Harry Wallop
@harrywallop.co.uk
Consumer journalist | Feature writer | Columnist for Times Business | Make TV progs, chats on radio | Host conferences, panels etc.
Agent: Knight Ayton
Agent: Knight Ayton
I’ve written about the Trial of the Pyx, the value of ancient ceremonies, coins vs bitcoins and trust for this week’s @thetimes.com biz column.
Can you assay a #melaniameme or #Dogecoin? No you can’t.
www.thetimes.com/article/e90f...
Can you assay a #melaniameme or #Dogecoin? No you can’t.
www.thetimes.com/article/e90f...
Rachel Reeves and the ancient ritual that keeps our money honest
For currency to work we need to trust the most basic form of money — the tokens in our pockets — but it’s time to ditch 1p and 2p coins
www.thetimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:34 AM
I’ve written about the Trial of the Pyx, the value of ancient ceremonies, coins vs bitcoins and trust for this week’s @thetimes.com biz column.
Can you assay a #melaniameme or #Dogecoin? No you can’t.
www.thetimes.com/article/e90f...
Can you assay a #melaniameme or #Dogecoin? No you can’t.
www.thetimes.com/article/e90f...
The Trial of the Pyx is a ceremony dating back to 1248. Where The Goldsmiths test the purity of Royal MintUK’s coins. From its £5,000 gold ones to cupronickel 1p ones. Technically, while it sits, it’s the 2nd highest court in the land. And Rachel Reeves is on trial.
🧵2/3
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February 13, 2026 at 7:32 AM
The Trial of the Pyx is a ceremony dating back to 1248. Where The Goldsmiths test the purity of Royal MintUK’s coins. From its £5,000 gold ones to cupronickel 1p ones. Technically, while it sits, it’s the 2nd highest court in the land. And Rachel Reeves is on trial.
🧵2/3
🧵2/3
This is a 5kg solid gold coin. Worth about £600,000. But for it to be legal tender – and this can be used in a shop! – it has to have a denomination. And the Royal Mint has decided its face value is…£5,000.
I discovered this strange fact at The Trial of the Pyx
🧵 1/3
I discovered this strange fact at The Trial of the Pyx
🧵 1/3
February 13, 2026 at 7:27 AM
This is a 5kg solid gold coin. Worth about £600,000. But for it to be legal tender – and this can be used in a shop! – it has to have a denomination. And the Royal Mint has decided its face value is…£5,000.
I discovered this strange fact at The Trial of the Pyx
🧵 1/3
I discovered this strange fact at The Trial of the Pyx
🧵 1/3
Good point. Tho’ I feel in Summer we have the odd person who massively over performs (from, as you say, a big pool).
But no one - so far - has outperformed in Winter
But no one - so far - has outperformed in Winter
February 11, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Good point. Tho’ I feel in Summer we have the odd person who massively over performs (from, as you say, a big pool).
But no one - so far - has outperformed in Winter
But no one - so far - has outperformed in Winter
I know! I rather hoped we’d fixed the issue by now. Ice dance & curling – they just seemed to bottle at the final hurdle. After performing v well earlier on.
February 11, 2026 at 9:34 PM
I know! I rather hoped we’d fixed the issue by now. Ice dance & curling – they just seemed to bottle at the final hurdle. After performing v well earlier on.
Stewards’ inquiry needed into @teamgbofficial.bsky.social Winter Olympics. So far, by end of day 5, every solid medal chance has ended in 4th. Or worse.
February 11, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Stewards’ inquiry needed into @teamgbofficial.bsky.social Winter Olympics. So far, by end of day 5, every solid medal chance has ended in 4th. Or worse.
Matthew Parris in @thetimes.com correctly spots the demise of nox canisters littering the streets.
But he fails to spot that in many neighbourhoods the new litter caused by teens is…Buzzballz
But he fails to spot that in many neighbourhoods the new litter caused by teens is…Buzzballz
February 11, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Matthew Parris in @thetimes.com correctly spots the demise of nox canisters littering the streets.
But he fails to spot that in many neighbourhoods the new litter caused by teens is…Buzzballz
But he fails to spot that in many neighbourhoods the new litter caused by teens is…Buzzballz
Without wishing to sound like my father, I do wonder of Mia Brookes didn’t wear her trousers around her thighs she might have got a medal…
February 9, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Without wishing to sound like my father, I do wonder of Mia Brookes didn’t wear her trousers around her thighs she might have got a medal…
The use of drone cameras in #WinterOlympics is very clever. But does anyone else find the high pitch whine very annoying?
February 8, 2026 at 10:55 AM
The use of drone cameras in #WinterOlympics is very clever. But does anyone else find the high pitch whine very annoying?
Francesca Lollobrigida, who has just won Italy’s 1st 🥇at Olympics is the great-niece of Gina Lollobrigida, the legendary Italian actress
February 7, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Francesca Lollobrigida, who has just won Italy’s 1st 🥇at Olympics is the great-niece of Gina Lollobrigida, the legendary Italian actress
The answer: Professor Bernard Neal, who – between 1963 and 2005 won the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet trophy for...croquet.
It is often forgotten that Wimbledon was a croquet club before lawn tennis had even been invented
It is often forgotten that Wimbledon was a croquet club before lawn tennis had even been invented
February 6, 2026 at 4:38 PM
The answer: Professor Bernard Neal, who – between 1963 and 2005 won the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet trophy for...croquet.
