Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 16h

I got my start as a writer @sohotheatre.bsky.social on attachment on a scheme very like Soho ReDraft just a couple (*cough* 23!!! *cough*) of years ago...
Initiatives like this are vital in an industry that can no longer afford proper paid opportunities to develop new work.
👏👏👏

Soho Theatre @sohotheatre.bsky.social · 16h

5 emerging playwrights. 5 Redrafts.
Introducing Soho ReDraft — our new development programme for rising writers.

After 1,700+ submissions to the 2024 #VerityBargateAward, we spotted a crucial gap: too few chances for proper development. So obvs we had to fix it.

sohotheatre.com/project/soho...

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 19h

When I say ‘the crisis in TV isn’t a blip, it’s a paradigm shift’, this 👇👇👇 is why. The ground is shifting fast under our feet and ‘more of what worked before’ isn’t going to cut it. TV needs to see this as an opportunity for innovation, risk, experimentation and the new before it’s too late…

Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 19h

Last month, something unusual happened in TV - none of the main channels got a million viewers at 9pm. The bigger problem was it happened a 2nd & 3rd time soon after.

Another unwelcome landmark for linear TV & our shrinking shared TV experience.

Does it matter?

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

‘It was a binding experience’: TV producers mourn decline of hot 9pm slot

UK broadcasters used to rely on big audiences at 9pm, but as viewing habits change, figures are falling below the 1m mark

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Philip Ralph

Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 1d

Here's an incredibly useful overview of the complex and deeply worrying picture for TV drama commissioning. The one factor not mentioned here, as ever, are the thousands of freelancers who are struggling and leaving the industry to survive...

www.screendaily.com/features/com...

Commissioners look for safe bets amid TV drama downturn

On the eve of Mipcom, leading TV executives tell Screen how they are navigating a changed landscape.

www.screendaily.com

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Reposted by Philip Ralph

Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 1d

My keynote on class in the UK TV industry given @leedsunimedia.bsky.social last month is now available to watch on YouTube. Grab a cuppa and check it out. I’d love to know your thoughts.

youtu.be/_66i8f815oA?...

Common People - Reclaiming the narrative on class in TV at a time of crisis.

YouTube video by Philip Ralph

youtu.be

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Tom Reagan’s Hat @rufustsuperfly.bsky.social · 1d

Matt is one of my favourite people on here, witty, smart & kind.
If you could repost this I’d appreciate it.

Matt Owen @mjowen174.bsky.social · 1d

If you could please do us a favour and RT (or whatever it is on here) my writing CV I would be extremely grateful. I am a very capable writer of words, mainly “humorous”’ and if you have some PROPER paid work for me, please DM me. Thank you for your time www.mathew-owen.co.uk

Home | Matt Owen | Freelance Writer

I offer a broad and diverse range of writing services. Get in touch!

www.mathew-owen.co.uk

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 1d

What's frustrating about this article is that so many folks - myself included - have been saying the current crisis is not a blip that will right itself but a paradigm shift of how TV is made for months, even years. What we desperately need is consolidated action to change things.

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 1d

Here's an incredibly useful overview of the complex and deeply worrying picture for TV drama commissioning. The one factor not mentioned here, as ever, are the thousands of freelancers who are struggling and leaving the industry to survive...

www.screendaily.com/features/com...

Commissioners look for safe bets amid TV drama downturn

On the eve of Mipcom, leading TV executives tell Screen how they are navigating a changed landscape.

www.screendaily.com

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 1d

And you can read the full text of the speech on LinkedIn here -

t.co/HSt7dWRoqW

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/common-people-reclaiming-narrative-class-tv-time-crisis-philip-ralph-efble?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via

t.co

Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 1d

My keynote on class in the UK TV industry given @leedsunimedia.bsky.social last month is now available to watch on YouTube. Grab a cuppa and check it out. I’d love to know your thoughts.

youtu.be/_66i8f815oA?...

Common People - Reclaiming the narrative on class in TV at a time of crisis.

