The live event will take audiences on an extraordinary journey through a century of exploration and discovery in the natural world, seen through the prism of David’s remarkable life and work
To mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, Kirsty Young presents a ninety minute special event honouring one of the most influential figures in broadcasting and natural history storytelling.
Broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall in London, jointly staged and produced by BBC Studios Music Productions and Natural History Unit, and in partnership with The Open University, airs on his birthday, Friday 8 May at 8.30pm, on BBC One and iPlayer.
Kirsty Young said: “Sir David’s gift to the world has been a life spent exquisitely revealing Earth’s wonders to us all. The very least he deserves is a big 100th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall!
“I’m very happy indeed, as the host, to be able to invite everyone to the party.”
As it brings the nation together to celebrate and honour David’s groundbreaking career, David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth will take audiences on an extraordinary journey through a century of exploration and discovery in the natural world, seen through the prism of David’s remarkable life and work.
The evening combines some of the most memorable wildlife moments from the BBC’s natural history archive, with live music drawn from David’s most iconic television series, alongside reflections from public figures and leading voices in conservation and wildlife filmmaking.
As the celebrations unfold, Kirsty will be joined on stage by those who have worked with David and been inspired by his work over the years, including broadcasters Liz Bonnin, Steve Backshall, Chris Packham, and Michael Palin, who will reflect on the impact of David’s work, the legacy he continues to shape and his unique ability to bring the wonders of the natural world into people’s homes.
Accompanied throughout by the BBC Concert Orchestra, the programme will feature iconic music from landmark series including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Frozen Planet.
The orchestra will perform scores associated with some of television’s most unforgettable sequences, including the dramatic snakes and iguanas chase from Planet Earth II and the powerful wave-washing orcas sequence from Frozen Planet II.
The evening will also feature special performances from music artists who have collaborated on these series. Dan Smith, frontman of Brit Award winning band Bastille, will join the BBC Concert Orchestra to perform the band’s famous track Pompeii, featured in Planet Earth III, while Icelandic band Sigur Rós will perform Hoppípolla. The track was used in the promotion of Planet Earth and Planet Earth II.
Other musical highlights include Sienna Spiro, one of the most exciting new voices in British music, and Paraguayan harpist Francisco Yglesias, who will play the traditional Pajaro Campana, a piece that featured in Zoo Quest.
Bringing together breathtaking wildlife imagery, live orchestral and contemporary music, and contributions from those who have worked alongside David throughout his career and those who feel passionately about the natural world, the programme celebrates not only a broadcasting legend, but a century long relationship between audiences and nature.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has today announced The Front List: its series of headline events at McEwan Hall during this year’s Festival (15–30 August), bringing together some of the most significant writers, historians, journalists and cultural thinkers working today.
Taking place in the Festival’s largest venue, and presented in partnership with Underbelly, The Front List offers audiences rare opportunities to hear from internationally celebrated voices whose work helps shape how contemporary culture, politics, history and society are understood.
From Booker Prize‑winning novelists and globally bestselling storytellers to frontline correspondents, historians and public intellectuals, the series places big ideas and major conversations at the heart of the 2026 Festival.
The programme spans fiction, media, history, politics and performance. It opens with a timely examination of the future of the internet, as Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Cory Doctorow consider who now holds power online and whether the early days of altruism and optimism about the internet are gone for good.
Elsewhere, audiences can enjoy a rare appearance from Diana Gabaldon, marking thirty‑five years since the publication of Outlander, as she reflects on one of the most successful literary franchises of recent decades, credited – alongside its screen adaptations – with transforming both Scotland’s tourism and its film and television industry.
World-leading fiction sits at the heart of the series, with appearances from Colson Whitehead, the Pulitzer Prize‑winning novelist behind The Underground Railroad, who joins journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed; Douglas Stuart, Booker Prize-winning writer of Shuggie Bain, in conversation with poet, novelist and former Makar Jackie Kay; Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai; Ann Patchett, the Pulitzer Prize‑winning and PEN/Faulkner‑winning novelist; and Elif Shafak, the internationally bestselling writer and global public intellectual. Together, these writers explore memory, migration, identity, belonging, race and the moral responsibilities of storytelling.
