With a string of instantly recognisable movies — Chinatown, Rosemary’s Baby, The Pianist — Roman Polanski is one of the world’s pre-eminent filmmakers.

When Frantic was released in 1988, the influential American critic Roger Ebert dubbed him one of the few modern masters of the thriller and film noir.

With their run of hits such as Donna, I’m Mandy Fly Me, The Wall Street Shuffle and Art For Art’s Sake and their number one singles I’m Not In Love, Rubber Bullets and Dreadlock Holiday, 10cc were one of the biggest bands of the ’70s.

For Cenk Bonfil, training to become a better leader is not merely something to do to pass the time. Coming from the tiny Jewish community of Istanbul, he knows that if he does not act, there will be few others to do the job for him.

Giacomo Meyerbeer, a German Jewish banker’s son, rose to become arguably the most influential operatic composer of the 19th century, yet today his name is all but forgotten.

Yotam Ottolenghi is not the first celebrity chef to make a culinary journey to the Mediterranean. Keith Floyd, Rick Stein, James Martin — you name them, they have all been there.

‘Gone are the days of me playing young and innocent,” says Samuel Barnett. This is perhaps more a declaration of hope than fact for the actor who recently played fresh-faced Danny in the fizzing BBC Olympic satire, Twenty Twelve.

It is not just the Rolling Stones who are celebrating 50 years of musical success this year. French singer Enrico Macias may not be a household name in this country, but he has been a star in France since 1962.
Now his British-based fans will be able to see him in concert, playing songs stretching right back through his career.

When you interview Olivia Lee there is bound to be a slight sense of nervousness. This is a woman who has made a TV career out of playing pranks on the unsuspecting, so as I sit down there is a temptation to look for a camera crew secreted behind the potted plant.

Adam Richman could eat for America.

In fact that is more or less what Richman's job has been for the past few years. As presenter of the massively popular Man v. Food show, which has aired on Dave, The Food Network and UK TV Food, Richman has become a cult figure for taking on some of the most insane food challenges in a country renowned for unhealthy portion sizes.

On the evening of Remembrance Sunday, I found myself sitting in the second row of Portsmouth Cathedral, paralysed with terror. This is not my usual pre-concert state.