Mhairi Black on her acting rile in Counsels. 'Once I got the scripts I realised that my character is a cynical, jaded and tired police officer who is fed up with the corruption and the system failing. “I was like: ‘I get why you thought of me’.' @brianjaffa.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

It’s easy to be an armchair general knowing you don’t have to take the blame if it turns out you were wrong, says @becmcq.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Review: “The father of my daughter texted me tonight to say that she would be here at the gig. ‘Please don’t talk about sex.’ So, here are some songs about sex.” @kathrynjoseph11.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

'Be sure as well to keep your eye on the gravy boat' - wise advice from theatre critic @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

'It’s going to break my heart when reading goes. But as long as we still have a lively culture we might get through. If we just become screen-fed zombies, we won’t' @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social

"I don't think anybody’s made a better album”, says Alan McGee, a man who famously knows about such things, “than Primal Scream’s Screamadelica”. @heraldscotland.bsky.social

I’ve a soft spot for evergreen fir, spruce and pine, particularly on days when they are adorned with glistening frost or a dusting of freshly fallen, powdery snow. As balms for the soul go, I can highly recommend it, says @susanswarbrick.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

One for the fans of Lorraine Kelly - which is surely most of us. @heraldscotland.bsky.social

One parent told the BBC that the autistic Barbie made her five-year-old feel special, as she too wears ear defenders. Other parents have been more critical, suggesting that Barbie is offensive. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social

Scots musician had a Eureka! moment moment driving through Glen Clova listening to Nigel Kennedy’s multi-million selling 1989 performance of the Four Seasons @heraldscotland.bsky.social

I’m a little on the defensive when it comes to this new trend among kids - who I want to hate because they’re young, though mostly I can’t help quite liking them - for calling folk they deem to be old ‘unc’. As in uncle. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social

'I spend the next 20 minutes playing with the little water jets and pretending I’ve been chucked into a bubbling, colour-changing witch’s cauldron - and yes, this is very relaxing for me' @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Here is what Glasgow City Council is proposing for parking controls, and what happens next, including the consultation, decision-making, and potential timelines. @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Emmylou's European Farewell Tour gets under way at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this Friday, as part of the long-awaited 2026 Celtic Connections programme @heraldscotland.bsky.social

The increasing chaos of Fawlty Towers has lost none of its manic edge. Both the machine-gun verbal exchanges and the complex physical routines are delivered with practiced slickness by a 17-strong ensemble. @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Michelle Visage said Dolly Parton has always been an icon for the LGTBQIA+ community. “She has always been a drag queen … from the hair to the dresses to the sequins to the nails.” @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @dpsocialism.bsky.social

Get yourself some culture - there's some cracking shows coming up in Scotland. Here's our picks of the year from @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @dcadundee.bsky.social @nationalgalleries.bsky.social @vadundee.bsky.social @royalscottishacad.bsky.social

Get all your Herald news, comment, analysis, business and culture for just £20 for a whole year - can't say fairer than that. See tinyurl.com/3r2822x7 @neilmackay.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Thousands of streets will see their speed limits reduced to 20mph in one of the biggest speed limit shakeups by a UK city. But the rollout has been delayed, and questions have been raised about the scheme's practical viability @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

In the bleak midwinter at least there is still music. Here's @teddyjamieson.bsky.social must-sees for Celtic Connections wonderful winter festival of music @heraldscotland.bsky.social

One for the fans of high street coffee shops - and Friends @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Bardot would punch her stomach while pregnant and beg the doctor to shoot her up with morphine to abort her son - so is she still worthy of the title: Screen Goddess? @derekmcarthur.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Review: 'With Glasvegas harmonising on a cover version of All I Have to Do is Dream it’s even possible to believe that the Everly Brothers grew up in a Glasgow council house.' @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @glasvegas22.bsky.social @glasvegas99.bsky.social

Scotland's luxury shopping landscape is shifting, and the stakes are high, says @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

So, actual end of year poll tracker, given the poll released today. SNP projected one short of a majority. Seats (+/- 2021): SNP: 64 (-) Ref: 19 (+19) Lab: 17 (-5) Grn: 13 (+5) Con: 9 (-22) LD: 7 (+3) Alba: 0 (-) 21 marginals: 17 SNP, 3 Labour, 1 Conservative. 1/3