The Front List also places contemporary journalism at the centre of the programme. Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent reflects on decades reporting from conflict zones and geopolitical fault lines, while Edward Wong and Lewis Goodall examine how the US–UK “special relationship” is being tested and reshaped amid global instability and President Trump’s extraordinary tenure.
History and public memory are explored in depth, as ‘The Rest is History’ podcast’s Tom Holland examines the enduring fascination of the Roman emperors, and David Olusoga, appearing amid a new season of A House Through Time – and fresh from his role unpacking power, loyalty and betrayal on The Traitors – considers empire, memory and Britain’s contested past.
Scotland’s own history comes into focus as Val McDermid and Jo Sharp discuss their new work on the Darien scheme and the long shadow of Scotland’s early colonial ambitions, chaired by Allan Little.
Performance, warmth and joy also run through The Front List. Kae Tempest, the multi-award‑winning poet, novelist and musician reflects on language, identity and creativity across a body of work spanning poetry, fiction and performance.
Charlie Mackesy, creator of the global phenomenon The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – winner of the Waterstones Book of the Year and adapted into an Academy Award‑winning animated film – appears in a family‑friendly event centred on kindness, vulnerability and connection.
Mel Giedroyc, the writer, comedian and television presenter best known for co‑hosting the BAFTA‑winning The Great British Bake Off, is joined by Sue Perkins for a lively conversation bringing together fiction, comedy and reinvention.
At a moment when public debate can often feel polarised or diminished, The Front List reflects the Festival’s belief in the value of open, inspiring and nuanced conversation. Bringing together readers and audiences with some of the most compelling voices of our time, the series underscores the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s position as one of the world’s leading forums for literature, ideas and public exchange.
The 2026 Front List includes:
Monday 17 August – Jimmy Wales and Cory Doctorow chaired by Gabriel Gatehouse (Supported by the University of Edinburgh) A discussion examining how the internet has changed, who now holds power online, and whether it can be reclaimed as a force for public good.
Monday 17 August – Val McDermid & Jo Sharp: This Door of the Seas chaired by Allan Little (Supported by the University of Edinburgh)
Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland Jo Sharp discuss their fictional retelling of the Darien scheme, Scotland’s failed 17th‑century colonial project in Panama.
Tuesday 18 August – Kae Tempest chaired by Michael Pedersen A conversation reflecting on language, identity and the emotional demands of creative work, and discussion of Tempest’s new novel.
Wednesday 19 August – Diana Gabaldon chaired by Alisha Fernandez Miranda Marking thirty‑five years since Outlander began, its creator looks back on the series’ evolution and enduring global readership.
Thursday 20 August – Tom Holland chaired by Jenny Niven (Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland) The historian and podcaster explores the lives of the Roman emperors and why these figures continue to resonate.
Friday 21 August – Colson Whitehead chaired by Samira Ahmed (Supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart) The Pulitzer Prize‑winning writer discusses history, race and the moral responsibilities of storytelling, as well as his new title.
Saturday 22 August – Lewis Goodall and Edward Wong (Supported by the AEB Charitable Trust) Two leading journalists examine the current state of the US–UK “special relationship” and how journalists report on a rapidly shifting global order.
Sunday 23 August – Charlie Mackesy The author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse reflects on kindness, vulnerability and storytelling in a family‑friendly event.
Monday 24 August – David Olusoga (The Frederick Hood Memorial Lecture) A major voice in public history examines empire, memory and Britain’s past, bringing overlooked stories into focus.
Tuesday 25 August – Kiran Desai (Supported by the Hawthornden Foundation) The Booker Prize‑winning novelist reflects on migration, solitude and writing at epic scale, marking her first work of fiction in two decades.
Wednesday 26 August – Mel Giedroychaired bySue Perkins The comedian, presenter and bestselling author discusses her new novel The Comeback.
Thursday 27 August – Lyse Doucet chaired bySally Hayden (Sponsored by the National Library of Scotland) The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent reflects on reporting conflict and crisis and the human stories behind global headlines.
