From the editor: Blessed life

It’s only a couple of weeks until Brian Blessed is in town, booming “GORDON’S ALIVE!” and sharing tales of theatrical and exploratory adventures. When we called to speak with him for this week’s interview (p5) he was in the middle of helping an injured neighbour get a car to the hospital. No life-pedestrian here, he also declared he would swim for an hour in the Brighton sea before his forthcoming show, and that he was also looking forward to guesting again on BBC Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage for their special 100th episode edition. “It’s the two Brians!”, he extorted, referencing the show’s co-host Brian Cox. As an adventurer in every sense you could possibly think of, with an Agatha Christie play he has directed just outside Leeds currently picking up great crowds (“it’s very romantic, she wrote it with her husband in mind”), and a hungry interest in the colonisation of Mars – he’s a bit of an inspiration as to how to live now, let alone at the grand age of 81.

We’re also really chuffed to be featuring the history of the Saltdean Lido (p11) in our pages. Looking back at where it’s come from, and forward to where it will be, gathering together communities tirelessly campaigning for this beautiful Art Deco space to be available to all for its original purpose – and much more too. Who would think you’d find a library at the Lido?

Plus there’s all of our regular tips on where to eat, what to see going out, and the highlights of what shows are making their way onto your television set.

Victoria Nangle
editorial@thelatest.co.uk