added. “And I sat down with my staff and… we realised that when you see somebody on TV every night, it’s not special to see them hosting the Oscars.
How to Create a Future of Cheap Energy for All
When asked why they chose Tado, he said that customers’ main reason was, “I want to save money. The second reason is, I want to make the planet a better place. If we cannot fulfill the first one,” he stressed, “the second one becomes less relevant.” China seems to offer many solutions.
How to Create a Future of Cheap Energy for All
Kraftwerk Berlin, the venue for the Energy Tech Summit with Octopus Energy, offered delegates a powerful lesson from history. Built by the East German government in 1961, the same year construction on the Berlin wall began, the vast turbine hall was hastily assembled to manage a crisis—the wall forced the Communist east and capitalist west to build grids that were not connected.
7 ways WAGatha Coleen is tearing up the jungle in I’m A Celebrity
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The Hottest Startups in Helsinki in 2024
Helsinki’s startup scene evolved around behemoths such as Nokia, games giant Supercell, and food delivery platform Wolt. It’s reaping the rewards with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and engineers powering a lively scene based around the Aalto University campus and the startup festival Slush, one of the world’s largest gatherings of investors and startups.
The Hottest Startups in Madrid in 2024
Having spent many years as second fiddle to Barcelona, Madrid surpassed its Catalan cousin in 2023 with startups securing €605 million ($672 million) investment above Barcelona’s €457 million ($507 million). “Lots of Latin American talent is arriving thanks to the recent entrepreneur visa and talent programs run by Telefonica to bring promising startup founders from Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, and Venezuela,” explains Bu Haces, innovation consultant at Madrid’s Impact Hub.
The Hottest Startups in Dublin in 2024
Thanks to low corporation tax and government incentives, Dublin has hosted the European headquarters of many large US technology companies—Google, Meta, LinkedIn and Microsoft all have offices in the city’s Silicon Docks. Europe's 100 Hottest Startups From Amsterdam to Zurich, these are the hottest startups in Europe in 2024 “The big US companies operated independently of the startup world for many years,” explains Will Prendergast, partner at Frontline Ventures.
The Hottest Startups in Madrid in 2024
Having spent many years as second fiddle to Barcelona, Madrid surpassed its Catalan cousin in 2023 with startups securing €605 million ($672 million) investment above Barcelona’s €457 million ($507 million). “Lots of Latin American talent is arriving thanks to the recent entrepreneur visa and talent programs run by Telefonica to bring promising startup founders from Mexico, Argentina, Columbia and Venezuela,” explains Bu Haces, innovation consultant at Madrid’s Impact Hub.
The Hottest Startups in Dublin in 2024
The Hottest Startups in Dublin in 2024 The Irish capital's embrace of big tech is filtering through to its startups, who are building better tools for IT teams, AI content moderation …
The Hottest Startups in Madrid in 2024
The Hottest Startups in Madrid in 2024 The Spanish capital is drawing talent from Latin America, and its eye-catching startups are working on smarter payments, eldercare, and an AI-powered …
How game shows manipulated our brains, and took over TV
Old game shows were special. They invented memes before the internet existed with what, in retrospect, we could call the playground meme. “Come on down”, “Give me a P please Bob”, “I’ve started so I’ll finish”. In the pre-social media era, most kids had heard those catchphrases before reaching secondary school – and not from watching the shows.
The party-loving Hollywood mogul making a mess of Warner Bros
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The party-loving Hollywood mogul making a mess of Warner Bros
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The party-loving Hollywood mogul making a mess of Warner Bros
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The party-loving Hollywood mogul making a mess of Warner Bros
Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav with Robert De Niro in Cannes, 2023 - Getty David Zaslav had a good Olympics. The CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery – home of HBO, CNN, Warner Bros. Pictures and the games broadcaster Eurosport – stayed at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris where he entertained Tom Cruise and Barbie director Greta Gerwig at the women’s gymnastics qualifiers, played tennis with John Travolta and hosted an afterhours party at the Louvre with Margot Robbie, Natalie Portman and Jennifer Hudson.
How Generation Kill got the Iraq war right
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How Generation Kill got the Iraq war right
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How Generation Kill got the Iraq war right
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How Generation Kill got the Iraq war right
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Sewer Maintenance: Myth Busting and Best Practice Training
Sewer maintenance is an ongoing challenge for cities and municipalities. Moreover, gaps in best practice training can cost public works departnents unnecessary time and expense in labor, water, and energy costs when cleaning sewer lines. Making matters worse, our comprehension of sewer line cleaning has evolved alongside the advancements in hose nozzle technologies, which in some cases directly contradicts current practices.
the streamer’s plan to dominate Disney
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
the streamer’s plan to dominate Disney
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Why an old documentary about Lidl has taken Netflix by storm
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Why an old documentary about Lidl has taken Netflix by storm
24 Hours In Lidl has become a surprise Netflix hit The UK’s contribution to Netflix’s return to form this year has been a proud if surprising spread of hits.
‘It reeked of a white liberal writer patting himself on the back’
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‘It reeked of a white liberal writer patting himself on the back’
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
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