Hollywood’s great survivor discusses his band, politics, family, embracing change and learning selflessness; as pornography use soars, we meet the men who feel their behaviour is moving from a compulsion to an addiction; and, last week, a job advert emerged for a private tutor to an architecture student with potential earnings of more than £2m. One man who has worked with wealthy families describes what it takes.

Continue reading...

House of the Dragon just made eyes pop with an erect penis – but it’s not the only show going to great lengths to challenge television’s nudity equality problem

It’s not just winter that’s coming. This week’s episode of House of the Dragon featured not one but two penises: one mid-fellatio, the other post-coital. If original fantasy epic Game of Thrones became known for “sexposition” – advancing the plot against a backdrop of bare bodies – its prequel seems to be dealing in “dicksposition”.

Just past the midway mark of episode three, as a tipsy King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) arrived at a King’s Landing brothel with his jeering entourage, he strolled past a sizeable erection in the process of receiving a blowjob. The bratty monarch didn’t seem to notice. Viewers certainly did.

Continue reading...

Aoi and Jiro have regular intercourse – so how did they buck what seems to be a national trend?

When I was growing up, there was no talk of sex or relationships at home. It was all very secret

We didn’t sleep together the first time we met: to have sex on the first date would have been highly unusual

Continue reading...

Harry wasn’t sure he’d love again after his wife died, and Meredith’s ex was ‘Victorian’ in bed, so finding each other has been a joy

• How do you do it? Share the story of your sex life, anonymously

My body just reacted. I suddenly felt, I’d love to take this person to bed just to get closer to her

Continue reading...

Nicola Coughlan’s steamy start to the costume romp’s third season is the show’s most passionate yet – although it’s not the worst TV episode you could unwittingly watch on public transport…

This week I have seen more than one tweet from mortified people who thought it would be OK to watch the new batch of Bridgerton episodes on the train on their way to work. The reason they were mortified was the first new episode, in which a sex scene goes on and on. And on. And on .

According to people who know these things, the sex scene – between Nicola Coughlan ’s Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton – was the longest in the show’s history, clocking in at almost six minutes. It was so long, in fact, that Coughlan and Newton managed to break the furniture they were filming on.

Continue reading...

Sex on mushrooms has heightened my sensitivity and helped me be more present and relaxed

• Americans have demonized drugs for decades. Now we’re doing them every day

A couple of months ago, I had an experience I’ll describe as “when I saw God”. I was lying on my back and had my eyes closed and I could see a warm green light all around me. In that moment, I just knew it was God, and I knew God was a woman. I felt so loved, safe and accepted. All these intense emotions were occurring at once, as I was orgasming.

My partner and I like to take magic mushrooms together. Mostly, we’ll take a low dose if we’re at a party, or a club, or even if we are going to see something like a dance performance. They keep us up a little longer, so we don’t go home feeling exhausted and want to go straight to sleep. Often, we’ll go home and have sex, and it will be incredible. Before shrooms, I guess I never really had sex on drugs (apart from being blackout drunk). This is totally different from that; it heightens sensitivity so much.

Continue reading...

Our old way of having sex doesn’t make me happy and I’m unable to perform. It’s causing a lot of frustration

• Sign up for Well Actually, a free weekly newsletter about health and wellness

I’m a gay man who is in a long -term relationship . When we started dating I was originally a top, but I haven’t enjoyed it for a long time and am unable to perform. I’ve realised over time that I am now a “side” and only enjoy oral sex . I have not told my partner this ; he is still a bottom and there is a lot of frustration about our sex life. I’m unsure what to do.

You are allowed to change your mind. It would be best to be frank about this with your partner, so have a calm and honest talk with him and help him to understand your feelings about this – then give him an opportunity to express his feelings as well. There is often room for negotiation regarding possible solutions, so try to approach it as a couple’s problem that needs to be solved jointly, rather than a conflict. It is not uncommon for a person to change their preferred sexual style, and you have every right to do so. However, it would be wise to acknowledge his feelings about it, which could be expressed as sadness at losing his own preferred style or even anger. But no matter how important sex is to each of you, together your broader bond and connection is far more significant; you can work through this.

Continue reading...

I’ve never dated online before and am open to the idea. But I’m worried that what starts with light flirting could lead to big problems

My husband and I have a very happy relationship but lately he has been suggesting that we go on Tinder to speak to other men “just for fun”. He doesn’t mind if I go on alone or we go as a couple (though I’m sure he would like that), but he says it would be fun to flirt online with other gay men. I can see how it would be fun and I’m open to the idea, but worried that it will open a can of worms. My main concern is that a friend would see me on there and wonder what’s going on. We are a little older and have never dated online before, which is part of the appeal for him. I’m very secure in our marriage and I don’t think he is looking around or doesn’t think I’m enough for him, and we are very honest with each other. Do you think this could be something fun or will it lead to too many problems?

It doesn’t sound like it would be fun for you. Tinder is not just for flirting, so it seems likely that your husband may be interested in having sex with other men. Would you be open to that? Or is that the “can of worms” to which you were referring? You say you are very honest with each other, so why not address that frankly? You don’t have to worry about someone seeing you on the app because if so, they are doing the same thing. Many couples seek additional sex partners on online platforms, and some do experience problems; even when there is agreement about it jealousies can arise – and there can be safety issues as well. Don’t venture into this arena unless you feel you can handle it. And, if you decide to go ahead with it make sure you and your husband first establish clear ground rules.

Continue reading...

Incontinence, bleeding and STIs among consequences, say two surgeons, who want doctors to raise the topic with patients

Women in the UK are suffering injuries and other health problems as a result of the growing popularity of anal sex among straight couples, two NHS surgeons have warned.

The consequences include incontinence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as pain and bleeding because they have experienced bodily trauma while engaging in the practice, the doctors write in an article in the British Medical Journal.

Continue reading...