NOVEMBER 30–DECEMBER 6, 2015 NO.1182

EVERY MONDAY A HAND UP NOT A HANDOUT

istmas messag A Chr e from ETCAT STRE all part of B You're the story OB

CONTENTS EST. 1991 Hello, my name is Chris.

NOV 30–DEC 6 2015 Selling the magazine has gone really NO. 1182 well. It’s given me confidence because REGULARS of the respect you get. And it’s given CORRESPONDENCE 4 me focus and helped me keep a EDITOR & PAUSE 6 handle on budgeting.gg e support HIDDEN BRITAIN & MY PECCADILLO 9 my customers gave me when I was Rebecca Front harmonises going through a tough tiime has been LETTER TO MY unbelievable. You’ve no idea what a YOUNGER SELF 10 Anastacia difference it makes to have people JOHN BIRD 13 who careandtakean interest... COMMENT 15 Read more on page 54. Jessica Shankleman STREET ART 16 What the critics think VENDOR LOVE 21 STREET CAT BOB 24 HOMELESSNESS ON FILM 28 Starring Richard Gere, Paul Bettanyy and Peter Mullan

THE BIG COMP WIN! ZURU GOODIES 34

OUR MANIFESTO OWE BELIEVE OWE BELIEVE OWE BELIEVE in a hand up, in trade, not aid... in the right to citizenship... not a handout... Which is why we ask that Which is why The Big Issue Which is why our sellers you ALWAYS take your Foundation, our charitable BUY every copy of the copy of the magazine – it’s arm, helps sellers tackle their magazine from us for £1.25 a bloody good read and our social and financial exclusion. and sell it on to you for sellers are working and need £2.50 (except at Christmas your custom. OWE BELIEVE when it’s £1.50 and £3). in prevention... THE ENLIGHTENMENT In this way we have helped OWE BELIEVE Which is why Big Issue BOOKS 38 hundreds of thousands of poverty is indiscriminate... Invest ofers backing and FILM 41 people to take control of Which is why we provide investments between FOCUS & GEEK 43 their lives since 1991, and in ANYONE whose life is £50,000–£1.75m to social LUCY SWEET, the process created a global blighted by poverty with enterprises, charities and blueprint for social change. the opportunity to earn a businesses which deliver EVENTS & MUSIC 44 LEGITIMATE income. social value to communities. SPOT THE BALL 52 Cover illustration: Charis Tsevis / Photo: David Tett / Photo: David Charis Tsevis illustration: Cover

THE BIG ISSUE / p3 / November 30–December 6 2015 CORRESPONDENCE

Laid bare Write to: The Big Issue, Second Floor, 43 Bath St Glasgow, G2 1HW Load of hot air It seems Dr Anderson, in her It is a pity that you felt the Email: [email protected] Comment: bigissue.com cloistered world [November need for journalistic ‘balance’ 16-22], is missing one fact about @bigissue [Let it Snow, November 16-22] our world when bemoaning the facebook.com/bigissueUKf @bigissueuk by giving almost equal coverage poor prices commanded by totheviewsofaclimatesceptic ‘sexualised pictures of naked… alongside those views that men’, to paraphrase! representbyfarthemajority We live in a capitalist of the scientific community. society, governed by supply Indoingsoyouimplythatthe and demand. Just like female debate is more closely balanced footballers who complain they than is, in fact, the case. aren’t paid as much as men, to GWild,email whom I say when you can fill COMMENT OF THE WEEK stadia with tens of thousands, Power hungry and subsequent TV audiences Aglowingtribute Brendan O’Neill’s timely are in the millions, they’ll get article about meat eaters paid as much. Then when LarsMytting’s article onchopping wood [November 2-8] was spot on. artists’ work showing male [November 16-22] reminded me of the 1980s when, ThoughIdon’teatredmeat nudes is in equal demand to asafamily,wetookadvantageofalocaltreeafected myself, the public health advice the female equivalent, it will by Dutch elm disease. My husband chopped and [about eating meat] and that of command higher prices. dismembered the fallen tree while my two boys, just other bodies who are trying to On her other point, some of fiveandsixyearsoldatthetime,helpedtopileitonto dictate our lifestyles can Modigliani’s work is – subject a trailer to transport it approx one kilometre home. equally be applied to smoking matter aside – stunningly Of course, this took many trailer trips over many days and the ridiculous anti-sugar beautiful. I believe some of –itwasanancient,largetree!Wehadalwaysenjoyed campaign. These groups wield Freud’s art divides opinion and openfiresinourchildhoodhomesandhadbuiltona apoweroutofallproportion is not to everyone’s taste. chimneytoourhome–thatfirewoodlastedusmany, to their public support, and The Big Issue is sold on a many years after drying out, a welcome glow that politiciansofallpartiesseem capitalist model too, where somehow makes you feel warmer than any other form to be afraid to stand up to them the demand has been created ofheat.Wedidmixtheburningoftheelmwithother and tell them bluntly that they to fulfil a need. The people woods; The Firewood Poem (first published in haven’t been elected by anyone selling it would have no The Times, 1930) details the diferent burning qualities so should mind their own market and less hope in life ofourvariousBritishtreesandhasalwaysbeenagood business. Giving in to their without that process. pointofreferenceforme.Now,30yearson,Ihavea demands only encourages David Taylor, Lincolnshire woodburner so still enjoy the natural warmth that zealots even more. mother earth can provide. Steve Lustig, London I just want to say, what a Rosie Scott, Essex fantastic article by Victoria @thewidowstanton Anderson in this week’s Light-entgreatStanleyBaxter issue, about equal pay and the chatsaboutpantointhisweek’s art world. She hit the nail on @bigissue – Love him! the head and made her point It is always nice to have a chat with impact. with Kelvin, our Berkhamsted Louise, Brighton Big Issue vendor. FEEDBACK Jo Stevens, Facebook LOOP Sweet little one My two-year-old daughter and S Mortimer wrote in to tell us I went to the local Sainsbury’s [November 16-22] her vendor Extra and the lovely guy selling had given her a silk poppy on The Big Issue with his dog was a wire stalk because hers fell there. He spoke to my daughter o. This reader chimes in. and they both chatted about his dog. Then my daughter and I TACHE-TASTIC I read with interest the letter went in Sainsbury’s to get what titled ‘Lest we forget’ and was we needed and she picks up her deeply moved by the kind act of usual bag of cookies. On the Hi, my name is Bernie Anna [the vendor]. I know all too way out she gives them to the Buxton. I sell The Big well the problems of the plastic guy and said they were for him Issue in Plymouth and stalk poppy; being a chaufeur, and his dog. #heartofgold am doing Movember to the seat belt would rip of my Lindsay Rochester, Facebook raise awareness of prostate poppy. The solution was to buy cancer. Here is a picture a poppy pin badge, which I now @LeOptimist of me on my pitch. wear all the year around on my Had the most interesting jacket lapels. I noticed a lot of conversation with a #BigIssue the darts players have adopted vendor about the Northern the same solution. They cost Lights. I hope he does see them about £5 but are well worth it. some day. #aHandUp #BigLove David King, Camberley

THE BIG ISSUE / p4 / November 30–December 6 2015 Provided by Sanofi Pasteur MSD JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE IT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT DANGEROUS

PNEUMOCOCCALDISEASEcanbelife-threateningforsomepeople, sovaccinationagainstitisrecommendedandfreeforat-riskadults and children aged over 2 months with the following conditions:

• diabetes (controlledbymedication) • cochlear implants •aspleniaordysfunction •chronickidneydisease of the spleen •cerebrospinalfluidleaks •chronicrespiratorydisease •chronicliverdisease • immunosuppression •occupationalexposuretometalfumes • chronic heart disease (taking into account exposure control measures in place)

Vaccination is also recommended for anyone aged 65 or over, and as part of the childhood immunisation programme. If you’re at risk, help protect yourself by getting vaccinated.

Reporting of side effects. If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. UK18355 07/15 THE EDITOR OFF THE GRID...

Let’s lend Osborne a hand to get his house in order

’mgoingtohelpGeorgeOsborne. the solution; there are many, many He may say he doesn’t need it. He’s buildings that could be repaired and THE BIG ISSUE: Idoing fine himself. And, in truth, reused.Also,therearemany,many BIGGER THAN 1D! who am I to argue? That soft shoe people and groups out there doing this Last week The Big Issue owned the news. shule he worked to dance away from work. Frequently they need only We were trending higher than One Direction taxcreditcutswasaStrictly special. small grants, some help around arcane on Twitter – and it was thanks to cofee,

And the way he suddenly became local planning laws and connections Illustration: Lauren Crow love and art. the austerity chancellor without to similar groups trying similar We revealed in last week’s magazine our austerity–well,thatwasquiteaplay. things. There is knowledge and skills partnership with cofee start-up Change Please. Still, I’m going to help him. to be shared. It sees some of our vendors moving on from The house-building plan in Also there is another side. The selling the magazine to training as baristas so Osborne’s spending review is a good people working on the buildings are they can sell cofees at the Change Please one. A goal of 400,000 new homes by often those who’ll benefit from them. mobile vans across London. 2020 is not to be sniffed at. There On a good number of occasions there So many readers shared the good news that are a range of needs factored in. are social enterprises driving we felt a bit Kardashian. Such was our power to Inevitably, this won’t be enough and the projects. Big Issue Invest, the social drive the agenda that Piers Morgan tweeted: cost will still stop a lot of people who investment arm of The Big Issue, “Now trending between Ed Miliband and The couldusealeg-up. noticed this early. They began Big Issue. That feels ominous.” Charming! Butamixtureofputtingoffthose (amongst other things) investing in Millions of listeners heard Change Please who’d buy second homes for let by groups to reskill and also to meet founder Cemal Ezel rampingupstampdutyinEngland housing needs. The PHASES project, across radio stations andWalesandalsoextendingHelp whichretrainsex-homelessandex- including BBC 5live. To Buy schemes admits there is a service personnel and brings buildings Millions more saw John problem to get stuck into, and keeps back into use, is one such scheme. Bird talk about it on ITN stock available. Britain’s big leap forward will come London. All manner of Almost as soon as Osborne made through the grassroots and social papers carried the story. theannouncementawarningwas enterprises. The homebuilding revolu- However, their interest sounded.Whowillbuildthesehouses? tion will be seen in the unfashionable, in cofee was bested only The Federation of Master Builders scuffedupbuildingsthatcanbring Owning the news! by their interest in Big saidthedrop-offinskillsinthe communities alive again – through Issue love. Our vendor Jack Richardson, who industry was so acute that projects working them back to life and through found love while selling the magazine on his already in the works were being put those doing the work. pitch in Bristol, made headlines across the globe on ice. Experts estimate that some The Big Issue gets this, George. when he announced his engagement to fiancée 400,000 skilled workers have left the The Big Issue has been working Toni. The romance of the year captured the industry since the recession bit. on inventive ways out of society’s hearts of the nation and was picked up by Theanswer,oratleastpartofit, problemsforover24years.Weknow newspapers from The Telegraph, The Mirror, maybecloserthanpeoplethink. you’re busy, we know you have a The Sun, Express, Metro and ITV, and even It’s not exactly hiding in clear sight, few things on your mind. So ring us. tugged heartstrings down under, with Australian more actually IN clear sight. We’re happy to talk any time. Women’s Weekly reporting on it. Read all about Since we launched our Fill ‘Em Up We’re on the corner just across Jack’s whirlwind week on page 21. campaign–ourdrivetobringempty from your oice... To cap it all, the news that some of Brit Art’s buildingsacrossBritainbackintouse heavy hitters – including Turner Prize nominee as homes – two things have become Paul McNamee is editor of The Big Issue Jim Lambie – would turn our vendors into art clear. New builds are only part of @pauldmcnamee custodians dominated Twitter traic and headlines in Scotland. Lambie leads a horde of NO. 72 cultural luminaries who will be making one-of FROM THE VAULT... NOV 2006 original artworks that they’ll insert into random Cover star Jarvis Cocker talks politics, protest and his copies of our Christmas issue courtesy of Neu! pop comeback, telling us: “I’ve resigned myself to the Reekie! arts collective and club night. Another potential humiliation.” We also look at Paul Andrew Turner Prize nominee, Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, Williams’ new film London to Brighton – a street Scots Makar Liz Lochhead, Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison and many more will be taking thriller examining moral issues around homelessness. part. See bigissue.com for all details.

THE BIG ISSUE / p6 / November 30–December 6 2015 PAUSE THE RANT

THE ‘MAN ON THE MOON’ LIVES NEXT DOOR TO YOU WE CAN ALL TURN LONELINESS INTO SMILES THIS CHRISTMAS, SAYS MICHELLE MCCRINDLE

Nobody likes to think about getting old, but if you’re lucky it will happen to you. This Christmas one million older people in the UK will be lonely. Loneliness makes you ill and is as bad for your health as smoking. Loneliness is a deep, creeping sadness that fills you with dread when you wake up, knowing the day ahead, and the next, will be filled with your deafening silence. Trapped behind curtains, their old life swept away by age- related frailty, disability and dementia, older people in the UK have never been lonelier. For 20 years Food Train volunteers have been passionately committed to bringing friendship, Illustration: Mitch Blunt Illustration: fun and smiles into the lives of older people alongside a range HORATIO CLARE of weekly support services; over 80,000 contacts in the last year adds up to lots of smiles. Our How to let birdsong lift you befriending service provides trips out, activities, regular clubs, home visits and phone calls. One 93-year-old lady told us how “life was over with nothing nthegloombeforedawn, thefirstbirdstobreedeachyear. white, made the air’s blue more to look forward to” but now she the radio grim with deaths The worst of winter for us, vile intense. Iandthreats,andprophesy- Februrary,isatimeofacrobat- Birdshavelessenergyto ingmorerain,Iheardafemale ics (theylooptheloop)andsex spendinsonginwinter,making tawnyowl:“Kee-wick!Kee- and nesting for them. This bird therattleofthemagpieandthe wick!”Herwildpealseemeda mademethinkofthepoetPercy “Chack-chack!” of jackdaws – charm against despair. My Bysshe Shelley’s question to commonsounds–seempre- family love owls – ‘owla’ was thewestwind:“Ohwind,if cious.Ourtwo-year-oldhas oneofmyson’sfirstwords. winter comes, can spring be far givenmyeyeforbirdsafresh Thefemale‘kee-wicks’,while behind?”And the rain did not brightness,astheyareallnew themaleanswers‘hoo-hoo!’ come that day. Instead the sky andintriguingtohim.Wefound has new friends and is busier Therewasnosignoftheowl paled, then hardened into a ourselves crawling through the than ever. So this Christmas, butaheronflewupthevalley, searing blue, bringing all win- park’sshrubberythismorning, share a cuppa with an older andgaveher“Zank!”cry,a ter’s colours to their brilliant temptedbyarobinaspleasedby neighbour, and I bet it will bring soundwithbrokeniceinit, best, and we set out through the thegameaswewere. a smile to your face as well as andaravenwentover,highup. woods, treading over copper These are hard times, cold as theirs. There isn’t a word for the He was silent, no laughing leaves and emerald moss. cruelty, it sometimes seems. All opposite of loneliness but to me “Pruuk-pruuk!” this morning, Apheasantcalled,“Kok- themorereasontotakeplea- it looks like this. thefoodtrain.co.uk butmyheartliftedatthesightof kok!”Itisaproud,priapicshout surefromthesimplethings,and histhickoutlineanddiamond- which seems foolish, given that to keep faith with the wheel of Michelle McCrindle MBE is from shaped tail. everypredatorfanciesabitof the seasons. The fair days will older people’s charity Food Train Irish, Welsh, Norse and pheasant.Wespottedapair come again. Greek mythologies all have feeding, the sun burnishing O Tellus about a campaign or ravensasthemessengersofthe their plumage so that they issue you care about and the Gods,soItendtosaygooddayto glowed fiery amber. A skein of Horatio Clare’s book Orison for a change you want. @bigissue; themattheveryleast.Theyare Canada geese went over and a Curlew is out now (Little Toller [email protected] joyful, playful creatures, among tumble of herring gulls, dreamy Books, £12)

