Wishing my wonderful, clever, stylish and very funny husband, John, a very happy sixitieth birthday! May you have very many happy returns, and many more of years of love and sparkling laughter together! With all my love, as ever, Jx 🥂

Finally viewed the 178m CALIGULA: THE ULTIMATE CUT (It, 1976). It’s notably short on elegantly biting dialogue but heavy on anachronistic spectacle: a dry run for Danilo Donati’s designs on FLASH GORDON (1980)…? I was surprised to note the recurrence of outré #Roman #Egyptomania throughout the film.

Saddened to learn of the passing of Terence Stamp (1938-2025). Always a consummate and engaging performer, with a distinctly mercurial streak, he could be dashing, witty, touching, and deeply, deeply unsettling. His career was littered with memorable, and often iconic, cinematic highlights. Vale!

Wishing my many Italian and Romanist friends, a very happy Ferragosto, and remembering the ancient Feriae Augusti through the exquisite 12.8 cm Blacas Cameo, carved in multilayered sardonynx. The gold diadem is a Renaissance addition. Displayed in the British Museum. #Classics #Rome #Reception

Fifty years ago today Richard O’Brien’s transgressive horror/SF musical comedy, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Jim Sharman) was unleashed upon a largely unsuspecting British public at the Rialto Theatre in London’s West End. It wasn’t a hit…but went on to become a major and much-beloved cult film. 🫦

Offering solidarity and all best wishes to friends and colleagues working across the US museums sector at this parlous time.

On 12 August 30 BC, Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, rather than submit to Rome, in the person of Octavian, ended her life through the bite of an Egyptian cobra. This act, immortalised in the later writings of Plutarch and Shakespeare, continues to resonate in popular culture. #Egyptology #Reception

Seventy-five years ago, today, Billy Wilder’s mordantly witty slice of Hollywood Gothic, SUNSET BOULEVARD, premiered at the world’s largest indoor theatre: New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall. It remains a luminous, elegant, captivating, and completely extraordinary masterpiece of cinema.

On the anniversary of her birth, remembering my funny, clever, sparkling, and beautiful mother, Jean (1937-1988). Much loved and dearly missed, Jx

Wishing the magnificent Wanda Ventham a very happy ninetieth birthday: one of the most elegantly glamorous stars of British film and television during the 1960s and 1970s, with a career encompassing Hammer, Carry On, THE PRISONER, THE AVENGERS, THE LOTUS EATERS, and DOCTOR WHO, across three decades.

Shocked and saddened to learn of the devastating fire, yesterday evening, at the pyramidal, B-listed , St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld. Designed by Alan Reiach in 1963, the iconic structure would appear to be beyond repair. #Egyptomania

On 1 August 30 BC, Octavian entered the great Ptolemaic metropolis of Alexandria for his final reckoning with #Cleopatra and Marc Antony, but, having fallen upon his own sword, Antony left the final Queen of Egypt to face her fate alone. It was the beginning of the end…! #Egypt #Rome

On the one hundred and fortieth anniversary of her birth, remembering the iconic Theda Bara (1885-1955). Said to have been born within the shadow of the Sphinx, she was cinema’s original vamp and Hollywood’s first Cleopatra, starring in J Gordon Edwards,’ sadly lost, epic from 1917. #Egyptomania

Wishing the magnificent Helen Mirren a very happy birthday! Always an extraordinary performer, she has been an elegant, intelligent, and wonderfully dangerous Cleopatra across the decades. #Shakespeare #Egyptomania #Classics #Reception

I had a thoroughly delightful evening at @bankofengland.bsky.social Museum, lecturing on Imperial cultural influences in Roman Britain: a packed lecture theatre with aircon, interesting questions, and lovely comments from my audience! Many thanks to the ever-fabulous Dr Monica Walker and her team!

In the ancient Egyptian calendar, today - the third epagomenal day - is the birthday of the powerful but complex deity Setẖ. Whilst dangerously unpredictable, he is also the defender of Rē during the darkest hours of his nightly journey. Setẖ’s unique iconography dates from at least 4000 BC.

