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Prince leads Dickens celebrations
Simon Callow celebrates author
The relevance of Great Expectations
Lady Gaga unveils tour designs
British artists dominate album market
Lucian Freud - by his sitter
15:27 UK time, Monday, 6 February 2012
The first big exhibition of Lucian Freud's portraits opens this week since his death. But what did it feel like to be painted by him?
7 February 2012
Last updated at 20:52 ET
Jubilee gig line-up is announced
Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney are among the artists who will play at The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in London in June.
Madonna announces next world tour
Madonna announces the dates for her latest world tour, which will start in Israel in March.
Spanish artist Antoni Tapies dies
Spanish painter and sculptor Antoni Tapies, who was one of the world's leading contemporary art figures, dies aged 88.
Also in the news
Our Expert
Arts & culture
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Contest to boost reading for fun
The government is planning to create a national reading competition in England to encourage a love of books and boost children's literacy.
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Finborough scoops theatre awards
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King's Speech premieres on stage
Film
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Radcliffe beaten at US box office
Chronicle, a film about teenagers with super powers, beats Daniel Radcliffe thriller The Woman in Black to top the North American film chart.
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Titanic cameraman dies in crash
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Depardieu to star as Strauss-Kahn
Music
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Oban fiddler wins BBC music award
A 22-year-old fiddler from Oban has been crowned BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2012.
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SA 'resurrected singer' detained
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Phil Spector death case settled
TV & radio
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6 Music to mark 10th anniversary
BBC Radio 6 Music is to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a host of commemorative programming.
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Broadcasters urge PM on court ban
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Amanda Holden to return to BGT
Watch/Listen
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'Huge stage' planned for Jubilee concert01:56
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Jackie Mason's performance secrets04:28
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On set with Daniel Radcliffe02:54
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Great great grandson pays Dickens tribute01:14
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Madonna's world tour and more news02:08
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Barlow on 'massive' Jubilee concert02:21
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Exhibit to showcase Lucian Freud works02:19
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Kermit and Piggy play Mr and Mrs02:21
Features & analysis
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Chicken run?
British animation aiming for an egg-cellent Oscar night
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Dickens's London
The prison, the pub and other landmarks that influenced author
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Ancient insult
When did the middle finger become offensive?
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Working with Freud
A unique insight by his assistant, model and friend, David Dawson
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A fair cop?
How realistic are police shows on television?
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No to Brad?
The residents fed-up with movie stars and camera crews
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Del Boy directs
Sir David Jason moves behind the camera
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Oscars shortlist
The nine best picture nominees for 2012
Quote of the Day
Ian Kennedy-Martin, who created The Sweeney, on why cop shows are so popular with writers“The police are easier to research because every policeman has a lot of wonderful stories.”
Elsewhere on the BBC
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Cooking up a storm
Why Texas barbecue is a culinary obsession in the Lone Star State
Programmes
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Witness: Umm Kulthum
"The nation felt they lost meaning," the Egyptian singer who was mourned by millions
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Talking Movies
Daniel Radcliffe on his first post-Harry Potter film - a horror called The Woman in Black
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World Book Club: Dickens
Claire Tomalin marks the author's bicentenary by reflecting on his iconic novel Great Expectations
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London Calling
A series of programmes bringing the city of London to life in the run up to the Olympic Games
The Strand
A report from the first ever Macau Literary Festival
