A study of 21,000 men and women in Italy has found that moderate drinkers are less likely to need medical treatment than their teetotal cousins. The late Dr Tom Stuttaford would not have been surprised, says Harry Mount

Nina Stibbe offers an almost complete seasonal glossary to guide you through the festivities

As the PM survives a vote of no confidence, Detlev J Piltz remembers meeting her when she was simply a vicar’s daughter

Mary Beard has been singing the praises of Latin to Prince William. She's spot on, says Harry Mount

With Theresa May's Brexit deal under threat, Boris Johnson is back on manoeuvres. Harry Mount worked with Boris for five years and edited his collected Wit and Wisdom. What makes the former Foreign Secretary tick?

Music lifts the spirits at Christmas, particularly when it has a healing effect on the performers, says Nigel Summerley

We could be seeing less of the hard man of gambling ads on our screens with Britain’s bookmakers set to agree a voluntary ban on advertising during live sports broadcasts. Matthew Norman will not be upset

Aren’t love songs meant to be a little bit risqué? If we start banning them, where will it all end, asks Nigel Summerley

Tonight on Radio 4, missing episodes of Hancock's Half Hour will be recreated in The Missing Hancocks. Half a century after Hancock's death, Barry Cryer recalls his friend

Champagne, poinsettias and shop-wrapped 'gifts'? God forbid! Far too common. Nicky Haslam gives his tips for a classy Christmas