Friday 28 August – Elif Shafak chaired byRosie Goldsmith The acclaimed novelist reflects on freedom of expression, identity and writing across borders.
Saturday 29 August – Ann Patchett chaired by Roxani Krystalli A conversation about memory, belonging and a life devoted to reading and writing, including her latest release Whistler.
Sunday 30 August – Douglas Stuart chaired by Jackie Kay (Supported by VisitScotland) The Booker Prize‑winning author discusses family, faith and place in his forthcoming novel John of John.
Tickets on sale to Book Festival Members: 10:00, Wednesday 29 April Tickets on sale to the public: 10:00, Tuesday 5 May
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East:
The United Kingdom strongly supports the important work of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, and we welcome the constructive discussion that recently took place in Brussels.
Colleagues, as we’ve heard today, the region faces another period of crisis. But we must not be distracted from seizing this historic opportunity to implement the 20 Point Plan for Gaza, endorsed by this Council in resolution 2803, and map a pathway to realising a two state solution.
Sir Tony’s briefing set out how we can do that.
I will make three points.
First, it is vital that all parties fulfil their commitments, respect the ceasefire, and engage constructively to implement phase two of President Trump’s 20 Point Peace Plan.
We need a stable and phased security transition. This must include the demilitarisation of Hamas and other armed groups, deployment of the International Stabilisation Force alongside a Palestinian-led police force, and the withdrawal of the IDF.
The United Kingdom has been clear that Hamas can have no future in the governance of Gaza. We urge them to engage constructively with demilitarisation talks, which, as we’ve heard, are taking place right now.
We also need the right transitional governance arrangements in place.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority must work together to deliver for the Palestinian people’s immediate needs and support early recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Second, President, the humanitarian situation in Palestine remains grave.
The World Food Programme has warned that whilst famine has not returned to Gaza, the food and nutrition situation remains deeply concerning.
The UN reports that in the first quarter of this year, aid into Gaza from the UN and its humanitarian partners declined by 37 per cent compared to the previous 3 months.
This is not meeting the targets defined in the 20 Point Plan.
And the Government of Israel’s de-registration measures for international NGOs continue to constrict the humanitarian space for critical assistance.
This is unacceptable.
The UN, including UNRWA, and other humanitarian partners, must be able to operate unimpeded, with unrestricted entry and functioning crossings.
Israel must allow much-needed medical equipment, shelter items, and fuel in to support essential and lifesaving services.
And third, we are appalled by the deteriorating trajectory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Violence, including extremely troubling reports of sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, and illegal evictions, is surging.
According to OCHA, Israeli forces and settlers killed 33 Palestinians and injured 790 others in the first few months of this year alone.
And last week, two Palestinians, Jihad Abu Naim and Aws al-Naasan, were shot and killed by an Israeli settler in a school.
Aws was just 14 years old.
We deplore such egregious acts of settler violence.
The Israeli Government has rightly condemned this violence and launched an investigation.
But accountability for previous incidents has been severely lacking.
Condemnation alone is not enough; it must be translated into concrete steps to prevent attacks against Palestinians, ensure protection of civilians in line with International Law and ensure accountability where crimes have been committed.
We are also witnessing an unprecedented pace of illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank, as well as severe Israeli economic restrictions.
These must stop.
These actions undermine the 20 Point Plan and the very viability of the two state solution.
Mr President, we stand at a historic juncture. We urge the parties to show courage, engage in good faith on the peace plan, and seize this opportunity for the benefit of Palestinians, Israelis, and the whole region.
NOTE: Despite these latest words and months of hand-wringing, the slaughter continues unchecked and the UK continues to supply weapons support to Israel.
More than 100 pro-Palestine activists staged a blockade outside Leonardo, an arms factory with links to Israel, at Crewe Toll yesterday – Ed.
New research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day
The Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme hits more Edinburgh schools, as new research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day
Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children currently eat their recommended five-a-day, according to new research
Ambition to help one million school children across the UK access free fruit and vegetables through Tesco school and community programmes by July 2029
Tesco invites children to create fun fruit & veg-packed recipes, with winning dish served in over 1,500 schools to mark expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme
To encourage children to be more adventurous with fruit & veg, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge. To find out more and how to enter, visit www.tescoplc.com/fruitandvegchallenge
Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day, with 8.70% of parents saying their child only eats one piece of fruit and veg per day, according to new research from Tesco.
But the findings also show what does work when it comes to getting five a day into kids with more than half (73.91%) of Edinburgh parents and carers say their child is more likely to eat fruit and veg when they can choose it themselves, and making food fun or visually creative encourages their children to try more.
So, to help more children get more of their five-a-day and the nutritious food they need to learn, Tesco is doubling its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme from September, with the aim of doubling the programme again the following year. And the results to date speak for themselves, with 94% of teachers nationwide reporting improved behaviour among pupils taking part.
The new research further highlights why schemes like Free Fruit & Veg for Schools matter. Children tend to stick to familiar favourites, with fruit far more common than vegetables in their diets, and many parents say repeated refusal shapes what they buy at home. Just over half of Edinburgh parents (56.52%) say they have stopped buying or serving certain fruit or vegetables after their child repeatedly refused them. By contrast, pupils taking part in Free Fruit & Veg for Schools have collectively sampled more than 100 different varieties of fruit and vegetables, helping to broaden tastes and encourage healthier choices.
To encourage and inspire children to be more adventurous with fruit and veg and to celebrate the expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge**.
The competition invites children to dream up their own fruit and veg-packed dish, with the winning recipe shared on menus across the UK and in Tesco’s programme. The challenge is supported and judged by JLS star turned farmer JB Gill, and his son Ace, alongside a panel of experts and nutritionists.
Along with its Fruit & Veg Grants and Free Fruit for Kids in its stores, Tesco aims to support thousands more local children in getting more of the good stuff. Customers will be able to help grow the programme with Tesco donating every time customers buy fruit and veg at Tesco up until 24 May.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: <> during the Tesco Giant Fruit And Veg Challenge on April 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Tesco)
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “We’ve set out an ambition to help one million children get free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, supporting the development of healthy habits.
“Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has already made, so we’re delighted to be able to double the number of schools receiving support from September.”
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “A significant number of children in the UK are growing up with diets that don’t support their health.
“Early food experiences matter, as they can help to shape children’s confidence, habits and long‑term health outcomes.
“By helping children enjoy and regularly eat fruit and vegetables from a young age, programmes like Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools can help to make a lasting difference to diet and health now and in the future.”
For more information and to enter the Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, visit:
Ahead of Scotland’s Parliament elections on 7 May, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans partner with the Electoral Management Board for Scotland to deliver accessible voting training to all Returning Officers and more than 900 polling staff, ensuring visually impaired voters can cast their vote independently and in secret.
Visually impaired voters face a range of barriers at polling stations, with a lack of staff training and confidence consistently highlighted as a major issue. Voters report that polling station staff do not always know how best to support blind and partially sighted people, leading to inconsistent use of accessible voting aids and uncertainty about the support available.
This is compounded by physical barriers such as poor lighting, unclear signage and challenging layouts, as well as information about candidates and voting procedures not always being provided in accessible formats. Many visually impaired voters are also reluctant to ask for help if it risks compromising the secrecy or independence of their vote.
Working in partnership with the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, Sight Scotland has helped develop a training video for polling station staff, setting out the support they are required to provide to visually impaired voters. Members of Sight Scotland’s Policy Group and rehabilitation team played a central role in shaping the content, ensuring it reflects both lived experience and professional expertise.
Colette Walker, co-chair of Sight Scotland Policy Group, who is visually impaired and took part in the training video, comments: “As the election approaches in two weeks, Sight Scotland and the Electoral Commission are highlighting a major push to ensure every blind and partially sighted person can exercise their democratic right to a private, independent vote.
