brief moment where I thought that said “Jonathan Frakes” and genuinely started to panic

What would you call the study of what makes someone a proper assistant in Who? Companology, maybe? That definitely rings a bell…

Um…. Probably not my first pick to host a Thunderbirds tribute, I’ll be totally honest.

I’m sure absolutely nobody who worked at a certain newspaper with him will be shocked by the news out of Talk tonight…

Idle thought inspired by the current fiasco. What if you brought back the IBA? Take broadcasting regulation out of Ofcom's remit (they're overstretched as it is just handling communications networks). Set up an actual independent media regulator, which includes ALL PSB oversight - including BBC.

NEW The letter the BBC could send back to Trump A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim By me. Enjoy. emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...

Hell no

Tipping my hat to the subtitles author on The New Avengers blu-ray.

DWM fingers its collar and laughs nervously…

Amused that Trump's lawyers really sent the legal letter to: BBC Television Centre, London W12 8QT. I wonder if they included a self addressed envelope for a reply and called 018118055 to confirm receipt. www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/tru...

Anyone want a pint? (Rutland Arms, Sheffield)

So in this peak TV, peak cinema era, just what’s top of th charts for discerning consumers in the AppleTV store? Oh for fu…

Wait, isn’t that Davie Dodds?

So, about that…

The good thing is that all these out of work genre tv actors and CW stars can play themselves when the prestige tv dramatisation finally gets made. By Tubi.

Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)

This is a genuinely excellent episode about the challenges of setting up a microbudget tv network, scheduling and landing content, and broadcast minutae. Along with actual graps silliness.

Oh fuck off.

The more I think about the new V for Vendetta HBO series, the more I can only conclude that HBO have not thought about it. It's a story about a (trans) terrorist Dr Phibes-ing their way through mainstream right wing types who enabled mediocre fascists to take power.

Maybe one day the Bundesliga will be viewed by those who pick Scotland squads as a bigger & more difficult stage than the English Championship.

Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms. He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.

Time to check in once again with Scotland’s ‘good guy’ columnists…

They feature about as regularly on the BBC as they do in the Herald, which is currently locked in a battle with the Scotsman for the title of ‘Scotland’s most transphobic newspaper’ as the SPAs next week.

Classic FM (and Jazz FM) must be one of the oddest and most insidious parts of the British media landscape. Their entire content strategy is based around relaxing music all day long. But on the hour, every hour they then shoehorn alarmist, exaggerated right-wing news bulletins from Global News.

The absolute binfire that is Accies continues to burn away merrily.

Fuck it, do a novel adaptation again as the first story. Do Moonraker, but updated for 21st century sensibilities. Industrialist building missile defence tech for/in Britain turns out to to be dodgy and planning to use it to attack Britain instead. Bond sent to stop him. Piece of piss.

One of Horowitz's three Bond novels ends with him dying. The first is supposed to be his earliest mission. They contradict the books and the films. Him getting pissy about struggling to continue continuity is ripping the piss.

The Guardian is of course exceptionally cross that someone else has led a charge of bias claims at the BBC - because that’s the Guardian’s job. Haven’t these people heard of demarcation?

Phones did not murder Brianna Ghey in cold blood.

Starting with supposedly Pride-invested, LGBTQ+ supporting HSBC… www.hsbc.com/news-and-vie...

Well, in light of Matlis & Sopel’s self-confessed bigotry, perhaps it’s time to see if News Agents can similarly get closed. Boycot Global, boycott anyone that sponsors or advertises on it, and let them know exactly why you are. If they think anti-LGBTQ sentiment is such a lark, make it expensive.

What's fascinating here is that as she rhymes off the list of gender critical people at Newsnight pursuing an explicitly gender critical agenda, in the context of a discussion of ideological capture at the BBC, she doesn't recognise that she was part of the ideological capture of the BBC by GCs.

Anytime I mention this story theres a few dozen people who never heard about it, so for those unaware

Well, in light of Matlis & Sopel’s self-confessed bigotry, perhaps it’s time to see if News Agents can similarly get closed. Boycot Global, boycott anyone that sponsors or advertises on it, and let them know exactly why you are. If they think anti-LGBTQ sentiment is such a lark, make it expensive.

You know that time that a major British news organisation mistakenly sought out a random dude who happened to share a name with a former New York mayor in order to go after a left wing New York mayoral candidate? Did anyone resign?

NEW | if the BBC *is* biased, it’s not against the right… Arsonists cosplaying as fire fighters: Why the right-wing war on the BBC is succeeding brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/arsonists-...

Post a non-religious photo you think of as holy

Ofcom's board consists largely a load of right-wingers with a background in banking. There's only one person on the board with a background in journalism and one person with a background in TV production* and unfortunately they're the same bloke. It's not fit for purpose.

Davie came up to Salford with Charlotte Moore during the Lineker row to hold town halls with the Sport teams. I remember thinking what a calm, informed, compassionate leader we had, listening to concerns and talking honestly and practically about the situation. And that Tim was also there.

Using up some leftover rye bread to make french toast for lunch. Don't have any chutney or anything, annoyingly, but it turns out leftover homemade pakora sauce works pretty well instead. Useful tip.

Again, worth remembering that if Sky take over ITV they'll get a 40% stake in ITN, if you'd like to see quality public service independent television journalism go the way of Sky News.

I see Joe Browns are doing that thing again where all their autumn mens looks on Instagram just look like Dr Who fanfilm costumes. Even down to the slogan now…

Well, that’s tonight taken care of - a brand new New Escapologist from @wringham.bsky.social is always a welcome start to the week.

Oh my word!

A pal asked me the other day what’s next after FTS ending. I’ve been trying to decide what I want to do next and came to the conclusion… I don’t want to really do anything any more. It’s 16 years since the start of the Thumbcast, and I think I’ve served my time. I’m kind of done, really.

Man, the hotdog suit columnists are all out in force today.

bis v Art Brut "Sorry About That" EP is 500 purple 7”s on Alcopop Records featuring each band covering each other's hits, and a dual cover of Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul. ilovealcopop.co.uk/products/bis... Please note this is a preorder; shipping for 12th December release date.

Oh my word!

Fuck it, Lineker, go for the vacancy as revenge.

If anyone ever listened to the Thumbcast a million years ago, and heard the ukulele version of the theme we occasionally used… this is who was responsible.