Some thoughts on Stalky & Co by Rudyard Kipling, and the 1982 TV version dramatised by Alexander Baron and script edited by Terrance Dicks: 0tralala.blogspot.com/2026/04/stal...

And @gkw.bsky.social and I have got a bonus ep of @squarewindowpod.bsky.social to see you through the weekend. With the evil genius of The Goodies, Graham Garden... podfollow.com/through-the-...

As we count down to the release of You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who, we're highlighting some of the book's key personalities and interviewees. This week, it’s writer and showrunner Russell T Davies and Sophie Aldred, who played Ace…

We've just been doing a stock take and found a couple of author-signed copies of The Blue Peter Diaries, Richard Marson's insider account of working on the long-running BBC children's show. Order now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

Utterly staggering study of a film that is not quite like any other.

An example of Douglas Camfield's attention to detail, in 1965 writing quite a tall order for avant-garde composer Tristram Cary. It includes one of the earliest character sketches of Katarina. Also a nice early instance of the serial's overarching title. #DoctorWho

Good news, our reprint of Bernard Wilkie's memoir, A Peculiar Effect on the BBC, is now in stock and all pre-orders have been dispatched. From Quatermass to Doctor Who, the story of a special effects pioneer, available now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

As we count down to the release of You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who, we're highlighting some of the book's key personalities, beginning with Waris Hussein. The veteran director of Doctor Who's first story discusses his experiences navigating the world of 1960s TV as a gay Asian man…

Here's a local news write up about the WAC Campaign's submission to the Charter Review - twinned with the usual weak quote from the press office. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🎈Headpress 35th Anniversary Extravaganza🎈 Introducing our panelists: @tobyhadoke.bsky.social Actor, writer & comedian, Toby joins our #NigelKneale panel! His book on The Quatermass Experiment was published by @tenacrebooks.bsky.social in 2025. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/headpress-...

We're remembering BBC special effects pioneer Bernard Wilkie, born on this day in 1920. Here he is distressing a model ship in a typically low-tech way. Bernard's memoir A Peculiar Effect on the BBC is out in April, with stories about his work on Doctor Who, Quatermass and more: tenacrebooks.co.uk

Days of Wine and roses... many congratulations to prolific comedy writer Roy Clarke on his knighthood. Photographed by @radiotimes.bsky.social on location with his Last of the Summer Wine cast in 1974.

This is a great book. Don't worry about whether or not you're a Doctor Who fan, The Long Game should be in the library of anyone interested in television.

As of today, he is officially SIR Roy Clarke. I couldn't be happier for the man and his wonderful family. (Photo: PA)

Book 15 of the year has been this very enjoyable biography of David Whitaker by @0tralala.bsky.social. Looking forward to his book on Terrance Dicks! @tenacrebooks.bsky.social

I took this photo at @tobyhadoke.bsky.social’s ‘The Quatermass Experiment’ book launch event. Abby Cook interviewed Toby, and you could see how much love and work had gone into it. Toby really knows so much about the series, and is also very passionate about it. It was great to be there.

Cherish the flame… 🔥 Penda's Fen, David Rudkin's haunting Play to Today, debuted 52 years ago today. Read about this enduring film's development from script to screen in Penda's Fen: Scene by Scene, available now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

Hey folks. If you liked my Quatermass book you’ll love this. A beautiful new presentation of a story vital to the brilliance of many of the show we know and love. And Bernard was a great guy and engaging raconteur.

It always depresses me to hear people complaining about the high price of books. Books are cheap. No judgement if money is tight, we all have decisions to make about spending, but nobody is getting ripped off paying £9.99 for a paperback- except maybe the author

🇺🇸 Good news for American readers who have asked about our new book You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who. Our friends at @thewhoshopofficial.bsky.social in London are stocking the book and ship to the US. Pre-order from www.thewhoshop.com/pre-order-yo...

Bow ties are cool! BBC visual effects pioneer Bernard Wilkie with colleague Jack Kine in their workshop. We're bringing Bernard's memoir A Peculiar Effect on the BBC back to print next month. Order now from tenacrebooks.co.uk.

On the original (and nuts) Star Trek novel Spock Must Die! by James Blish (1970), and what Star Trek books Doctor Who script editor Terrance Dicks could have leant to writers Bob Baker and Dave Martin: 0tralala.blogspot.com/2026/03/spoc...

