My Cultural Life - London

"I love the Gherkin. To be honest, though, I don't really like it. It doesn't mean anything to me in the way that other London buildings do. No, I love it because I appreciate vision and innovation, all the more so when it flies in the face of England's relentless traditionalism and small-minded middle-of-the-roadness with regards to architecture".

For many of us growing up in the Eighties, Madonna provided the theme tune to our teenage milestones: a first dance to ‘Like A Virgin', perhaps, or a first kiss to ‘True Blue’. For Adam, the central character in ‘Madonna and Me’, her music provides more than just a back-drop – it is the key to self-discovery and, finally, to self-acceptance. Ali Fogg got into the groove during the play's run at The Union Theatre Southwark.

I must admit to being one of the first who hoofed it down to Kensington Gardens with a bunch of £5 M&S flowers when I found out early in the morning of Sunday 31st August 1997 that Princess Diana had died during the night. I've never been sure exactly what it was that compelled me to do it, but it turned out soon afterwards that I was certainly not alone. In fact, it became a slightly embarrassing thing to own up to, what with all the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth that ensued…