Sarfraz Manzoor
@sarfrazmanzoor
I am a screenwriter (Blinded by the Light), author (Greetings from Bury Park, They), journalist (Guardian, Times and lots of others), I teach at UCL and am working on my first stage play. Mostly though I am a husband and father of two young children.
This isn't meant to sound snide but on a purely human level it must be galling for Keir Starmer to discover that the only thing needed for Labour's poll rating to rise and Farage's to fall was for him to step aside.
This headline made me smile- which is more than can be said for the World Cup half time show.
I was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Manchester University this week. I didn’t attend my actual graduation back in 1992 as if clashed with a Bruce Springsteen gig - it was nice to finally get a chance to put on some robes and a ridiculous hat. In truth it was a genuinely humbling honour
I read both pieces and both seemed convincing until I read the other one.
The political editor of Horse and Hound is in Makerfield for the by election.
Here's hoping there are enough Restore voting racist loons- sorry I meant concerned citizens with valid anxieties about illegal immigration- to hand the Makersfied by election to Andy Burnham.
This seems fair enough- it's not like there's much news around these days.
Ridley Scott is 88 and gearing up to make another meta movie. I just hope I’m still around and in semi possession of my faculties at that age.
I LOVE Taylor Swift but I don't think even she would suggest she was a greater songwriter than DOLLY PARTON.
Found this in a charity shop but not read anything about it- is it any good ?
I talked to Ben Elton for the i newspaper about his fantastic memoir What Have I Done?
I was lucky enough to see Paul Simon at the Albert Hall last night. He is 84 so this may be the last time which made the evening even more special. Listening to Homeward Bound, The Boxer, The Sound of Silence etc. was truly transcendental. A privilege to be in the same room as one of the immortals.
I initially didn't see the word 'ally' and got briefly rather excited.
I can't for the life of me understand why it costs more to see Art Garfunkel in Watford than PAUL SIMON in Glasgow.
If you want a front row seat to see Art Garfunkel perform in Watford and have just under two hundred quid spare I have some good news.
I will confess that I have not been but this still feels like a harsh review.
I blame the creative writing teacher who urged her to 'write about what you know.'
One of the best things about being a writer is getting the chance to hear from fans who love and appreciate your work.
Maybe it's just me but Springsteen is looking a bit like Conan O'Brien in this photograph.