“Without the Rowling of it all, a new version of Harry Potter would be a fairly boring and needless proposition…with the political context of Rowling’s transphobia, it becomes morally as well as creatively bankrupt. You might even say cursed.” www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/harr...

In Reunion, deafness is more than a diversity tick - there's no TV drama like it inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

🌍 Athletics claimed in 2009 that Semenya had an unfair advantage agains other F athletes. 16y later & there has not been a single study of the performance of women like Semenya in comparison with XX women to assess the possibility of an unfair advantage. That was until now. 1-

I always think it's interesting that a far higher proportion of female chefs on shows like Masterchef: The Professionals and Great British Menu are private chefs/one-person-operations rather than working in restaurants. Presumably it's far preferable to work for yourself than in a toxic kitchen.

"Hollywood's strangest couple" is a bold claim. So many contenders

I make it my business to neither care nor know anything about James Bond so the Amazon news is especially challenging to me personally because now I’m suddenly invested in the franchise’s creative freedom.

I'm so relieved the SNL 50 coverage has died down because I was bored out of my mind* *with the exception of Emma Stone's dress which treated the whole thing exactly as seriously as was warranted

Always a pleasure to host at BAFTA but it was a real privilege to meet the brave women at the heart of what’s widely known as the Spycops scandal. Documentary out on ITV in March.

I enjoyed this list (always taking such things with a pinch of salt). But it naturally skews v.American so I've been thinking about the best non-US performances of the 21st Century. Off the top of my head:

TOO SOON

The new series of Unforgotten started last night and ICYMI, I spoke to the completely lovely Sinead Keenan for @inews.co.uk. (although must confess, it's How to Get to Heaven From Belfast that I'm really excited about). inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

#SaveThePCC Some of you may have read about the situation regarding our new landlord wishing to add a new redevelopment break clause, with only 6 months notice to our lease. For now, we're simply asking you all to share & sign the petition below; you.38degrees.org.uk/p/princechar...

SKY HAVE PICKED UP HACKS OUR NIGHTMARE IS OVER www.geektown.co.uk/2025/01/22/s...

If you had even a passing interest in the Olympics boxing "controversy" last summer, I highly recommend listening to the podcast Tested which is empathetic and meticulously researched (i.e. where so much reporting on this issue catastrophically fails). www.tested-podcast.com

I realise it is not exactly at the top of her list of achievements but Joan Plowright as Mrs Wilson in Dennis (1993) was a formative part of my childhood and I loved her in it very much. Anyway, go watch Nothing Like A Dame.

Should I/are people archiving or preserving their tweets before deleting their accounts? I can't imagine a circumstance where I'd need to know what I thought about scarves in 2018 but I don't want to be the only one who can't check.

ICYMI, I wrote about TV cancellations for The Guardian this week. After so many shows this year have been canned (RIP My Lady Jane, KAOS, The Acolyte), I wanted to know what it’s like for show creators when the plug is pulled. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

A delight to speak to the wonderful Rosalind Eleazar about Slow Horses and starring in the new Harlan Coben adaptation.

Finishing off the year with one of my favourite pieces - speaking to TV creators about what it’s like when your show is cancelled for The Guardian. Very cathartic! www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Thrilled that my final interview of the year is with Abi Morgan ahead of The Split’s return. She’s just bloody great. inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

Don’t watch Senna (2024). Do watch Senna (2010). inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

Always good to be on deadline and waste some time looking up when Walkers Max crisps launched because "it was a very formative time for me". Namely, our school got a vending machine. (It was a 1999 launch but it's the 2001 relaunch that I was thinking of)

UK freelance writers for magazines and journals in the last three years: remember to submit your eligible articles at ALCS by 30 November to qualify for a royalty reimbursement in March! www.alcs.co.uk/how-it-works...

Absolute gem of a TV show alert: After the Party is extraordinary. Brave and provocative storytelling and an absolute masterclass from Robyn Malcolm in the lead. Thrilled it's finally made its way over to us from New Zealand. inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

Started a list of arts and culture journalists/writers/critics in the UK - let me know who I’ve missed go.bsky.app/6ZgG2DK

Have recently come across children’s author Richard Scarry again and it’s all very nostalgic but I did not remember it being quite this mad.

Went for a run and a rat crossed my path. Happy Friday!

Ah this episode is stunning.

Very pleased to hear there is Mythic Quest incoming in January

For Glamour, I wrote about why I'm not psyched for season three of Euphoria (and why not many other people are either). Really think they should just let this one be. www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/euph...

There are a lot of mysteries (too many?) in series two of Bad Sisters but I am mainly interested in why the promo image has Sarah Greene in a mustard suit and Sharon Horgan in a short yellow dress but in the show, it's Sharon Horgan in the suit and Sarah Greene in a lemon waistcoat number. Evidence:

I do think it should probably be some kind of law that all new TV shows need to cast either Harriet Walter or Fiona Shaw (ideally both).

Series 2 of Bad Sisters undeniably has some plotting issues and it isn't as good as the first but I couldn't help but still be won over by its charms (namely: performances, dialogue, scenery, moxie and Fiona Shaw who is really delivering). inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

Trying to phase out of Twitter by using it only for industry news, people announcing they've moved here and watching the "when did you realise you were watching the greatest show ever" clips which are still too tempting to me.

Kicking off my time over here with my unapologetically gushing review of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light which I love. How lucky we were to have Hilary Mantel. inews.co.uk/culture/tele...