Read her original story in full here: www.the-londoner.co.uk/no-laughing-...

🎉 Big News 🎉 We're proud to see @rachaelhealy.bsky.social has been shortlisted at The British Journalism Awards, in part for her Londoner exposé on the comedy club 21Soho.

Thanks to @pressgazette.co.uk and the British Journalism Awards judges for shortlisting me for the Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award, and congratulations to everyone who made the lists

Delighted to be shortlisted for best news story in the @freelancingfor.bsky.social Freelance Journalism Awards 2025, for a story about the treatment of workers on Strictly Come Dancing, commissioned when I was freelancing for @theobserveruk.bsky.social last year. Congrats to all on the shortlist!

Laugh-washing in Saudi. This week, Jimmy Carr and Jack Whitehall join a bill of top comedians performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. This is despite human rights abuses in the country. Listen to today's Sensemaker wherever you get your podcasts to discover more: lnk.to/VmVKTaBS

On today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social Sensemaker: Self-declared free speech comics like Jimmy Carr are at the first Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. Critics say they’re laundering the reputation of a state that brutally restricts its own citizens’ free speech observer.co.uk/listen/daily...

i've been trying out the Sensemaker pod in the mornings, with mixed results. thought today's one about the Riyadh festival and human rights was *very* good, then realised of course it was, because it was written by @rachaelhealy.bsky.social

Want to be clear that the predictable violence against the police wasn't the only problem with yesterday's march It's that 100,000 angry racists gathered in London for the biggest racist march in 50 years, and anyone not white had to steer clear The govt can't see that because they are inadequate.

What links Tommy Robinson, Charlie Kirk and a host of extremely online conspiracy theorists? Money from a so-called “counter-jihad” US billionaire. My colleague @thejohnsimpson.bsky.social maps the connections observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

And now you can listen to the podcast version 👂📻 observer.co.uk/listen/daily...

Winning the Edinburgh Comedy Awards' 'panel prize'

As @taskmaster.tv gets ready to celebrate its 20th series, 10 years on TV, and 15 years since the original live Fringe show, I went behind the scenes to find the secrets of its success. Read all about it in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Edinburgh comedy award winner Sam Nicoresti: ‘Actually, this whole show is a monumental failure!’

As @taskmaster.tv gets ready to celebrate its 20th series, 10 years on TV, and 15 years since the original live Fringe show, I went behind the scenes to find the secrets of its success. Read all about it in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

As the Fringe enters its first full week, I spoke to a few artists about the endurance test of the festival and pushing their physical and psychological boundaries with daring shows observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

As the Fringe enters its first full week, I spoke to a few artists about the endurance test of the festival and pushing their physical and psychological boundaries with daring shows observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

All that is not action is noise. This week's column on Gaza as politicians rinse and repeat statements of concern without meaningful pressure on Israel. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I spent months on this investigation and gathered docs from the UK courts, Land Registry and a French local authority, to show that Raynor and Moth Winn's story is not as they claim. @tortoisemedia.bsky.social @observeruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

💊The NHS is battling "medieval" levels of untreated illness in some of Britain's poorest communities – at a cost to the health service of about £50bn a year, or the same as the defence budget. My big read from Barrow, Blackpool, Burnley and Blackburn: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The battle of Tattle: gossip victims call for website that abuses influencers to shut Public figures tell of impact on their mental health after being targeted by Tattle Life.

🚨ICYMI I’ve spent months talking to policewomen abused by fellow officers about how their partners used police training and authority to facilitate abuse - and how their own forces closed ranks when they asked for help. Read: observer.co.uk/news/nationa... Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/5j5L...

Unbound authors and former staff members who want to talk, including anonymously, get in touch at [email protected]

Great reporting from @londonermag.bsky.social - a public school entrepreneur starts a buzzy comedy club in Soho and then comes up with a million excuses not to pay performers. www.the-londoner.co.uk/no-laughing-...

