Tayler Finnegan

The DJ’s pounding bass shakes the cobbled streets under the cold Midlands sky. Thick clouds of smoke billow from the city’s honest industries and borrowed ciggies. Wednesday evening is Pink Friday as thousands of fans snake along Birmingham’s narrow streets. The atmosphere abuzz with the realisation that global rap star Nicki Minaj is breathing this same hazy air.

Put a finger down if, as an adult in their mid-late twenties, you scoffed at the idea of tweens prancing around on TikTok and swore you would not be seen dead downloading it. Then the UK went into lockdown in March and you spent 8 hours a day watching the latest viral videos. Oh wait, that’s me…

Being British is great, isn't it? We may be a tiny nation, but we are full to the brim with mind-boggling accents, deliciously bland cuisine, and often-infuriating sporting representatives. But what are the very best things about being a Brit?

In 2017, it is hard to imagine a Western world where half of the population is denied a chance of attending university. Yet, despite a long history of higher education – Oxford itself is over 700 years old – women were forbidden from gaining degrees until the 19th century. Enter Catherine Brewer, the feminist icon you’ve never heard of.

An esteemed writer and broadcaster, Robert Elms has lived a colourful life to say the least. Now the presenter of a successful daytime slot on BBC London 94.9, he has an impressive CV. He became a columnist for The Face and NME in the 1980s and went on to work for Channel 4 in the 1990s before finding his niche as a writer.