THE BIG ISSUE / p7 / November 30–December 6 2015

MY HIDDEN BRITAIN PECCADILLO IN ASSOCIATION WITH WALKINGWORLD.COM

REBECCA FRONT SATIRICAL STAR HARMONY SINGING

Even as a kid I would hear harmonies. It is not something I learnt to do, it is just the way my brain works. I hear harmonies as soon as a song starts playing. It is really strange. I assumed that was how everybody heard music. I sang with choirs through school. I started out as a singer – not a very trained one but I used to sing jazz and write songs for the Oxford Revue at university. I was in a double act that performed character No.53 comedy songs, and used to hear the whole thing in my head – all the chords, the harmonies, Hurst Castle everything, as I was writing it. My personal taste is largely THE SOLENT, HAMPSHIRE classical music and non-choral, which is hard to harmonise. But urst Castle has wars and massive east and I also love songs from the shows guarded the western west wing batteries were – Guys and Dolls or anything H approach to the built during the mid-19th by Sondheim. Whenever I Solent since the reign of century to house heavy guns. sing along with the radio, I am Henry VIII. It was built at Garrisons were stationed at constantly harmonising. I do it all the end of a long shingle the castle during both World the time. I sing for fun. It makes spit and formed part of the Wars and it remained part you popular when you are protection of the port of of Britain’s coastal artillery mucking about at home or can Southampton and the naval defences until 1956. base at Portsmouth. The Charles I was imprisoned narrow gap between the spit at Hurst Castle in 1648 before and the Isle of Wight creates being taken to London to his strong currents with each tide, trial and execution. making passage past the fort by invaders a risky endeavour. OS Grid Reference: SZ 317897 Less than 100 years after shot to do it with, and of his its construction it appears 27 pieces of ordnance not to have become somewhat above four or five would do Get instructions and OS map for join in with people and create neglected. In 1628 the porter any service, and they but for a this walk (ID 2461) for free until something that sounds good. was ordered to stay a ship and shot or two”. December 13 at walkingworld.com. These days I hardly ever although he was “very willing” The castle was modernised Use discount code HB5 to access perform. I joined a choir a couple he “had neither powder nor during the Napoleonic over 6,000 routes for just £15. of years ago. I was always either filming late or filming so early Share your photos of this Hidden Britain and ideas for others @bigissue; [email protected] the next morning I had to be in bed by 7pm. After eight months, FORWARD THINKING... Bog-roll breathalyser. during which I never made a A 13-year-old in the US has invented a gadget to detect if single meeting, I told them I was someone has been driving under the influence. Made from leaving. But I would dearly love a torch, loo roll and digital camera, it’s more efective and to sing in a choir again. There is less intrusive than breathalysing or blood testing. Krishna something special about singing with other people. Reddy (left) wrote a software programme to measure the constriction of the pupil in a driver’s eye when light Rebecca Front stars in Billionaire Boy, is directed at it. It reveals if a person has had alcohol, date tbc, BBC One marijuana, amphetamines, painkillers or sleep aids.

THE BIG ISSUE / p9 / November 30–December 6 2015 “It’sagreatironythat I hated my breasts. But these two little monsters are just awesome” Anastacia

Singer who battled breast cancer

THE BIG ISSUE / p10 / November 30–December 6 2015 LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

e moved from Chicago to My career happened so fast I don’t think I New York City when I was realised how big I was until I was already going 16. My mother, she was an back down the ladder and people were saying, hey, actress and she’d just got what happened to her? I think while it was happen- divorced from my step- ing I was so busy, and trying to please everyone, I was father. So that was a big not in the now. Now I am in the now. And enjoying transition for me. I was what’s happening each moment, giggling like a school- Wstill quite shy. I was friendly but I wasn’t advanced. girl, thinking – this is cool, I’m signing my own name I couldn’t wear anything too risqué or my mom would on my own CD. These fans are outside my hotel and knock my head of. She’s a Chicago Irish woman and they told me they’re following me around for 17 dates she’s true-to-core. She kept a tight rein on me and my Anastacia performs on and I’m like oh my God, seriously?! It’s fun. Strictly Come Dancing; with brother and sister. Sir Elton John at Madison If I really wanted to knock my younger self I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I Square Garden in 2000 out, I’d tell her about singing with Elton [as a was 13, which doctors discovered when they went in special guest at Elton’s Greatest Hits Live show to investigate a dislodged benign tumour. Otherwise in New York]. Oh my God, are you kidding me? I was a healthy child and once I had my operation I That moment, to this day, is my favourite didn’t have any Crohn’s issues until I was 19 and tried moment in my life. I still remember singing to go on a diet. Basically, I was trying to lose my boobs along to his albums out of the window of my and my butt. [A producer said] they were not working house when I was a kid. So wow, the feeling of for the dancer’s body, they didn’t fit the image. thinking – I am here, onstage, singing with him So I was put on this mandatory diet of vegetables and right now. I’m looking at him like my mom fruit and after three weeks my intestines collapsed. looked at his album cover. We sang Saturday That’s when I realised what this condition meant. Night’s Alright for Fighting. In truth, in my I felt very awkward as a teenager. I wanted blue nervousness on stage, I got some of the words eyes, I wanted to be taller, I wore glasses, I got my chest wrong. And he was like, oh my God, you early and I was very embarrassed about it. I just wasn’t couldn’t even sing the right words, you old the kind of girl I thought guys would want to date. cow! That’s what he calls me, old cow. Though in some ways I was okay with that because I We have such a laugh together. I still giggle didn’t want to date any boys anyway. I just wanted to if he calls me. be friends with boys, boys were cool with me. Until we It’s a great irony in my life that I were doing a show in school where we all had to wear absolutely hated my breasts and then I these catsuits for a dance routine. I walked into the got breast cancer. [After two bouts of room, all boobs and bum, and the boys never looked at cancer Anastacia had a double mastectomy me the same way again. I was mortified. That’s prob- in 2013]. These two little monsters – now I ably when I started wearing my stepfather’s shirts, call them my twin set and they are just big and baggy, to cover up. I just wanted to stay a kid. awesome. Now I’m just so very proud to be a woman. My career started properly when I was 30. I’m extremely blessed – breast cancer brought more I often say I was like a fine wine, I took a long time to femininity my way than I knew what to do with. I had mature. I didn’t get into make-up or anything girly been so scared of it but now I embrace it. At the begin- until I was signed to Sony and they were putting ning of my career I was like, I’m a sex symbol? Oh my make-up teams in front of me. I would sleep with my God, eww! I want people to respect me for my talent make-up on because I was so like – wow! Look at my and my mind. Now I’m like, totally disrespect me, see face! I couldn’t believe my face could look like that. me as a dumb blonde if you want. I’m enjoying being a When I think back to the teenage me, I wee bit Marilyn – ‘Ooh, can you open the door, it’s just actually really like her. She was extremely so heavy!’ It’s sometimes fun to feel like that because innocent about the world, probably for too long. before I was always like, hey you, I got the door! I didn’t really understand how things worked out I used my mother’s Irish sense of humour to there, not until my career started and I had to make get through the cancer treatment. What else could serious decisions. Until then I’d had part-time jobs, I do, it was my life. I found the ridiculous in every- I was back and forth to my mom’s, and she never thing. I still do. Just before I got on the phone with put pressure on me to be anything or commit to you I cracked my front tooth. Everyone around me is anything. Maybe she saw talent in me and thought, saying, oh my God, we must find a dentist before we this one’s going to be somebody. But I didn’t see for a do Strictly. And I’m thinking, now I can properly say long time that I might have what it took to take on the ‘thufering thuccotash’, which weirdly I was saying Madonnas and the Janet Jacksons. all day yesterday because I was wearing a Sylvester If I told my teenage self she was going to be a the Cat T-shirt. Because, you know, I can aford to fix big pop star, she’d just say no way. She just wouldn’t the tooth. It’ll be okay. believe it in a million years. And she wasn’t even dreaming of it. That was my mom’s dream, that was Anastacia’s Ultimate Collection is out now. The Ultimate not my dream. My mom was singing into the mirror, Collection Tour starts at the London Palladium on May 2; imagining herself winning all these awards… To think anastacia.com. Interview: Jane Graham @Janeannie I’d end up living that life! The younger me would be like, what ME? Are you kidding me? Yet I do find IN 1984, THE YEAR ANASTACIA myself oddly comfortable with the fame. I feel quite TURNS 16… Band Aid records Do They normal. I enjoy being around interesting people, having conversations with interesting people. And in a Know It’s Christmas? / The Aids virus is way I still feel I’m like that 16-year-old, not knowing identified / An IRA bomb explodes at the

Photos: PA / Getty Photos: PA exactly what’s going on. Conservative Party conference in Brighton

THE BIG ISSUE / p11 / November 30–December 6 2015 Stuck for agreat

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Our work has helped tens of thousands of people to work their way out of poverty. By subscribing you help us ofer year-round support to our sellers on the streets – A HAND UP NOT A HAND OUT – and you get a TOYOU fantastic magazine delivered to your door every week. JOHN BIRD

Dickens was the master of humbug hypocrisy

umbug’isafavoured Dickens could invent fictive Bob Cratchit AndDickens’attemptsattakingover Dickensian word. andTinyTimandengenderbucketsof Seymour’s invention probably drove the It gets thrown tearsovertheirplight,hecouldequally artist to his death. around a lot at ignore a real widow and her real-life mites. Jobs’denialoftheimportanceof Christmas. TheDickensMuseuminDoughtyStreet WozniakinstartingApplehasanelement Especially around in central London is a three-storey house of the Dickens/Seymour scenario. Both ‘Hthat much-loved Charles Dickens story, that Dickens moved into from crammed DickensandJobs,labouringunderthat A Christmas Carol.Thatterriblehumbug rooms nearby at Furnival’s Inn. He also wounded child view of the world, grasped Ebenezer Scrooge, based on the man who gotthemoneytomarrythewomanhe all and denied others authorship and started The Peabody Housing Trust and was eventually to bitterly denounce and importance. And did their best to make it JPMorgan(atonetimetherichestinvest- humiliate. look as if they were the main progenitors. ment bank in the world), really needed Before the success of The Pickwick What is a crying shame is that both convertingtogoodness.Hegothispredict- Papers Dickensmadenexttonothingout DickensandJobswerebrilliantatwhat ablecomeuppanceinthecourseofDickens’ of his fictional writing. Pickwick was his they did. Neither Wozniak nor Seymour storyofthefightbetweengoodandevil. bonanza.Anditlaidthefoundationstone could have taken their respective products Yet there was always something sad at for his incredibly successful fiction- to the heights their denying collaborators the centre of Dickens. Something desperate producing career. took. But because of the deep injuries of andneedy.Hewasappallingtohisfirst The problem central to Dickens’ world Dickens and Jobs it seemed they could wife,andattimestoothersofhisnearest isthattheoriginatorofPickwickwasthe never share with those that deserved it. and dearest. His biography shows that artist Robert Seymour. He came up with Apparently Dickens sent Widow he was damaged by his early years in a Seymour £5 and told her not to bother him boot-blackingfactorywhilehisfatherand anymore.Shediedinpoverty,sodidher mother languished in debtors’ prison. “He could invent daughter. And her son committed suicide Likewise therecentSteveJobsfilm fictive Tiny Tim attheageof74,feelingcursedand showsthissamesadnessattheheartof destroyedbyPickwick. Jobsville, Jobs’ deifying community he and engender So Dickens, it would seem, could deny created around himself; leading him buckets of tears arealfamilyonhardtimesbutequally accordingtothefilmtodenyinghis96per couldlavishsentimentsadnauseamon cent certain daughter. over his plight, somethingmadeup. Having just finished Death and Mr ‘Humbug’ suits the creator of A Pickwick,aboutthecreationofThe while ignoring Christmas Carol as much as his creation Pickwick Papers and then going to see a real widow Ebenezer Scrooge. And it shows also how theJobsfilm,Iwasastonishedhowboth uglywasthatearlyVictorianhypocrisy DickensandJobsreallymilkedthat and her mites” thatallowedmasspovertytocontinue,yet woundedchildthing.Andasonewholike- allowingatthesametimeawindowdress- wiseusedthe‘woundedchild’excusefor theideaofPickwickinhisdrawingsof ing through tear-jerking propaganda like poor-qualitysocialbehaviourforyears,I thecharacterandtheideaofaclubof A Christmas Carol. canunderstandwhytheydoit.It’sakind incompetents. Yet Dickens conspired to No wonder Dickens was sad at heart, ofpermanent‘getoutofjail’card.Youcan’t deny Seymour the rights and the income. dyingrelativelyyoung;becauseheknew though keep allowing the demons to give Hediditintheworstofpossibleways. underneathitallhehadsome‘humbug’at youlicencetobean‘arse’.Youhavetogrow He denied Seymour’s widow recognition thecore.Whataweighttocarrythatyour beyond damage, and it seemed neither Jobs andincomebecausetwodaysafteran prosperity was based on the imagination or Dickens could. apparent bust up with Dickens Seymour of others. Jobs being abandoned to adoption as a committed suicide. SobewareofVictorianscrying‘humbug’ babe must have screwed the mainframe, The Pickwick Papers went on to become ofallbutthemselves.Butyoumustread somewhat. And Dickens’ ugly descent one of the most popular books ever DeathandMrPickwick, my book of the year. from middleclasstoworkingclasschild published, more popular than anything It is the work of a genius. labourer seemed to have seized up a part Dickens subsequently wrote. of his sense of justice . Whatamiscarriageofjustice!An John Bird is the founder and Editor in Chief Stephen Jarvis’ Death and Mr Pickwick unknownwriterisgiventhechanceto of The Big Issue. [email protected] isaconvincingexposéofthe‘humbug’at writethewordstoSeymour’scharacters, @johnbirdswords. Death and Mr Pickwick by

Illustration: Lauren Crow Lauren Illustration: the heart of Dickens himself. Whereas only then for the writer to take over. Stephen Jarvis is out now (Jonathan Cape, £20)

THE BIG ISSUE / p13 / November 30–December 6 2015 SHOP WITH THE BIG ISSUE this Christmas

THE BIG ISSUE CHRISTMAS CARDS A6 pack of 6: £4.50 (+P&P)

Buying products from The Big Issue shop opens windows of opportunity and directly supports the work that we do; ofering a ‘hand up’ and a chance to earn a legitimate income to those affected by poverty shop.bigissue.com NEED TO GET IN TOUCH? JUST EMAIL [email protected] JESSICA SHANKLEMAN

How real is the threat of ‘blackout Britain’ this Christmas?

very year, as the darkest and come online in the mid-2020s, instead of As Chris Goodall and Mark Lynas coldest days draw in, news- 2017 as originally planned. Even more pointed out in The Guardian, the event this papers scream warnings concerningisthatthesereactors–described month actually shows that the UK relies too over the state of our energy as the mostexpensive power plant ever built heavily on a handful of large power plants security. –willuseoutdatedtechnologyandput and that smaller generators such as wind “WINTER BLACKOUT the UK’s energy needs into the hands of turbines, creating a more decentralised FEAR:E UK at risk as National Grid sufers France’sEDFandChina’sstate-owned energy system, are more resilient. multiple plant breakdowns,” shouted the General Nuclear Power. Not to mention that both Denmark and Daily Express at the start of this month. Meanwhile, some commentators Germany experience fewer outages than in “Osborne’s green taxes blamed for power continue to claim intermittent wind farms the UK, despite far higher proportions of supplies falling to danger level,” thundered aretoblameforthecapacitycrunch.Wasit intermittent renewables such as wind and the Mail on Sunday. simplyaslowwinddaythatledNational solar being used. This month’s headlines came after Grid to call for backup? And National Grid seems confident about National Grid was forced to spendmorethan No. National Grid said the emergency a suite of measures it has lined up for the £2.5m on back up supplies, when reserves was a result of several outages at fossil fuel next low power emergency, which will help ran low one day in early November. At no plantsthatday–coalandgastobeprecise, keep the lights on while reducing our carbon point did National Grid engineers warn we certainly not renewables. emissions at the same time, delivering a win were at risk of blackouts. In fact many ‘blackout Britain’ media for the environment and the economy. In the past decade nearly 500 articles reportsarelargelyunfounded.Researchby One of these measures, already widely have warned of the risks of blackouts, when the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit used in other countries including the USA, in fact real power cuts have proved vanish- earlier this year found that nearly all power involves paying certain companies to turn ingly rare. cutsintheUKareduetofaultsinlocal down their power demand at a moment’s So are we really on the brink of being distribution networks, typically caused by notice. This technique, known as demand plunged into darkness? And are green taxes bad weather or contractors accidentally response, or ‘negawatts’ is usually deployed genuinely to blame if the lights do go out? cutting through underground cables. on non-critical businesses. For example a It is no secret that capacity margins this cold storage company could lose power for year will be at their lowest in a decade, with up to a day without causing damage to its National Grid admitting the gap between “Nearly all frozen foods, while other companies could supply and demand is just 1.2 per cent. initiate downtime for shorter periods. Standby measures built into the system power cuts in Crucially, many of these companies are increase that gap to 5.1 per cent. happy to take part in these innovative smart But compare that to the 16.8 per cent the UK are due grid measures, viewing it as an opportu- margin in winter 2011/2012 andit’seasyto tofaultsinlocal nity to boost their income rather than a see why you might be worried. How did our burden that will lose them business. capacity margins get so tight? networks, such The government has also launched a This squeeze is caused by old, dirty coal as bad weather Capacity Market, which pays generators to plants shutting as part of government eforts build new back-up plants that can be to tackle climate change, coupled with or contractors switched on in a crunch. decades of underinvestment in the power So next time our papers scream blackout system to replace coal with cleanersources. cutting through warnings at us, how worried should we be With the government last weekcommit- cables” that we are set for a return to the three-day ting to phase out all coal plants by 2025, weeks of the 1970s? Probably not as worried capacity margins are set to get even tighter as those editors would like. over the coming years. Energy and Climate The next couple of winters are likely Change Secretary Amber Rudd promised to have record tight margins but the fairy to try and bring forward investment in gas lights will almost certainly stay on and you plants and nuclear power but it remains to will still be able to cook a turkey on be seen if and when these will be delivered. Christmas Day. Energy companies have been reluctant to invest in new gas power plants, while the Jessica Shankleman is deputy editor of new reactors at Hinkley Point C have faced BusinessGreen businessgreen.com repeated delays and are now expected to @JessicaBG

