See, in a way, that didn’t warrant sharing. Nor does me writing that reaction. Sometimes it’s better not to know.
Author/editor/carer, S Wales, probably autistic: NEW BOOK!: Into the Groove, out on 2 Oct 2025. Textcast archive: https://firstlastanything.co.uk/about/ (new eps on Sundays) Email: whenisbirths@yahoo.com ko-fi.com/firstlastanything
2,957 followers 1,422 following 14,570 posts
view profile on Bluesky
See, in a way, that didn’t warrant sharing. Nor does me writing that reaction. Sometimes it’s better not to know.
Daily Mail drunk tantrums really are in a league of their own.
Shows I want pitches for: Desperate Housewives Dawson‘s Creek Grey‘s Anatomy Fresh Prince of Bel Air CSI NCIS Living Single American Idol The Big Bang Theory Downton Abbey Fleabag The Simpsons Marvelous Mrs Maisel Parks & Recreation Saturday Night Live The Muppet Show Brooklyn-99 Girls NYPD Blue ER
Shocked beyond belief to hear (via the shop’s IG account) of the death of Jonathan Main, the stalwart of Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace. I only met Jon once but we chatted online for years and he was so very funny, interesting, and knowledgable (with apt cynicism) about the book world. RIP Jon.
There's a clip show of Welsh pop on BBC at the moment, and my word, how Northern Lites wasn't number one. There's a fin de siecle record.
I was often a dick on Twitter, and I'm trying not to do it here.
Bluesky has necessarily forced a rethink in a lot of people. That reacting is not enough. Sometimes you have to come up with your own ideas. Sometimes - gasp - you have nothing to post, and that's not necessarily a bad thing either.
I will do a shop announcement tomorrow morning, but actually this matters more to me Jonathan Main was an exceptional guy, a proper real bookseller, and a great friend who I will never forget. He really put the hours in, and I am confident that the shop will continue in the same spirit.
Not even sure I'm an atheist in my head at the moment, all told.
I am an atheist in my head, not always in my heart (for particular reasons at the moment), but he's too shit for hell.
Oof, how on earth.
the bigliest god
The only reason Trump thinks of heaven is so he can replace whatever god he imagines is there.
I know that news media is forever a mad scramble etc etc but... if you're going to cover entertainment news... And then you wonder how close to the truth politics reporting actually is.
I realise that this is minor, but Ten O'Clock News announcing that Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland are going to court over unpaid royalties [essentially for Every Breath You Take], but over a clip of Walking on the Moon.
Very sad to read Jonathan Main at @booksellercrow.bsky.social has left us. He was a wonderful advocate for the books and writers he loved. Heartfelt condolences to his friends, family and colleagues at the shop, from me and the @backlisted.bsky.social team. x
uk.bookshop.org/shop/booksel... You can support them by buying a book through bookshop.org.
Really sad news. Jonathan was a mensch and Bookseller Crow is a joy.
Oh my goodness. I really am so sorry to read this. Jonathan was a lovely lovely man, I would always pop in and say hello if I was in S London. And they gave the last book such a fab welcome and push at Bookseller Crew. Please give it your support. My deepest condolences to his family. X
Like: The Wright Way. I’d love to know that full story.
I love the Godley and Crème quote re Consequences LP with Peter Cook in the Thompson biog: ‘We didn’t know what the fuck we were doing.’ That kind of thing.
How did I miss this?
‘Has opened up’, just say ‘said’ or better still ‘squawked’.
One of my dream ideas for a podcast/documentary series: people involved in a flop talk about it. Often you learn more about creativity from a flop than something that took off. (I fear contributors wouldn’t be queueing up though.)
Andy knows what's happening
This is an important point. The 'general public' are now excluded from WAC facilities following the recent policy changes.
Beverly Hillbillies 90210, With ALF.
Meaker and Makepeace and Smallpiece.
The Fall Guy where Colt Seavers is in The Fall and I imagine there will be stuntwork involved.
