Reminds me of the time Jane Garvey was in Atlanta for 5Live at the '96 Olympics. She overheard two American commentators. "So, Jim, what do you know about Portugal?" "Well, Bob. It's a small country with not a lot of history."

Can you offer any suggestions, @rnrbook-club.bsky.social?

As an artist you have to be able to see your own work from the POV of the foyer, even though you came in the back way, and know it’s a shambles. And you mustn’t compare your own work to the work of others in your field, where you only ever enter through the foyer. >>

This extends to book-writing too.

NEWS: A new extended paperback edition of Helen O'Hara's memoir What's She Like will be published in September. Advance copies can be ordered on our website now | www.route-online.com/all-books/wh...

Disappointed to learn that the Durham Brewery no longer does its Prefab Stout...

Day 35 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from Hey Manhattan!): ‘Guess what? Summer’s arrived / I feel the world’s on my side’ #prefabsprout

I met a pair of terriers called Ronnie and Reggie this week too. But their bark was definitely Somerset burr, not East End snarl.

Had an email today that began with a sentence they should probably have deleted – "Here's a more natural and polished version of your email" – and it made me sad

Impressive list. None of them appear in my new book, but Jimmy Webb, Bobby Robson, Bryan Robson, Stevie Wonder, Roland Rat, Spike Lee and Mystic Meg do. This means you can buy both my and Dave's books without fear of crossover!

These were them. Looking moody. (These are my mates from 40 years ago.)

Perhaps that sub-genre only existed on my school bus. Long-coat-wearing Bunnymen/Joy Division etc fans who were more post-punk than goth (but definite crossover - Bauhaus in particular). Anyone else?

Hot dog, jumping frog, albert’s turkey @nigetassell.bsky.social in conversation with Mark and David on the latest Word In Your Ear podcast: tinyurl.com/yc38uzja ‘Truly Gifted Kids: A Book About a Band Called Prefab Sprout’ is out 13th Aug: amzn.eu/d/0hmdb19w

My first interview about the Sprouts book, with my old pals Mark and Dave. Lots of fun, obviously (and on which I discover how tricky it is to say the phrases 'Merton Parkas' and 'permanent markers' in the same sentence). open.spotify.com/episode/0CC5...

Day 34 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from Sleeping Rough): ‘I’ll grow a long and silver beard / And let it reach my knees’ #prefabsprout

And for balance...

Kazuo Ishiguro has curated a BFI season on train films. Station to Station: Kazuo Ishiguro’s Top Ten Train Films. Find out more and buy tickets below whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...

Currently reading this by @nigetassell.bsky.social, about Durham's best (OK, only...) pop band.

Spent the morning having a coffee with a Bodine in his caravan. Back working now.

Day 33 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from Hallelujah): ‘I swear at you ’cos I believe / That sweet talk, like candy, rots teeth’ #prefabsprout

My first interview about the Sprouts book, with my old pals Mark and Dave. Lots of fun, obviously (and on which I discover how tricky it is to say the phrases 'Merton Parkas' and 'permanent markers' in the same sentence). open.spotify.com/episode/0CC5...

cc @robwilliams71.bsky.social @olliemastersbskys.bsky.social @nndroid.bsky.social

Best-named dogs on this morning's walk? The terrier twins, Ronnie and Reggie.

Two of my favourite books of 2026, in one room, with both authors @graemethomson.bsky.social and @nigetassell.bsky.social How utterly wonderful!

"I don't speak Italian myself, you understand, no. But I knew a man who did..." www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWvq...

It's that time of night when I think everyone should hear this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1kp...

Day 32 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from List of Impossible Things): ‘Crazy the mystic’s song / But what if they’re right all along?’ #prefabsprout

Venus and Serena, or as they're collectively known, the Tennisy Williams

Paul Robinson so wrong on commentary. Kane was halfway down before he even reached the keeper.

‘TIMOR MORTIS: HOW WE LIVE WITH DEATH’ by @richardcoker.bsky.social 30-07-26 An Independent Book of the Month “Blends humour and profound wisdom. (A) rambunctious book” The Independent “Thoughtful and brilliantly researched” Dominic Hughes, BBC Health Correspondent

GAME received a 4 star review from James King on Jo Whiley's show last night (go to the 48 min mark) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

My mate Rob wrote the screenplay, my mate Marc is one of the two co-stars and my mate Geoff produced it. Be a mate and watch it, yeah? It's tremendous.

Hey look, we're rentable! GAME's on all the streaming platforms now. (If you want to buy a digital copy - whisper it quietly but Apple's cheaper).

There are few better examples of fizzy, ultra-melodic indie-pop than this. Play it now and you'll be up and at 'em all day. youtu.be/9gnsWamIB4s?...

Guess what? Summer’s arrived! h/t @nigetassell.bsky.social @peteselby.bsky.social @newmodernbooks.bsky.social @dustyish.bsky.social

So, Nige, can I pre-order Truly Gifted Kids: A Book About A Band Called Prefab Sprout? You sure can (and thank you). Just click on the link below for a range of retailers, some of whom are offering signed copies. linktr.ee/newmodern_bo...

I'll be @lthanwordsfest.bsky.social in Manchester on Saturday, Nov 14, to talk about Talk Talk and In Another World. Very pleased that it's a double header with @nigetassell.bsky.social, whose forthcoming Prefab Sprout book is high on my TBR pile. Should be lots to chat about... tinyurl.com/y583xuhf

Day 31 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from Michael): ‘Michael, help me write a letter to you-know-who / I will sign it, “Lucifer regrets”...’ #prefabsprout

GAME (made by a few pals of mine) is now available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube etc.

If you’re going to call vinyl “vinyls” I’m going to demand the right to call cattle “cattles”.

Nah, that's going to Nempnett Thrubwell.

The youngest and his mates went to an 80s pub quiz last night. They finished dead last (on account of being born 20 years after that decade finished), but did come up with the best team name. Wake Me Up Before You Quiz Quiz.

Day 30 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from Talking Scarlet): ‘I think my mouth’s been drinking / My basest thoughts do the thinking’ #prefabsprout

@nigetassell.bsky.social One for you

Day 29 of #75daysofPaddy A Paddy McAloon lyric a day until Truly Gifted Kids is published. Today (from The Old Magician): ‘Hidden trapdoor, velvet cape / Still from death there’s no escape’ #prefabsprout

Dixon telling Kane where he should’ve aimed that shot. Like Dick van Dyke telling Fred Dibnah about chimneys.

"Traumatise" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Anyway, let's take 22 minutes to listen to one of my favourite pieces of music of forever

Such a great book. Includes a borderline-deranged hotel room quest that you can't fail to love #spoiler