The actor Kevin Bacon, Hollywood’s great survivor, discusses his band, politics, family, embracing change and learning selflessness; as pornography use soars, some men feel their behaviour is moving from a compulsion to an addiction; and, last week, a job advert emerged for a private tutor to an architecture student with potential earnings of more than £2m: one man who has worked with wealthy families describes what it takes.

Charlotte Edwardes interviews the Labour leader as he closes in on power. Plus the extraordinary story of the woman who stepped in as a surrogate for her daughter’s baby, and Sam Pyrah examines the latest scientific understanding about why we dream what we do

Marina Hyde on poor Rishi, who had to go without a Sky subscription as a teenager; Chris Godfrey spent a decade trying to quit smoking, then he tried hypnotherapy and it changed his life; when Jordan Hatmaker pulled the string of her parachute, she realised something was very wrong; and ‘My grownup son is gaming all day and lives on takeaways’ - Philippa Perry offers advice to a mother

The former cricketer discusses the ramifications of his decision to speak out about racism at Yorkshire; a reader has developed an intense crush on an unavailable work colleague; Boris Johnson and Brexit weren’t the only reasons Rory Stewart left politics; and Simon Usborne on the destructive impact of bamboo

As Taylor Swift brings her billion-pound era tour tho the UK, Chanté (not a Swift fan) is joined by the writer Elle Hunt (is a Swift fan) to talk about how Swift is not merely a pop sensation but a business icon, too

The Guardian lockdown love story that ended in ‘I do’; the incredible story of Maxwell Smart, who lost his family in the Holocaust at 10 and avoided detection from the Nazis for two years; and Philippa Perry advises a reader not to invite his alcoholic father to his wedding.

Rishi Sunak is so convinced he can’t win he’s promising any old mad thing, while the Lib Dems are deliberately falling off paddleboards – Marina Hyde on the election. The couple on a mission to make it easier for everyone to have multiple children – Elon Musk (father of 11) is a supporter. Few of us have the money to take a long pause from work – but, as Anita Chaudhuri discovers, even a day can make a difference

Comedian, writer and actor Stephen Merchant on standup, fame and the pressures of cancel culture; testing the ‘world-leading science’ claims behind the Zoe nutrition app; and the point when writer Harriet Tyce realised she didn’t want to be remembered only as a drinker

Marina Hyde on Russell Brand’s journey to Christianity, and Jenny Kleeman meets the woman accused of circulating a damaging ‘deepfake’ video. The problem? Nothing was fake after all.

Frock horror! The ludicrous spectacle of the Met Gala; reluctant star Josh O’Connor ​takes the lead in a new film, Challengers; Catherine Carr talks to boys about sex, pornography and feeling isolated and vulnerable; and Philippa Perry responds to a reader who is child-free.

A flat white can set you back £5.19 in London – but should we swallow it?; Sofie Hagen loves sex – so why has it been 3,089 days since she’s had any?; and psychotherapist and Observer columnist Philippa Perry addresses a reader’s personal problem

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Beware of ‘Tetchy Rishi’ – the prime minister struggles to control his anger during the Rwanda bill press briefing; David Harewood on acting, racism and mental health; the surprisingly simple solution to insomnia hell; and the dangerous fallout from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer

Zoe Williams explores the greatest mystery of modern politics: Liz Truss’ self belief, and Charlotte Edwardes delves into the extraordinary inside story of the biggest art fraud in American history.

Marina Hyde with her take on Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s surreal US presidential bid; Emine Saner meets the sociopath who learned to behave – and found happiness; why Gen Z has fallen in love with Sex and the City; and do our political opponents really hate us?

This week, Marina Hyde discusses the Thames Water crisis after a sewage-plagued boat race; Simon Hattenstone interviews Nick Cave, who is about to exhibit his ceramic figurines at the Xavier Hufkens gallery, about art, love, politics and the death of his two sons; and Rachel Dixon investigates bread in Britain and what it tells us about health, wealth and class.

This week, Marina Hyde discuss the Tories’ attack ad as they bid to unseat Sadiq Khan; Phil Daoust asks what can he change at 60 to make it to 100; and Eva Wiseman interviews Gillian Anderson as she prepares to play Emily Maitlis in a drama about her interview with Prince Andrew

If Labour gets into government, the deputy labour leader Angela Rayner will be one of the most powerful women in Britain. ‘Bring it on,’ she says; and ‘I was having a much better time as a girl in that parallel life’: why author Lucy Sante transitioned

Should you blame yourself for your bad habits?; author and teacher, Michael Donkor, on the dilemma of whether to come out to his pupils; and missed connections: four extraordinary stories of couples who found love via small ads.

It’s the Christian Horner paradox, according to Marina Hyde: F1 is now hideously dull, but it’s never been more dramatic; if you kill someone in your sleep, is it murder?; and ‘What a ridiculous question!’ How fawning, and inanity ruined the red carpet