THE BIG ISSUE / p15 / November 30–December 6 2015 VIEW OF BUILDING MEDICINE LEAVES BY PAUL GORMAN BY ROBYN FORMAN Jeremy Deller: I really like this. James Brett: The aesthetic I can totally understand it. This medicine of Robyn Forman soothes kind of work is the kind of work both doer and viewer. The making of I would make if I was painting – the art, like the taking of the leaves, something like a fantasy almost of a is a healer. How rare to see so much building, almost like he’s a frustrated in just a little piece of paper. architect. I like the simplicity of it, there’s a lot of charm about it. It’s quite heartfelt as well. You can see he really enjoyed making it. STREET ART ON SHOW We think it’s great, but what do the experts make of it? We asked four top names to pick out some of their favourite artwork featured in e Big Issue

L-R James Brett, Waldemar Januszczak, Jeremy Deller, Miranda Sawyer

THE BIG ISSUE / p16 / November 30–December 6 2015 AMY WINEHOUSE ON TORSO BY BRYONY FRY BY MARY VALLELY Jeremy Deller: This is quite Jeremy Deller: I really like Torso, interesting. It’s quite a traditional I have to say. I love the blue in it. image of Amy Winehouse, and That’s definitely something I can then you have behind it this sort live with – beautiful, really beautiful. of bleeding almost, a quite fraught I almost look at it as an abstract, colour scheme. Like blood dripping it’s teetering on the edge. Using down, quite acidic. That’s quite black as well – you don’t see that an interesting combination – that very much in paintings, the use graphic and then this sort of of black. She’s got a really good abstract. That works really well. sense of colour. Really great, very sophisticated.

very week in Big Issue Street Art we “What’s striking here is how many of the pictures publish artworks by talented creatives are about people and places – humans and homes,” on the margins of society, from the said art critic and broadcaster Waldemar Januszczak. homeless and ex-homeless to people “Given how many of these artists have endured or who struggle with mental health continue to endure episodes of homelessness, it’s conditions or addiction. This is real tempting to see a connection.” Eoutsider art and we think it’s first class. But there is “Just because someone is technically capable always a chance we don’t know what we’re talking doesn’t mean they’re going to make good, expressive, about. So we asked four respected heavy hitters from interesting art,” said Turner Prize-winning artist the British art top table to run the rule over some of Jeremy Deller. “You get a sense from a lot of the work our favourite pieces from 2015 and to share some of here that they really enjoyed making it. Really the best their reflections and opinions on the work. way to make art is to do your own thing and just enjoy James Brett, founder of the Museum of Everything, it. A lot of the best art is made that way.” said The Big Issue was the “benevolent glue” of “Big Issue Street Art would be a worthwhile project his project – a platform and voice for untrained, whether or not anyone saw the art,” said journalist, non-traditional so-called “accidental artists” who broadcaster and former Turner Prize judge Miranda prove that art doesn’t always have to be art by design. Sawyer. “Creativity is a process, and that process “To give a private art-maker time, to hear that does something to the mind: it heals, it connects, it personal narrative, to display the handmade object, inspires, it calms. But the results are important too. these actions privilege the most secret of languages,” Thesepicturesshouldbeseenbecausethese he said. works are great.” E

THE BIG ISSUE / p17 / November 30–December 6 2015 sT yOR aDtUE tO A ! From a jungle adventure in Borneo to conquering Kilimanjaro, Macmillan’soverseaschallengesareachancetoexploresomewhere new, make new friends and push yourself to your limits.

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IndiaHikingChallenge 11 – 20 November 2016 Sign up today Visit: macmillan.org.uk/overseashikes Email: [email protected] Call: 020 7840 7887

Flights and other travel arrangements are booked through Macmillan Cancer Support asagentsforDiscoverAdventureLtdATOLNo5636.MacmillanCancerSupport,registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). BUY STREET ART! You can buy prints of some artworks featured in Street Art through The Big Issue Shop. At least half of the profit from each sale goes to the artist. Order at shop.bigissue.com

STRONG BEER BY ANDREW HOWARD SIAMESE TWINS PARLOUR GAMES BY RENE ROBBINS Waldemar Januszczak: Andrew Howard’s BY PAUL BELLINGHAM Jeremy Deller: This abstract I really like. beer-fuelled journey across the skyline is a Miranda Sawyer: Despite the attractive colours She’s the daughter of an architect, and you picture about people and their relationship to and calm facial expressions of the Siamese twins, can kind of tell in a way. Abstract artworks are places. It’s a happy picture. But happy in a beery I find this picture very unsettling. We’ve all felt actually very diicult to make. They’re not just a way. In the end, what you notice is that all the like this: as though we have diferent parts to squiggle on a piece of paper, they’re incredibly windows have lights in them. And that the man ourselves and sometimes they refuse to unite. finely balanced things, and she’s done a really on the beer can is flying past the lot. As though there is more than one person in our great job of that here. There’s lots of energy brain, that we’re all of a jumble and we don’t and movement in it, and I appreciate that. Jeremy Deller: It’s important to have a bit make sense, even though we present a bright of humour in a work, there’s no harm in that. and benign face to the world. Miranda Sawyer: Beautiful, clear, summer You could imagine him having a career as a colours. A boat or a tent? People travelling? commercial artist from this sort of work – faux Jeremy Deller: It’s not necessarily a work I’d Obstacles piled up in front of us, or a bird’s naïve I’d call it, because it looks very simple, want on my wall, but maybe he’s not making eye view? This picture has order in it but it’s whereas it’s actually very sophisticated and funny work like that. He’s definitely looking at how to amazingly lively, it’s full of movement even as well. From the nice use of colour and the manipulate and change the human figure, that’s though it’s abstract. It’s almost like a small part silhouetting and so on, it could almost be from a without a doubt. The artists he’s interested in of a larger picture, a snapshot. You could children’s book illustration or something. also do that. So I can see where he’s coming spend a long time looking at this. from. I also like the way he’s coloured this in a very unusual way.

Street Art is created by people who are marginalised by issues like homelessness, disability and mental health conditions. Contact [email protected] to see your art here.

THE BIG ISSUE / p19 / November 30–December 6 2015 £5 £7 £15 Originator’s identification A kettle, number 973604. Full name and postal address of cutlery, your bank/building society Post code a toaster. Name(s) of account holder(s) Branch sort code Account number A few simple things that help make a home. And a big difference from Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Please pay The Big Issue Foundation direct debits from the account detailed in this instruction living on the street. subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with The Big Issue Foundation and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

If you want to make a big difference Signature(s) Date with a small donation, you can start with a pen and a pair of scissors or Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some type of accounts. with your smartphone. Thank you. Gift Aid Declaration I would like The Big Issue Foundation (BIF) to reclaim the tax on all money I have made in the past, present and for all future donations I make from this day homeless people the opportunity forward until I notify you otherwise. I confirm that I am a UK Tax Payer and that I pay as much of a livelihood. income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount that all the charities and CASCs that I for every £1 I donate). I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. vendors the opportunity of a life. Full name We work tirelessly alongside our vendors to help them deal with the issues that have caused their Address Post code homelessness or have developed as a result of hitting the streets.

Please return this completed form to our freepost address: The Big Issue Foundation (registered charity no. 1049077) FREEPOST LON17469, London, SW8 2BR

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Download PowaTag Scan the PowaTag Tap to Give from your app store. and specify your and your donation Register your donation amount will be submitted. credit/debit card. and/or type. VENDOR LOVE STORY

BIG ISSUE LOVE STORY GOES GLOBAL Vendor Jack Richardson popped the question on his pitch and captured the heart of the world’s media. After a whirlwind week he tells Andrew Burns why this will be his first happy Christmas

Big Issue love story made international head- “My head is still spinning. People I’ve never met before lines last week as the tale of a vendor’s en- have been coming up to me on the street to shake my gagement captured hearts across the world. hand or say congratulations. The reaction from the A Bristol seller Jack Richardson, 37, asked public has been unrelentingly positive, which has made his girlfriend Toni Osborne to marry him at his pitch all the stress and chaos worthwhile.” after the pair met at the same spot at Christmas two The happy couple first met when Jack asked Toni to years ago while he was selling the magazine and buy a magazine in December 2013, however she broke sleeping rough. down in tears, explaining her own diiculties paying Their touching story was featured everywhere from her electricity meter. This led to kindhearted Jack the BBC to The Sun, all the way to Australian Women’s ofering a small sum of his earnings to make sure she Weekly. didn’t have to spend Christmas in the dark.

Photo: SWNS “It’s been completely overwhelming,” Jack says. They soon got talking on a regular basis. Then, last

THE BIG ISSUE / p21 / November 30–December 6 2015 A GREAT WAY TO FIGHT POVERTY

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Visit www.lendwithcare.org today and give the gift of opportunity this Christmas.

Z/ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůh<͘ZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚĐŚĂƌŝƚLJŶŽϮဓϮϱϬϲ͘Z͕ဒဓůďĞƌƚŵďĂŶŬŵĞŶƚ͕>ŽŶĚŽŶ^ϭϳdW BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARE INTERNATIONAL UK VENDOR LOVE STORY

Christmas, the comfy corner of an underground car He’dreadourstoryandsaidhecanhelpwitha parkwhereJackwassleepinggotboardedup. venueandsoundsystemfortheparty. “Iwasindirestraits,facingsleepingoutsideagain,” It’s unbelievable. People can be so generous.” Jack recalls. “But Toni – this amazing woman who I Fornow,JackisbusysellingTheBigIssue hadbeenspeakingto–oferedtoputmeupforacouple sevendaysaweekandishopingforaprosperous ofmonths.SoImovedintoherplaceandmylifechanged festiveperiod–acrucialtimeofyearforour completely.Westartedgettingclose,andslowlybut vendors. However, he insists he’ll take a surelywefellheadoverheelsinlovewithoneanother.” dayoftoenjoyChristmas Day at home with his JackandToni’srelationshiphasblossomedthisyear, bride-to-be. allowing Jack to embark on an Open University course “Christmascanbeasuccessfultimeforus insocialscienceswhile continuing to sell the magazine vendors,wecanearnmoremoneywhichhelpswith to help him get by. the rest of the year and the rainy days. But it can AndlastmonthJackproposedtoTonibygoingdown alsobeaverylonelytime. ononekneewhileonhispitchinParkStreet.“Ididit “I’ve worked selling the Issue on Christmas Day infrontofalotofmycustomers,andthankfullyToni forthelastnumberofyears.Itwasjustanotherday. saidyes,”Jacklaughs.“I’mblownawaybyitall.” People are always friendly and can be very generous, “WhenwefirstmetIwassleepinginacarparkbut whichiswonderful,butattheendoftheday she saw past that,” adds Jack. “She made a human when you’ve got nobody or nothing to go home to, it’s connection.Shereallyisanamazingwoman. really hard. “We’rebeginningtomakeplansnowforawedding “ThiswillbeourfirstChristmasalonetogether and nextyear.OneofmycustomersisaChurchofEngland Ican’twait.It’sgoingtobeveryspecial. vicar who says he’ll oiciate, one of my customers is a “I can’t remember the last time I felt this way. hairdresser who will do Toni’s hair, and another is a MymumdiedwhenIwas13andIwasputintocare. photographerwhosayshe’lldothephotosforus. I’vesuferedfromseveredepressionand,tobehonest, “Thenlastweekagentlemanwhoorganisesparties Ididn’tthinkIhaditinmeanymoretofeelgood. and events gave me his card when I was selling the Issue. I haven’t been this happy in all of my adult life.”

L-R: Cathy sell- ing the magazine last Christmas; the pair lost everything in afire;withher beloved Storm

todocumentherlifeonthestreet.She The following month, filmmakers ‘YOU FEEL SO became homeless in early 2014 after losing started documenting Cathy and Lee’s life. herjobatamortgagebrokeranddecidedto The Channel 5 programme, called At move from Cornwall to Oxford believing it Christmas,followsanumberofpeople LONELY AT wouldbeeasiertofindwork,butwithin days through December and during the festive she was forced to sleep rough. period itself. CHRISTMAS’ “Selling themagazinehelpedmeget “Beingignoredonthestreetanytimeof enough money to get by,” she says. “Without theyearishardbutatChristmasit’smore TheBigIssueIdon’tknowwhatIwould tough,”Cathysays.“Aroundthistimeofyear It’s not about presents and havedone,it’sreally helped me get my youfeelsolonely.Youseeeverybodybuying family for everyone, as Big confidence back.” theirChristmaspresents,they’regoingto Issue vendors Cathy and Lee Cathy metLeewhoalsowasalsoaBig bewiththeirfamilies,goingtohaveagreat Issuevendorandthecouplelookedoutfor timeandaniceChristmasdinner.Whenyou show in a new documentary eachotherastheystruggledtofindasafe don’thaveanyofthatyoufeelsolonely. placetosleepatnight.Eventstookadra- “Peoplejustdon’tstoptothinkaboutthe maticturninNovemberlastyear.Cathyand actualrealityofitall,”Cathyadds.“Itis ig Issue vendors CathyJohnson Leehadbeeninvitedtostayonaboatonthe ignorance rather than lack of people caring andLeeSimstakecentrestagein Thames but one night the boat caught fire –theyjustdon’tknow.” amajornewdocumentary andthepairhadtojumpoverboard.They Cathy and Lee now sell The Big Issue B sharingthestoriesofpeople wereluckyenoughtoescapewithminor in Bath. acrosstheUKfacedwithdifficult injuriesbutlosteverythingtheyownedand circumstancesatChristmas. tragically,Cathy’s12-year-oldbordercollie AfterfeaturingCathy’sstoryinthe Stormdiedinthefire.ThepictureofCathy ThefirstepisodeofAt Christmas will be magazine last year, filmmakers got in touch and Storm was taken a few weeks earlier. broadcast on December 3 on Channel 5

