US Government Official on Mufasa's Death

I’m hosting #TheComedyClub on #bbcradio4extra every night this week from 10 - join me!

So cold at @hampsteadheathparkrun today - and ICY; bit of a rink down by the boating pond. Lovely, mind. Well done, fellow parkrunners and -walkers, thank you marshals. Anybody find my wristband?

In Germany between the wars, leader-sanctioned violent thuggery was at the very heart of the rise of the right. It always is; it’s a weak man thing. ICE just aren’t as smartly dressed.

In Germany between the wars, leader-sanctioned violent thuggery was at the very heart of the rise of the right. It always is; it’s a weak man thing. ICE just aren’t as smartly dressed.

Yes, twelfth night / back to work tomorrow - but it ain’t over til it’s over.

Parkrun was cancelled, but Christmas is very much still on.

I ran, she swam, the sun shone. Lovely. Happy Boxing Day Boxing Day on and all. Thank you @hampsteadheathparkrun marshals, well done runners and walkers.

Merry Christmas, one and all; ten minutes left, and I find myself flying solo. What do I do? Let me rephrase; what on earth do I eat and/or drink next?

Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”

Saw @sirmattbourne.bsky.social’s Red Shoes again today; wonderful - bravo and Merry Christmas, corps de ballet. Keen to see his Brief Encounter now… NB: Progeny, not pictured, also in attendance.

Today we saw Its A Wonderful Life at the cinema, like we do every Christmas, and I thought I might be a bit over it… It was so fantastic; I cried all the way through. ‘Best film ever made’, contended my daughter, and she might be on to something.

Now, I understand that language grows and shifts and changes, but to ‘gift’ a gift is a useless, advertisers’ coinage and I can’t stand it. I won’t accept it and neither should you.

With both progeny heading beyond their teens and towards their twenties, I’m very happy to report that our annual family Christmas tree walk was as wonderful - and magical - as ever. Of the ten rated, the winner was the Royal Opera House tree (the one in the distance in this pic).

A little selection of my favourite words for the season. Some beautiful, others potentially necessary. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. twowords2.page.link/play

The short, rainy, grey Winter Solstice comes to a close. My wife & daughter swam at Hampstead Heath and me and my eldest, not to be outdone, played FRISBEE in the rain, on the mud, in the darkness at Highbury Fields. A frisbee that lights up helps! Wonderful day. Happy holidays.

Julia and I walked across Waterloo Bridge today, by the way. Gorgeous.

Didn’t know I was doing #finsburyparkrun til around 8.45 this morning; what a lovely surprise, and that’s before we factor in the gorgeous gorgeous weather. I will go more in ‘26 for sure. Thank you marshals, well done fellow parkrunners and walkers.

Ah - ‘some of’ the Epstein Files have been released. Great - that’s what people have been demanding; ‘release some of the Epstein Files! Just the ones you feel like releasing!’

The hill at Finsbury Park parkrun this morning; beautiful but brutal!

Happy anniversary to all who celebrate.

Last night’s dinner - festive! That baked cheese is vegan - ‘Shamembert’ - and the spicy sweetcorn soup is just out of shot. In short - YUM.

We saw the @nationaltheatre.org.uk production of Ballet Shoes again yesterday, and it’s just wonderful. Go, if at all possible - and if you know any kids, just old enough to start wondering who they are and what they want to do… TAKE THEM! It’s on til February and it’s joyous.

Don't get stressed if things get festive. #poem

I don’t understand how I can’t get anyone to tell my crazy noisy neighbour to shut up. Whenever I’ve EVER made a noise in my time, the police came along before too long and shut us down. Now this awful, relentless racket is… unstoppable. Fine, apparently. I just can’t bear it.

Rob Reiner either made your favorite movie, or made somebody you know’s favorite movie. If you’re a Californian, he’s also part of the reason you or your friends can get married. He has changed more lives for the better than this asshole commenting on him ever did.

Rob Reiner. One of the alltime great imperial phases. A man who made sophisticated classics that were accessible and funny for people like me who like their films accessible and funny. 2025 seems to beggimg 2016 to hold its beer in an increasingly awful, attention seeking manner.

Aah, m’daughter came home. AND she and @juliadeering decorated the Christmas tree. Oh, and we watched Elf. You’d have to ask yourself how much more Christmassy this evening could have been - and the answer would be: none more Christmassy.

Hampstead Heath RESPLENDENT in the December sunshine today. (And yes, that’s an Egyptian Goose high up on a dead tree, giving partridge/pear vibes)

Before and after @hampsteadheathparkrun; the latter pics are, you will note, steamier. Thank you marshals, and well done fellow parkrunners-and-walkers.

Missing this. So many years of festive shenanigans!

Stupid swollen face; I look like half a Godfather.

Today I had a little thing done in hospital - anaesthetic, all that jazz - for the first time in about fifty years. I’m fine, but woah. Extreme. Thank you NHS. Respect to all patients.

Two years since Benjamin Zephaniah died. Listen to this, stay for his wonderful contribution, remember. youtu.be/hHveKqUbTNE

‘We were all racist then’ - no we weren’t. ‘It was just a bit of fun’ - no it wasn’t.

Making new friends and running through deep puddles at Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun. And check that moon out! Well done fellow parkrun-and-walkers - thank you marshals.

It’s happening…

Truly shocking that Rachel Reeves had the audacity to call herself the U14 girls chess champions when she won the U14 girls chess championship but some bloke thought she was talking about something else.

Lots of stuff in the media about how effortlessly clever the late, great Tom Stoppard was; this story illustrates that pretty well! #RIP

Birthday Boxing Day booze. Cheers!

On my birthday yesterday I stopped drinking at 9pm sharp after two beers. This morning I went to a muddy parkrun in the pouring rain. This is 53. Thank you @cheltenhamparkrun marshals - well done fellow parkrunners-and-walkers. Happy Saturday all!

LONDON! Rob Deering’s Beat This Christmas Special @themildmayclub, featuring @daman.bamrah @markusbirdman @bechillcomedian @hattiesnooks - Get tickets – link in comments! BOOK NOW! www.tickettailor.com/events/mildm...

He’s behind me aren’t I.

Capitalism is so smart cuz if u have lots of disposable income, u hardly ever have to see ads but if u can only afford a $8 Netflix subscription boy does Chanel at Sephora have deals 4 u and your no money

Featuring Daman Bamrah, @markusbirdman.bsky.social @bechillcomedian.bsky.social & Hattie Snooks! Watch til the end; such a shame I haven’t got those shoes anymore… #christmas #popquiz #comedy #livemusic

Best time in MONTHS at @highburyfieldsparkrun; my strict fitness regimen has paid off! Not falling over for a good while: also helpful (touches wood). Thank you marshals, well done other parkrunners-and-walkers… Happy Saturday all.

It’s ALL racism, guys. This rich country is not full.

BEAT THIS @themildmayclub 7/12; ZOLTAR SPEAKS @theoldivyhouse TOMORROW!

Pope Leo absolutely cooking