Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Profiles

Sam Tanenhaus: “You can’t judge by the standards of this moment. No one will ever pass the test”

Sam Tanenhaus is best known as the incisive interpreter of William F. Buckley Jr., the most influential conservative intellectual of the twentieth century.  

Joshua Robey: Taking Company to the Oxford Playhouse

Joshua Robey is a name gaining traction within the Oxford University Drama Society (OUDS), the heart of Oxford’s theatre scene. From sold-out runs to glowing reviews from Peter Kessler, his ascent has been swift. A DPhil student specialising in contemporary theatre, Robey has staged productions across the Pilch, O’Reilly and Burton Taylor Studio.

Conor Niland on the space between Centre Court and obscurity

Conor Niland is a former tennis player and author of the book 'The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’ Golden Generation and the other 99%', which tells the story of his professional tennis career.

Neil Kinnock: ‘The power of cooperation is slow but relentless’

Neil Kinnock’s office in the House of Lords is small and tightly packed. One wall is entirely covered with books; the others are crowded with photographs, posters, and fragments from his political life.

“What you’re seeing is a distillation of millions of person hours into a two hour movie.” 

Have you ever wondered how James Bond jumps out of an aeroplane? How Interstellar’s astronaut Cooper enters a black hole? How Rocky rides the...

Wizardry, canal boats, and the Vicky Arms

“It’ll be a fucking feast,” Mother Catweazle declares. Strapping in for the second Catweazle Club of February, Common Ground is abuzz with anticipation.  Streams of...

“To know how somebody really feels about you, ignore everything they say. Look at how they touch you.”

Robin Dunbar is Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford, famous for his research on social networks and friendships. He is...

Spotlight: The Gatehouse’s Community Café

The Gatehouse must be one of the only social enterprises in Oxford where an upsurge in usage is not necessarily a good thing. Since...

In conversation with Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Laura Marks CBE

Today marks 79 years since the liberation of the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Since 2001, on this day, there has been an international commemoration of...

On scouring for words, snollygosters and soaked trousers with Mark Forsyth

If you could hear my bursts of laughter through the hallways of the Glink in the summer of ‘23, I apologise. But all credits...

Adidas, Auden, and the author: on Zoom with Mark Ford

The emails I exchanged with Mark Ford had the paw prints of a poet: frequent ellipses and the sparing sign-off ‘M’, like our interview,...

“Don’t be in such a hurry. Enjoy the world.”

Kate Ewart-Biggs’ mission with the British Council is to build lasting connections between the UK and other countries through arts and language. Coming from...

Quickfire with Martha Lane Fox

Martha Lane Fox studied at Magdalen College. She co-founded lastminute.com with Brent Hoberman in 1998, offering late holiday deals online, and was a pioneer...

“There is always light and shadow, when viewing the history of a family, the history of a country”: In conversation with Georg Friedrich, Prince of...

Freddie Evans interviews Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia, about the history of the House of Hohenzollern and its role in Germany today, his support...

“Comedy is humanity’s highest art form”: In Conversation With David Mitchell

Freddie Evans and Sophie Magalhaes interview David Mitchell about the enduring appeal of “Peep Show”, insights into panel shows and improvisation, his new book...

“I’m a Black lesbian feminist woman, who is absolutely in support and stands in solidarity with my trans siblings.”: In conversation with founder of...

Lady Phyll is a British political activist who advocates for racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality. She is a co-founder of UK Black Pride, a...

From War to Freedom: In conversation with an Ukrainian refugee

Aleksandr is from Kharkiv Oblast’ in Ukraine. When the war broke out, he and his family drove all the way from Ukraine to England,...

“I’d rather have regrets about not doing something, than regret doing it”: In conversation with Game of Thrones star, John Bradley

John Bradley West is an English actor famous for his role as Samwell Tarly in HBO’s massive global hit fantasy TV series, Game of...

“The person in me was reduced to someone else’s interpretation”: In conversation with pop artist, Avanti Nagral

Avanti Nagral is many things. She classifies herself as a Rory Gilmore, an older sister, a pink flamingo, Taylor Swift’s album ‘Lover’, and a...

“I’ve been the luckiest actor who will ever be”: In conversation with Sir Derek Jacobi CBE.

Sir Derek Jacobi is acting royalty, one of the most distinguished actors of our time. His career began as a founding member of the National Theatre...

“I’m trying to speak to people’s hearts”: In conversation with music collective, Steam Down

When the line-up for performers at Exeter College Ball was released, most did not know what to make of this ‘Steam Down’. A group...

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