21Soho was meant to breathe life into London’s stand-up scene. Yet dozens of artists and former staff members paint a portrait of a company in chaos. My @londonermag.bsky.social debut today with a story about the artists bearing the brunt of business failure www.the-londoner.co.uk/no-laughing-...

21Soho was meant to breathe life into London’s stand-up scene. Yet dozens of artists and former staff members paint a portrait of a company in chaos. My @londonermag.bsky.social debut today with a story about the artists bearing the brunt of business failure www.the-londoner.co.uk/no-laughing-...

You can listen to my first Observer podcast, out today. It’s all about the international nursing staff working in the UK and whether Starmer’s harsh immigration plans will drive them to leave observer.co.uk/listen/daily...

You can now reach me at [email protected] Send me your tips!

‘It’s Fleabag’s home – the audience is unshockable’: Phoebe Waller-Bridge and more on 25 years of Soho theatre

Little work update: on 7 May I'll be joining the Observer team for six months as a full-time reporter. Get in touch with tips on anything you think I should be digging into. I'll be covering my usual arts and culture patch, but also other topics.

We need just 2 more sponsors to be able to run the 2025 Freelance Journalism Awards. This is the only awards in the UK which recognises the work of freelance journalists. Sponsorship costs just £250. Please get in touch if you think you can help! [email protected]

Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

Guardian journalist received large number of leads after Noel Clarke article, court told

“Eight months on from being elected on the promise of “change”, we’re beginning to see what Labour’s version of that looks like: sweeping cuts to disabled people’s social security. Change, it seems, isn’t coming for everyone.” My col. in today’s paper: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view of Labour’s cruellest trick: selling welfare cuts as compassion | Editorial

“If you’re starved of gossip, you haven’t got the day-to-day information that keeps people together” In today’s Observer: from TV dramas to the podcasts that delve into industry secrets and real-life stories, why gossip is endlessly compelling.

“It really is an essential lifeline. I don’t feel that I would be able to function without it.” I spoke to one PIP claimant about the importance of disability benefit - and looked at what's at stake when the government sets out its plans next week www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

“If you’re starved of gossip, you haven’t got the day-to-day information that keeps people together” In today’s Observer: from TV dramas to the podcasts that delve into industry secrets and real-life stories, why gossip is endlessly compelling.

What’s the human cost of making TV and theatre shows? According to new research, it’s high. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/06/shocking-truth-dangers-jobs-in-the-arts

This week, BBC bosses told MPs they have "zero tolerance" for misconduct and “everyone is dispensable." Today, we reveal that the corporation rewarded BBC Breakfast’s editor with more power after he allegedly physically shook a lower-ranking female editor. deadline.com/2025/03/bbc-...

Ella Lily Hyland: ‘Feeling watched is different to feeling seen’

Really proud of this piece. Grateful to Avalyn, Rowan and Sarah for sharing their stories. It's a national scandal that long Covid patients have been forgotten by the government, employers & society at large. The least we can do is keep talking about them www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

In the paper today

ICYMI: I spoke to @reproutopia.bsky.social about the feminist imperative to fight fascism, even when the fascists are other feminists (and especially when those other feminists are providing a pseudofeminist alibi to a rightwing assault on bodily autonomy and trans people)

UK creative industries set behaviour standards after Strictly and MasterChef rows

Actor Temi Wilkey: ‘No one saw me as a Blanche DuBois or a Juliet’

I wrote about my brother Charlie’s final 48 hours, and his increasingly desperate attempts to track down an emergency supply of medication from the NHS. It’s an upsetting read but one I’m proud of. He’d be delighted to have made the @financialtimes.com magazine front cover: on.ft.com/434zZqn

Working-class creatives don’t stand a chance in UK today, leading artists warn

‘Revenge porn’ abusers allowed to keep devices with illicit images

Interesting discussion about reviews and the role of criticism in comedy earlier at Leicester Comedy Festival with @dmujournalism.bsky.social, Sikisa and @beyondthejoke.bsky.social