What a joyful evening. I interviewed the extraordinary Christopher Eccleston in the Caryl Churchill Theatre at Royal Holloway. And he was a joy and delight. And an additional joy because to prepare I read his autobiography which blew me away!

Is the FAKE NEWS deliberately ignoring the possibility that Trump keeps getting whisked into hospital for tests because the doctors want to MARVEL at his vigour?

Oh god I hope he’s not about to die imminently.

It seems the two blocks to an Iran deal are (a) the US want to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon and (b) make sure the Strait of Hormuz is open to shipping. Surely all Trump has to do is not rip up the Obama Iran Deal in May 2018 and not start a war with Iran in February 2026. Problem solved!

Blimey, thanks for the warning!

THEATRE QUIZ: what show am I about to see?

I'm terriby sorry but I'd rather die.

London is being overwhelmed by people who do not share our values and can barely speak our language. You! Will not! Replace us!

Film recommendation: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (Jafar Panahi, 2025). An Iranian film about an ex-prisoner who unexpectedly comes across his former torturer. It's moving, hugely complex, honest and truthful, and sometimes absurdly funny and it's a remarkable glimpse into contemporary Iran. I LOVED it.

The Cage (BBC): hallelujah, a beautifully-written, beautifully-acted drama - which manages to be gripping and exciting without sacrificing complexity, messiness, truth and reality. Strong recommend

I ORDER MY COFFEE BLACK. NO SUGAR. NO MILK. NO WATER. NO CUP. THEY HAND ME THE BEANS. I EAT THEM IN THE PARKING LOT LIKE A HORSE. THE BARISTAS HAVE STOPPED CHARGING ME. I HAVE NOT SLEPT SINCE TUESDAY. I CAN HEAR THE WIFI

Let joy be unconfined.

THEATRE QUIZ: what show am I about to see?

Wes Streeting seems to me OBVIOUSLY a disastrous choice of Labour leader; just a Keir Starmer mk 2, not really any more charismatic, no vision, no story, not track record. Far worse than Andy, Angela, even Ed. What am I missing?

Why is it so cold even though it’s it’s mid-May?? Bloody Kier Starmer.

Always loved Leeds. Good old Leeds. #COYI

Hey Evangelical Christians! You know those Ten Commandments that you want displayed in schools? Remind me what the first two are??

I think Labour have probably lost control of Lambeth Council. And it's looking possible that the Greens might actually be able to take it. That would be seismic.

Tomortow’s an exciting day for people wondering whether they are a bit of an arsehole. At 10pm tomorrow just ask yourself “did I vote Reform today!” If you did: arsehole! Problem solved!

'Trump puts "Project Freedom" on hold' could basically be the slogan of his second presidency.

I can't make any sense of Donald Trump's attitude to Europe over Iran. It seems to be something like "Where were YOU when we didn't need you?"

That would be bad if that ever happened.

'A member of Mumford & Sons thinks we should float a wall down the English Channel' is like one of those sentences philosophers produce to show that a sentence can be both completely grammatical and entirely meaningless.

I guess the answer to all the US school shootings is for the federal government to build every school a ballroom.

Great Presidential media appearances of our time.

Well done sir, they're calling it your best interview yet

And there I was thinking they’d targeted the table arrangements.

And are this majority of Labour MPs in the room with us now, Kier?

No way THAT was the single sleeve.

Counter proposal: humanities basics STEM majors need to have some sense of.

What if no one had invented counterfactuals?

MUSIC QUIZ: what concert am I about to enjoy?

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is giving off major Philomena Cunk vibes.

THEATRE QUIZ: what show am I about to watch?

@rogerquimbly.bsky.social @mattleys.bsky.social I see your fashion outlet is going well.

THEATRE QUIZ; what show am I about to watch?

Never let it be said I'm not first in with the hot takes. Bach's St John's Passion (1714) is breathtaking in its drama, its storytelling, its devastating - sometimes austere, sometimes sumptuous - beauty.

THEATRE QUIZ (sort of): what show am I about to see?

Is that finish line here in the room with us, Marco?

THEATRE QUIZ: what show am I about to see?

This is how we got our first inkling that the Trump story will end with the phrase “before turning the weapon on himself”.

Donald J. Trump, 28 Feb: "To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand" Donald J. Trump, 30 March: To the great proud people of Iran, I am going to destroy your sources of clean drinking water and electricity.

Hey The Guardian, fixed your headline for you!

There was once a headline about an escaped convict spotted near a school "RUNAWAY PERV PEEPED AT MY TOTS", which is a classic of the genre.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and George Fouracres playing Kier Starmer on SNL. I leave this here without comment.

FILIBUST THE TERMINATOR!!

Happy 100th birthday to the late and undeniably great Dario Fo, the great proof that you can be deeply, politically radical, raising consciousness, stimulating rage and understanding in equal measure... and still be funny as fuck.