I won’t be happy until we see the Chorlton and the Wheelies / Portland Bill / Cockleshell Bay universe.
I promise you nothing will beat the Six Million titles. No matter how much you spend.
Shorty Mepstead will live next door.
Making him the Six Billion Dollar Man doesn't sound nearly as exciting as if they rebooted it as the Six Thousand Dollar Man.
A Touch of Frost, But With His Long-Lost Brothers Delboy and Skullion.
Lovejoy and Bergerac and That One Where Nick Berry Played a Coastguard Who For Some Reason Solved Criiiiiimes.
I am also looking forward to the new series of 'Hetty Wainthropp's CATS Eyes and Also The Professionals A Bit As Well'.
Please sir, I cannot tell a lie - "Middle-Aged Teenage Angst" is back tonight at 8pm with comprehensive tracks from Jim Bob, Nirvana, Jonathan Coulton, Cornershop, Kate Nash, Super Furry Animals, Black Box Recorder, the Ataris, Belle and Sebastian, McCarthy and loads more! @noiseboxradio.com
On the same day he recorded this jingle, Brian Johnson auditioned to be lead singer of AC/DC - and got the job m.youtube.com/watch?v=JF1H...
Yeah, they were right to stop after two series.
She was a backing singer for Spandau and Dexys as early as 82.
She sang on loads of ads, but this is the one that was a definite and searchable.
We have a winner.
My other one of later singers on early adverts is that Clive Griffin, who so nearly made it as a sort of New Rick Astley, but did the Beauty and the Beast duet with Celine Dion, was the original schoolboy singer on the ‘finger of Fudge’ advert.
I know Mute didn’t tend to re-release things back then, but very surprised they didn’t try O L’Amour again in 87.
IS THE CORRECT ANSWER although seconds before you, @allielufc.bsky.social had Stansfield and Brown as a shortlist of options.
Go on.
Extra clue: this ad actually first aired around 1985, and the mystery singer finally reached the charts near the end of the decade.
No, but I see why.
Again, logical. It’s someone who is not yet in the charts.
Wouldn’t that be amazing.
It is not Toyah. But I can hear why you thought it could be.
For about seven years, a remarkable run of singles (I’ll leave aside the slight Heavenly Action).
Unused fact unearthed during research for my new book, #IntoTheGroove. Who is this singing, on this mid-80s advert? www.youtube.com/watch?v=20-g...
Probably the first ever piece of classical music I ever heard where I knew what the real title was.
I do commissions like these.
The best Gary I know did #FirstLastAnything recently.
I wondered if it could be Hungary
Hey!! This is a good time to follow the Bluesky account for my pop culture zine wearecult.rocks - the handle is @wearecultonline.bsky.social . This week is already *STACKED* with details of upcoming Blu-ray, DVD and digital releases, and more on the way along with new reviews! We also publish books!
Garricle, Garrington, Garrison, Gargamel, Garage or Garibaldi.
Expect your mobile to go off 3pm Sunday! Be prepared for a test of the Govt's emergency alert system. Full info... www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/09... LIVING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE? If you've a hidden mobile, you the link above has details of how to opt out of the alert. Pls share
There was someone carrying this sexy new paperback on the tube last night. It was me, as I have the only copy currently in circulation.
Making notes here of these! Ta!
Thank you for offer all the same! :) Maybe over Christmas I'll get a month's sub and binge whatever's on there that looks interesting. I'm not really into series bingeing, one-off docs would be good.
Thanks, will check that out!
We ditched it a few years ago because there wasn't quite enough on there to justify keeping it. I still feel this now.
I appreciate your nerdiness! That was going to be my next question. We have bought some terrible crap in the past.
There was a time when I really watched it regularly.
LRT: Is there a way of just watching something on Netflix for a one-off 'pay £2'-type thing? That Sullivan doc sounds amazing. This is the trouble. I don't want to subscribe to everything.
My impression of Ed Sullivan was formed by rock music; the conservative scold who censored rebellious performers. I was far less aware of how this working-class Harlem-born journo was at the forefront of putting Black artists on US TV. This Netflix doc educated me. www.netflix.com/title/82048609
I think I'm going to need a new printer, that's for sure.
