Deleting my Academia.edu account in light of their predatory new terms and conditions. There is no way of opting out. It's a shame because it has been useful over the years, but I'm not prepared to give them these rights. Thanks to @downham.bsky.social for highlighting!

This week I'm giving two talks on The Staithes Mermaids. Tomorrow a zoom talk for The Last Tuesday Society. Tickets here and it's on catch up if you can't make it: thelasttuesdaysociety.org/event/mermai... Sunday I'll be at the Staithes Festival. Tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/stait...

Excited to share an episode of Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes I did. It's about the timelessness of jokes and focuses on comedy in medieval mystery plays. Features bits of the York and Towneley Plays! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... @livunienglish.bsky.social @livunihss.bsky.social @sotauol.bsky.social

🧜‍♀️ For #FolkyFriday, here's Prof @sarahpeverley.bsky.social's research into the vengeful tale of the mermaids of Staithes and what became of the humans who captured them 🧜‍♀️ www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The Staithes mermaid legend deserves more love... so today is officially a #MermaidMonday for the village and its rich history. #mermaids #mermaid #folklore #britishfolklore #britishlegends #maritimelegends #staithes #yorkshirelegends @folkloresociety.bsky.social @folklorethursday.bsky.social

Fantastic to see the announcement of the 2025 cohort of BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinkers (though depressing to see that that cohort has shrunk from ten to just six). Very much looking forward to hearing about their work on radio!

Medieval job at Birmingham for early career scholars: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNG641/t...

Happy to share my latest article (with Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe): Tracking the Mermaids of Staithes: Curses, Egg-Broth, and Inundation in a Yorkshire Legend, Folklore 136:2 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️ #mermaids #staithes #folklore #yorkshire #legends www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Delighted to share my latest open access article on The Mermaids of Staithes (co-authored with Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe). It tracks the earliest recorded verbal and written accounts of the legend, draws comparisons with other mermaid tales, and the egg-broth motif. 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️ #mermaids #folklore #Yorkshire

Our free family-friendly production of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is this Saturday at Central Library, Liverpool. Performances 11am and 1.30pm (c. 35 mins). Suitable for all ages, but especially the young and young at heart! @livunienglish.bsky.social @livunihss.bsky.social

The University of Lausanne is advertising for a doctoral position. A truly wonderful place and wonderful department to spend 5 years in! career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...

🎓An award is available within the our department for a Global Majority candidate wishing to undertake PhD research in English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing or TESOL. See more here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Gazeley's historic roof is still under threat and their fundraising efforts continue. The new 'sponsor a tile' initiative allows donors to commemorate a loved one or special event with an inscription on the new tiles. Please do considering helping for £10... gazeleychurch.org/save-our-cei...

If you love the mythical, magical and folkloric, listen to the enchanting series on Myhtical Creatures by @rhi.bsky.social on BBCRadio4. There's everything from Dragons and mermaids to Red Caps and Kelpies... episode 5 is on the Conwy mermaid with me and Ffion Phillips! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Lovely write-up in this week’s Radio Times on Mythical Creatures (the show I’m hosting) which starts on Monday Dec 18th on BBC Radio 4 at 1.45pm and runs daily for 10 episodes. It will also be available as a boxset on BBC Sounds and RSS for listeners outside the U.K.

I've been lax in advertising this, but I'm excited to be giving a talk on mermaids tomorrow. If you like merfolk or just mythical creatures and are interested in their uses through time, join us! Ticket holders can also watch a recording afterwards www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/event/mermai...

If you love medieval art and history, please consider donating to the Gazeley Church Roof fund. The unique roof with its stunning wooden bosses is under threat from water ingress and must be saved. You can find out more and donate here: gazeleychurch.org/save-our-cei...

Today the wonderful Glynis Johns is 100! Here she is as one of my favourite screen sirens in a 1948 trade advert for Miranda. It's from my personal mermaid archive and took years of searching to locate. Happy Birthday, dear Glynis! You rocked that dunlop tail and utterly beguiled younger me... 😍

Little taste of my recent work on mermaids for Merseyside Maritime Museum: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/merm...

Taking the plunge into the blue...