Addicted to the blank page. Creative director @kidsinmuseums and @manyriversfilms; co-director @TextWorkshop; ringmaster @circus250. Never without earrings.

Freelance journalist for @guardian, @tbij and @BBC. Consultant to @TR_Foundation's illicit finance journalism programme.

Film critic, novelist, photographer, style icon, wicked spinster, evil feminist, international cat-sitter. Likes frites, beer and chocolate. Je suis Belge.

Former Middle East editor of the Guardian. Website: www.al-bab.com. Author of 'Arabs Without God'.

Knife: The Culture, Craft and Cult of the Cook's Knife. Available Nov 3. Preorder on Amazon

Guardian home affairs editor and author