It is often forgotten that Wimbledon was a croquet club before lawn tennis had even been invented
It is often forgotten that Wimbledon was a croquet club before lawn tennis had even been invented
Quiz question for a Friday afternoon. Which player has won a Wimbledon title on a record 38 separate occassions?
February 6, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Quiz question for a Friday afternoon. Which player has won a Wimbledon title on a record 38 separate occassions?
Story of the day. "Penis-gate" claims rock the Winter Olympics. Ski jumpers are injecting their penises in order to give them greater lift on the jump. Really.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...
‘Penis injection’ claims in Winter Olympics ski jumping investigated by Wada
Wada is to investigate claims ski jumpers are injecting acid into their penises to game the suit-measuring system
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Story of the day. "Penis-gate" claims rock the Winter Olympics. Ski jumpers are injecting their penises in order to give them greater lift on the jump. Really.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...
Because supermarkets are not allowed to "promote" high-sugar food by placing them at the end of an aisle, the puddings in Asda's Valentine's Meal Deal have to be moved around the corner🙄
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
February 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Because supermarkets are not allowed to "promote" high-sugar food by placing them at the end of an aisle, the puddings in Asda's Valentine's Meal Deal have to be moved around the corner🙄
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
(Great spot by @dresserman on X)
If Starmer should go, then Starmer can blame Trump.
Mandelson was appointed to US ambassador *because* he was a sleazeball friend of a paedophile. And Starmer thought he could make a deal with another sleazeball friend of a paedophile: Trump.
That proved a catastrophic decision
Mandelson was appointed to US ambassador *because* he was a sleazeball friend of a paedophile. And Starmer thought he could make a deal with another sleazeball friend of a paedophile: Trump.
That proved a catastrophic decision
February 5, 2026 at 7:28 AM
If Starmer should go, then Starmer can blame Trump.
Mandelson was appointed to US ambassador *because* he was a sleazeball friend of a paedophile. And Starmer thought he could make a deal with another sleazeball friend of a paedophile: Trump.
That proved a catastrophic decision
Mandelson was appointed to US ambassador *because* he was a sleazeball friend of a paedophile. And Starmer thought he could make a deal with another sleazeball friend of a paedophile: Trump.
That proved a catastrophic decision
Reposted by Harry Wallop
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reading some v dull annual reports. Because that's how I roll. And I see that Rio Tinto's contains hyperlinks under the CEO & chairman's statements inviting you to follow them on LinkedIn.
This is now a thing?!
This is now a thing?!
February 3, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Reading some v dull annual reports. Because that's how I roll. And I see that Rio Tinto's contains hyperlinks under the CEO & chairman's statements inviting you to follow them on LinkedIn.
This is now a thing?!
This is now a thing?!
What I’d most like to know is whether Reinaldo qualified as an osteopath. Was that £10k that Mandelson took off Epstein worth it…?
February 3, 2026 at 8:35 AM
What I’d most like to know is whether Reinaldo qualified as an osteopath. Was that £10k that Mandelson took off Epstein worth it…?
V late to this (it’s just appeared on Sky) but The Ballad of Wallis Island is such a lovely film.
Full of heart.
Full of heart.
February 1, 2026 at 7:33 PM
V late to this (it’s just appeared on Sky) but The Ballad of Wallis Island is such a lovely film.
Full of heart.
Full of heart.
Astonishing stat about Soviet Russia. Because condom production was restricted there were 20,000 abortions *each day*.
Via @thetimes.com review of ‘Exit Stalin’ by Mark B Smith.
Via @thetimes.com review of ‘Exit Stalin’ by Mark B Smith.
February 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Astonishing stat about Soviet Russia. Because condom production was restricted there were 20,000 abortions *each day*.
Via @thetimes.com review of ‘Exit Stalin’ by Mark B Smith.
Via @thetimes.com review of ‘Exit Stalin’ by Mark B Smith.
This week's @thetimes.com column on billionaires and their obsession with extending life. Rather than saving lives.
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/b...
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/b...
Oxygen chambers, Oura wedding ring — Mr BrewDog’s thirst for long life
The tycoon James Watt has spent £1m on an arsenal of ‘biohacking’ gadgets to help him live longer and beat the competition. But he still ‘absolutely loves’ beer
www.thetimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:08 AM
This week's @thetimes.com column on billionaires and their obsession with extending life. Rather than saving lives.
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/b...
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/b...
Why are the very wealthy so interested in extending their healthy lives?
For this week's @thetimes.com business column I've looked at the booming world of longevity and biohacking. Inspired by James Watt, of Brewdog, and his hyperbaric chamber...
For this week's @thetimes.com business column I've looked at the booming world of longevity and biohacking. Inspired by James Watt, of Brewdog, and his hyperbaric chamber...
January 30, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Why are the very wealthy so interested in extending their healthy lives?
For this week's @thetimes.com business column I've looked at the booming world of longevity and biohacking. Inspired by James Watt, of Brewdog, and his hyperbaric chamber...
For this week's @thetimes.com business column I've looked at the booming world of longevity and biohacking. Inspired by James Watt, of Brewdog, and his hyperbaric chamber...
Wow. Just wow. Nearly six years on from Covid, I have just received this automated reply from Cumbria Police when submitting an FOI?
Is this a record for an organisation still using a "Due to Covid 19..." excuse?
Is this a record for an organisation still using a "Due to Covid 19..." excuse?
January 29, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Wow. Just wow. Nearly six years on from Covid, I have just received this automated reply from Cumbria Police when submitting an FOI?
Is this a record for an organisation still using a "Due to Covid 19..." excuse?
Is this a record for an organisation still using a "Due to Covid 19..." excuse?