Seen on my walk this morning. I make no additional comment...

@jkaconductor.bsky.social many happy returns and welcome to the Fifty Plus Club! It's not too bad...

More than 200,000 Danish citizens have signed a petition to buy California as a response to Trump’s attempt to take Greenland. They say they will provide Californians with “rule of law, universal health care, fact-based politics, and a lifetime supply of Danish pastries.”

Accidentally caught two minutes of #TheWeakestLink and I only recognise one of the 'celebrities'.

I mean, we all knew Robert Jenrick was a two-faced duplicitous self-serving hypocrite but in light of his speech today there's just tweet, after tweet, after tweet demonstrating it.

I loathe Farage and Reform, but it would be hilarious if Farage told Jenrick he didn't want him. Won't happen, of course. No matter his protestations that Reform isn't Tory 2.0 it so clearly is. The new nasty party.

Robert Jenrick? Who'd have thought it? Probably anyone that's ever had a dealing with the self-serving little cretin.

First outing to the theatre in 2026 last night to see The Rivals update to the 1920s at the Orange Tree, Richmond, long since sold out. Dame Patricia of Hodge is simply divine as Mrs Malaprop. I'd say she's at the pineapple of her career.

Over on X, @britishlibrary.bsky.social states that what is universally acknowledged as one of the weakest novels Agatha Christie ever wrote is one of her finest, presumably because Netflix paid them to hold their launch party there. Really disappointing to see the BL dumbing down like this.

Anyone else finding it hard not to be totally dispirited about the state of the world right now? The hate. The division. The bigotry. The hypocrisy. The entitlement. The fascism. Always been around but becoming more loud.

How can Farage seriously claim not to be Tories 2.0 when so many former-Tories - and mostly the worst ones - have joined Reform?

This beautiful little chap has come to see me in the same spot in the park across the road three out of the last four days. He's already eating mealworms out of my hand.

We must all protect @tobyhadoke.bsky.social for the foreseeable future for the completion of his magnum opus in several parts. This was one of my top three books of last year. Can't wait for Q2 (my favourite).

@andrewmale.bsky.social Barbara Shelley wanted to play both Carla and The Gorgon and wanted to use real snakes - obviously neither happened, to the film's detriment. Agree about Lee; I think Andrew Keir might have been a better fit.

@johnnymains.co.uk @andrewmale.bsky.social Plague and Cash On Demand really are two of Hammer's best. I'd also throw Never Throw Sweets From A Stranger in that list (the film Tony Hinds was most proud of).

Me and my friend

Introduce yourself as what almost killed you: Hello, I'm an HGV driver who wasn't on the route he was supposed to be, who somehow failed to see signs warning of a) roadworks ahead, b) traffic lights ahead, and c) a bend in the road, who was also speeding and smashed into our car.

Happy Easter! It'll be Christmas before you know it... (These have actually been out for over a week)

@accordingtojond.bsky.social expert opinion please. Should the collected Ghost Stories for Christmas be watched so that they end on Christmas Eve, watched starting on Christmas Eve so they stretch into the new year, or just when the bloody hell you want?

I really, like, hate it when watching, like, younger interviewers who seem, like, incapable of saying a sentence, like, without frequently using the word like as a, like, filler word.

Just gorgeous.

Do you want to know what's behind this fabulous door?

The worst Christmas song of all time is Madonna's execrable cover of Santa Baby. I will hear no counter arguments.

Ok, it's for charity but those inside don't have to see it every night. Imagine being their neighbours opposite who can't avoid it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Lots of families will be starting the annual rewatch of The Box of Delights about now to begin the festive lead-in. Others of us will be commencing the annual rewatch of Ghost Stories for Christmas.

Difficult game of Boggle today...

If someone would like to get me this for Christmas, that'd be great, thanks.

Just listened to a podcast where a British film critic asked "Bryan Forbes - is that a name I should know?" Yes, they're younger than me, but even so, if your career is critiquing film you should know the important names in British cinema, not just Hollywood. Fuck's sake.

@jkaconductor.bsky.social Congratulations on your appeal victory!

Two years ago today, an exclusive tour of old Aldwych tube station with Siddy and Chris from Five's Secrets of the London Underground

Stop. Policing. Poppies. That's. Not. What. Remembrance. Is. About.

On the 16th I’ll hosting a Q&A with writer Peter Harness alongside a screening of his 2005 adaptation of A View from A Hill. Before that I’ll be introducing an ultra rare screening of Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Poe’s Imp of the Perverse starring Michael Kitchen & Lalla Ward. Details:

The first thing Yaxley-Lennon did on leaving court was to thank Elon Musk for funding his legal costs. That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK. As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.

Don't forget, kids... youtu.be/u957STjLRaY?...

If an MP from any other party had said what Sarah Pochin said, it would be all over the news. If a high ranking party official had done what Nathan Gill had done, it would be all over the news. Reform get a free pass again and again.

Despite selling out our entire run in York, London sales for THE SIGNAL-MAN & THE TRIAL FOR MURDER are still a bit slow. We've got six showings between 31st October and 2nd November. A very classic Halloween treat, I'd argue - and in Charles Dickens's (probably definitely haunted) house!

It's edited by @johnnymains.co.uk which means it is an essential purchase.

The greatest British export of all time would have been 100 today.

We're now going to expect migrants to have a better standard of English than a large percentage of the born-and-bred population - including most of the far right flag shaggers - who don't know the difference between they're, their and there, or spell the word separately. FFS.

One of the best reasons to be on this platform is that Katherine Birbalsingh isn't.

@ottoenglish.bsky.social Dear cousin Saw this dahlia earlier today. You need to get this in your garden (you may need to zoom in to the bottom left for full explanation) Luv n stuff.

From next Sunday until Christmas Eve, there are many performances of M R James's greatest stories, live all over the UK, and online. Full details here: www.nunkie.co.uk/schedule Hope to see you somewhere... (illustration by Paul Lowe)

Everyone should watch this today... RIP Dame Patricia youtu.be/D4-comi6A3Q?...

So NOTORIOUS is on a deal. 99p on Kindle, and that's a bona fide bargain. I am so very proud of this book and really don't care how much you pay. So please rob me! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0F2...

London has fallen. The city is a hellscape of Sharia Law (or lawlessness depending on your pov) where Sadiq Khan reigns over a carnival anarchy. So let me take you by the hand and tell another story My latest for @noosphere.app www.noosphere.app/london-has-f...

@mrjamesob.bsky.social Today I can’t decide which story to be more moved by, man buys his disabled Mum a field so she can rescue Donkeys or penniless waitress with a recently bankrupt business finds £800,000 down the back of a sofa to buy her boyfriend a house.

Perfect autumn walk in Bushy Park. Warm sun on your face plus a gentle breeze with a slight chill to it. And a magnificent creature saying hello.

The reason Farage and his chums are refusing to speak to the media that challenge them is that when subjected to proper scrutiny, as in the US, he falls apart as the snake oil salesman that he is. British media needs to start behaving like the US.

Taylor Winn could well feature in a future @ottoenglish.bsky.social book! Notorious Fake Authors, perhaps? observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Question to all: what are the most stunning natural locations and/or most attractive or interesting towns/cities in Europe (Venice and Amalfi Coast being a given)?