YouTube video by Philip Ralph

youtu.be

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Reposted by Philip Ralph

Matthew Sweet @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social · 2d

Oh no. Sometimes the obituaries just seem to come in like waves. Generations pass, I suppose. The water gets closer.

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 2d

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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 2d

stop thinking right now

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 3d

Richly deserved for Maria Corina Machado.

As for the Dorito in Chief - who would have guessed that waging endless war on truth, decency and your own people wouldn’t endear you to the Nobel Jury?

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Leader of country’s opposition receives award after scrutiny surrounding committee and comments by Donald Trump * Nobel peace prize – latest Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado has won the Nobel peace prize. The committee commended Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who “keeps the flame of democracy burning during a growing darkness”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 3d

Trump's going to be so pissed off.

apnews.com/article/nobe...

María Corina Machado of Venezuela wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Opposition activist María Corina Machado of Venezuela has won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel committee praised her as a key figure in unifying Venezuela's political opposition.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Philip Ralph

Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 4d

One of the crazy things about the AI bubble bursting is that consumer sentiment toward AI has always leaned skeptical to outright negative but it’s an industry propped up by pure billionaire greed, sycophancy, and childish fantasy

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Bradley Whitford @bradleywhitford.bsky.social · 4d

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Dear Tilly Norwood: Some Blunt Advice, Actress to “Actress,” From Betty Gilpin

The Emmy-nominated actor and author pens an open letter to the AI avatar that's got Hollywood in a tizzy.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 4d

Hugely appreciate both you David (and our rather fantastic agent Julia) and Caroline and Fritha and all who are fighting the good fight for a future for the industry we all love. ✊

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 4d

...those in power are sawing off the branch they are sitting on. You cannot solve scarcity and austerity with more of the same. To have a future, the TV industry needs to invest in itself again - creativity, risk, a willingness to fail, experimentation. New voices. New stories...

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 4d

The more voices the better on these issues imo. What we're seeing is the end of our industry being sustainable for all but the most 'successful' and it all comes from fear, panic and scarcity. Focusing only on the 'successful' might appear to be viable in the short term but in reality...

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Reposted by Philip Ralph

Marina Purkiss @marina-purkiss.bsky.social · 5d

You don’t get to bankroll a genocide…

Embolden and cheer on the perpetrators

…and then call yourself a hero for pulling the plug.

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 4d

And if anyone knows of what she speaks on this subject, it’s Caroline… the fear and scarcity mindset that’s currently driving commissioning is truly off the charts at this point. And ironically everyone suffers - including audiences - except the chosen few… it must change.

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David Allison @davidovitch.bsky.social · 4d

Jack Thorne, eh? There's a name I haven't heard in a while. Talking of which, this is what my partner said yesterday at MIA in Rome: variety.com/2025/tv/glob...

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Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 5d

@cmjhq.bsky.social do absolutely incredible work supporting service personnel and veterans in crisis, standing up and demanding justice for those who lay down their lives for our freedom. Please support them this week and your donation will be doubled.
centreformilitaryjustice.org.uk/please-suppo...

Please support our tiny charity during the Big Give week! - Centre for Military Justice

We are delighted to have been selected as one of the lucky charities to benefit from the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund. Any donations received from 8-15 October 2025 will be doubled. Our target...

centreformilitaryjustice.org.uk

Philip Ralph @philralph.bsky.social · 6d

One man and his dog… 🐶❤️

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David Wearing @davidwearing.bsky.social · 6d

Irony being that the entire Farage-isation of British politics is built on the phenomenon of white right-wingers who don't want to "integrate" with the reality of multi-ethnic Britain, don't want to accept migrants as their fellow citizens, and don't want people of colour moving into their street.

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 6d

Wow. Robert Jenrick doubles down by branding a black journalist's questions "ridiculous" and saying that the problem is not his comments, but "journalists like you who pop up and try to knock me down", adding that "this is the reason why terrorist attacks happen". ~AA

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