The 66-year-old was born in the city and grew up in Blackbird Leys before going on to star in projects such as Jeeves and Wooster, Blackadder and The Night Manager.

He is perhaps best known globally for his role as the titular character in House, which ran for eight seasons between 2004 and 2012.

Another one of Mr Laurie’s biggest hits was the spy thriller, The Night Manager, which was released in 2016 and saw him play off against Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine.

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The six-episode series saw the 66-year-old win a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his villainous part as Richard Roper.

He reprised the role in a shock return during the long-awaited second series, which was released earlier this year.

Writer Janet Murray took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticise the long-running medical drama, suggesting each episode followed a repetitive formula in which Dr House initially misdiagnoses a patient and nearly loses his job, before eventually solving the case and avoiding dismissal.

“Eight seasons of this?” she asked, drawing an unexpected response from actor Hugh Laurie.

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“Thanks for your critique,” wrote the Blackadder star on X. “We actually tried a couple of episodes where House gets it right first time, but they were only 6 minutes long. NBC weren’t happy.

“Then we tried some where House never gets it right, and the patient dies. The audience wasn’t happy.”

He continued: “One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms: JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself; Henry Moore, what??

“The point is, or was, variations on a theme; if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn’t meant for you. Nonetheless, I look forward to your first novel!”

Chiltern Railways has announced that two train services are experiencing delays after unrelated issues.

The more serious event today (Tuesday, June 9) relates to Banbury where there are almost hour-long delays due to people trespassing on the train tracks.

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A spokesperson for the railway company said: “We apologise but due to trespassers on the railway at Banbury, the line towards the West Midlands and London is blocked.”

First reported at around 12.30pm, this is expected to last until at least 2.15pm.

We apologise that due to a problem with line-side equipment between Bicester North and Kings Sutton, trains have to run at reduced speed on both the line towards London and the line towards the West Midlands.

Please check your journey prior to travel via: https://t.co/vWimDIg2w9 … pic.twitter.com/ne15KKYUSH

— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) June 9, 2026

The other issue is centred between Bicester North and King’s Sutton in Northamptonshire, where there are 15 minute delays to services.

We apologise but due to trespassers on the railway at Banbury, the line towards the West Midlands and London is blocked.

Please check your journey prior to travel via: https://t.co/vWimDIg2w9

We’re sorry for the delay to your journey. If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or… pic.twitter.com/iBSaJVoXYd

— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) June 9, 2026

The spokesperson said: “We apologise that due to a problem with line-side equipment between Bicester North and King’s Sutton, trains have to run at reduced speed on both the line towards London and the line towards the West Midlands.”

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First reported at around noon, this issue is predicted to be solved imminently.

The company added that if you have been delayed you may be entitled to compensation, for which you should go to its website.

“We’re sorry for the delay to your journey,” said the spokesperson.

“If you have been delayed by 15 minutes or more, then you are likely to be entitled to compensation.”

The fifth annual event hosted by the award-winning Oxford social enterprise brewery took place at the taproom industrial estate on Saturday, June 6.

Exclusively available from Brewser, the world’s first direct-from-brewery subscription service, the Change is Brewing box features Tap Social collaborations with 10 of the UK’s leading independent breweries.

Tap Social hosted an indie festival on Saturday (Image: Ed Nix)

Tap Social’s 10 new collaboration beers were showcased at its annual Change is Brewing indie beer festival (Image: Ed Nix)

Tap Social’s Change is Brewing festival 2026 (Image: Ed Nix)

Tap Social’s Change is Brewing festival 2026 (Image: Ed Nix)

People hold up pints at the Tap Social festival (Image: Ed Nix)

Tap Social’s Change is Brewing festival 2026 (Image: Ed Nix)

“Change is Brewing is a labour of love and an event that our team looks forward to every year,” said Brian Spencer, Tap Social’s marketing manager.

“We’ve had such a good time working with this year’s guest breweries on these beers.

“I couldn’t be more proud and excited to partner with Brewser and to get these delicious beers in the hands of its members.

“I hope they enjoy drinking them as much as we enjoyed making them.”

Oliver Morgan, co-founder of Brewser, said Tap Social is “doing something genuinely different” having built a brewery and social enterprise that employs former prisoners.

Tap Social’s Change is Brewing festival brought together a curated lineup of independent breweries from across the UK, along with a full day of live music, DJs, and street food.

East London post-punk disco band WIDGET headlined this year’s music lineup, which also featured Alto (indie rock), The Bobo (experimental electronica), Count Skylarkin (reggae/rocksteady DJ), Felix Ross (rising singer-songwriter), and DJ Molemann (funk).