The Big Issue

The Big Issue is one of Britain’s leading news and cultural magazines. Every week’s edition is packed full of original takes on the biggest issues of the day as well as interviews with the most significant figures in politics and entertainment. The Big Issue was founded 1991 to give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to earn their own income. We continue to support hundreds of vendors across the UK and all proceeds from sales go to help anyone wanting to lift themselves out of poverty.

Laugh out loud

THE DISPATCH

THE BIG ISSUE

OPINION • I’m a veteran and a government minister. Tackling veteran homelessness is the absolute top priority

YOUR LETTERS

War of words

The curse of Oxford on our political life

Jason Williamson • The Sleaford Mods frontman and lyricist channelled his troubles into music. People finally started paying attention

The bear necessity

‘We really need this message right now’ • Arti Shah and James Hameed are the actors bringing Paddington to life on stage – and revolutionising theatre while they’re at it

‘In Paddington’s story kindness wins, acceptance wins’ • Paddington: The Musical ’s writer has thrown the nation’s most beloved bear into vivid, vibrant and diverse contemporary London for his theatre debut. Here, she explains the thinking behind her adaptation

The cash-first food bank shattering myths around aid

MIGRANTS • Lost, alone, undocumented at Paddington Station: if you’re not lucky enough to be adopted by the Browns, what happens?

A bear for troubled times

Crisis in Venezuela and the rise of Latin America’s far right

This man rebuilt his life, one brushstroke at a time

One Roof Festival 2026: bricks and mortar

Starr performer

TOP 5 Graphic novels

We can still be heroes

The many faces of Brendan Fraser

Inside job

Go figure • We’ve worked our entire lives, sacrificed absolutely everything

LUCY SWEET ON TV

Belly dancing

Puzzles

MY PITCH MUSIC SPECIAL • Make a noise for Big Issue vendors