Happy Bastille Day! Wishing my many French - and Francophile - friends and colleagues throughout the world, Bonne Fête Nationale! Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

Before I depart the great metropolis for rather cooler climes, there’s time, next Thursday, for one last public lecture, and it’s a wonderfully appropriate one to go out on, at a new venue for me: the Bank of England Museum! Details and abstract appear below… www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/whats...

On the anniversary of his birth, remembering with love, affection, and tremendous joy, my wonderful father, John (1937-2012), much missed. Jx Nunquam non paratus!

For what it’s worth, I watched JT Mollner’s 2023 psychological horror film, STRANGE DARLING, this evening, and amongst the blood and violence, one of the most disturbing scenes ever committed to 35mm film stock is almost certainly Ed Begley Jnr’s detailed breakfast preparation! 😳

On the anniversary of his birth, remembering the uncompromising creative genius of Ken Russell (1927-2011). An incredible director and visionary writer, his spheres of interest were vast and his eye for dazzling performers, unmatched. #Boyfriend #Devils #MusicLovers #WhiteWorm

Delighted to see that DOCTOR WHO Season Thirteen is being released on Blu-Ray, just in time for the fiftieth anniversary of its original broadcast, with an extraordinary run of stories from one of my favourite seasons and, of course, Gabriel Woolf’s elegantly monstrous Sutekh. #Egyptology #Reception

The ever-fabulous Debbie Harry turns eighty today, and remains as iconic as ever! ‬

As always on the anniversary of her birth, remembering the phenomenal artistry and talented endeavour of director, producer, novelist, Equity President, and sparkling actress, Beatrix Lehmann (1903-1979). One of the greats! 🎭🌈

On the 105th anniversary of his birth, remembering the cinematic genius of Ray Harryhausen (1920-1913) who brought such elegant, nuanced, life to his monstrous creations. Also, a link to a little LGBTQ+ interview with me, produced by Dan Vo: m.youtube.com/watch?v=sbN-... #Classics #Reception

On 28 June 2005, I delivered my first public lecture for the Egypt Society of Bristol and I’ve been delighted to deliver lectures all across the country and on television, radio, BluRay, and Zoom, ever since. I’ve been very lucky and would like to thank you for your continuing interest and support!

From my first viewing of Hammer’s SHE to Julian Glover’s demise in THE LAST CRUSADE, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of fictional, ancient, immortality-bestowing elements, so, tonight FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH! I didn’t detest it, but I wanted the film to find its own impetus and joie de vivre…

Wishing all a very happy Summer Solstice. It’s been far too hot in London today, and then there was rain, briefly, which, unhelpfully, just turned into steam. A real dog day…! 🌞

Succeeded in booking tickets for our new local theatre, the King’s, Glasgow, May 2026! Very much looking forward to it after more than three decades…! #Cumming #Masson #Redmond #Ryecart

A delightful visit to Swansea; many thanks to my perfect hosts, and to those who joined for post-lecture convivialities! I was pleased with the lecture, and with the feedback. On arrival for my return journey, I was serenaded by a brass band, celebrating 175 years of Swansea Railway Station.

Delighted to be heading off, in the sunshine, to Swansea, where I’ll be delivering ‘From Tiber to Nile: Richard Burton’s Decade in the Ancient World’ at the Taliesin Centre, this evening for @theegyptcentre.bsky.social as part of the actor’s centenary celebrations. #Egyptology #Classics #Reception

By chance, I watched my second recent Hugh Grant film of the week, and they really couldn’t have been more different but both were highly entertaining. After his glory days as a ‘matinee idol’ of great beauty and panache HG has become a versatile and elegantly nuanced performer. #Heretic #Wonka

Delighted to see that the Piazza Augusto Imperatore, surrounding the Mausoleum of Augustus, was inaugurated on 6 June, marking the commencement of the final phase of the €35 million development, creating an appropriate setting for this important early imperial monument. #Rome #Classics #Reception

Today I’m writing about Alexander the Great, specifically, Robert Rossen’s 1956 epic. So, it’s particularly poignant that on this day in 323 BC, the great warrior-philosopher lost his only battle, dying at thirty-two, after creating a vast empire from Macedon, through Egypt, and on to the Himalayas.

