I've started referring to "Harry The Gladiator". Not only is it his name now, it's also his job description. Like he's wandered into an episode of "Ivor The Engine". #Strictly

I'm truly glad so many people were here tonight to hear that speech from Anton. Not only was it authentic Frontier Gibberish, but it clearly said what NEEDED to be said #Strictly

Trust me, this does not usually work. Now, Porcupine Tree on the other hand...

If that's Kevin on the left, I don't think he altogether enjoyed the experience.

Brain of Morbius part 1 tonight. The fearsome destructive power of a fully functional Madoc. An awesome Terrance infodump ("As you know, Maren..."). The glass of water joke and best of all, Tom Baker - Tom bloody Baker, having to act drunk after Solon drugs the drink. This one has it all.

Still sounds like it's beamed in from another universe. This side of Barry Bermange, the purest example of *radio* I can think of. Still extraordinary.

Amen.

If you've never heard these before, pounce on them a werewolf out of a darkened alley because they are *superb*. Secret History of Hollywood is as good as it gets.

Mention of that Kim Kardashian legal drama has just popped into my head and all I can think of is the one from Futurama, with the Bender-sung theme song. "Single Female Lawyer / Fighting For Her Client / Wearing Tiny Miniskirts and being self-reliant"

Just every now and then I remember that Gillan (Janick Gers era) turned up on No. 73, interacting and bewildering Ethel, and it makes me terribly happy. A tremendous example of the Saturday morning promo circuit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IimJ...

Following earlier chat on here this week, the first Pretenders singles compilation is on and as always the question that leaps immediately to mind is - how can ALL the singles from "Get Close" be so great, and yet the rest of the album misfire so badly? There's such a gulf.

An unexpected wee bit of loveliness for Children In Need. What a nice surprise. Thank you Sophie, and all involved.

When Jörmungandr releases their own tail beware, for it is the beginning of Ragnarok

Catching up with this week's "Gone Fishing". I've been weeping with laughter - actual tears - over Bob and the Dachshund in the pub. Possibly my TV moment of the year, unless something steams in between now and the end of December.

The DVD features one of the all-time great commentary moments, too. If you've heard it, you'll know *exactly* what I'm referring to...

"Emotional Whiplash" doesn't even begin to cover it. Oh, my word.

Just thinking about that "I'll Stand By You" is the Pretenders most enduring song thing - "2000 Miles" is pretty much part of the Christmas canon, surely. One you're absolutely guaranteed to hear right through the final months of the year. If there's a Christmas compilation on, it's there.

I'd have said Brass In Pocket, Don't Get Me Wrong, Back on the Chain Gang or 2000 Miles, but I suppose "I'll Stand By You" is the one that gets all the cover versions...

Beware. If you start using this you may never be able to leave it alone. I've just had to physicall wrench myself away from it. It's hypnotic, in a very, very good way.

Reading Wiki's entry on "48 Crash". Two theories on the meaning of it - one, that it's about andropause, the other that it was written on a bet, and it's actually about the 1848 US economic crisis. Given the lyrics, I'm willing to bet a fair chunk that it's the former.

One of those brilliant 3 hr archive trawls that 4 Extra do so well on tomorrow - 2011's "Take It From June", celebrating June Whitfield's 60 years in showbusiness. These things usually get broken into 3 part repeats now - great to see it out there in full. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

Oh, *fantastic*!

Cyril Stapleton's version of Max Harris's theme to "The Spies" is on and as always oh god, that arrangement. All those horns! www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXu_...

Only reason "Ommadawn" isn't my favourite Oldfield is because "Hergest Ridge" exists. Still a *ridiculously* good record. The way side 1 builds, builds, builds until that final guitar scream then drops right back to the drums fading away into nothing is real hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck moment.

Every time I'm reminded about Dominic Cummings I feel that an inner city shopping precinct is missing its resident screaming skag-head.

Released on this day in 2005, which is obviously ridiculous because there's no way this magnificent thing is 20 years old. Not possible. My favourite Kate, edging just ahead of Hounds of Love because of that second disc which obviously came down to us from heaven.

Thanks to my library having a ridiculously extensive collection of box sets I've been able to get my paws on the Prince "Sign 'O' The Times" monster. Extraordinary thing. Packaging so heavy I think if I dropped it, it would go straight through my feet, the floor and right through the earth.

I'm just a man, sitting here and hoping that Joe Dante is busy on "Matinee 2 - The Mant with the Golden Gun". A boy can dream, can't he?

Surprise! The first Bob Dylan soundboards in 16 years. The Outlaw Tour has never sounded better. www.flaggingdown.com/p/the-outlaw...

I can't see past the fact that Joe Dante isn't directing this, if I'm honest.

Now, this is going to be *superb*. Includes "Beat City", a look at Liverpool in the aftermath of the Beatles, in which he somehow contrives to give the impression he's above it all but also loves every second.

Trying to think of what to post to pay tribute to Gilson Lavis and what he brought to Squeeze is impossible - I'd end up linking to everything, but here's "Sunday Street" for a start. Perfect pop drumming, really. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXk1...

We've lost Gilson Lavis. The engine behind my favourite band for so many years. Could take anything that Difford and Tilbrook threw at him and knew just what to do to make it work. He was there right from "Packet of Three" to "Play". He could rattle those toms like nobody else. Oh, what a loss.

As one, without talking to each other or consulting with anyone else, the nearest audience members stand up and smack both of them right in the nuts.

succubus - female demon that seduces men incubus - male demon that seduces women vengabus - non-binary demon that likes to party

Can't sleep. Ever, EVER again.

the day's winner, folks, and it's not even 0800 my time. pencils down. no contest.

"Passenger Wilberforce to the flight deck, please. Passenger Wilberforce to the filight deck..."

This is the image you get if you look up the webshop exclusive edition of "Action : Before The Ban" at the 2000AD shop. I'm assuming that's a variant cover, because the one on other websites looks nothing like this. This one though, is *amazing*. Hookjaw, doing what he does best.

A cool detail in The Cursed Earth is that the origin of SATANUS the T Rex is “cloned to be in a theme park but escaped and ate everyone” and this multi decade franchise hook is thrown away in a panel so Mills can get to the *really* fun stuff

Last RT reminded of Bob Mortimer talking about doing Judge Nutmeg on stage with someone from the audience, and coming up with the line "Look into his eyes, Vic. There's nothing there" seconds before realising the person he was doing it to couldn't see.

Makes you proud, doesn't it? Actually, it kind of does.

Genuine, honest to god advert from TV Times in May 1963 (Fred Emney-esque monocle pops out in astonishment)

Important. Especially for people in the U.K., where we consider swearing a highly-evolved artform.

While attempting to track down whatever TV Times has to say about "Sierra Nine" (I might as well, it's bitter out) I stumble across this reference in John Gough's column to Patrick Macnee making his song-and-dance debut in The Dave King Show, 18th Dec 1963. Checked and it's lost, of course. Bah.

Classic Pop this month does a Pretenders album by album and I think they're fair and just in their appraisal (and occasionally, reappraisal). Debut at the top, Get Close at the bottom tallies with my feelings pretty much exactly. Delighted to see Learning To Crawl right up there.

I’ve just seen a narrowboat that looks like it’s entirely crewed by cats, and it’s not even 10am

Under the Iron Bridge, we kissed And although I ended up with Schnorbitz It just wasn't like the old days anymore