Patrick's writings are always beautifully crafted, insightful, impeccably researched and hilarious. I can't wait to read his forthcoming history of Who.

Glad it’s getting a reprint. A fantastic book. Reviewed it back in 2015.

I have an older edition and I assure you it's terrific.

🚀 We're pleased to announce that we're releasing a new edition of A Pecular Effect on the BBC, a classic memoir by BBC special effects pioneer Bernard Wilkie, whose credits included Doctor Who, Quatermass and many more. Order now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

I'm currently reading this and it's immense. There's so much detail. This isn't just a nostalgia fest, or potted list of kids TV shows, it's a proper in depth history of the entire children's tv department.

Good news, a lovely new printing of Box of Delights has just arrived, our amazing history of the BBC Children's Television department. Over 500 pages and more than 150 candid interviews, plus dozens of rare and unseen photographs. Order now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

The BBC’s job is to “inform, educate, and entertain”? Let’s talk about the middle word. What follows is the story of what we found in an FOI request (per the Observer) about the Corporation killing off plans to launch an online catalogue and failing to deliver ‘learning for people of all ages’. 🧵

The essential book to read about 80s Dr Who.

"Stay tuned!" Read about the life and controversies of Doctor Who's powerhouse 1980s producer John Nathan-Turner in Totally Tasteless, Richard Marson's definitive biography. Available now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

Just putting the finishing touches to a new book cover we'll be unveiling soon. It's a lovely shade of orange. 🧡

More angles on the history of Doctor Who from Ten Acre Books. Patrick Mulkern's writing on his own fan journey for Radio Times was revealing and sensitive and promises much from this.

August reading stack with the stand out being Panda’s Fen: Scene by Scene. I deliberately slowed down my reading pace to absorb the incredible level of research undertaken by the author. The definitive deep dive companion text to the BFI Blu-ray. Such a rich text. Fabulous. @greavesian.bsky.social

Preordered this today. I have enjoyed many of @tenacrebooks.bsky.social publications over the past year. If you love archive British TV and meticulously researched texts then they are worth a visit!

be gay buy books

We’re pleased to announce the publication of a new history of Doctor Who, examining the programme from a queer perspective for the first time. You Are Not Alone: A Gay History of Doctor Who is written by @patrickmulkern.bsky.social and will be released on 25 May. Order now from tenacrebooks.co.uk/

Journeying back to the North East after visiting Sir Roy Clarke and members of his wonderful family. Writing this book has taken longer than either of us anticipated – partly because even I had underestimated the scope of his output – but we're on the home stretch now!

Learn about the life and creative influences of Doctor Who's first script editor in David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television, an in-depth biography by @0tralala.bsky.social. Available now from tenacrebooks.co.uk.

Praise for our book Penda's Fen: Scene by Scene, @greavesian.bsky.social's definitive exploration of the classic Play for Today from script to screen. Available now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

Just devoured Drama and Delight: The Life and Legacy of Verity lambert by Richard Marson from @tenacrebooks.bsky.social. Really, really enjoyed it. Highly recommended. Now I have a list of old Cinema Verity shows to track down and watch...

A Criminal Practice, a comic play by Terrance Dicks first broadcast on 5 July 1967, is being repeated on Radio 4 Extra today at 3pm and 9pm; afterwards, it’ll be available on BBC Sounds - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television reviewed by The Big Issue. Check it out…

Good thread.

An update for Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television… We're down to our last copies of the current printing. The book will be reprinted next month, but if you don't want to wait, get them while they last from tenacrebooks.co.uk.

The talented and all round lovely guy, Simon Guerrier joins me to talk about getting a break writing Doctor Who books, his time editing Bernice books, and gives huge insight into his David Whittaker and upcoming Terrance Dicks books... @0tralala.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

I've just finished reading The Box of Delights by Richard Marson. What an absolutely incredible book. An honest history of the peak of children's TV on the BBC. So many stories and interviews. I learnt so much. I can't recommend it highly enough. A huge success from @tenacrebooks.bsky.social

Read about Doctor Who's conception, from first ideas to its troubled early months of production, in Pull to Open, an immersive history by @paul-hayes.bsky.social, available now from tenacrebooks.co.uk.

Quietly announced yesterday amongst the Roy Clarke birthday celebrations – my new biography of the man is to be titled 'Writing All Hours'