I mean, ELJ was another who was already very very successful before even beginning that franchise.
If you would like a brand new pop culture zine AND something hardy for the dog to have a chew on, I can help.... ko-fi.com/benbakerbooks And if you get your copy today, let me see how your pets approve!
Oh I've had that too! A number of times! I put up the card prices slightly last year as I never had before, and I try and keep it reasonable but I also know not everyone can afford that. One of these days, I'll work out some way of doing prints like you do.
Yes, it used to be 'Well, look at Rowling' (meaning 'it could be you') and now, I dunno, people probably point at Osman these days. Who, and this is not a dig, was already a fairly successful person anyway.
'Frivolous' seems an odd word to use about news media in this country at the moment, but that's the approach they're going for. Thuggish trivia. Never mind that the people who are really going to suffer as a result won't see it that way.
Same with the cards I do. You can't live on that alone, but I'm astonished people actually approach me for commissions.
I think my rough rule with anything like this is 'Are the people running this making much money?' and if they are, that's a different argument. On a relatively small-scale project, nobody's exactly raking it in, but the payment factor is recognition.
At the beginning, certainly, the modest fee does give you a feeling of 'okay, so this has value, maybe this is a sideline'?
And also, the point is, the people *were paid* for those newslines. Not much, but the 'being paid' thing was still important.
These people would be shocked by how much people were paid for Week Ending newslines. Comedy writing is not journalism.
This Martin Parr documentary, made 26 years ago and repeated on BBC4 last night, has a striking resonance now in the light of Brexit and England’s current outbreak of flags.
Its more of a saxophone solo than a question really
Books I read in August.
An improvement. I particularly like how it is a) inanimate and b) silent. Well, hopefully. It looks like Guy Smiley at the Roundhouse.
New episode up now. The Tombs of Atuan (1970) by Ursula K. Le Guin, the second part of Earthsea, with guest Frank Cottrell-Boyce in conversation with Una McCormack and Andy Miller. @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social @iammilliam.bsky.social @unamccormack.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/0sc5...
All I want is for him to exactly re-enact the whole of Alan Partridge’s fireplace presentation while slowly oleaginating. Is that too much to ask? #BestChrist #TenGrandThatCost #Bang
Oh god, yes.
So many contenders, but been thinking of this one a lot lately. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fXC...
I mean, how could we tell.
When you consider what Newsnight once was... what on earth is it for now?
Like a man whispering through a sock full of sand.
The might as well be late Jacob Rees-Mogg muttering into his own crotch, by the sound of it. #newsnight
Overhearing Newsnight, incidentally, who are a bit too pleased with themselves at being able to say 'shitshow'. #TheresNoPleasingTheseTossersSaidASpokesman
Racism's disgusting for any reason, but I think boredom is one of the worst possible reasons. The banality of evil indeed.
Is it because the American flag is really hard to draw well? (Facetious question but with a grain of truth in it. Hard to get all those stars looking the same size.)
I'm trying to think of rhymes for tomorrow and I've got borrow and sorrow. Neither of which is giving me inspiration.
What has been clear this summer is that a section of the opinion-formers and a section of the public are beyond bored. I suggest hobbies.
I do think putting up a flag whether inside or outside your house is at the very least decidedly odd. Especially when the World Cup isn't on. What is wrong with people?
Episode 2 was very carefully written by @paulwhitelaw.bsky.social and features interviews with amazing people including @whenisbirths.bsky.social and @carriem.co.uk - as well as writer Juliette Jones. It tackles the disappointment - and confusion - felt by fans of Morrissey and The Smiths.
Middle-Aged Teenage Angst: The Zine is now available to buy in print or as a PDF. 52 pages of new writing by me on forgotten TV, old mags, radio, wrestling, growing up, badges and, of course, music. Why should teenage kicks be only for teenagers? ko-fi.com/benbakerbook...