THE BIG ISSUE / p23 / November 30–December 6 2015 WORLD OF CATS

‘OUR STORY TOUCHED SO MANY HEARTS, IT BLOWS MY MIND’ Ex-Big Issue vendor James Bowen and his furry friend Bob have had an incredible journey from street to screen. You helped to do this – and now they’re saying thanks

ob and I are especially thankful toseeBobandIatarecentbooksigningandwehave thisChristmas.Wehavegotanew someofthemostpassionatesocialmediafollowers moviebeingmadeonourlivesand I’ve ever come across. apaperbackversionofAGiftFrom Bobjusttakesallofthisinhisstride.We’llbeon Bob hasbeenreleasedtocapan ourwaytoaninterviewandhe’lllookupatme,asif incredible year. tosay:“Youcandothis,buddy.”AndIlookbackathim ThisChristmaswewillbe andthink–withyoubymyside,Bob,Icandoanything. celebratingwithfamilyandfriends. IlookbackeverydayandIthankBobforhowhehas ButIwillalsoreflectonhowgratefulweareforevery- dramaticallychangedmylifeforthebetter.Notjust thingB we’ve been given, meditate withthebooksbutbeforeanyof onthosewhoarenotasblessed this.Whenhewouldwatchover asweareandtakejoyingivingto melikealittleangel,whenhe others – the true meaning of wouldencouragemetorestwhen Christmas. I will never forget Iwasonthestreetsandsufering thosebrutallycoldwinterswhen from deep vein thrombosis… Ididn’thaveenoughmoneyto We’vegonefromsellingTheBig keeptheheatingonorbuyfood. Issueandbuskingonthestreets BeforeBobcameintomylife ofLondontothatdayinMarch eightyearsago,thestreetswere 2012 – my birthday, by the way, my home. My thoughts this what a magical coincidence! Christmas are with the thou- –whenmyfirstbookwas sands of dispossessed people oicially launched! whodon’thaveawarmroomto I’llneverforgethowproudI stayin,abedtolieinorahot felt when I was told AStreetCat meal to sustain them. My time Named Bob had hit the number on the streets will always be a one spot on TheSundayTimes partofme.Butforeveryindividualthatturnsablind bestseller list. Since then, we’ve had continued success eye, there is someone caring like you, reading The Big withTheWorldAccordingtoBob, My Name is Bob, Bob Issuerightnowandsupportingagreatcause. to the Rescue andAGiftFromBob.Nowamoviemotion It’sbeennearlyfiveyearssinceachanceencounter picture, directed by Roger Spottiswoode and produced withaliteraryagentchangedmylifeforever.Tofeel by Adam Rolston, is slated for release in 2016. worthy of such good fortune, I still wake up every AsweallcelebratethefestiveperiodIwouldask morningandpinchmyself.Iwon’tlie,therehavebeen youtothinkaboutthosewhoarelessfortunatethan afewupsanddownsalongtheway.ButIamsomuch ourselves.NexttimeyoupassaBigIssuevendor, happierwhenIlookinthemirror.Iseeabetterperson please, please, please stop to buy a magazine from whocanadmithiserrorsandlearnfromhismistakes. them.Orevenjustchattothemforaminute,givethem Someonewhomaynotbeperfectbutwhostrivesfor alittlebitofyourtime.Itmakestheworldofdiference. excellence:acodemygodparentstaughtmethevalue BobandIloveyouallforyourcontinuedsupport ofwhenIwasatearawayteenbutalwaysheldonto. andwishyouallaveryMerryChristmasandahealthy Thefactthatmybookhastouchedsomanyhearts andhappyNewYear. justblowsmymind.Iwouldn’tbewhereIamright nowifitwasn’tforthefantasticfansandIwouldnever

Illustration: Charis Tsevis Illustration: takethemforgranted.Nearly900peopleturnedup A Gift from Bob is out now (Hodder & Stoughton, £7.99)

THE BIG ISSUE / p24 / November 30–December 6 2015 PLAY SPOT YOUR CAT! Go to bigissue.com, where we’ve zoomed in on our Bob mosaic.

WIN A SIGNED COPY OF OUR BOB COVER! The last time Bob featured on the cover of The Big Issue we were inundated by thousands of Bobites across the globe asking to buy copies of the magazine. There was so much interest, we decided to spread a bit of Bob-love, and invited readers to send us pictures of their own cats, either reading their copy of ‘The Bob Issue’ or just doing their own thing, which is of course what cats do best. We were amazed by the response – hundreds of people from all corners of the world emailed and tweeted us their paw-some photos. James mentioned our quest for photos of Bob fans on his Facebook page and on Twitter and we were swamped – it became planet of the cats! If you look very closely at the cover of this magazine you will see them collated into a purr-fect collage by Greek artist Charis Tsevis – who in 2013 created a beautiful collage of Santa for our Christmas cover, composed of photographs of Big Issue vendors from around the country. This year it’s over to fans of Bob and James – and each and every one is now a part of Bob’s story. tsevis.com

We have 10 amazing signed cover images to give away – you can win one at Facebook.com/bigissueuk WORLD OF CATS

STREET CAT TO SILVER SCREEN

From Big Issue vendor to bestselling author to the big screen… James and Bob’s story is set to take cinemas by storm next year. The film version of James’ bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob book is being filmed at locations around London right now with Tomorrow Never Dies and Turner & Hooch director Roger Spottiswoode is at the helm. The rights to the film were snapped up in 2012 shortly after the book hit the bestseller lists at a time when James and Bob were still busking on the streets of London. In the film, James is being played by Luke Treadaway, who won an Olivier award for his role in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Undoubtedly there will have been plenty of curious incidents with cats during filming – Bob is playing himself but with the help of eight specially trained cat doubles, while James is advising on the film. The film co-stars Ruta Gedmintas (pictured right, alongside Luke as James with the real James and Bob!) as well as Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head, of Buy the Vampire Slayer fame. Before the film has even wrapped, international distribution rights have been secured, ensuring that it will be released in territories around the world including Europe, Australia and Latin America. All of this means that the growth in Street Cat mania is set to continue. Keep reading The Big Issue throughout 2016 for updates on James and Bob’s next exciting chapter… Photo: Andreas Lambis Photo: Andreas

THE BIG ISSUE / p26 / November 30–December 6 2015 WORLD OF CATS BOB, MEET BUB  ANOTHER CAT SENSATION Laura Kelly meets the owner of Lil Bub – the moggy who interviewed Michelle Obama and counts De Niro as a friend

f ever you’ve been sceptical about contactedmeaboutparticipatinginthe thepoweroftheonlinekitty, Let’s Move campaign [which aims to you need only look to Belgium’s combat childhood obesity]. I pitched an response to the recent national ideathatwewouldflyaboutandBuband emergency. Resilient Belgians Michelle would do all this stuf together reacted by taking to Twitter and anditwasgoingtobeveryfunny.Well, Iflooding the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown naturally,theynixedit.Iwrotetheepisode, withfunnycatpictures.Intendedtodrown they pre-recorded the video. Bub and out operational details about police raids Michelle were never in the same room at thatcouldpossiblyhavehelpedtheterror thesametime.Sorrytospoilthemagic! suspects, the cats were also a perfect retort, meeting terror with humour – OneofthebigcelebritiesIknowyoudid and cuteness. meet was Robert De Niro. He’s been This response was proof again that luckyenoughtohaveaBubcuddle.That catsruletheinternet.Andsoit was atTribeca FilmFestival2013. is that I’m interviewing Indiana We’re surrounded by the media native Mike Bridavsky about his andpressandit’sveryhectic.He cat – one of the world’s most says:“IsitokayifIholdyourcat?” famous felines – and her new Now, I’m very protective over Bub. album. (Yes, you read that right. Itdoesn’tmatterifit’sthe Thecathasanalbum.It’scalled President or Robert De Niro, I Science&Magic,andit’sreally have to be like, “I can only let you Top: James Bowen with Luke rather good.) hold her if you let me show you Treadaway and Ruta Gedmintas, who With her saucer eyes and how to hold her properly”. He plays his girlfriend Betty in the film. sticky-out tongue, perma-kitten paused for a second, and then said: Inset: Treadaway and Froggatt on location. Below: Anthony and Bob Lil Bub became an internet “Okay.”SoIheldhishandtheright relaxing between takes sensation after Mike uploaded way.HehadthesoftesthandsI’ve her photo to Reddit back in 2011. ever touched, like, softer than my Todaythe‘magicalspacecat’has wife.Youcantellfromthephoto, more than 2.3 million likes on Bub liked him. Facebook, has interviewed Michelle Obama on her own How has Bub changed your internet TV show, has ‘written’ Top: Mike with Lil Bub. life? Completely. She’s taught me Below: Robert De Niro abook,starredinafilmand gets to hold the moggy to care for someone more than I inspiredlegionsoffanstodonate care for myself. Through Bub, I lots of money to animal charities. met my wife – I now have a child. As Mike says, she “brings people such hap- TheseareallthingsIwasn’tsurewould piness. Pure, simple, innocent happiness everhappen.ItrulybelievethatIsaved and joy on a daily basis”. Bub’s life, and this is how she repays me. Theruntofaferallitter,whowouldhave diedbutforMike’sintervention,Bub’s How is Bub keeping at the moment? unusuallooksaretheresultofaseriesof Last week she actually fell and broke her genetic abnormalities. Hers is truly a story elbow. It’s been a very, very, very hard week of triumph against the odds – though, as for us. She had surgery. We had complica- Mike reveals, she’s still facing challenges. tions during surgery but she made it. We hadthebestsurgeonsinthestate.Itwasthe Whatwasmakingthealbumlike?It was first surgery of its kind because of her bone apositive,funproject.Itwasaboutgetting condition. She’s got part of her body shaved cool sounds and getting Bub’s magic cap- and she’s a little drowsy but she’s great. turedonarecord.Ithinkitturnedoutgreat. That’sthethingabouther;she’sthemost determinedlittlecreatureintheworld. Itwasanincrediblecouptohave Michelle Obama on Lil Bub’s Big Show. Lil Bub’s Science & Magic is out on December 4 What was she like? Their team (Joyful Noise)

THE BIG ISSUE / p27 / November 30–December 6 2015 HOW DO YOU MAKE A FILM STAR INVISIBLE?

M Even Richard Gere disappears into the crowd when he’s playing a rough sleeper. But now film-makers are opening their eyes to the homelessness S. crisis – Gere and fellow stars Peter Mullan and Paul Bettany tell us why

ichard Gere is one of the most Philadelphia.Gerebelieves“vendorshavedone famous faces in cinema but something heroic. They’ve pulled themselves out of during the making of his latest a very deep ditch, they’re survivors”. film, Time Out of Mind, in which Like buses, you wait ages for a film focusing on home- he plays George, a homeless man less characters then several show up at once. Out now living on the streets of New York, is Maggie Smith’s quirky vagabond in Alan Bennett’s he found himself being com- cosy and quaint The Lady in the Van, which will be pletely ignored by passers by. followed by Hector, starring Peter Mullan. “It is an “I was invisible in New York,” he says. “Because I important subject to tackle,” Mullan says. “When you Rwas this character, people decided are so disenfranchised, there’s so little within two blocks of seeing me that I you can do. You can only exist for the was homeless, and didn’t look any absolute immediate moment, and that further. No one made any eye con- is when you become invisible. We all tact. It was confusing and profound. make assumptions about people on If Richard Gere, who has money and the street. You see some poor soul fame – and in this situation everyone lying there and think he must be a thinks kindly about me – if I can stand junkie or an alcoholic. Sadly, we see on a street corner and be treated like more and more people just rubbering, garbage? That’s a profound lesson for as we say, the homeless, be they Roma, me personally but for an audience it be they Caucasian Scots, be they the should be as well. It radically changed recent emergé of whatever ethnic my view of myself and of the social fabric around me.” group. They are being ignored.” Gere shared his experiences making the film during The film follows Hector’s pilgrimage from Scotland a private screening with vendors from One Step Away, to London to celebrate Christmas with his sister. “The a street paper like The Big Issue but based in character’s journey is the thing Jake [Gavin, Hector’s

THE BIG ISSUE / p28 / November 30–December 6 2015 MAKE HIM HOMELESS

director]andIworkedon,”Mullanexplains.“At the moment is you’re either big or you’re no one. onepointthescripthadalcoholismasbeingwhat We had a couple of ofers but they were pretty lousy. pushedHectorovertheedgebutthatwastheglar- So many will put it out but they won’t get behind inglyobviousone.Mysisterworkedwiththehome- it. So I got together with a cinema booker, we went lessforalongtime.Imetalotofhomelessguys to the BFI, who adored it, and we’re putting it out whodidn’tdrinkanddidn’tsmokebuthadmental in partnership from December 11.” healthissues,betheytemporaryorlongterm.They Hector is one of the few brave enough to battle couldn’tcopewiththeirresponsibilityintheworld. Star Wars at the box oice. “Literally everybody “Now we have this horrendous housing crisis, said you are insane trying to release a small art whereregardlessofmentalabilitiesoraddictions film at Christmas,” Malit says. “But let’s try, nobody wearebacktoaCathy Come Home situation, where else is going to do it! I’d like to think there’s a market wehavewholefamiliesbeingevictedbecauseof for social realist films. I grew up in the ’80s, and benefit cuts and sanctions. The next big epidemic whether it was music or fashion shows – everything isgoingtobehomelessness.IfeelIhavetotalkout. had something to say. We’ve gone bland.” Inthe’80sthemovieindustrygotinto‘greedis In an industry that loves shiny escapist block- good’ and Wall Street, which made it look incred- busters, why have some film-makers suddenly iblyglamorous.Ithasalwaysbeenthecase.Andit discovered homelessness? Paul Bettany, best alwayswillbeifweallowtheirvoicestoreignand known from Master and Commander, ABeautiful ifwedon’thavehonest,originalresponsestoit.” Mind andasVisionintheMarvelfilms,makeshis Homelessnesshasbeenabigissueforalong directorial debut with Shelter, set against the home- time but rarely makes for big box oice. Hector’s lessness crisis in New York. He believes the problem Richard Gere (left) producer Stephen Malit describes the diiculty secur- in Time Out of Mind; has become so great that film-makers can no longer ing distribution. “We premiered at Edinburgh Film Peter Mullan (top left) ignore it. “Art is a response to the culture in which you Festival and got good reviews,” he says. “We screened as Hector; Maggie Smith live,” he says. “Since the crash of 2008 the homelessness it to distributors but the nature of the film industry at in The Lady in the Van crisis is crazy, it’s everywhere. You’d have to be blind E

THE BIG ISSUE / p29 / November 30–December 6 2015 CARLOS ACOSTA DANCES LA TRAVIATA LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE ROYAL BALLET CLASSICS VERDI ASHTON LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE Glyndebourne Royal Opera House ROMEO AND JULIET · DON QUIXOTE Royal Opera House Verdi’s tragic masterpiece is Choreographed by Frederick Ashton, elegantly updated by director this is a classic of The Royal Ballet. This Carlos Acosta is one of the greatest ballet Tom Cairns in this ‘fresh and 2015 revival is a ‘company triumph’ dancers of his generation and has occupied thrillingly unfamiliar’ (Independent) (Independent), with principals Natalia a unique position within The Royal Ballet Glyndebourne production. Mark Osipova and Steven McRae creating for almost two decades. This collection Elder conducts with performances terrific onstage chemistry and delivering oers the opportunity to see him dance from Venera Gimadieva and outstanding solo performances. Barry in three great Royal Ballet productions. Michael Fabiano. Wordsworth conductors. 3 DVD SET & 3 BLU-RAY SET DVD & BLU-RAY DVD & BLU-RAY

