An estimated 12 million people in the UK are affected by family estrangement. Helen Coffey speaks to those spending this festive period away from their relatives and gets their top tips for making it through one of the most challenging times of the year

After the news that the cheapest ticket for the 2026 World Cup final will cost more than £3,000, Helen Coffey investigates how, from dinner to theatre tickets and gigs, real-world experiences suddenly became out of everyone’s league

From the big-city yearning of Chappell Roan’s breakup ballad to Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s wonderful collaboration ‘Rein Me In’, The Independent’s culture team pick their favourite songs of the past 12 months