Simon Read
@simonread.bsky.social
Writer/broadcaster: an anagram of 'randomise'. Tweet about #cocktails #beer #blackandwhitefilms #music #puns #football #finance. Work: [email protected]
I worked at the BBC for seven years and have some fond memories. I'm back tonight for a recording of Radio 4's News Quiz
February 12, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I worked at the BBC for seven years and have some fond memories. I'm back tonight for a recording of Radio 4's News Quiz
I saw My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. If you've seen the film, you'll know what to expect: a touching story about childhood hopes and dreams. It translated well to the stage with some excellent puppets and cast. If you have kids, they'll love it. I did, but I'm a big kid at heart.
February 12, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I saw My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. If you've seen the film, you'll know what to expect: a touching story about childhood hopes and dreams. It translated well to the stage with some excellent puppets and cast. If you have kids, they'll love it. I did, but I'm a big kid at heart.
Thursday matinee #theatre treat is My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in Drury Lane. The 1988 Japanese animated film the show is based on was a really sweet and delightful watch, so I have high hopes for this theatrical production.
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Thursday matinee #theatre treat is My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in Drury Lane. The 1988 Japanese animated film the show is based on was a really sweet and delightful watch, so I have high hopes for this theatrical production.
Trafalgar Square in the rain last night. It's been 41 days of rain in the UK and while that means walking in #London leaves you damp and cold, the wet also helps highlight the beauty of the city.
February 12, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Trafalgar Square in the rain last night. It's been 41 days of rain in the UK and while that means walking in #London leaves you damp and cold, the wet also helps highlight the beauty of the city.
Saw a production of Noel Coward's Fallen Angels at the Menier Chocolate Factory. It's a fun and silly story of two flighty wives getting drunk while anticipating the arrival of a former French lover, while their husbands are off playing golf. Lots of laughs from an enjoyable cast
February 12, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Saw a production of Noel Coward's Fallen Angels at the Menier Chocolate Factory. It's a fun and silly story of two flighty wives getting drunk while anticipating the arrival of a former French lover, while their husbands are off playing golf. Lots of laughs from an enjoyable cast
Saw High Noon at the Harold Pinter Theatre. It's a slow-moving production interspersed with snatches of Springsteen songs. The theatricality was upped and tension built gradually with some decent performances but it was lacking something, compared to the 1950s film.
February 12, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Saw High Noon at the Harold Pinter Theatre. It's a slow-moving production interspersed with snatches of Springsteen songs. The theatricality was upped and tension built gradually with some decent performances but it was lacking something, compared to the 1950s film.
It's a delightful double-bubble #theatre day for me today. Matinee performance is High Noon at The Harold Pinter Theatre and then this evening I'm off to see Fallen Angels at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Cheap tickets make for affordable fun!
February 11, 2026 at 12:40 PM
It's a delightful double-bubble #theatre day for me today. Matinee performance is High Noon at The Harold Pinter Theatre and then this evening I'm off to see Fallen Angels at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Cheap tickets make for affordable fun!
!0 years ago tonight I was watching John Grant at Sheffield University when he was joined on stage by Richard Hawley for a few numbers. I love getting a special bonus at a gig like that, it feels a little bit special. What guest stars popping up at a gig have surprised you?
February 11, 2026 at 9:54 AM
!0 years ago tonight I was watching John Grant at Sheffield University when he was joined on stage by Richard Hawley for a few numbers. I love getting a special bonus at a gig like that, it feels a little bit special. What guest stars popping up at a gig have surprised you?
Magical #blackandwhitefilm of the day: Miranda, 1948. Brit comedy about playful mermaid Glynis Johns, flirting impishly with Griffith Jones, John McCullum and David Tomlinson. Margaret Rutherford and Googie Withers also star on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social at 12.50pm youtu.be/MwHHvRue1z8?...
Miranda | Miranda 1948 | Old Movie Fanatic
YouTube video by Old Movie Fanatic
youtu.be
February 11, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Magical #blackandwhitefilm of the day: Miranda, 1948. Brit comedy about playful mermaid Glynis Johns, flirting impishly with Griffith Jones, John McCullum and David Tomlinson. Margaret Rutherford and Googie Withers also star on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social at 12.50pm youtu.be/MwHHvRue1z8?...
Delightful #blackandwhitefilm of the day: The Ghost Goes West, 1935. ghostly comedy sees Robert Donat play an C18th Scottish ghost and his C20th descendant battling bumptious Americans who transport their castle to the US on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social at 11.15am youtu.be/SDBcy0AC7jU?...
"The Ghost Goes West" - Order Now
YouTube video by Network Distributing
youtu.be
February 11, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Delightful #blackandwhitefilm of the day: The Ghost Goes West, 1935. ghostly comedy sees Robert Donat play an C18th Scottish ghost and his C20th descendant battling bumptious Americans who transport their castle to the US on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social at 11.15am youtu.be/SDBcy0AC7jU?...
Football can be terribly exasperating at times. Here's Cole Palmer about to put Chelsea 2-0 up, only for the Blues to produce some inept defending to gift Leeds two soft goals, and for Palmer to inexplicably miss a sitter from inches out that would have won the game in the 94th minute. Football!