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS PUCCINI LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST SHAKESPEARE LA BOHÈME & LOVE’S LABOUR’S WON Royal Shakespeare Company TOSCA · TURANDOT SPECIAL EDITION BOX SET Based on a farce by the Roman Royal Opera House Royal Shakespeare Company playwright Plautus, The Comedy Three magnificent Royal Opera Shakespeare’s great pair of romantic of Errors is the Bard’s most madcap productions of three of Puccini’s greatest comedies, Love’s Labour’s Lost and comedy. Featuring Renaissance operas. Featuring a host of international Love’s Labour’s Won – the latter usually costumes as well as contemporaneous opera stars, this collection is brimming known as Much Ado About Nothing. staging, Blanche McIntyre’s debut with the drama and sumptuous music Both plays are available individually production for the Globe ‘sparkles with that have made Puccini one of the world’s or as a special edition box set, wit and invention’ (WhatsOnStage). most popular opera composers. on DVD and Blu-ray. DVD 3 DVD SET & 3 BLU-RAY SET 2 DVD SET & 2 BLU-RAY SET

www.opusarte.com FOLLOW US ON HOMELESS IN HOLLYWOOD

Ken Loach’s most media and politicians have dared express. game-changing Also scheduled for 2016 is a film that brings social Cathy Come commentary full circle. Fifty years after Cathy Come Come; below: Charlie Chaplin as Home causedanoutcryanddebateinparliament,Ken The Little Tramp Loach will release I, Daniel Blake.Likehis1966game- changer, the film exposes those victimised and sufo- catedbythebureaucracyofabrokenwelfaresystem. The film’sscreenwriter,PaulLaverty,wroteitasa reaction to the way poor people are often portrayed onscreen,inthemediaandinpolitics.“There’sbeena grand narrative created about picking on the poorest insociety,”saysLavertyfromI, Daniel Blake’s shoot in Newcastle.“You’llhaveseenendlessprogrammeson variouschannels,whatIcallfascistTV,stereotyping strivers versus skivers. There is a punitive, judgmental element running underneath all these documentaries –it’sreallytheirownfaultandiftheyjustgotoftheir arsesandfoundwork…Theseprogrammesoftenfocus on people who are massively vulnerable, who have a drink problem, who are obese, who are shouting and swearing but when you talk to people at foodbanks you findmanyofthemareinwork,manyhaveworkedfor manyyearsthensomethinghashappenedto them. Youseethenuances,thecontradictions.” I, Daniel Blake followsthestruggleofa59-year-old joinerwhocannolongerworkafteranillness.Hemeets asinglemotheroftwoforcedtomovefromLondonto Newcastle because of the housing crisis crippling the capital.Thefilmisarageagainstthebenefits machine, nottoseeit.That’swhyIthinktherearemoviesabout which hinders as much as it helps. it.Butit’snotlikeHollywoodhasremadeThe Fisher “If you look at the speeches from a lot of government King –RichardGereandPeterMullan’sfilms,likemine, figures,striversversusskiversisanarrativetheytryto are independent. All films, any film, is welcome. To be create,”Lavertysays.“Life’smuchmorecomplicated partofthediscussionisreallyimportant.” – we have to break down and challenge that narrative.” InShelter, BettanydirectshiswifeJenniferConnelly and fellow Avengers actorAnthonyMackieasacouple Hector is in cinemas from December 11. Words: Adrian Lobb whohavelosteverythingbutfindeachotheronthe and Steven MacKenzie streets. “An agent of mine, who will remain nameless, saidyoucan’tmakearomanceabouthomelesspeople becausenobodywantstoseethemkiss,”saysBettany. “Iwassoshockedbytheawfulnessofthestatement. SEE HECTOR FOR FREE What I heard was how they were thinking of these There are a number of special screenings of Hector around Britain peopleassomethingother.ThatwaswhatIwantedto to mark its release. These will involve director/writer Jake Gavin, discussandexamine.Topresenttwopeoplewhoon a cast member and a local homeless charity representative talking paperareunforgivablethenmakeyoulovethembecause about issues raised in and around the film. We have a pair of peoplearelovablewhenyougettoknowtheirstories.” tickets for each of these for Big Issue readers. To claim your ticket, Filmstacklinghomelessnessisatrendsetto simply tweet @bigissue with #hectorscreening and the date and continue into 2016. Pre-production is under way for place of the screening of your choice. We’ll pick the first winners Hampstead,starringBrendanGleesonasahomeless on December 5. manlivingontheHeath,andDianeKeatonasawealthy Americanwidow,whobothtakeonpropertydevelop- December 7 December 13 ers.Thetaleisbasedonatruestory,asis,ofcourse,the Cineworld Haymarket, London Ritzy Picturehouse, bigscreenadaptationofA Street Cat Named Bob,coming This is the premiere and will London soon.Butcinemahaslonghadafascinationwithhome- be followed by a very special December 14 lesscharacters.OneofitsearliesticonswasChaplin’s Q&A with director Jake Gavin, The Ultimate Picture House, LittleTramp,whoevolvedfrombeingarambunctious star Peter Mullan and The Big Oxford vagrantinKeystonecomediestothelovableeveryman, Issue’s chief John Bird. December 16 whosepovertywasplayedasmuchfortearsaslaughter. December 9 Hackney Picturehouse, Chaplinwroteinhisautobiographythatthecharacter Glasgow Film Theatre, London “became amanwithasoul–apointofview”. Glasgow December 17 In more modern times there’s been a return to home- Jake Gavin and Peter Mullan FACT, Liverpool less characters being used to reflect social issues. The December 11 December 20 BBC’sfeature-lengthdramaMr Stink wasaChristmas Cameo, Edinburgh Gate Notting Hill, London hittwoyearsago,remindinganaudienceofmorethan December 12 December 28 sixmillionaboutthetruemeaningoftheseason,while Picturehouse Crouch End, Hyde Park Picturehouse, last year’s highest-grossing British film, Paddington, London Leeds containedmoreheartandpunchwhenitcameto engaging with migration and how to house people than

THE BIG ISSUE / p31 / November 30–December 6 2015 Beginning with stillness my faith becomes action. ,ƵŵĂŶ tƌŝƚĞƐ ŝƐ Ă ůŽŶŐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůůLJ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚĞĚ ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ ďĞĨƌŝĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƉƌŝƐŽŶĞƌƐ ŽŶ ĞĂƚŚ ZŽǁ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h^ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ůĞƩĞƌ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ͘ KǀĞƌ ϯϬϬϬ ƉƌŝƐŽŶĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ŚĞůĚ ŝŶ ŚĂƌƐŚ͕ ůŽŶĞůLJ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ůĞƩĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ĂƌĞ ŽŌĞŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽŶůLJ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞLJ ĂǁĂŝƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞdžĞĐƵƟŽŶ ĚĂƚĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚƐ ŽĨ Ă ƉƌŝƐŽŶĞƌ “Human Writes brought our paths together and for that I will be forever grateful. I now have someone to share my hopes and fears ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ / ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŚĞŶ ŵLJ ƟŵĞ ĐŽŵĞƐ͕ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ǁŝůů ĐĂƌĞ͘͟ ŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚƐ ŽĨ Ă h< ƉĞŶĨƌŝĞŶĚ “My ƉĞŶĨƌŝĞŶĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂƫƚƵĚĞ ŝŶ ƐƵĐŚ ŝŶŚƵŵĂŶĞ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ Ă ƌĞĂů ĞdžĂŵƉůĞ ƚŽ ŵĞ ĂŶĚ Ă ƟŵĞůLJ ƌĞŵŝŶĚĞƌ ŽĨ ŵLJ ŽǁŶ ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐƐǁŚĞŶ/ŐĞƚƵƉƐĞƚ ĂďŽƵƚŵŝŶŽƌƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ͘͟

/Ĩ LJŽƵ ǁŽƵůĚ ůŝŬĞ ƚŽ ŬŶŽǁ ŵŽƌĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ Žƌ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ Ă ƉĞŶĨƌŝĞŶĚ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƐĞŶĚ ĂŶ SAE to

ϰ >ĂĐĞLJ 'ƌŽǀĞ͕ tĞƚŚĞƌďLJ͕ tĞƐƚ zŽƌŬƐ͕ >^ϮϮ ϲZ> e-mail [email protected] Find out more or visit our websiteat www.humanwrites.org www.quaker.org.uk HOMELESS IN HOLLYWOOD

theybecameatemplateforafilmaboutjudgement. Whydowetreathomelessnessthewaywedo?Ithink it’s got something to do with fear, a terror that one might endupthere,soanabsolute,resolute,thiscouldnever happentomeattitude–youmusthavedonesomething yourself to bring yourself so low. In New York, homelessness has spiralled out of controlinthelast10to15years.Socialhousing(Ineed tosaypublichousingherebecausethewordsocialgets everybody’sbackupinAmerica)hasbeenslashedby 32 per cent. There are 60,000 homeless people in the municipalsheltersystemeverynight–and24,000of those are children. LastyearinNewYorkthefirstapartmentfor$100m wassold–yetthousandsareinthemunicipalshelter systemeverynight.Thatisuntenablebutyou’dbea foolandacommunisttodrawalinebetweenrising rentsandthelackofrisingwages…Simplyproviding peoplewithlegalrepresentationwouldstopacrazy amountofevictions.Ahomelessfamilyis80percent lesslikelytobeevictediftheyhavecounsel.Counsel coststhecity$12,500,whiletheaveragestayofahome- lessfamilyinashelteris$45,000.Morallyitmakes sense but it also makes sense politically. ThestateofUtahhashugelyreducedhomelessness by thinking outside the box [the local government workedoutitwascheaperandmoreefectivetohouse homeless people rather than keeping them on the streets].Thatseemstobepayingof.Ofcourse,ina capitalist society people are screaming, “Nanny state!” and,“Howcansomeonegetsomethingfornothing??” GIMME Theproblemis…itworked.It’sdiiculttoignorethat fact.Thereasonsforhomelessnessaremyriad;the lossofajob,lossofafamilymember,abreakdown,and yes,drugoralcoholaddiction.Everybodyhasastory. SHELTER WhoamItojudge? Myfatherdiedrecently.Hewasaveryreligious ere but for the grace of man.Wheneverwepassedahomelesspersonhewould God go I, says Paul Bettany alwayssay,therebutforthegraceofGodgoI.AndI lovethatsentiment.It’sanadmissionofhowclosewe all are to slipping by the wayside. didn’tstartofwantingtomakeafilmabout WhenIwasabout17yearsoldIhadafamilyloss. homelessness.Iwantedtodirectamovie, IcamedowntoLondonandendedupoutsidethe andthenthoughtImightratherliketo boarding house where my sister was living. I used to makeoneaboutjudgement.Ihavethis throwastoneatherwindowandwhenthewomanwho worrythatinaworldfullofincreasinggrey ownedtheroomswasasleep,shewouldletmesneak areaswe’rebecomingmoreentrenched in in and sleeponthefloor. blackandwhitepositions. Thatwasahugeperiodoftimeforme. IliveinNewYork,onthe Iwasnotinmybestmind.Iwasgrieving, HudsonRiver.Thereisatinytriangular Iwasnotwell.ThereweretimesIdidn’tget parkonthecornerofCanalandtheWestI intothatroomandsleptonaparkbench. Side Highway where this homeless couple Ineverthoughtofmyselfashomelessand lived. I passed them every day on the school Iwouldn’twanttooverstatethatbutit runandwouldtrytotalktothem.Mykids absolutely felt that my safety and situation would say good morning. But more and were precarious. more,I’mashamedtosay,Ibegannottobe Ibuskedfortwoyears,playingguitar able to see them. Somehow they became andsinging.IfItooksickIwasn’tableto part of the landscape of the city I live in. earn my living or feed myself. It was really ThenHurricaneSandyhappened.There Jennifer Connelly in Shelter frighteningatthatage.Iwentfromhaving was a mandatory evacuation of downtown ahousewithparentswhodideverythingfor riversideManhattan.Inthemadnessofgettingmy me to suddenly having to work if I want to eat. I was threekids,dogandcatandwifeinthecar,Ididn’tstop luckyenoughtogetoneofthelastgrants and ended up tothinkwherethey–myneighbours–wouldweather going to school to study acting. thestorm.Ineversawthemagain.Icouldn’tstopthink- ingaboutthem.I’msuretheywerefineandhadmoved Shelter isoutonBlu-rayandDVDonJanuary11. on but I imagined what their lives might have been and Paul Bettany was speaking to Steven MacKenzie Images: PA Images:

THE BIG ISSUE / p33 / November 30–December 6 2015 Let us be yo CHRISTMAS E EAS WIN ALL THIS • WIN ALL THIS • A AMAZING ZURU TOYS!

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THEH BIG ISSUE / p34 / November 30–December 6 2015 our Santa! SY BY THE BIG ISSUE... L THIS • WIN ALL THIS • WIN ALL THIS • WIN ALL THIS

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e Big Issue shop is packed with brilliant gift ideas – and it’s money well spent, as all our partners are putting profits back into helping make the world a better place!

Head to The Big Issue’s Social Trading Shop where every product has a ‘social echo’ – ranging from what the product is made from, who it is made by or where the profits end up. We started with our own branded products and have now sell products from other social enterprises. From luxury toiletries, recycled goods and exclusive Street Art prints to John Bird’s famous poetry-inspired tea-towel, there is something for everyone. Every time you purchase an item at shop.bigissue.com a positive social outcome is created! Together with our suppliers, we have put together a first-class Santa sack of great products from the shop for one lucky reader to win. It contains: A Ralph Steadman T-shirt, Fikay Adventure Messenger Bag Red Elephant, Birdsong Handknitted Bradbury Red Scarf, CLARITY ‘Collection’ Fuchsia & Tea Tree Luxury Gift Pack, The Gardener’s Lament Tea Towel and Mug (by John Bird), two Street Art prints of choice (A3 and A4), two packs of Big Issue Christmas Cards, The Soap Co: Black Poppy & Wild Fig Christmas Duo, Stu the Plastic Bag bag. Plus books – John Bird’s The Necessity of Poverty, 10 Keys to Success and Dickens: The Socially Mobile Cat (audiobook on CD), and Tessa Swithinbank’s Coming up from the Streets: The Story of The Big Issue. See our fabulous range and never Use the KEYW for the miss new items. Sign up to our competition you want to enter newsletter b p as your subject and email: bigissue.com [email protected] KEYWORD: or post entries to: SHOP SACK The Big Issue, 43 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 1HW. Don’t forget your name & address. Closing date is December 8

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THE BIG ISSUE / p35 / November 30–December 6 2015 WE’RE ALWAYS HERE Nobody needs to feel alone this Christmas

Freepost Talk to us ĂŶLJ ƟŵĞ RSRB-KKBY-CYJK you like, in your own ǁĂLJ ĂŶĚ Žī ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ Chris, PO Box 9090 – aboutwhatever’s ^ƟƌůŝŶŐ &<ဒ Ϯ^ ŐĞƫŶŐƚŽLJŽƵ͘ 1161Ϯϯ FREE This number is FREE to call

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BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN ADAPTED BY GEORGIA PRITCHETT MUSIC BY DOUGAL IRVINE DIRECTED BY GARY SEFTON IDEAL FOR AGES 5+

WED 25 NOVEMBER – SUN 3 JANUARY Box O ce 01604 624811 www.royalandderngate.co.uk Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP THE ENLIGHTENMENT BOOKS/FILM/TV/MUSIC/GEEK

XMAS PAST WHAT EVERY WOMAN WANTS?

This is what real Mad Men were selling in the 1950s: a grateful housewife, prostrate, worshipping her husband’s gift. And to think he was only going to get her jewellery! This is one of the ads exposed in a new book showing just what a diferent world it was 60 years ago.

