BooksBeth Macy’s bestselling book tells the story of two African American brothers with albinism who were kidnapped and forced to perform in a 1920s circus. What can their story teach us about racism in the US today?In October 1927, the circus came to Roanoke, Virginia. It was a vast affair. There were four locomotives, 100 railcars, 1,600 people, five rings, six stages, elephants and high-wire acts. Among the attractions arriving in town were two albino African-American men called George and Willie Muse, famous across the United States as Eko and Iko, the sheepheaded cannibals from Ecuador.

‘I’m disappointed people don’t recognise what I did in Test cricket’ says Chris Gayle, one of only four batsmen to score two Test triple-centuries. Photograph: Linda Nylind/for the Guardian‘I’m disappointed people don’t recognise what I did in Test cricket’ says Chris Gayle, one of only four batsmen to score two Test triple-centuries. Photograph: Linda Nylind/for the GuardianChris GayleInterviewChris Gayle: ‘You’re with men. You’re good-looking. What do you expect?’Donald McRaeThe West Indies star is used to defending himself but insists the sexism row over his interview with an Australian TV reporter was blown out of proportionChris Gayle doesn’t trust me but blunt honesty is preferable when, in exchange, he is fiercely concentrated during our hour together.

FilmDie Hard and Carry On? Britain’s most-aired films over Christmas revealedAnalysis of five decades of festive TV schedules shows that only one in eight films were Christmas-related Think of Christmas films and the chances are your mind is drawn towards snowmen, mistletoe and Jimmy Stewart. But analysis of five decades of Christmas TV schedules in the UK reveal that the most-aired films feature a magic car, a straw man and Kenneth Williams.

Netherlands This article is more than 8 months oldDrug kingpin to defend himself in Dutch court after lawyer arrested – reportsThis article is more than 8 months oldLawyer for Ridouan Taghi, head of Dutch-Moroccan gang, is accused of passing information from prison cell A man accused of a number of murders as head of one of Europe’s most feared drug gangs has reportedly told a Dutch court he will represent himself after the arrest of his lawyer over claims she helped him communicate from his prison cell.

‘Everything in life is not going to come peaches and cream’ … Fantasia Barrino. Photograph: Dana Scruggs/New York Times/Redux/eyevineBarrino entered American Idol in 2004 as a young single mother who struggled to read, and won over the nation with her powerhouse voice and personality. Now she is starring in her first film. She discusses poverty, violence, Oprah – and gratitude by Zoe Williams‘I wasn’t going to show my face,” Fantasia Barrino says, speaking on a video call from Los Angeles.