1983. When M&S was a colossus on the high street and everything - even books - had their St Michael branding.

I'm so hot, I could drink Princess Leia

To criticise someone's actions in life - especially as a political figure - is absolutely not the same as condoning the manner, or the fact, of their death. The conflating of the two after the Kirk killing led to many foolish actions. We should try not to repeat that.

I have made Jill Archer memorial flapjacks #TheArchers

There are many things one can say about Anne Widdecombe. She examplified something I'll call "celebutainment as a laundromat for the poisonous" Like Sean Spicer, Farage, and others, they use shows like Strictly as a way to reinvent themselves as "a jolly good sport" and wash away lies and bigotry

Farewell Paddy Greene. I wonder if Jill, like her beloved Phil, will die of sitting down, a common cause of death in #TheArchers

They should have wheeled out Jill to throw a flapjack at the Duchess. That'd add to the gaiety of the nation. #TheArchers

Which one is the Duchess of Edinburgh? I can't keep track of all those parasites #TheArchers

Please let the VIP guest be Rylan, just for the lols. #TheArchers

Ooh,is this going to turn into a Pamplona-style bull run? #TheArchers

I hope that sound was David tripping over a badger. #TheArchers

I'm one of the backers for Wrath Month, an anthology of queer writing. This story of how @bonabooks.bsky.social were duped by some AI submissions is wild. Kudos to them for weeding them out, and shame on those who tried to take space from real authors. www.bona-books.com/news/we-boug...

How unlike the Royal Family to be petty and spiteful

You can tell that woman from Sky on #wato is a wrong 'un, because she referred to Coronation Street as "content" #radio4

A really good way to get me to turn off notifications for your app is to send me pointless crap. Like, for instance, a smart bulb app blathering on about football.

"two immigration stories dominate the news" says the #r4today presenter, as if their editorial choices have nothing to do with it.

Is a lesbi-hen a thing? #TheArchers

At this stage, it would be absolutely fucking hilarious if someone else stepped forward and actually won the Labour leadership.

The familiarity of the Guardian headline about some person called "Kate" climbing a hill is grating. My first thought, honestly, was Kate Humble, because I couldn't think of another famous Kate. And when I saw the picture, I was none the wiser. Not all Brits are obsessed with monarchy.

I'm not sure what Brian wants, but what he needs is a punch in the balls. #TheArchers

I was 8 in the summer of 1976. It would be bonkers to say that because I had a great caravan holiday on the Isle of Wight, it's silly to worry about the heatwave we're having today. Also, I remember the cracked and parched ground, and my uncle syphoning bath water to the garden, not just ice cream.

Brought a thermometer with me on the bus. It's going up about a degree every 90 seconds.

Hot day, so if you can, please put a bowl of water in your garden for visiting cats and other critters. #ProofOfCat #PutItOutForPussy

Perhaps it's apt that I find myself sweating on one of the stupid Johnson/Heatherwick buses on the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum. A reminder that Boris failed just about everyone who ever voted for him.

It’s far too hot, far too early, and it’s only getting worse. Thankfully, Jerry on Twitter is on hand to explain that 1976 was hotter, his nan wore a bikini for three months straight, he inhaled fifteen ice lollies and everything was fine. Jerry is, unfortunately, also talking out of his bum.

Ten years today since a bunch of idiots fucked it all up, and no one got what they expected or wanted. And, how fitting that to commemorate, Labour is readying itself to form yet another circular firing squad.

Wow. Kobo is now rejecting 45% of submissions because of AI slop. "we could tell that it wasn’t actually a publisher, but three LLMs in a trench coat."

Boo fucking hoo! How does he think many queer people feel, seeing him turn on a sixpence, having used Brianna Ghey to score points, and now presiding over the most viciously anti-trans government. And let's not even get on to the awful punitive immigration policies.

There may be some stuff in this archive directory that interests you, @dhothersall.bsky.social East of Scotland Section 28 repeal campaign, Diversity Scotland, and more ...

On a bus. Silently cursing Heatherwick and Johnson.

Really enjoying Anna Maxwell Martin on DID. She sounds a lovely person, and an absolute hoot. #Radio4

Wes who?

Brian is well on his way to ending up like whatsisname we'd never heard of before who was found dead in his milking parlour. #TheArchers

Idea: set up a fake double glazing company called "Overton Windows" that actually goes round to the homes of right wing nutjobs and bricks them up inside.

Who and what is really behind what's been happening in Belfast? Marisa asked me to explain what's been going on

Speaking as a giant homo who is very much LGB with T, there would be something quite lovely in watching a leadership bid by Wes Streeting crash and burn during Pride Month. Please, universe...

Oh Brian.... someone's stolen every last bit of your empathy, haven't they? #TheArchers

Have a little bit of history. And remember that the fight shouldn't be between immigrant workers and others. It's always - always - between all workers, and the people trying to exploit them.

This action is amazing. However, think what it represents: "Volunteers in Belfast deliver essential supplies to minorities too frightened to leave home amid ethnic violence" And how if it were Bristol, Bradford or Brighton, it would be treated differently.

Well, if nothing else, I think we've concluded that wealth doesn't make you a better person.

If the first duty of the government is to protect the nation, perhaps we should be sending the SAS to take out a few billionaires? #bbcPM

Tom Baker's still alive. They could film him regenerating again, and just pretend nothing since 1981 really happened. Fork the timeline, as it were. #DoctorWho

There we go; DUP person talking about the CTA being a problem. How are you going to fix that without breaking lots of other stuff? Checkpoints on the border where white people get waved through, and everyone else is checked?

"I thought it was the case you had to apply in the first safe country" Really #wato? Could you not get basic facts about such an important issue correct?

Look, it's fine. Once we've stopped people under sixteen using social media, all the rioting will stop. Won't it?

In the year to end January, PSNI reports there were 21 paramilitary style assaults, amongst other related activity. None of those victims seem to have riled people up to go on protests.

Easily foiled by my new business plan - sell Helium to trans women in a handy dispenser to keep in their bag.

I'm sure Starmer's Great British Filth Filter will work splendidly, no one will be wrongly reported, and no one's privacy will be invaded. Absolutely 100% certain.

Ugggh. I see #radio4 is doing its best to push the idea that we must let the police unleash their racism if we are to be truly equal. Disgusting pandering to the far right. Again.

"Welcome to Grey Gables. If you have any clothes that need laundering, or synergies that need to be leveraged, please ask at Reception" #TheArchers