X Beyond Belief: The Golden Age of Madison Avenue by Charles Saatchi (Booth Clibborn Editions, £25)

THE BIG ISSUE / p37 / November 30–December 6 2015 BOOKS

Daphne Park helped overthrow Congo’s president in 1961

I’d been aware of her existence for some time.Shehadbecome‘known’,mainlyfrom herroleintheoverthrowoftheLumumba administration in the newly independent (Belgian)Congoin1961(describedindetail inthebook).ThroughamutualfriendIgot intouchwithherandarrangedtomeet forafternoonteaintheHouseofLords (she was a peer by then) one sunny summer’s day.Ifoundhertobetough-minded,quite combative, steadfast in her distrust of the Russians and totally fascinating. We did not stay in touch, she was too carefulforthat,butIfollowedherthrough theoccasionalinterviewsshegaveto selected journalists; The Daily Telegraph was one, TheTimesanother,shewasinter- viewed by Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 AUTHOR FEATURE andbyAlanJudd(aformerSIScolleague) foranaddressshegavetotheRoyalSociety of Literature. All helped to build the picture. Theworkafemaleintelligenceoicer (suchasPark)andamaleonedoesisessen- A woman of intelligence tiallythesame.Whenbasedoverseas,both focusonthreecorethings;thefirstiscon- tinuingtorunthestableofexistingagents Paddy Hayes uncovers the extraordinary story (‘sources’)wherevertheyarebasedover- of Daphne Park, unveiled as a pivotal part of MI6 seas, the second is to look for opportunities to recruit new sources (usually to meet a specificintelligenceobjective),thethirdis ueen of Spies is the biog- second-oldest profession (prostitution to seek out opportunities for what MI6 raphy of Baroness Daphne allegedlybeingtheoldest).Eitherclaimmay euphemisticallyreferstoas‘technical Park (1921-2010), who ormaynotbetrue,certainlythedesireto attack’–inotherwords,placeswhereitcan wasaseniorareacontrol- know–usuallyinordertoforestall–the plantlisteningdevicesandthelike.Over ler in Britain’s Secret intentionsofone’senemiesisadeeply Park’s career the attitude to its woman Intelligence Service, embeddeddesireamongmostrulersandit oicers altered significantly, pretty much Q popularly known as MI6. hasledtothecreationofwhatisnowamulti- in line with social attitudes generally. When Park’s entry to the secre- billion pound global activity impacting on shejoinedin1948shewasoneofonlya tive agencycameaboutinWorldWarTwo thelivesofmillions.ThefascinationI(and couple of female oicers in the intelligence whensheservedintheSpecialOperations muchofthepublic)havewiththeprofession branch, which numbered about 400/500, Executiveasacodinginstructorandasa is easy to understand. Spying contains all andwouldhavebeenconsideredanoddity. briefing and dispatching oicer (respon- theelementsofdrama.Ithasdeception, Nowadaystheproportioniscloseto50/50. siblefordispatchingsecretagentsontheir dissembling, deceit, danger and occasional DaphneParkpassedawayin2010.Two missions behind enemy lines). After the dollopsofsex,thoughpractitionerstendto years later I decided to write her biography warshejoinedMI6,servinginParis, play down that last aspect. and commenced my detailed Moscow,Léopoldville(nowKinshasa), My interest in writing about research.Ihadthebasicinform- Lusaka, Hanoi and Ulaanbaatar. She is Daphne Park stemmed from our ationonfileandtothiswasadded probablybestknownforherroleinthe meeting in the mid-1990s. With the material from obituaries written overthrow and subsequent murder of endingoftheColdWar,itwasdecided byformercolleagues.Forthebook PatriceLumumba,thefirstprimeminister by the British government that the Iinterviewedsome20ofher of the independent Congo Republic. SIS/MI6shouldbeplacedonastatu- former MI6 colleagues, most on FromaslongagoasIcanremember,I toryfooting.Humanrightslegisla- conditions of anonymity. I was have been fascinated by spies. Had I been tion,employmentlawandcivilsociety helped too by her friends, former borninadiferentcountryImightevenhave werecombiningtomakethecontinuation academic colleagues and students. The contemplated joining a spy service but the ofits‘doesnotoiciallyexist’statusunten- culmination is Queen of Spies –onlythe IrelandinwhichIgrewupdidnotboastof able.Aspartofthisprocess(called‘avowal’) second-everbiographypublishedabout a one.SoIremainedacloseobserverofthe Parkwaspermittedtoprovideaninterview Cold War career oicer in MI6. espionage world and became an entre- for the BBC’s Panorama programmeonthe preneur instead,saferifnotsoexciting. workMI6did.Itwasaheavily censored Queen of Spies is out now (Duckworth Overlook, Spying is sometimes described as being the account but was still a first. £19.99). paddyhayes.com; queenofspies.com

THE BIG ISSUE / p38 / November 30–December 6 2015 REVIEWS  BOOKS THAT SOUND THE LITTLE RED CHAIRS / INTIMIDATING AN ATLAS OF COUNTRIES THAT DON’T EXIST BUT AREN’T THOMAS W Love hurts HODGKINSON

1. TAO TE CHING Lao Tzu don’t necessarily place I’m suspicious of people who muchstockinbook claim vaguely to be “fascinated blurbs but if Philip Roth by eastern philosophy” but uses ‘great’ and ‘master- TaoTeChing is packed with I piece’ to describe a novel, you humour and practical wisdom. kind of have to take a bit of Best of all, it’s short. Just a notice.Thebookinquestionis few thoughts on how to live in The Little Red Chairs by Irish sync with the rhythms of the author Edna O’Brien. universe, written by a Chinese I confess that I’ve never mystic 2,500 years ago. read O’Brien before, despite her beingoneofthemosttouted 2. THE MYTH OF Irishwritersofhergeneration, SISYPHUS Albert Camus but I’m glad I have now because A beautifully written The Little Red Chairs isawork (and pleasingly concise) of great empathy and lyricism essay on that most –anovelthatdealswiththe fundamental question: darkestofsubjectsyetsomehow if life is meaningless, why live? managestocomeoutthe Camus has the answers. otherendwithascintillaof hope in its eye. 3. ORLANDO Thefirstpartofthenovel Virginia Woolf concernsthearrivalofadark, Who’s afraid of Virginia handsome stranger in a small McKenzie Dom Illustration: Woolf? Not the readers of Irishvillage.Claimingtobea and conflict, families torn AnAtlasofCountries this jaunty novella about faithhealerandpoet,Vlad apart, homes destroyed, lives That Don’t Exist. Middleton an immortal transgender enchants the village, teaching wrecked. is an acclaimed travel writer troubadour, inspired by the the children, charming the It’sclearfromsomeofthe andgeographyacademic,and author’s love afair with garden women and impressing subject matter that O’Brien in this beautifully designed designer Vita Sackville-West. the menfolk. hashadtodigdeepintothe and published hardback he But Vlad has a terrible idea of evil in humankind, and looksat50formallyunreco- 4. SELECTED POEMS secret;heisaSerbianwar it must have been a difficult gnisedstatesaroundtheworld. ee Cummings criminal,wantedformassacres book to write in many ways. Whatmakesacountrya Free-wheeling, lyrical, andworse,withanintern- But her lilting, sonorous prose country?Howisthatdiferent and showing an enjoyable ational warrant out for his style and unflinching eye for from a state or a nation? It’s a preoccupation with love and arrest.Oblivioustothis,local humanstoriesendupmaking slippery subject, and the lives sex. Poetry for anyone who woman Fidelma falls for TheLittleRedChairsacompas- of many people fall into that needs persuading that poetry Vladandtheybeginanafair sionate book, and her central grey area. isn’t boring. behind her husband’s back. ideas that home and family are TheplacesMiddletonwrites Fidelma discovers that wherever we can find them aboutrangefromthemore 5. SYMPOSIUM Plato she’spregnantatthesame make it subtly but powerfully familiar likes of Greenland Symposium recounts a funny, time as the authorities catch uplifting despite it all. andTibettothewar-torn insightful and passionately up with Vlad, and the book is Changing gears a little bit and disputed, such as the inspiring conversation about thrown into brutality as the next but still with some connec- Crimea or Azawad in the life’s second-most fundamental repercussionsoftheiractions tion,theotherbookthisweek Sahara. Alongthewaythereare question: what is love? The spread. is Nick Middleton’s fascinating quirky hippy communes, speakers include an aristocrat, I can’treallysayanymore communist enclaves, self- lawyer, doctor, comedian, poet about the plot but TheLittleRed proclaimed states of indigenous and a philosopher. All seem Chairs spreads its focus from populationsandevenacouple to have completely diferent Irelandtolookmorewidelyat of theoretical nation states. ideas. Don’t be put of by the thenatureofevil,theconcept It’s all delivered with grace title, which basically means of redemption and the idea of and consideration, confirming ‘binge-drinking session’. what love really means. thatsomeofthemostinterest- It also goes on brilliantly to ing stories in the worldexist in giveavoicetothosesooften The Little Red Chairs themarginsandattheedges Thomas W Hodgkinson and under-represented in fiction, Edna O’Brien, Faber & Faber, of human experience. Hubert van den Bergh’s as in life – the refugees, the £18.99, hardback, out now How to Sound Cultured victims, the ordinary people An Atlas of Countries That is out now in hardback fromallovertheplanetcaught Don’t Exist Nick Middleton (Icon Books, £12.99) up in the awfulness of war Macmillan, £20, hardback, out now Doug Johnstone @doug_johnstone

THE BIG ISSUE / p39 / November 30–December 6 2015 Queen’s Theatre is proud to present our resident company of actor-musicians TICKETS FROM JOIN US ON A £12•50 MAGICAL CARPET RIDE

“A perfect holiday treat and a joy to watch with all the family” Romford Recorder

Rub the magic lamp, make a wish and join us on a magical carpet ride to our traditional pantomime.

28 NOVEMBER 2015 - 9 JANUARY 2016 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

To Be ne At Christmas

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he epidemic of loneliness from low mood due to the darker in Britain’s elderly popula- nights, become isolated because of tion has got to such an ex- colder weather and harsher condi- Ttreme that latest statistics tions or feel more alone during the reveal that over 51% of all holiday season. people over 75 live alone and 5 million older people say the television is their 3URPHGLFDR΍HUVDQXPEHURIRS give a family member a break or holiday care to provide support main form of company. tions to give peace of mind that your family goes on holiday loved ones are cared for this Christ- That’s why Promedica24 has launched mas, with care packages providing ProMedica 24 is Europe’s largest provider of live in care and s its latest campaign “ No One Wants assisted-living and companionship, for es, helping people to live as independently as possible in the to Be Alone At Christmas” to ensure example: own homes. Promedica24’s live-in care teams are made up of ful that seniors are not left isolated this skilled care and support workers who are experienced in a range of winter, yet can live independently, % ‘Living Independently’ makes life D΍HFWLQJVHQLRUV7KHLUFOLHQWVDUHDVVLJQHGDFRQWDFWSHUVRQZKR LV DYDL with a free downloadable guide to more simple and provides support ORFDOO\WRȴQGWKHEHVWFDUHZRUNHUWRVXLWWKHLUQHHGVDQGDUUDQJH DOO WKH IRU give advice on how older people can for daily tasks such as shopping and malities including legal employment of a care worker and the scope of duties build friendships, social networks and prescription collection, as well as and responsibilities. For more information regarding Promedica24’s expert access services to help combat lone- maintaining personal budgets and care and support for assisted-living and companionship for your loved ones at liness. Visit www.promedica24.co.uk diary support. This allows people to D΍RUGDEOHSULFHVSOHDVHFRQWDFW3URPHGLFDRQ for your free guide. continue living a life they want and are accustomed to. There is still a stigma surrounding loneliness and older people tend not % Short Term Care & Support to ask for help because they have too –R΍HUVSHRSOHWKHRSWLRQRI much pride. Despite being lonely is live-in care at home for a 2- 6 CALL 0800 086 86 86 NOW for a free assessment GLɝFXOWDWDQ\WLPHRIWKH\HDUZLQWHU ZHHNSHULRG:HR΍HUHQKDQFHG PROMEDICA24 UK Limited often can be the toughest time for recuperation following departure E: [email protected] W: www.Promedica24.co.uk PDQ\VHQLRUSHRSOHZKRPD\VX΍HU from a hospital stay, respite care to SCREEN

FILM / EDWARD LAWRENSON events see her live alone with her father, a lifesheresignsherselftowhen,inoneof themostpoignantmoments,shecarefully packsawayherbelovedbooks. It’sgrimstuf;thisportraitofChrisliving Let the land sing underthebrutishinfluenceofMullan’s embittered patriarch would be hard to watchwithoutDeyn’sradiantturn.Aformer Agyness Deyn’s quiet radiance punctures the grim melancholy model, she carries the film superbly in a of this adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s Sunset Song performanceofkeeningstoicism:her suferingisvividbutshe’snomartyr.There’s abreakinthegloom:marriagetotheboy- ishlycharmingEwan(playedbyKevin camera glides slowly over a field SunsetSong.Stillinherlateteensatthestart Guthrie) earns her some happiness. But like of ripe corn to find a young ofthefilm,Chrisisanoutgoing,bookish theAberdoniansunthatfallsonChrisin woman, lying unseen among the youngsterwithambitionstoteach.Butthese theopeningshot,yoususpectitcan’tlast A tallyellowstalks.Shepullsherself bright prospects hinge on the approval of –andprettysoon,Chris’resolveistested upandintofullviewtoadmirethescene. her father, and you quickly realise she’s further when war breaks out. This is the luminous opening shot of unlikelytogetthisfromthehardenedbully An authentically textured evocation anewadaptationofSunset Song,Lewis wholoomsoverherhomelife. of pre-World War One society – the GrassicGibbon’sclassic1932novelset PlayedbyPeterMullanwithasaturnine anachronistic dialogue, delivered in broad in rural Aberdeenshire before World War scowl, often lurking behind storm clouds Aberdonianaccents,isabold,nottosay One.TheyoungwomanisChrisGuthrie ofpipesmoke,Chris’fatherisafrightening reckless,box-oicedecision–thisisafilm (Agyness Deyn), daughter of a local farmer, portrait in distorted male of impressive formal restraint and it’s entirely appropriate that we should authority. After years of buck- and powerful emotional turbu- beintroducedtoherassheemergesintothe ling under his violent temper, her lence. Sunset Song isn’tasacces- softsunlight.Womeninthisdour,tradition- mother(aheartbreakingDaniela sibleasthisyear’stwoother soddenworldarerarelyseen,andiftheyare, Nardini)isafretfulwreck. Edwardian dramas, Suragette itisinthedark,crampedinteriorsofthe Atonepoint,Chrisseesher andTestamentofYouth,butIfeel farmhouse, waiting for their menfolk who mumquiverwithdistressand it’sabetterpicture:asthetitle workthefields.NotsoChris,whosequiet instinctivelyenvelopsherina mightsuggest,it’sshotthrough defiance of accepted wisdom and deeply felt, hug.ItearnsChristhismaternal with a melancholy lyricism and almost spiritual, attachment to the land advice: “You’ll need to face men evanescent twilight splendour. around her provide this exquisitely made for yourself. When the time Julie Christie and Omar filmwithitssweepandemotionalgrip. comes,there’snoonecanstand Sharif in Doctor Zhivago ThedirectorTerenceDavies’pastwork andhelpyou.”It’sasignature FINAL REEL... includes The House of Mirth and The Deep momentfromafilmthatcombinesbig Now entering its final month, the BFI’s Blue Sea,bothdelicateperiodmelodramas teary emotional gestures with terse (very Love season is a celebration of romantically acutelyattunedtothepredicamentof Scottish)pronouncementsofflintyfatalism. inclined cinema that includes a rerelease of the women trapped by the circumstance and Ofcourse,hermumisright.Chrisdoes swoony Doctor Zhivago, free archive content conventionoftheday.Thereareechoesof need to stand alone – and sooner than she on their online player and intriguing events these desperately poignant earlier films in thinks when a series of cruel, unexpected like a Brief Encounter-tribute tea dance.

THE BIG ISSUE / p41 / November 30–December 6 2015

WEEK IN GEEK FOCUS MARVEL AT NETFLIX. CHRONICLE Eric Idle THE LIFE OF Python still looks on the bright side of life, especially in the morning VIN DIESEL. LUTHER’S BACK You have just finished in or is it a modern media touring the US with John invention? Oh always Cleese. Were you sharing a – it’s far from a modern tour bus? Yes. It’s a good way phenomenon. You only have to rest between gigs. But we to read the memoirs that stay at hotels. John has been emerged from the court delightful company. We really of Louis XIV to know how like each other and we have a much more interesting is the because it is one of the finest lot of laughs about the Daily shagging than the killing. The things Britain ever produced, Netflix is already believed Mail, which insists we all hate rather unpleasant Charles II after The Royal Society and to be considering a second each other. is only memorable now for his the Cambridge Footlights. series of its Marvel show mistresses. Jessica Jones. The streaming That was a fly-on-the-wall You were in the Footlights service already has Daredevil documentary waiting to The BBC keeps getting and at Cambridge at the series two on its slate. happen, surely? If you live in a kicking from all sides, same time as Stephen a country where there are flies what’s your take? The BBC Hawking, whom you Vin Diesel is planning not on the wall, you should leave. is kicked by the British press involved in the O2 shows. just a fourth Chronicles of The great fun about doing a because it dared to expose Has he always been a fan? Riddick film but also a spin- live show is not being followed them and how corrupt they He was a research graduate of TV show by the name of around by a TV camera crew. were – tapping phones, when I was there. I remember Merc City. He’ll likely turn his It was bad enough at the O2. hounding people, corrupting one day he came into the attention to them once he’s police and bribing politicians. Footlights Club at lunch time done with Fast & Furious 8. Was touring together It has been sent to Manchester and did an extraordinary better than having the rest as a punishment, and I hope improv but he says he has no Fox appears to have pulled of the team tagging along? it comes back fully chastened memory of this at all. It was Fantastic Four 2 of its release Well actually yes. Michael and smart enough to continue incredible he agreed to run schedule. The film had Palin declined to do the O2 its most excellent existence over Professor Brian Cox for been earmarked for a June show anywhere else, and as us… He is a huge comedy fan. 2017 release. The title has he was by far the prettiest we quietly been removed from decided to just leave anyone “An icon is for After the Monty Python Fox’s list, however. else called Terry behind. reunion, you noted you had worship and I graduated from “icon” to Did you think you would dislike being “legend”. How does that be retired by now? I have feel? Any dierent? Yes, done my damndest to retire worshipped. there’s definitely a diference. but wives won’t hear of such I know just how Legend is one step nearer a thing. the grave, and also far less God feels” true. An icon is for worship So you’ve written The and I find I dislike being Writer’s Cut,prrobably the worshippped. I know just how The return of Luther for greatest book evver written God feels at the weekend. a two-part series four has in the history off mankind – been confirmed. The first and that is theki k nd of hype After legend,g what’s the next episode will screen on BBC that the story exxplores. step up? Sadly, a step down. One on December 15 – the The Writer’s Cut is simplythe concluding part the week best book neverw ritten, and Even so, do you still manage after, on the 22nd. that is what the sttory is about. to alwayys look on the bright Procrastinationa ndhype in side of liife? Every morning, Work is underway on a the Post-Ironic Age, which Ido. I’m ana optimist in the universe of GI Joe films. I see as beginningg with the morning and a pessimist Paramount has hired election of Georgge W Bush at night. screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and the boom inr eality TV to oversee a writer’s room where hype replaaces hip. What’s the secret? I laugh of scribes to come up with and smmile and dance and several new films in the series. The book dealswi w th sing. Oh,O and read. salacious ‘kiss and sell’ stories. Ist hat The Writer’s Cut is out now something peopple (Canelo, ebook, £3.99) have always WWords: Steven MacKenzie

