Zoo hires Marvin Gaye impersonator to serenade monkeys
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A zoo attempted to boost its population of endangered monkeys by hiring a Marvin Gaye impersonator who serenaded them with romantic songs. The Trentham Monkey Forest in Stafford said David Largie performed saucy songs including Let’s Get It On and Sexual Healing. “We thought it could be a creative way to encourage our females to show a little affection to males that might not have been so lucky in love,” said park director Matt Lovatt.
Alec Baldwin mistaken for ‘roaming vagrant’
Locals in a Hampshire market town mistook Hollywood star Alec Baldwin for a “roaming vagrant”, reported The Times. The actor, who is understood to be filming near the town of Alton, was described as looking like a “hobo” by a resident who spotted him in the aisles of the Co-op supermarket. “Who would ever expect to see something like that in Alton?” asked a local kebab shop owner, who also spotted Baldwin.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mole browses for bargains
A mole was discovered perusing the aisles of a branch of Poundstretcher in Stowmarket, Suffolk. The small mammal, who has been nicknamed “Ernest”, is believed to have spent around four hours in the store before he was spotted hiding by the tills. Recalling her surprise, the store manager said: “I’ve only seen Wind in the Willows – that’s the only mole I’ve seen. I was amazed by how furry he was. He was so clean too.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK