Highly recommend the very funny @5teviem.bsky.social on her (clout) tour. Really fun night out at Colchester Arts Centre. Absolutely not “too weird”.

"Occasionally a whole town would be implicated. Quiet, non-political, peace-loving people waited behind closed doors for the shooting and the hurrying footsteps to cease; the streets were unsafe; the very nights were restless." #BookSky 💙📚 jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/11/09/c...

Very pleased to see the Giving Tree back in @waterstones.bsky.social #Norwich. All the tags represent a book choice from one of Norfolk's looked after children and ensures they get a book for Christmas. I didn't have time to browse today so got a voucher for staff to use picking books. #BookSky 📚💙

The fabulous @psbhq.bsky.social at the Barbican being fabulous.

#1925Club Greenery Street by Denis Mackail Ian and Felicity marry, and buy their first house together, on Greenery Street - and the street is treated as a character in its own right. Full of period detail of every day life, funny and charming, and just managing to stay on the right side of twee.

I Swear is excellent. About John Davidson, a brave man who has done so much to raise awareness of Tourette syndrome, and the two compassionate individuals who understood him - the power of kindness and courage. Beautiful performances;a difficult watch, both upsetting and uplifting. Hard recommend.

A new poster for the IMAX re-release of Ryan Coogler’s ‘SINNERS’ has been released. Returning to theaters from October 30 to November 5.

@divinecomedyhq.bsky.social Cambridge Corn Exchange Joy

Thank you Persephone, what a treat it is to get something lovely through the post.

Love the Barbican at night

@divinecomedyhq.bsky.social at the Barbican, just brilliant. Swept away by the beauty of I Want You (it was a respectful pause before we applauded, Neil!) All the new album songs were lovely, never thought I would hear Don’t Mention the War live, and Lost Property was a nice surprise. Loved it.

open.spotify.com/album/3CHjGT... One Battle After Another Great film, great soundtrack.

Happy #PostBoxSaturday from Hever Castle

The Best of Everything by @kitdewaal.com “Paulette is mighty. She is righteous. She has heartbreak and grief and loss on her side.” Paulette will stay with me. A story of kindness, and its consequences. This line broke me for a bit- “He nods and smiles. ‘He’s mine’ he says.” Gorgeous.

Spinal Tap II is really fun! See it in the cinema while it’s still on… All the familiar faces and great additions of Kerry Godliman and @mrchrisaddison.bsky.social Anyone know the significance of the Leyton Orient flag in the cheese shop? Asking for a husband.

Hurrah! Have been looking forward to this- we were there but in the choir seats so only saw from behind… (excellent view of the Jules Buckley’s percussion section though, was fascinating!)

Throughly enjoyed this last night. Special mention for the new Ortiz, which was gorgeous. The Royal Festival Hall is such a great venue and the staff are delightful. Do check out the Philharmonia’s 80th birthday season! See you in November…

Long a critic of the franchise, Star Wars actor John Boyega has outlined what he'd have done had he been producer on the sequel trilogy... filmstories.co.uk/news/star-wa...

open.spotify.com/album/2znLYG... On third listen of the new @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social album. Another masterpiece. Melancholy, beautiful; still trying to train myself not to weep at Invisible Thread…

Doctor’s Orders: Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy prescribes his nine favourite albums

Love this tidbit from Mojo’s fantastic oral history of Rocky Horror

It's Agatha Christie's birthday today, and we're delighted to announce a major exhibition on the Queen of Crime, coming autumn 2026 🕵️‍♀️ Find out more: bit.ly/BL-AgathaChr... #AgathaChristie #CrimeFiction

Happy 135th birthday to the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha Christie. Her mysteries continue to puzzle, delight, and inspire readers around the world. 🥰

The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon Discusses New Record » PopMatters - www.popmatters.com/the-divine-c...

Wordle 1,544 2/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

In case you missed it, our guests for the live show on Saturday are the wonderful Tim Key and Tom Basden, stars/writers of my favourite film of the year, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND. So, if you’re coming on Saturday and you haven’t seen it, now’s your chance to rectify that.

open.spotify.com/track/5FgxKf... September the 8th And summer is ending… #TheBalladOfWallisIsland

🚨 Interactive map revealing access to opportunity by constituency 🚨 Our research looked closely at how at opportunities for less advantaged young people differ across the country. Use our map to see how each constituency ranks for opportunity 📍 www.suttontrust.com/opportunity-...

If you’ve not seen it, Bookish is an absolute delight - as is its creator, Mark Gatiss. His brilliant career as a writer and actor with such distinctive skill is proof that we need more working class people in the creative industries thebeemagazine.com/mark-gatiss-...

open.spotify.com/track/2t0XwC... @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social breaks my heart yet again…

open.spotify.com/episode/0UGt... Chris Riddell follows Lewis Carroll’s footsteps and discusses all things Alice. Starts with a discussion of his early fascination with John Tenniel’s drawings, and how they inspired him. Makes sense, both their styles are so beautiful. Lovely episode.

I totally support the National Year Of Reading initiative. We desperately need a culture of reading for pleasure to replace the culture of constant testing in schools, backed by proper government funding. And we need STORYTIME to be part of the school day, every day! #literacy (Art: Chris Riddell)

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Will admit confirmation bias, but this is even more horrifying than I expected. An absolute refusal to pay tax runs through this. Utter recklessness with people’s lives in pursuit of billions. I don’t understand how W-W ever thought it was a force for good.

To the right and to the left on my walk today.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Miles Jupp on the deliberately enigmatic JL Carr, author of the wonderful A Month in the Country.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Armando Iannucci recommends The Ballad of Wallis Island. So do I! Out to buy now and still in some independent cinemas. Really worth seeing on a big screen if you can.

Thank you @redrosechain.bsky.social for an excellent night of Theatre in the Forest at Sutton Hoo. Hamlet, but funny. Shouldn’t work, but it really did. Highly recommend, and such a great way to introduce children, and reluctant adults, to theatre.

Outdoor cinema at the Barbican. Fun!

Art at the Abbeygate in Bury St Edmunds. I love independent cinemas.

www.independent.co.uk/arts-enterta... Between the Covers has been axed. What a shame! Surely it does not cost much to make? And fulfills part of the BBC’s educational remit?

www.everymancinema.com/film-listing... Everyman Throwback showings of Sense and Sensibility. How is it 30 years old?

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/au... Sense and Sensibility, 30 years on… Brilliantly adapted by Emma Thompson, and what a fantastic cast. It’s a masterpiece. Don’t remember crying quite so much though in 1995. And what did I see in Willoughby? #TeamBrandon all the way here in 2025….

A call for change. Three soldiers return from WW2 expecting a better life, but find they have changed while the people they left behind have not, or have changed in ways that they do not understand. So much to say about class. “We don’t want the same kind of men looking after our affairs.”

Found visiting Holyrood a bit odd- I don’t like an audioguide, and there were no signs whatsoever. Nothing to read! So I am none the wiser… Is this a common thing now?

open.spotify.com/track/4cajPV... My song of the summer. #TheBalladOfWallisIsland

🚨 State schools are quickly falling behind as a new AI digital divide is opening up in the education system. Our new report finds that private schools are way ahead on setting AI policies, dedicating staff to oversee its use, and providing training and resources ⤵️🧵

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY was released 36 years ago. Acclaimed as one of the great rom-coms, and among the most popular films of director Rob Reiner, the story behind the scenes will have you wanting what she’s having… 1/41

The Enchanted Castle - 1979 BBC adaptation of E. Nesbit's 'other' novel, famed for generation-spooking Blue Peter 'Make'-esque paper plate-faced cardboard mask baddies The Ugly-Wuglies and... not much else. timworthington.org/2019/12/19/g...

That’ll Teach Her by @mazevansauthor.bsky.social A headteacher dies in suspicious circumstances, and the parents group chat tries to solve the mystery. Very funny read, bringing back the horrors of the school gate with all its rivalries… And does anyone have the spellings?

Heartily recommend.