Photo: PA denofgeek.com been interestedd @@stevenmackenzie

THE BIG ISSUE / p43 / November 30–December 6 2015 OUT AND ABOUT BROADCAST VIEWS

LUCY SWEET Master of None is so trendy I should hate it. But I love it more than Nutella

ometimes a Netflix series comes accents). He’s starring in a ‘black virus along that you want to devour in movie’ called The Sickening as a (you’ve S one go like a dirty great jar of guessed it) scientist. In between times Nutella. It’s your little secret, between he’s the voice of a yoghurt commercial, you and the sofa and the Netflix box that and is indecisively stumbling through comes up and incredulously asks a series of ill-advised dates with insane ‘Continue watching?’ because you’ve kleptomaniac waitresses. been glued to it for five hours and your As I said, it’s very trendy. But Master buttocks have fused with the cushions. of None deals with big issues – race, Mine is Master of None, the new sexism – with an assured, light touch. sitcom from Parks and Recreation’s Aziz Ansari is like Prozac, his squeaky love- XMAS beaney) – and it will Ansari. If you like smart, young wise- able energy absolving him from his focus, as the name cracking people in New York, trying to character’s most self-indulgent ef-ups. CLANGERS suggests, on Star navigate the dating scene, it will be right He hangs out with dopey, faux-sophis- Wars. Vintage toys up your alley. I’m a sucker for smart East ticated Arnold (Eric Wareheim), who and film posters from Coast wisecrackery, especially if every- delivers the best performance in the the classic era (1977 one’s self-involved and neurotic and show, and his uncompromising friend Christmas, in an to 1985) will be on there’s a cast list of failed actors, disin- Rachel (Noël Wells). Ansari has also cast increasingly secular display, wonderfully terested first dates, people talking fast his real-life parents as his on-screen society, is now mainly timed to coincide in cafés, and subway masturbators. parents, a hilarious move – especially about presents lighting with the release of JJ Everyone drinks in trendy Brooklyn his mum, who spends most of the time up the faces of Abrams’ Episode VII: bars, worries about the composition dolefully looking at him like he’s a com- children. For those The Force Awakens of their text messages, and fails at plete idiot. Their lack of actorly chops greying of hair who when Jedi-mania relationships. As a middle-aged lady gives the show a DIY feel. And there are would like to be will be at a high. who mostly spends her time doing cameos from pros like Buster Rhymes transported, if only school runs and wondering what that and Claire Danes. How cool is that? fleetingly, back to their It’s at this time of year, stain is on her six-year-old H&M card- The music is cool, the script is cool, youth, then Firmin with cubic acres of igan, it should be hipster anathema to even the credits are cool. Maybe, for and Postgate: The cards being stufed me. I should be throwing things at the that very reason, you’ll hate it. Me and Making of Smallfilms into pillar boxes, that telly and yelling about how kids these my stained cardigan loved it more than (until February 28, Royal Mail is put days should stop drinking craft beer out a family-sized jar of Nutella. I can only Canterbury; under unimaginable of jam jars and do National Service. wish I was smart enough to come up canterbury.co.uk/ pressure. That makes But it’s a wonder. Ansari is Dev, an with something like this. Continue beaney) celebrates the a visit to Missing aspiring actor, who bemoans the lack of watching? (Y) pre-CGI geniuses Post Oce UK roles for Indian actors (scientists, nerds, behind Bagpuss and Uber drivers with ridiculously thick @lucytweet1 The Clangers. Their shows were, incredibly, made in a converted pigsty just outside Canterbury and show why limited resources (until December 23, will never quell Birmingham; powerful imaginations. ikon-gallery.org) all the more poignant. More toy-centric Created by Japanese attractions are at artist Saya Kubota, May the Toys it lets you send the be With You letters you’ve always (December 5– wanted to write but March 6, Canterbury; didn’t know who to canterbury.co.uk/ send them to.

THE BIG ISSUE / p44 / November 30–December 6 2015 MUSIC

CLASSICAL / DAVID FAY A musical homecoming

he BBC National Orchestra of Wales has returned to its wet and windy homeland after Ta tour of South America, which saw them perform in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Several players spent the begin- ning of the visit in a Welsh home from home – about 7,000 miles away, in fact – in celebra- tion of the 150th anniversary of the found- ing of Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement in The best letters will be Fairs (December 5, Patagonia. Harpist Catrin Finch, conductor shown at an exhibition various locations, Grant Llewellyn and a dozen orchestral next year in London. London; musicians spent time in the remote region museumoflondon. of Argentina, undertaking outreach work A BBC National Orchestra of Wales workshop in Argentina You can dig into org.uk) where you in schools, with youth orchestras and choirs, Christmas of the will hear of how, and performing to people in deprived Followingonfromthisall-Griegafair, past in a number when it was so cold communities who hadn’t experienced things get classical at Tuesday’s concert. of ways this week. the Thames actually classical music before. Joined by their Lang Lang will provide Mozartian meat Victorian Christmas froze solid, fairs orchestral colleagues, the full ensemble inaBeethovensandwich,performing would take place on performed gala concerts in a wool ware- the Piano Concerto No 24 –apiecehighly the ice and why this house in Trelew, converted into a concert regardedbyBeethovenhimself.The shaped leisure time venue for the occasion. eveningstartswithhisfestiveNamensfeier in the capital when It was moving and revelatory for all overtureandendswiththeSymphonyNo.2, temperatures involved, and shows the power thelasthewouldcomposeinan plummeted. music has to transform lives. overtly classical strain. (December 5, The orchestra brought music The residency reaches a Brentford, London; But Christmas back from its South American climax on Thursday with a waterandsteam.org.uk) can be a lonely time adventure in their suitcases and programme of 20th-century is, as the name very for those on the played works by Uruguayan, Russianmusic.Excerptsfrom much implies, a margins of society. Mexican and Argentinian com- Prokofiev’s ballet score Romeo recreation of 12 Days of Giving posers in an afternoon concert and Juliet –thinkthethemetune Christmas in Victorian (December 1-12, at the BBC Hoddinot Hall in of TheApprentice–andhisPiano times, in an age of Southbank, London; Cardif last Friday. But I’m sure Take a bow: the award- Concerto No 3 promise a lively steam and water. It southbankcentre. their most significant souvenirs winning Britten Sinfonia startbutthingswillgetlivelier wasn’t all cosy firesides co.uk) is a charity will be the memories of the com- for Scriabin’s Poem of Ecstasy. and festive banquets drive for people munities they worked with, and the Thissensationalworkisafittingly back then, as to donate items to knowledge they gave something extra- explosive end to a musical partnership Victorian Christmas families in the local ordinary to their Patagonian compatriots. that will be hard to forget. at the Workhouse area who rely on At London’s Royal Festival Hall this (December 4 & 5, foodbanks. Each week, piano virtuoso Lang Lang continues Nottingham; day is dedicated to his three-concert residency with the LAST NOTE... nationaltrust.org.uk) diferent foodstufs, Philharmonia Orchestra and its principal The Britten Sinfonia is celebrating the 10th will show what it was so check the conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. Last anniversary of its award-winning At Lunch like for the destitute, website and drop Thursday the curtain rose on the mini- chamber series, which features specially with carols from a of what you can series, with the famous opening flourish commissioned new works alongside established paupers’ choir and to make Christmas of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, which preceded chamber repertoire. The birthday season began dark stories of just that little bit a semi-staged performance of his inciden- last Friday in Norwich with music for horn, workhouse life. brighter for some. tal music for Ibsen’s play, Peer Gynt. violin and piano by Beethoven, Brahms, Huw Salonen’s time with this orchestra has been Watkins and young composer Edward Nesbit. You can also visit the marked by hugely successful and original sites of London’s Frost Eamonn Forde semi-stagings. This one was no exception. @themerelistener

THE BIG ISSUE / p45 / November 30–December 6 2015 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

AMNESTY SHOP O h i f ll f thi l ift d t t f t f Christmas. Shop right here and support Amnesty.

Silver Dove All Natural Basil Necklace Lime and Sweet £19.50 Orange Hair & Code: JSDN Body Wash Recycled £15.50 Cashmere Code: PBASI Yoga Socks Two bauble £24.00 boxes Code: CRCYS Set of 4 Lip Balms £6.00 £9.95 Code: XRWB Code: PLPS Mixed colour Bullfinch woodcut £3.95 Dreams of Traidcraft dewdrop baubles Freedom (HB) Luxury Fair Code: X212 £19.50 Pack of 10 £12.99 Trade Hamper Code: XDEWC Christmas cards – many more Code: BDRFR £60.00 designs available Code: FHMPL

Chamonix SPECIAL OFFER 10%OFFtoBigIssuereaders.Simplyuse oatmeal thecodeAIBIG10inthediscountcouponboxwhencheckingoutandyou’ll headband receive10%DISCOUNToneverythinginyourbasket.Onlineofferonlyand £7.50 Code: CWCHO valid until 15 Dec. amnestyshop.org.uk

THE BIG ISSUE / p46 / November 30–December 6 2015 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

THE PERFECT GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS

e natural choice for the one you love. Made in the UK from ganic soapberries, grown sustainably in the mighty Himalayan of Ğ ĂƐƚΘƵƐĞĚŝŶĂLJƵƌǀĞĚŝĐŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞĨŽƌƚƌĞĂƟŶŐĞĐnjĞŵĂ͕ƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞ damaged skin. Enriched with organic Aloe Vera. oose from Geranium & Peppermint or Neroli & LimeĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůŽŝůƐ͘

greenfrogbotanic.co.uk 3$5$%(16‡6/6‡$/6‡3+(12;<(7+$12/ pewterhooter designer jewellery 925 Sterling silver stud earrings. Made with Swarovski crystal. The earrings measure 6mm x 6mm. Luxury white gift box. only £14.99 ¶6HDUFK ¶/LWWOH %RRN RI (DUULQJV· RQOLQH plus shipping RU IRU \RXU QHDUHVW VWRFNLVW YLVLW ZZZOLWWOHVKRSRIFRXN Available from amazon.co.uk item B008QCX916

THE BIG ISSUE / p47 / November 30–December 6 2015 ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED

To advertise: Jenny Bryan / [email protected]

All products are vegan and non-animal tested

Animal Aid stocks an exciting range of...

Animal-friendly gifts • delicious non-dairy chocolates • books & cards • cruelty-free cosmetics & toiletries • clothing & footwear • organic wine & champagne

Call 01732 364546 ext 231 for a free merchandise catalogue or shop online at www.animalaidshop.org.uk Please quote ref ‘BIG’ when ordering

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THE BIG ISSUE / p48 / November 30–December 6 2015 ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED

To advertise: Jenny Bryan / [email protected] CALLING ALL CHARITY FUND RAISERS, PROFESSIONAL, or especially VOLUNTEER CHARITY HELPERS We can show you an easier way to raise Funds from the public and you don’t even have to handle their money, THEY WILL SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE CHARITY. All of you out there who are concerned about money being creamed off your donation, you can now forget about that. Every penny of the donation goes to the Charity, it is a 100% donation with no deductions. WE USE THE OLDEST & MOST TRIED & TESTED METHOD OF FUND RAISING, NO GIMMICKS, JUST A WAY THAT GIVERS TO CHARITY WILL APPRECIATE AND RESPOND TO GENEROUSLY. If you want to help your FAVOURITE CHARITY you are invited to contact us and we will give you full details. We are running a not-for-profit Service to help the charity sector. This applies to the professional Fund Raiser AND to Volunteers giving their free time to help the charity of their choice. Please look at our website: www.charityvolunteers.co.uk Call us, 01341 388008, e-mail [email protected] Write Arnold Matthews, Director & Author, 9 Cae’r Dderwen, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 1GE WE HAVE THREE BENEFITS TO OFFER YOU WHEN YOU CALL US.

THE BIG ISSUE / p49 / November 30–December 6 2015 ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED

To advertise: Jenny Bryan / [email protected]

MEDITATION RETREATS IN THE BUDDHIST TRADITION www.gaiahouse.co.uk

AN URGENT APPEAL UK Registered Charity 1119902 for the strays in Sri Lanka dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ϭϬϬϬ͛Ɛ ŽĨ ƐƵīĞƌŝŶŐ ƐƚƌĂLJƐ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĚLJŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĞĞƚƐ ŽĨ ^ƌŝ >ĂŶŬĂ͘ DĂŶLJ ĂƌĞ ŵĂůŶŽƵƌŝƐŚĞĚ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ŚŽƌƌŝĮĐ ŝŶũƵƌŝĞƐ͘ ŶŝŵĂů ^K^ ^ƌŝ >ĂŶŬĂ ŝƐ Ă ƐŵĂůů h< ZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ŚĂƌŝƚLJ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂůůĞǀŝĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŝĚĞƐƉƌĞĂĚ ƐƵīĞƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƐƚƌĂLJ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ ďLJ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ůŝĨĞƐĂǀŝŶŐ ǀĞƚĞƌŝŶĂƌLJ ĐĂƌĞ͕ ƌĞĨƵŐĞ͕ ƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŚŽŵŝŶŐ ƐĐŚĞŵĞƐ͘ tĞ ĂůƐŽ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚ ǁĞĞŬůLJ ŶĞƵƚĞƌŝŶŐͬ ƌĂďŝĞƐ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞ ĂŶŝŵĂů ǁĞůĨĂƌĞ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ĐĂƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ϲϬϬ ƌĞƐĐƵĞĚ ƐƚƌĂLJƐ͕ Ăůů ŶƵƌƐĞĚ ďĂĐŬ ƚŽ ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ Ăƚ ŽƵƌ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƐĂŶĐƚƵĂƌLJ ŝŶ ƐŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ ^ƌŝ >ĂŶŬĂ͘ tĞ ĚĞƐƉĞƌĂƚĞůLJ ŶĞĞĚ zKhZ ŚĞůƉ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŚŝƐ ůŝĨĞƐĂǀŝŶŐ ǁŽƌŬ͘ www.animalsos-sl.com PLEASE HELP THESE ANIMALS IN DIRE NEED BY DONATING TODAY There is no greater gift Please LIKE us on I enclose £100 £50 £25 Other £ Give more at no extra cost to you: DƌͬDƌƐͬDƐ͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘ GIFT AID. /ǁŽƵůĚůŝŬĞŶŝŵĂů^K^^ƌŝ>ĂŶŬĂƚŽ ƌĞĐůĂŝŵ ƚĂdž ŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ Θ Ăůů ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ĚĚƌĞƐƐ͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘ ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶƐƵŶƟů/ŶŽƟĨLJLJŽƵŽƚŚĞƌǁŝƐĞ͘/ĐŽŶĮƌŵ/Ăŵ Ă h< ƚĂdžƉĂLJĞƌ Θ ƚŚĂƚ / ƉĂLJ ĂƐ ŵƵĐŚŝŶĐŽŵĞŽƌĐĂƉŝƚĂůŐĂŝŶƐĂƐŶŝŵĂů^K^^ƌŝ>ĂŶŬĂ ǁŝůů ƌĞĐůĂŝŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĂdž LJĞĂƌ ͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘ ;ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJϮϱƉŝŶĞǀĞƌLJάϭĚŽŶĂƚĞĚ͘Ϳ ŵĂŝů͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘ ^ŝŐŶĂƚƵƌĞ͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘ĂƚĞ͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘͘ WůĞĂƐĞŵĂŬĞĐŚĞƋƵĞƐƉĂLJĂďůĞƚŽ͗ŶŝŵĂů^K^^ƌŝ>ĂŶŬĂ͘WŽƐƚ ƚŽ͗ ϭϮŚĞLJŶĞǀĞŶƵĞ͕ ^ŽƵƚŚ tŽŽĚĨŽƌĚ͕ >ŽŶĚŽŶ ϭဒ ϮZ KƌŵĂŬĞĂƐĞĐƵƌĞĚŽŶĂƟŽŶŽŶůŝŶĞwww.animalsos-sl.com {E} [email protected] {T) 07773 746108 thank you!

