Celebrating a star unafraid to look back while cooking up new ideas

Most of us would be mortified to be remembered for anything we said, did or wore when we were a teenager – but our cover star Clare Grogan admits being recognised as her 17-year-old self in Gregory’s Girl still gives her a thrill.

There won’t be many Scottish film fans (myself included) who can’t recite lines from Bill Forsyth’s brilliant coming-of-age comedy off by heart, and it will always have a treasured place in our shared cultural history. But it’s surprising to learn so many people still associate Clare with her character Susan, as the now-57-year-old has worn more hats than our traditional felt head wear maker (read Rachel Frost’s story in The Day I... on page 15)!

From acting in films, TV shows and on stage, to fronting ’80s chart favourites Altered Images, mum-of-one Clare has now been entertaining us for 40 years. And her latest gig, presenting BBC Scotland’s Corner Shop Cook-Off, adds yet another line to her impressive CV.

I’ve always thought doing the same thing day after day, year after year, was the formula for boredom. If you don’t change, grow and adapt, you’re at risk of losing your lust for life – something I’ve tried to avoid by moving cities, changing jobs, and taking up new challenges whenever possible. Now, it seems, even the old-fashioned film industry is embracing a shake-up of the status quo. Our man in Hollywood, Ross King, reports on La La Land’s reaction to Parasite’s historic win at last Sunday’s Oscars (page 22).

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to watch Gregory’s Girl for the 25th time. Oh, maybe I’m more adverse to change than I thought...