The Sunday Times - UK (2021-11-28)

l Sir Cliff Richard’s 2022

calendar reveals that while

the singer may be 81, he

is not slowing down when

it comes to his favourite

pastime. He enjoys

grinning — in a stairwell

(January), on a rowing boat

(May) and in a pool while

drinking orange squash

(August).^

Books, p35

l The Nutcracker is

Christmas, official. There

are more than 300

productions of the show

each year in the US, from

high-school shows to

X-rated versions with

topless dancers and

cocaine for snow.

Christmas dance, p8

CONTENTS 28.11.2021

ARTS

4

Cover story

George Clooney talks to

Jonathan Dean about the day

he nearly died, spending

lockdown with his children

and how he avoided crack

8

Christmas dance

Why has The Nutcracker

become the ballet that keeps

dance companies afloat?

David Jays reports

10

Christmas theatre

Nicholas Hytner on theatre’s

struggle back from Covid —

and why he is optimistic

about its future health

12

Television

What do Squid Game and

a new true crime drama

starring Olivia Colman have

in common?

BOOKS OF THE YEAR

33-44

Our books of the year

Part one of our two-week

guide to 2021’s most

engrossing reads

33

History

Dominic Sandbrook hails

a future historical classic

as his pick of the year

36

Children

Nicolette Jones chooses mind-

expanding gifts for all ages,

from toddlers to teenagers

41

Politics

David Baddiel’s polemic

on antisemitism heads up

Roland White’s choices

38

The Sunday Times

Bestsellers

COURTESY OF METRO GOLDWYN MAYER

TV & RADIO

45

TV & Radio

The best guide to the

week’s programmes

Cover George Clooney.

Photograph: IBL/Shutterstock

© Times Newspapers Ltd, 2021. Published and licensed by Times Newspapers Ltd, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF (020 7782 5000). Printed by Prinovis UK Ltd, Liverpool. Not to be sold separately.

THINGS WE’VE

LEARNT THIS ISSUE

Bulletins

Go to thesundaytimes.co.uk/

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@sundaytimesculture

THE ART OF OVERACTING

Priceless gifts of jewel-

encrusted wonder or the

despised baubles of a class

ripe for overthrow? Whatever

your view of Carl Fabergé’s

creations, take a tour of the

V&A’s Fabergé in London

exhibition with this week’s

Sunday Times Culture Show.

It’s the ultimate Christmas

treat. The presenters Miquita

Oliver and Grant Tucker will

also guide you through the

best of the arts. Don’t miss

their verdict on Ridley Scott’s

House of Gucci. Watch on our

website or on the Sunday

Times YouTube channel.

‘Lady Gaga sucks up every scene she is in

and even harbours takeover bids for

those she isn’t’ Tom Shone, Film, page 16

WATCH THE CULTURE SHOW

© EMMA CHICHESTER CLARK 2021

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28 November 2021 3