“Every adult has a democratic right to cast their vote in privacy. By breaking down these long-standing barriers, we are ensuring that visually impaired voters in our communities finally have the same say as everyone else. We hope to see a record turnout of blind and partially sighted voters in two weeks’ time, casting their vote, having their say in politics.”
Sight Scotland Policy Group member, Hussein Patwa, adds: “I was delighted to be involved in producing training videos that will be shown to polling station staff across Scotland before the parliamentary elections on 07 May.
“Featuring myself and other visually impaired people, they demonstrate, in real life, practical examples of the correct sighted guiding technique, how to assist with navigating around the polling station, providing clear explanations to aid with orientation and the procedure to be followed for those who wish the presiding officer to help mark the ballot paper on their behalf.
“I am positive this will make a real difference to visually impaired people’s experience at polling stations, encourage those who haven’t done so before to try voting in person and increase confidence for both voters and polling staff alike.”
Malcolm Burr, Convener of the Electoral Management Board and Returning Officer for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, comments: “Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers put in place a range of measures to support voters with visual impairment.
“We want everyone to be able to vote independently and in secret. We have large print ballot papers, magnifiers, additional lighting, tactile voting devices, audio versions of the ballot paper and can help the voter fill in the paper if necessary.
“Members of the visually impaired community told us that a fundamental problem was staff at polling stations did not know how best to support blind and partially sighted voters. The video we have filmed with the help of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans is being used by Returning Officers across Scotland to train their hundreds of polling staff showing how to greet, guide and offer suitable assistance.
“Our polling staff are the public face of the election and the lessons in this video will help them as they prepare to welcome voters with visual impairment into the polling places on 7 May.”
Caremark, one of UK’s leading providers of home care, has opened nominations for its Community Care Fund – a new nationwide initiative designed to support local projects that make a positive difference to people’s lives.
The Community Care Fund invites members of the public, community groups and local not-for-profit organisations across Scotland to nominate projects in their area that they believe deserve funding.
This could be anything from a local park in need of some plants, a pre-school looking to revamp its play area, a community centre wanting to update its kitchen facilities, or a local charity hoping to brighten up its space with a new lick of paint or buy supplies for an arts club, etc. Any initiative will be considered, provided it delivers a clear benefit to its local community.
With three individual grants of £3,000 each available across the UK, the fund aims to shine a spotlight on grassroots projects that create meaningful, lasting impact. Nominations can be submitted online and require a short paragraph explaining what the local project is and how the grant would be used, along with a supporting photograph.
From the nominations received, one finalist will be shortlisted from each of Caremark’s 12 UK regions. The 12 finalists will be put forward to a public vote via Caremark’s website and social media channels to determine the three overall winners.
David Glover, CEO at Caremark, commented: “At Caremark, we see every day how powerful local projects can be in bringing people together and improving quality of life. The Community Care Fund is our way of recognising and empowering the ideas that can truly transform lives across the UK.
“It is also about giving communities a voice. We know there are many inspiring projects making a positive impact, often quietly behind the scenes, and we want to hear about them. By opening the fund to public nominations, we hope people will put forward the projects they care about and help them access funding that can make a meaningful difference.”
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over.
With less than 5 weeks to go until opening night….have you got your tickets yet?!
Join us for CALENDAR GIRLS – a heartwarming, hilarious, and uplifting story you won’t want to miss. Expect laughter, friendship, and a few cheeky surprises along the way….!
POLICE Scotland is proud to support #TakeFiveWeek26, working with Take Five to Stop Fraud to help more people recognise the warning signs of scams.
This year, three best-selling crime authors have written short stories inspired by the tactics scammers use and reminding us that, just like in a good mystery, the clues are often there if you know where to look.
By taking a moment to stop and think like a detective, you could spot the clues and protect yourself from a scam.
Our Stockbridge shop is in seriouis need of some volunteers to fill a few gaps in their staffing schedule!
Since opening a few years ago, the shop has become a well established part of Stockbridge life, attracting fantastic donations and bargain hunters from all over!
If you’re interested in volunteering with our team, please contact:
Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh
27th ‐ 30th May 2026
7.30pm (Wed-Fri) / 2.30pm (Sat)
