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Lydia Spencer-Elliott

Lydia Spencer-Elliott has been a culture and lifestyle reporter at The Independent since 2024, specialising in features about film, TV, photography, dance, lifestyle trends and dating.

<p>The White Lotus</p>

24 hours with the real-life manager of The White Lotus hotel

The new series of the hit HBO show is set in the Four Seasons resort in Koh Samui, Thailand. Lydia Spencer-Elliott speaks to the general manager about outrageous guest demands and how he stays sane

<p>Don’t Stop the Party: the Cuban American artist has had No 1 hits in 15 countries</p>

The cult of Mr Worldwide: How Pitbull started a global movement

<p>Strike a pose: Claudia Schiffer, Pierce Brosnan and Naomi Campbell present the Costume Design award at the 1996 Oscars </p>

Why Hollywood hated the controversial Oscars ‘fashion show’

<p>Ninety-five per cent of imprisoned fathers who take part in Patton’s Date with Dad programme never return to jail once they are freed</p>

How dance brought girls and their imprisoned fathers back together

<p>Smashy smashy: Lydia Spencer-Elliott in her rage room with a friend</p>

I was sick of talking about my problems – so I smashed up a rage room

Today’s young women are unleashing their anger not in group chats or over coffee with friends, but in windowless rooms filled with crockery and dinnerware, which can be shattered to smithereens – for a price. Lydia Spencer-Elliott went to one to see what all the fuss was about – and came back a changed person

I was sick of talking about my problems – so I smashed up a rage room

Today’s young women are unleashing their anger not in group chats or over coffee with friends, but in windowless rooms filled with crockery and dinnerware, which can be shattered to smithereens – for a price. Lydia Spencer-Elliott went to one to see what all the fuss was about – and came back a changed person

<p>Smashy smashy: Lydia Spencer-Elliott in her rage room with a friend</p>

Vivienne Westwood’s personal wardrobe goes to auction at Christie’s

<p>‘The Bear’ has drawn in an incredible number of top-tier stars </p>

The Bear’s cameos ranked, from Olivia Colman to Jamie Lee Curtis

<p>Some of Netflix’s most talked-about shows are also its most divisive</p>

Netflix’s most controversial shows, from Baby Reindeer to Dahmer

<p>Some of the biggest moments in recent politics have been foretold on-screen </p>

The weirdest times TV shows have predicted real-life politics

<p>Some of the biggest moments in recent politics have been foretold on-screen </p>

The weirdest times TV shows have predicted real-life politics

<p>What kept your favourite stars on the edge of their seats this year? </p>

2024’s TV heroes on their unmissable cultural picks of the year

<p>Elton John, Egg On His Face by David LaChapelle, New York, 1999 </p>

Portrait of a Rocket Man: Elton John’s photo collection wows at V&A