On the anniversary of his birth, remembering with much love and respect, my dear friend and Egyptological mentor Professor Kenneth A Kitchen (1932-2025).

Astonished to note that no less a luminary than Sir Alan Gardiner was namechecked on POINTLESS just now, as contestants were asked to identify hieroglyphs from his Sign List. After discussions about Primary School, they didn’t do terribly well…! #Egyptology #Reception

Delighted that my dear friend Angela Stienne’s wonderful, thoughtful, and erudite publication MUMMIFIED: THE STORIES BEHIND EGYPTIAN MUMMIES IN MUSEUMS (Manchester University Press, 2022) is released, today, in paperback. I was honoured to be invited to provide the Foreword. #Egyptology #Reception

Just found online a BBC1 play, ‘Firing Point,’ (Mike Vardy) broadcast, once only, on Monday 29 July 1974, from the long forgotten thriller series, DIAL M FOR MURDER, featuring a wonderfully understated performance of determined malevolence from the ever-magnificent Charles Gray. Always a delight!

The first of June marks the beginning of #PrideMonth2025, and the importance of fighting the intolerance of the new right has never felt so pressing. We must strive for full visibility, acceptance, and equality for the entire LGBTQ+ community, preserving our histories and protecting our futures. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

So many surprises…! #DoctorWho #NoSpoilers

Excited, and hopeful, for surprise revelations and cameos in this evening’s season finale, particularly after last week’s thrilling cliffhanger! #DoctorWho #TheRani #Omega

Genuinely delighted to learn that the four original cast members of THE HIGH LIFE, Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond, and Patrick Ryecart will tour Scottish theatres in a stage musical version of the much-loved, surreally camp comedy. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/events/the-h...

On the sixtieth anniversary of his birth, remembering the beautiful and talented Dursley McLinden (1965-1995). Gone far too soon. #DoctorWho

On the anniversary of their births in 1911 and 1922, respectively, remembering the lives and work of Vincent Price and Christopher Lee, both internationally famed for their skilful depictions of cinematic villainy. Masters of their dark art!

Now that the sun has set, a reminder that one hundred and twenty-eight years ago today, Bram Stoker’s magnum opus was first published in London. The appeal of this Victorian Gothic novel wasn’t instant but its influence has irresistibly pervaded popular culture ever since. #WorldDraculaDay

On the anniversary of his birth, remembering the phenomenal Peter Cushing (1913-1994). An actor of style, intelligence, and meticulous preparation. Best remembered, today, for his work for Hammer, he was a truly versatile performer and a fine comic foil for both Laurel & Hardy and Morecambe & Wise.

On the anniversary of her birth, remembering my wonderful blue Abyssinian, Pr-n-Kmt Julia Livia Augusta, (2006-2021) known as ‘Livia.’ A beautiful, intelligent, loyal, and loving companion. From the day of her birth, we were devoted to one another, and she remains greatly missed.

All the joy and ‘absolute terror’ of a deeply unsettling fairy tale! #DoctorWho #NoSpoilers

2/2 #WorldGothDay 2025 also marks fifty-four years since Episode One of the first truly Gothic #DoctorWho serial was broadcast, with a Satanic cult reviving an ancient, horned, evil from a Prehistoric barrow in the quaint Wiltshire village of Devil’s End. A true classic!

1/2 On #WorldGothDay, celebrating sixty-seven years since Hammer’s gorgeous adaptation of DRACULA (UK, Terence Fisher, 1958), starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, received its UK premiere at the Gaumont Haymarket: a thrilling riot of glorious Technicolor in a largely monochrome world!