February 11, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Football can be terribly exasperating at times. Here's Cole Palmer about to put Chelsea 2-0 up, only for the Blues to produce some inept defending to gift Leeds two soft goals, and for Palmer to inexplicably miss a sitter from inches out that would have won the game in the 94th minute. Football!
It's Premier League football in the driving rain on a Tuesday night in February at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea take on Leeds United. Chelsea have won their last four Premier League games so there can only be one conclusion!
February 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
It's Premier League football in the driving rain on a Tuesday night in February at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea take on Leeds United. Chelsea have won their last four Premier League games so there can only be one conclusion!
London has 88 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 guide, up from 85 last year. How many have you experienced? (I've been to four)
www.standard.co.uk/going-out/re...
www.standard.co.uk/going-out/re...
Michelin guide 2026: All of London's one, two and three star restaurants
London's galaxy of stars — every starred restaurant in the capital including the newest additions
www.standard.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 7:27 AM
London has 88 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 guide, up from 85 last year. How many have you experienced? (I've been to four)
www.standard.co.uk/going-out/re...
www.standard.co.uk/going-out/re...
I love this atmospheric photo of London's Embankment, taken in February 1933, one year after my dad was born just across the river.
February 10, 2026 at 12:28 AM
I love this atmospheric photo of London's Embankment, taken in February 1933, one year after my dad was born just across the river.
"And there were bloody footprints
Where mercy should have stood
And two dead, left to die on snow-filled streets
Alex Pretti and Renee Good"
My favourite track of the year so far is Bruce Springsteen's powerful protest song Streets Of Minneapolis.
youtu.be/wWKSoxG1K7w?...
Where mercy should have stood
And two dead, left to die on snow-filled streets
Alex Pretti and Renee Good"
My favourite track of the year so far is Bruce Springsteen's powerful protest song Streets Of Minneapolis.
youtu.be/wWKSoxG1K7w?...
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 12:54 PM
"And there were bloody footprints
Where mercy should have stood
And two dead, left to die on snow-filled streets
Alex Pretti and Renee Good"
My favourite track of the year so far is Bruce Springsteen's powerful protest song Streets Of Minneapolis.
youtu.be/wWKSoxG1K7w?...
Where mercy should have stood
And two dead, left to die on snow-filled streets
Alex Pretti and Renee Good"
My favourite track of the year so far is Bruce Springsteen's powerful protest song Streets Of Minneapolis.
youtu.be/wWKSoxG1K7w?...
Post your favourite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.
February 8, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Post your favourite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.
A rare home win for AFC Wimbledon yesterday as they beat Reading 3-2. It was the first goal(s) we'd seen Wimbledon score at Plough Lane for almost three months, and their second victory in a week has eased relegation fears. At least for the moment
February 8, 2026 at 8:51 AM
A rare home win for AFC Wimbledon yesterday as they beat Reading 3-2. It was the first goal(s) we'd seen Wimbledon score at Plough Lane for almost three months, and their second victory in a week has eased relegation fears. At least for the moment
Football: a salve for all troubles (unless we end up losing)
February 7, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Football: a salve for all troubles (unless we end up losing)
I had an interesting week. I hope you did too
February 7, 2026 at 1:41 PM
I had an interesting week. I hope you did too
Editor: there's only one person who can write this story. Send for...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We had sex in a Chinese hotel, then found we had been broadcast to thousands
A couple who stayed in Shenzhen discovered their intimate moments were filmed as spy-cam porn.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Editor: there's only one person who can write this story. Send for...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Ted Read (28/2/32 – 10/1/26) will be held at Southend Crematorium, 12.30pm on Friday 6 February. Afterwards there will be a toast to Ted at Chalkwell Park Rooms. Donations can be made to Cancer Research UK www.justgiving.com/page/tedread
Ted Read fundraiser for Cancer Research UK
Help Simon Read raise money to support Cancer Research UK
www.justgiving.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Today
Thursday pre-dinner #cocktail as the rain buckets down on the coastal town they forgot to close down is a pre-mixed Boulevardier by @whiteboxcocktails, a delicious blend of bourbon, vermouth and bitters. I'm enjoying a great book and this'll help me be happy in the haze of a drunken hour. Pip pip!
February 5, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Thursday pre-dinner #cocktail as the rain buckets down on the coastal town they forgot to close down is a pre-mixed Boulevardier by @whiteboxcocktails, a delicious blend of bourbon, vermouth and bitters. I'm enjoying a great book and this'll help me be happy in the haze of a drunken hour. Pip pip!
Postcard from Southend
February 5, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Postcard from Southend
Reposted by Simon Read
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Ted Read (28/2/32 – 10/1/26) will be held at Southend Crematorium, 12.30pm on Friday 6 February. Afterwards there will be a toast to Ted at Chalkwell Park Rooms. Donations can be made to Cancer Research UK www.justgiving.com/page/tedread
Ted Read fundraiser for Cancer Research UK
Help Simon Read raise money to support Cancer Research UK
www.justgiving.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:17 PM
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Ted Read (28/2/32 – 10/1/26) will be held at Southend Crematorium, 12.30pm on Friday 6 February. Afterwards there will be a toast to Ted at Chalkwell Park Rooms. Donations can be made to Cancer Research UK www.justgiving.com/page/tedread