THE BIG ISSUE / p50 / November 30–December 6 2015 ADVERTISING RECRUITMENT/CLASSIFIED

Toadvertise: Brad Beaver / [email protected] WORK FOR THE BIG ISSUE COMPANY! Mobile Sales & Outreach Worker Vacancy WORK FOR THE BIG ISSUE! &ŝĞůĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ŝŶ <ĞŶƚ Θ ƐƐĞdž ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĸĐĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ Head of Partnerships & tĞ ĂƌĞ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ ĂŶ ĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐƟĐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉĂďůĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ƐĞůĨ ŚĞůƉ ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ͘ hƐŝŶŐ Ă ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ͕ LJŽƵ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂdžŝŵŝƐŝŶŐ ƐĂůĞƐ ďLJ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŶŐ ŵĂŐĂnjŝŶĞƐ ƚŽ ŝŐ /ƐƐƵĞ ǀĞŶĚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ <ĞŶƚ Philanthropy Vacancy ĂŶĚ ƐƐĞdž ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ zŽƵ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ ĂŶĚ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ƐĂůĞƐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ǀĞŶĚŽƌƐ͕ ǁŚŝůƐƚ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ Ž LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ŇĂŝƌ ĨŽƌ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ ŐŽŽĚ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ďŽĚŝĞƐ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ WŽůŝĐĞ͕ ŽƵŶĐŝůƐ͕ >ŽĐĂů DĞĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ Ă ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ůŝǀĞƐ͍ ŝƚLJ ĞŶƚƌĞ DĂŶĂŐĞƌƐ /ƚ ŝƐ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂů ĨŽƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĨƵůů h< ƌŝǀŝŶŐ >ŝĐĞŶƐĞ͕ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƐĂůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƐŚ ŚĂŶĚůŝŶŐ dŚĞ ŝŐ /ƐƐƵĞ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ Ă ,ĞĂĚ ŽĨ WĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉƐ Θ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ĂĐĐƵƌĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚƐ͘ zŽƵ ǁŝůů ĂůƐŽ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ƵƐŝŶŐ LJŽƵƌ WŚŝůĂŶƚŚƌŽƉLJ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐŵĂůů ĂŶĚ ĚLJŶĂŵŝĐ ƚĞĂŵ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ͕ ŽǁŶ ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ŝŶƚĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ͘ dŚĞ ŝŐ /ƐƐƵĞ ŽīĞƌƐ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Ă ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ ƐĂůĂƌLJ͕ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌŽƵƐ ŚŽůŝĚĂLJ ŝŶ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĂŶŶƵĂůůLJ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ͕ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĞŶƟƚůĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞĚ ƐŝĐŬ ƉĂLJ͕ ĐŚŝůĚĐĂƌĞ ǀŽƵĐŚĞƌƐ͕ ůŝĨĞ ĐŽǀĞƌ ĂŶĚ Ă ŚĞĂůƚŚĐĂƌĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͘ ƉƉůLJ ƚŽĚĂLJ͊ ƉŽƌƞŽůŝŽ ŽĨ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ŵĂũŽƌ ĚŽŶŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŝĚͲůĞǀĞů ŐŝǀĞƌƐ͘ Kent & Essex – Full Time tĞ ĂƌĞ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂů ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŵĂũŽƌ ŐŝŌĂŶĚ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ Ă ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ƚƌĂĐŬ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ŽĨ dŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŵŽƌĞ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ŐŽ ƚŽ ‘Work for us’ ŽŶ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ Ăƚ ǁǁǁ͘ďŝŐŝƐƐƵĞ͘ĐŽŵ Žƌ ĂƉƉůLJ ĚŝƌĞĐƚůLJ ďLJ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͕ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ůĞǀĞů͘ ĞͲŵĂŝů Ăƚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶŶĞůΛďŝŐŝƐƐƵĞ͘ĐŽŵ͘ zŽƵ ǁŝůů ŶĞĞĚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶƐ͘ /Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ͕ LJŽƵ ǁŝůů ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŵĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĚŽŶŽƌ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĚĂƚĂďĂƐĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ǁŝůů ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ƚƌĂĐŬ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ŽĨ ĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƚĂƌŐĞƚƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞ ĂĚĞƉƚ Ăƚ ƵƟůŝƐŝŶŐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞƚŚŽĚƐ ƚŽ ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ĚŽŶŽƌƐ͘ /Ĩ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂŝŵƐ͕ ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞƐ ŽĨ dŚĞ ŝŐ /ƐƐƵĞ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ʹ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĂƉƉůLJ͊ dŚĞ ŝŐ /ƐƐƵĞ ŽīĞƌƐ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞ ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Ă ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ ƐĂůĂƌLJ͕ Ă ŐĞŶĞƌŽƵƐ ŚŽůŝĚĂLJ ĞŶƟƚůĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞĚ ƐŝĐŬ ƉĂLJ͕ ĐŚŝůĚĐĂƌĞ ǀŽƵĐŚĞƌƐ͕ ůŝĨĞ ĐŽǀĞƌ ĂŶĚ Ă ŚĞĂůƚŚĐĂƌĞ ƐĐŚĞŵĞ͘ ƉƉůLJ ƚŽĚĂLJ͊

Vauxhall, London – Full Time The Heron dŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŵŽƌĞ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ŐŽ ƚŽ Tel: 001 305 743 4129 ‘Work for us’ ŽŶ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ Ăƚ [email protected] ǁǁǁ͘ďŝŐŝƐƐƵĞ͘ĐŽŵ Žƌ ĂƉƉůLJ ĚŝƌĞĐƚůLJ ďLJ www.gcmk.org ĞͲŵĂŝů Ăƚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶŶĞůΛďŝŐŝƐƐƵĞ͘ĐŽŵ͘

Conservation & wildlife management Wildlife care & rehabilitation Wildlife veterinary work Wildlife Courses

www.conservationafrica.net T. +44 (0)1454 269 182 E. [email protected]

THE BIG ISSUE / p51 / November 30–December 6 2015 GAMES & PUZZLES SPOT THE BALL

FOUNDERS John Bird and Gordon Roddick A Group executive chairman Nigel Kershaw B

EDITORIAL C Editor Paul McNamee Deputy editor Vicky Carroll Senior reporter Adam Forrest Features editor Steven MacKenzie D Social media editor Andrew Burns Web content manager Theo Hooper Books editor Jane Graham Television editor Adrian Lobb E Film Edward Lawrenson Music Malcolm Jack and David Fay The Big Issue Bon Dr Ben Ambridge Oce manager Robert White F

PRODUCTION Art director Scott Maclean 12345678910 Designer Jim Ladbury Images Photos: Action Production editor Ross McKinnon Assistant production editor Rosanna Farrell To win a Bala Fairtrade-certified football, mark where you think the ball is, Production journalist Sarah Reid cut out and send to: Spot the Ball (1182), Second Floor, 43 Bath St, Glasgow, Production co-ordinator Terry Cimini G2 1HW by December 8. Include name, address and phone number. To enter by email, send your grid position (eg A1) to competitions@bigissue. ADVERTISING 020 7907 6633 com. Issue 1180 winner is Matthew Lidbury from Sheield. balasport.co.uk Advertising director Andrea Mason Advertising manager Esme Collins (Last week’s Spot the Ball revealed: Classified and Recruitment Brain Teaser Oldham V Chelsea, 1991) 020 7907 6635 Jenny Bryan & Brad Beaver Marketing and communications director Lara McCullagh How much can you predict about someone from what music they like?

THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION Chief executive Stephen Robertson 020 7526 3458

Editorial Second Floor, 43 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 1HW 0141 352 7260 [email protected] A recent study of US college students (tinyurl.com/psy-q45) found that the answer is Distribution / London: 020 7526 3200 “quite a bit”. Test your knowledge of these musical stereotypes by matching the genres Religious, Classical, Rap and Rock to the following descriptions: Printed at Polestar. Published weekly by The Big Issue, 1-5 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LN (a) Conscientious (b) Leads an exciting life (c) Not too concerned about national security (d) Physically unattractive (e) Prefers beer to any other drug (f) Prefers marijuana to cocktails (g) Prefers prescription drugs to marijuana

(h) Prefers wine to beer.

PPA cover of the year Turn the page upside down for the answers. Classical (h) Religious (g) Rap (f)

– for most traits – the relationship was about 0.25 in size. Answers: (a) Religious (b) Rock (c) Rap (d) Classical (e) Rock Rock (e) Classical (d) Rap (c) Rock (b) Religious (a) Answers: size. in 0.25 about was relationship the – traits most for –

between musical taste and personality and 1 means that you can perfectly predict one from the other), this study found that that found study this other), the from one predict perfectly can you that means 1 and personality and taste musical between Okay, so these predictions are far from perfect but they’re not bad. On a scale of 0-1 (where 0 means there’s no relationship relationship no there’s means 0 (where 0-1 of scale a On bad. not they’re but perfect from far are predictions these so Okay,

Discover new truths in our weekly test, based on Dr Ben Ambridge’s book, PSY-Q, a series of interactive tests of your personality, intelligence, moral values, thinking style, impulsivity, skill at drawing, capacity for logical reasoning, musical taste, multi-tasking ability, susceptibility to illusions (both visual and mental) and preferences in a romantic partner. Courtesy of Profile Books

THE BIG ISSUE / p52 / November 30–December 6 2015 IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SUDOKU PRIZE CROSSWORD

ISSUE 1181 SOLUTION There is just one simple rule in sudoku: each row, To win a Chambers Dictionary, send completed crosswords (either cryptic column and 3 x 3 box must contain the numbers one to or quick) to: The Big Issue Crossword (1182), second floor, 43 Bath Street, nine. This is a logic puzzle and you should not need to Glasgow, G2 1HW by December 8. Include your name, address and guess. The solution will be revealed next week. phone number. Issue 1180 winner is John James from Marshfield, Wiltshire.

CRYPTIC CLUES QUICK CLUES

Across Down Across 1. Grill the small fish (4) 2. Type of pencil mob 1. Healing ointment (4) 4. Gives an account of mistake for explosive 4. Medieval trombone (7) explosions (7) device (1-4) 8. Illustration before NEXT WEEK 8. Taking one’s turn at 3. Submitted and title page of book (12) the bran tub while got plastered (8) 9. Drugs (8) CHRISTMAS KIDS’ COVER! having a swim (5,3,1,3) 4. Rebut what could 10. Burlesque (4) 9. Nothing that could be true about two 12. None (3,3) be brittle first in the consecutive notes (6) 14. Price asked (6) words of an opera (8) 5. Meat for 16. Boor (4) 10. We will be shortly Spanish king (4) 17. Strict disciplinarian (8) when we recover (4) 6. Extreme temperature 20. Become unruly (3,3,2,4) 12. Small stones left experienced at 21. Infinite (7) by the tomb (6) left-wing race (3,4) 22. Minute (4) 14. Seize a fragment 7. Sheep lurch endlessly of a song (6) around tomb (9) Down 16. Hit well below 9. I tell sage about the 2. Pungent (5) the belt? (4) way to make laws (9) 3. Threatening (8) 17. Remove sandals from 11. Remove a gag or the 4. Very thin (6) one in France and end of a gun (8) 5. Sleeveless coat (4) prepare for action (8) 13. Bill employs about one 6. Large wave (7) 20. Certain to have hundred charges (7) 7. Medical attention (9) nothing when it is as 15. Joined a football 9. Soliloquy (9) cold as possible (8,4) team (6) 11. Gossip (8) 21. Tried to avert 18. Land included by 13. Jeered (7) sad eyes (7) Frank or Eamonn (5) 15. Provincial dialect (6) 22. Test former graduate 19. Enjoy oneself 18. Silk voile (5) returning (4) in a dramatic 19. Give of vapour (4) performance (4) Maya Jerram, eight, was 2014’s cover star with this fantastic drawing of Santa. This year Issue 1181 solution we’ve had an incredible 1000 entries – see CRYPTIC: Across – 1 Not so hot; 6 Pull; 8 Leaven; 9 Marina; 10 Night nurse; 12 Sexton; next week’s magazine with the winning entry 14 Sermon; 15 Waterproof; 19 Settle; 20 Tea set; 21 Wear; 22 Sadistic. Down – 2 Owed; 3 Seven; 4 Handgun; 5 Tempt; 6 Pursuer; 7 Long stop; 11 Lebanese; 13 Treater; as its cover if you don’t believe us! 14 Shouted; 16 Press; 17 Flags; 18 Levi. QUICK: Across – 1 Two-sided; 6 Fido; 8 Spiral; 9 Glossy; 10 Widespread; 12 Misled; 14 Sedate; 15 Wholesaler; 19 Savant; 20 Blazed; 21 They; 22 Plethora. Down – 2 Wept; 3 Shrew; 4 Deluded; 5 Degas; 6 Floored; 7 Distaste; 11 Mishmash; 13 Lullaby; 14 Soluble; 16 Sit up; 17 Reach; 18 Year.

THE BIG ISSUE / p53 / November 30–December 6 2015 MY PITCH

ON MY PITCH IN LONDON I’m outside Maida Vale tube station 7pm to midnight, Monday to Friday.

Chris McCormack, 49 “HughGrantcameoverandtalkedto me for ages. An absolute diamond”

FACTS ABOUT ME... started selling the of my own. I had a bad chest Hugh Grant has come out of magazine in the early infection, then I was in and the cinema a few times, and MY FAVOURITE TEAM I2000s. But because of my out of hospital with a spinal he’s come over and talked to Chelsea FC. I haven’t been at alcohol problems I couldn’t infection. It’s been tough. me for ages, asked me how I’ve Stamford Bridge for about four keep it together – managing I’m sofa-surfing at the been. A really, really nice guy. years, when my brother got money and the discipline of it moment but I’ll be spending An absolute diamond. tickets. I think José is still the best all. But I started selling again in Christmas with my mum, in I’ve seen this part of man to get us out of trouble. Maida Vale a few years ago and her council flat. Remembering London change a lot. I lived it’s gone really well for me. dad at Christmas will probably in Maida Vale for a long time MY FAVOURITE PLACE It’s given me confidence hit me hard, hit me like a and it’s amazing to see the I have fond memories of fishing because of the respect you get hammer actually. We were gentrification in west London. along the Grand Union Canal from people. And it’s given both big football fans, and I I remember when it was full of with my dad when I was younger. me some focus and helped would have loved to go to one squats and punks in the 1970s, I remember we caught a lot of me keep a handle on money, last Chelsea match with him and now a one-bedroom flat coarse fish like bream, took them budgeting and so on. All that but we did at least watch some around here would cost you home and put them in the bath. said, The Big Issue has had to games on TV together before upwards of £700,000 to buy. My mum would freak out, so we’d help me through a tough time he died. I’ll remember that. I have to say a massive take them back down the canal. because the last few years have The support my customers thank you to all my customers. actually been murder for me. gave me trying to get through I’d like to thank everyone by My dad died of cancer last things has been unbelievable. name but it would take too Christmas – December 28, at You’ve no idea what a long. They know who they 8.30am. I had been looking diference it makes to have are. Have a great Christmas after him for the last few years people who care and take an everyone. since he had a stroke. And I was interest. I’ve sold the magazine trying to be his carer while I at Notting Hill occasionally, Interview: Adam Forrest had some bad health problems outside the Electric Cinema. Photo: David Tett

THE BIG ISSUE / p54 / November 30–December 6 2015 WRITERS BUREAU CREATIVE WRITING COURSE ���֠���֠��֠���֠���֠��֠ �֠��������֠�������

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