'Even among the radical and liberal, egalitarianism and sexual equality only run so far. The most high-minded of men, who claim they long to smash society’s strictures, will still, assume the power of a patriarch.' Review by @neilmackay.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

TV turkeys of the year: Matthew Goode’s one-note performance in Dept Q as an almighty arsehole made it impossible to sympathise with him which in turn made the show hard to watch. @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Roger Billcliffe has been a hugely significant figure in the Scottish art world for the last 56 years. @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Review: In the end Billy Sloan didn’t go quietly. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social

Review: Justin Currie is in fine, thrilling voice @heraldscotland.bsky.social @delamitri.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social

Looking along the tree-lined Kelvin Way in the low winter sun. It would be an amazing street to see decorated with Christmas lights at this time of year, or indeed to see decorated with lights throughout the year. #glasgow #kelvinway #glasgowinwinter #christmaslights #kelvingrovepark

You will have to pay to watch the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on TV as BBC is not broadcasting it in a body blow for these struggling games. Our take: @heraldscotland.bsky.social

2025 was a vintage year for Scottish theatre - here's our pick of the bunch @heraldscotland.bsky.social @brianjaffa.bsky.social @ntsonline.bsky.social @dundeerep.bsky.social @pitlochryft.bsky.social

'Acts of worship should have no place in state schools,' says @maggiechapman.bsky.social of the Scottish Greens - but bishops say that threatens the future of Catholic schools @heraldscotland.bsky.social

A rather wonderful ship-shaped weather vane on the top of the hall of the Shettleston Old Parish Church Hall on Killin Street in the East End of Glasgow. Cont./ #glasgow #shettleston #architecture #architecturephotography #weathervane #ironwork #metalwork #decorativemetalwork

'The question now is how will Bill Sloan go out? Has Paddy Power offered any odds on the last record Billy will play? And what are the odds it will be by Simple Minds?' @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Review: 'It is perfectly executed with the air of a pub session writ large, with Robert Plant bantering with the audience before going all the way back to the hippy fragility of Moby Grape’s It’s a Beautiful Day Today' @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Edinburgh? Apparently it's all the rage at Christmas, says travel writer @robinmckelvie.bsky.social - here are his tips on what to do and see @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Reaction to the terrorist shooting of 12 innocent and unarmed Jewish people in Australia at the weekend has been inconsistent and wrong, says Carlos Alba @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is one of the most popular pieces of classical music - and no wonder. Here is the story of a masterpiece and the man who created it @heraldscotland.bsky.social @faberbooks.bsky.social

Reform is flying high according to polling - but here's what might trip Farage's party up @ipsosinscotland.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

All Christmas shows reviewed - here's our verdict on Scotland's best pantos @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilcooper.bsky.social @brianjaffa.bsky.social @thegaiety.bsky.social @trontheatre.bsky.social @beacontheatre.bsky.social @macrobertarts.bsky.social

'Jenny Colgan writes about Christmas with such wide-eyed wonder that it shows it occupies a special place in her heart' @heraldscotland.bsky.social @hodderbooks.bsky.social @jennycolgan.bsky.social

The songs come thick and fast as Donna, Sophie and co embark on a cross generational merry dance that moves from the youthful bounce of Dancing Queen to the mid life angst of The Winner Takes it All @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilcooper.bsky.social

'Love or hate River City - it’s an academy. I learned loads in my five years there. I watched camera operators become directors. I watched people learning on the job. And that will be lost,' says @govindajeggy.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social

There's been a murder: This is the newer generation of Scottish crime writers @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Lovely article here about the last ever Fags Mags and Bags. Showcasing my new favourite T-shirt

Do you recognise this? Ghosting, having a roster, choreographed dances to cringe voice notes men have sent to women or headlines about how boyfriends are embarrassing and ruining your aura @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Pop quiz question for you. What is the longest-running Scottish sitcom? @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @govindajeggy.bsky.social

Should the Tartan Army boycott the World Cup in Trump’s America? @neilmackay.bsky.social thinks they should consider it @heraldscotland.bsky.social