And now for something completely different…
Issue 1080
Hello from The Big Issue,
Last week’s Irvine Welsh exclusive story on the return of Trainspotting’s Begbie was an enormous smash hit – sales of the magazine went through the roof, and there were reports that it sold out in some regions. We knew you’d like it!
This week we proudly present The Big Issue’s first ever Advent Calendar. It was drawn by a 14-year-old who entered our competition to design a Christmas cover for the magazine, and her Advent Calendar is so poignant, thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated we thought we’d share it with you. Tell us what you think of it.
Monty Python are back – you may have heard a little about this. Tickets for 10 enormous arena shows sold out in nanonseconds, and we have spoken to Terry Jones. It was he who let slip news of the comeback (woops). He’s a very naughty boy…
Also in this week’s Issue you will find a fascinating piece written by author and New Yorker columnist Adam Gopnik on how modern life has eroded our fear and wonder of winter. Can we ever regain the magic of the dark months of the year? Read this and find out… you’ll love the illustration for this feature, too.
It’s coupled with a fascinating look into the best-loved Yuletide tunes that we couldn’t imagine the festive season without – White Christmas, Let it Snow!, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer et al – and looks at the men who wrote them. Tin Pan Alley greats, they were also Jewish and they summed up the festive feeling in such a perfect way that half a century later these songs still say “Christmas” like nothing else.
We also salute the people the length of the land who are giving a little time to look out for their neighbours and the elderly and vulnerable in their area. Caring at Christmas is alive and well – meet the people who will inspire you to join in!
Elsewhere in our 56-page magazine we have Dot Cotton, aka June Brown, in an exceptional heart-rending Letter to my Younger Self, Game of Thrones star Iain Glen on being Ser Jorah Mormont, a chance to win a sought-after Kindle Fire HD in our £500 giveaway and our vendor Jon Brown tells about the book he is illustrating.
