Scottish comedian whose spectacular sketch shows on television made him a household name

After Quentin Tarantino’s unfavourable comments about the actor’s performance in films including There Will Be Blood, we run through the roles that show just how potent he really is

Running tends to get characterised as an entirely physical pursuit, which is probably why I avoided it for so long

Howlingly funny comedy, jaw-dropping documentaries and astonishing drama … it’s been another fantastic year of TV. Our countdown of the very best kicks off here

Activist says treatment of her by Mark Jenner, with whom she had five-year relationship, left her devastated An undercover police officer who deceived a woman into a five-year relationship and strung her along when she wanted to have children with him had “sadistic tendencies”, the spycops inquiry has heard. Mark Jenner lived with the woman, known as Alison, as a couple without telling her that he was an undercover officer sent to spy on political campaigners. Continue reading...

The war against Ukraine has hit ordinary Russians hard, and the deteriorating situation is likely to inflame tensions, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall

Cameras capture lone creature collecting materials for its lodge in riverside nature reserve A wild beaver has been spotted in Norfolk for the first time since beavers were hunted to extinction in England at the beginning of the 16th century. It was filmed dragging logs and establishing a lodge in a “perfect beaver habitat” on the River Wensun at Pensthorpe, a nature reserve near Fakenham in Norfolk. Continue reading...

The Reform UK leader doubts people can recall their abuse from years ago. I’ve never forgotten his – it felt malicious