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Brian Beacom

Brian Beacom

Herald Scotland

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Story of crook who wanted to sell Scottish tea to China is like an Ealing comedy

The spirit of Ealing comedies is alive and well in Scotland, thanks to one of the most audacious, daft, comedic true crime stories to descend upon us...

latest 1

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

It's like a Scottish suburban Pride and Prejudice - I can't wait for its TV return

News has landed that hit TV sitcom Two Doors Down is to be reprised with a Christmas special. But will the doors of audience appreciation slam back in...

31.05.2025 8

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

I may not agree with King Creosote but surely he's allowed to have his own opinion?

Should all gobby musical voices sound like angels? Or should we should remember we live in a free open society and encourage the individual to shout...

20.05.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

So Stacey Solomon didn’t win a Bafta? She should thank her lucky stars

This is an opinion piece written by Brian Beacom. Stacey Solomon didn’t win a Bafta this week for her BBC TV show Sort Your Life out. And I have...

18.05.2025 2

The Oxford Times

Brian Beacom

So Stacey Solomon didn’t win a Bafta? She should thank her lucky stars

This is an opinion piece written by Brian Beacom. Stacey Solomon didn’t win a Bafta this week for her BBC TV show Sort Your Life out. And I have...

18.05.2025 4

Oxford Mail

Brian Beacom

So Stacey Solomon didn’t win a Bafta? She should thank her lucky stars

Stacey Solomon didn’t win a Bafta this week for her BBC TV show Sort Your Life out. And I have to say that I’m glad. And it’s not simply...

16.05.2025 8

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

10 films from Scotchland that could escape Donald Trump's bigly tariffs US President Donald Trump has announced he will introduce tariffs on films made outside of Hollywood. However, in a secret memo revealed today he reveals that Scotland may be a special case, given the ‘very, very beautiful movies’ that top our film history. Here's how we imagine his email might look

US President Donald Trump has announced he will introduce tariffs on films made outside of Hollywood. However, in a secret memo revealed today he...

09.05.2025 3

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

The Union flag is an object of sexual desire, is it? Don't be absurd Glasgow’s Tron Theatre is set to stage East Belfast-based absurdist play Fleg, in which a central character imagines the Union flag to be an object of sexual desire.

What is it with theatre’s incessant need to produce absurdist plays? Isn’t it all a bit absurd? Right now, the quite brilliant Gary Oldman is...

25.04.2025 4

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

Inside story: How Restless Natives made the journey from film to theatre

To say Ninian Dunnett is excited is rather like saying Big Country battered out a couple of passable tunes back in the day. Forty years ago, Dunnett...

21.04.2025 6

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

You might not think it but we can learn so much from Celebrity Big Brother

Celebrity Big Brother is back, offering the chance for another group of desperates, attention seekers and career plummeters to put their name in the...

12.04.2025 3

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

Is poor Scottish theatre criticism part of our cultural decline?

A news story in theatre industry bible The Stage this week reads like a call to arms. The artistic director of London’s Yard Theatre warns that cuts...

07.04.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

Yee-hah! Hit Scottish musical Wild Rose shows why we will always love country music

Why in tarnation is Scotland so fascinated with country music? What makes Caledonian hearts seemingly beat in perfect four/four time on hearing...

31.03.2025 7

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

I've never been so glad to see the curtain fall on any play in my life

A friend texts. We had met briefly at the recent Arthur Miller revival Death of a Salesman at the Glasgow Pavilion, and she wants to compare notes on...

17.03.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

We don’t cover the classics enough in Scottish theatres, says Alan Cumming

Let’s begin at the end of the conversation with Alan Cumming. Looking back on his career, what’s the work he’s most proud of? Is it his Macbeth?...

12.03.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

Pushed aside by the posh people, whatever happened to our working class stars?

No one is saying that Mikey Madison didn’t deserve warm congratulations on achieving Oscar success with Anora, although Demi Moore’s face...

10.03.2025 8

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

Poor old James Bond, nudged aside by a woman

The end of James Bond as we know him is almost assured. The licence to kill, albeit in film terms, hasn’t exactly been revoked, but it’s clearly...

03.03.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

David Tennant - Ignore carping critics and carry on camping it up

What’s going on with David Tennant? Did he spend too long Time Lording across the universe - in the process turning his brain to space dust? This...

24.02.2025 3

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

This lovey-dovey Scots couple could teach reality star Katie Price a lesson in life

Here's what we have to do, if we have any sense of social conscience and care about the fragile individual. We need to stop watching reality...

09.02.2025 4

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

Stanley Baxter: The Spy Who Wisnae - and how M15 got it so wrong about Scots star

Your mission, should you choose to except it, is to keep on reading. Now, the following won’t strike your leg like a ricin-tipped umbrella - but...

03.02.2025 6

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom

‘Plays about Covid? It’s escape we need’ Elaine C Smith on scaring the weans

Where is Elaine C. Smith at this moment in life? Well, she’s more than happy to be scaring the bejesus out of weans, offering up a creature that’s...

15.08.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Brian Beacom