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Barry Didcock

Barry Didcock

Herald Scotland

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The 50 most exciting Scottish artists of 2026 - ranked

The 50 most exciting Scottish artists of 2026 - ranked

Scotland has produced some of the world's most influential artists, but who is shaping the country's creative landscape today? The Herald...

30.07.2026 10

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

BBC Scotland is already struggling. Could it be dragged down by wider crisis at Beeb?

What does the BBC crisis, which has seen the resignation of the director-general Tim Davie over journalism standards , mean for BBC Scotland? Herald...

12.11.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Channel 5 and the audacious heist of the BBC's drama crown jewel

In what would be a brave move even for a channel with a noted track record in drama but feels in this case like off-the-scale audacity, UK broadcaster...

21.08.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

So, were The Wicker Man and Braveheart really the worst ever Scottish films?

We’re often asked to judge the best Scottish film ever made, or shown a list somebody has already concocted. These throw up familiar titles –...

14.08.2025 40

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Storm Oasis is about to hit Edinburgh – is it nostalgia or just nuisance?

Though it did cause the cancellation of a slew of Fringe shows, Edinburgh largely escaped the worst Storm Floris had to offer. But the buffeting,...

08.08.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Why Val is wrong and activists are right to target Edinburgh Festival sponsorship Why Scottish crime author Val McDermid is wrong for criticising activists who led the 2023 protests against main sponsor Baillie Gifford, which led to the company’s withdrawal of its funding from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Scottish crime author Val McDermid is wrong for criticising activists who led the 2023 protests against main sponsor Baillie Gifford, which led...

31.07.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Tartan Noir is thriving on screens but are we already starting to get weary? As the noise around Netflix’s Edinburgh-set crime hit Department Q fades into the background, there’s more news on the TV detective front for fans of Tartan Noir.

As the noise around Netflix’s Edinburgh-set crime hit Department Q fades into the background, there’s more news on the TV detective front for fans...

23.07.2025 30

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

How the famous Oasis-Blur chart war became a West End play John Niven's Britpop-inspired play The Battle has come at a serendipitous time.

I spent an enjoyable lunchtime recently talking to John Niven about his new novel ahead of his Scottish book tour and his appearance at next month’s...

15.07.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Nearly 20% of music on streaming site is AI generated – that’s bad for music lovers

When Damon Albarn dropped the first Gorillaz album in 2001 it felt like a fresh, brilliant and exciting idea – a cartoon band employing avatars...

11.07.2025 40

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

I love the Scottish bookshop that only sells romantic fiction

Niche tastes Independent Bookshop Week has just ended and the buzz even ahead of the tills closing on Saturday was that this year’s UK-wide event...

02.07.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Why Arabic art is everywhere in Scotland now – and why it matters

‘Arabist’ is one of those words you’ll normally find only on the CVs of Cambridge University graduates headed for the Foreign and Commonwealth...

26.06.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Sorry Rupe, the ‘witch’ Sturgeon and the SNP did not ruin Scottish arts Rupert Everett has some harsh words for the SNP government’s approach to arts funding, though his beef is more about the what than the how much – and he reserves his scorn for the woman he calls “the witch”, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Rupert Everett has some harsh words for the SNP government’s approach to arts funding, though his beef is more about the what than the how much –...

18.06.2025 40

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Edinburgh Festival faces being rocked by Gaza sponsorship rows Which is to say, where do you stand now on corporate sponsorship of the arts where the companies concerned have links to the fossil fuel or weapons industries, for example, or have interests in contested regions such as the West Bank?

Which side were you on in the great Authors vs Baillie Gifford stushie of 2023? Which is to say, where do you stand now on corporate sponsorship of...

13.06.2025 40

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Are Edinburgh mega gigs from Oasis a boon or a curse? The figures don't add up

Wonderwallet As you probably know, Oasis are due at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium in August for three concerts which will bring 200,000 fans to...

05.06.2025 40

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

So the Edinburgh Festival's future is under threat. Really?

Fringe players Another year, another set of dire warnings about the current state of the Edinburgh Festival and its future viability if things...

30.05.2025 40

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

Are we facing the death of Glasgow's reputation for having the best crowds at gigs? Everyone thinks Glasgow audiences are the best in the world but could they be wrong? Once, it was a question you would never have thought to ask but are today's crowds letting the side down - and why?

Mosh? Gosh no! Everyone thinks Glasgow audiences are the best in the world – but could they be wrong? Once upon a time it’s a question you...

22.05.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

How ‘gay’ penguins at Edinburgh Zoo inspired me

Wyrd but wonderful Asked to create a site specific show for Jupiter Artland, the art park-cum-gallery nestled in rolling countryside near Edinburgh,...

15.05.2025 30

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

What is the point of Edinburgh film festival in a world of film festivals? The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has just revealed its opening film and it is American black comedy Sorry, Baby, written and directed by actor-turned-film-maker Eva Victor.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has just revealed its opening film and it is American black comedy Sorry, Baby, written and directed...

08.05.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock