This attractive album is a delightful surprise, and not one just for clarinet enthusiasts—there is much to savour on this impeccably performed disc that will appeal to anyone who enjoys warmth, elegance and the distinctive voice of the clarinet.

One of the most influential and provocative voices in global comedy is heading back to the UK. Acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer Jim Jefferies has announced the long-awaited UK leg of his brand-new stand-up tour, Son of a Carpenter, coming in November 2025.

Across its 14 tracks, West End Girl explores the collapse and rebuilding of self with remarkable clarity. Songs like Sleepwalking and Ruminating linger in the fog of denial and confusion, while 4Chan Stan reminds us Allen hasn’t lost her sharp-edged humour — it’s sarcastic, pointed, and impeccably timed. Then there’s the title track, glowing with the bittersweet shimmer of a life that once seemed polished from the outside but was fraying underneath.

One senses the vitality throughout this generously filled double album. The textures and emotions are sustained across both discs, whether in the intimate chamber works with pianist Julian Riem or the orchestral repertoire featured in the second half. There is much to savour here, and Riem's accompaniments are never obtrusive—his well-judged restraint perfectly complements the resonant sonorities of Gromes' cello. Riem's refined touch and gorgeous tone prove every bit as engaging as Gromes' playing.

The emotional core of the album lies in its quietest moments — the ones where the band stops winking and just lets the sadness sit. These flashes aren’t sentimental, but they are deeply human. The Donner Party’s greatest trick is how they make bleakness feel gentle. Not comforting, exactly — but familiar. Real. Something already inside you, recognised rather than discovered.

Scan the room at a Jason Manford gig and you’ll see hundreds of happy people nudging each other and exchanging knowing nods. Whether the Salford-born comic is talking about relationships, life on the road, paddle tennis or anything else, really - being relatable is near the top of his list of priorities. Can he make out those responses, from under the bright spotlights?

This was a performance I’d been looking forward to for some time. On the night, we were at the back in the right-hand corner of the house, which turned out to be a double blessing. For one, it meant we had an aisle seat, which made getting out and topping up on drinks easier; secondly, it meant the formidable Stewart Lee couldn’t pick on us.

Moving a drag act from a showbar backdrop to a larger cabaret cum theatre venue before delivering a comprehensive performance of two halves, takes more than tits, teeth and a string of one liners!

Stand-up Connor Burns, 29, is about to embark on his first ever UK tour. Mark Wareham talks to him at home in Edinburgh as he limbers up for the new tour and finds out what makes this fast-rising Scottish star tick. Catch him at a venue near you, before he makes the inevitable leap to the bigger stage… Hi Connor.