Tom Burgess
@nottomburgess.bsky.social
Comedian, voice actor and cult TV lover (esp. Doctor Who and Blue Peter). 📺 Archivist for fictional BBC children's pioneer Peter Fleming and producer of his 'Into the Archives' podcast. He/him. linktr.ee/tomburgesscomedy
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Exactly 75 years ago today, BBC Television began regular broadcasting at Saturday teatimes with the very first episode of Whirligig, one of its first well-known, long-running children’s shows.
To mark the occasion, I’ve written a feature for the BBC website.
But if you’d like to know more… (1/3)
To mark the occasion, I’ve written a feature for the BBC website.
But if you’d like to know more… (1/3)
Whirligig
A tribute to a much-loved Saturday teatime children's favourite, 75 years on.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Exactly 75 years ago today, BBC Television began regular broadcasting at Saturday teatimes with the very first episode of Whirligig, one of its first well-known, long-running children’s shows.
To mark the occasion, I’ve written a feature for the BBC website.
But if you’d like to know more… (1/3)
To mark the occasion, I’ve written a feature for the BBC website.
But if you’d like to know more… (1/3)
When I was doing my GCSEs, I heard a guy defending his creative writing coursework to our English teacher. "Yeah I mean, I asked a few people what they thought, and they said it was only a bit racist."
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
When I was doing my GCSEs, I heard a guy defending his creative writing coursework to our English teacher. "Yeah I mean, I asked a few people what they thought, and they said it was only a bit racist."
Another Spidey-Smersh, another joke I thought immediately after, "I regret saying that." Enjoy! Forgive!
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Another Spidey-Smersh, another joke I thought immediately after, "I regret saying that." Enjoy! Forgive!
Reposted by Tom Burgess
A spidey special, from your friendly neighbourhood podcaster!
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM
A spidey special, from your friendly neighbourhood podcaster!
I would like to wish my fellow Doctor Who fans a very happy 43rd anniversary of the Young Ones episode 'Boring'.
RIK: [to Madness] Do any of you know Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard?
SUGGS: You hum it, and I'll smash your face in.
💙💙
RIK: [to Madness] Do any of you know Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard?
SUGGS: You hum it, and I'll smash your face in.
💙💙
November 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I would like to wish my fellow Doctor Who fans a very happy 43rd anniversary of the Young Ones episode 'Boring'.
RIK: [to Madness] Do any of you know Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard?
SUGGS: You hum it, and I'll smash your face in.
💙💙
RIK: [to Madness] Do any of you know Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard?
SUGGS: You hum it, and I'll smash your face in.
💙💙
Reposted by Tom Burgess
EXCL with @geraldinemckelvie.bsky.social
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
EXCL with @geraldinemckelvie.bsky.social
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Johnson told Covid inquiry of the Feb 2020 half-term: "I was working throughout the period and the tempo did increase.”
But log shows at country house Chevening, Johnson did not conduct any official government business on 15, 16, 17 and 21 February.
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Dad's Army - Branded (20th November 1969). Godfrey reveals he was a conscientious objector during the first war and subsequently is cold-shouldered by the rest of the platoon. But later events force everyone (and especially Mainwaring) to revise their opinions ....
November 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Dad's Army - Branded (20th November 1969). Godfrey reveals he was a conscientious objector during the first war and subsequently is cold-shouldered by the rest of the platoon. But later events force everyone (and especially Mainwaring) to revise their opinions ....
Yeah obviously, people would be freaked out by that
Trump: My pollsters said, 'sir, if George Washington and Abraham Lincoln came back from the dead and they aligned and they went for the president, vice president as a combination, you'd be beating them by 25 points.'
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Yeah obviously, people would be freaked out by that
The man who inspired this six years ago I often still see round my neighbourhood, and he still hasn't found the rest of his car.
![@tomb_urges - Whenever I see someone on one of these, I like like to imagine they started out with a much larger vehicle and their journey has been riddled with mishaps. [pic of guy on a unicycle type thing]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lxm3v43kiuo4gdun45a4zivh/bafkreialamhqwi5ukvc5s2hvbpuofiltysnogvfr6kqcy7cj4ye6alqkau@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The man who inspired this six years ago I often still see round my neighbourhood, and he still hasn't found the rest of his car.
You're all very welcome.
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
You're all very welcome.
Reposted by Tom Burgess
💥 NEW: ‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers".
Read on for more...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers".
Read on for more...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
💥 NEW: ‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers".
Read on for more...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers".
Read on for more...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Manchester Central Library is appealing for missing Piccadilly Radio tapes to help complete its digital archive of historic shows
Central Library calls for missing Piccadilly Radio tapes
Manchester Central Library is appealing for missing Piccadilly Radio tapes to help complete its digital archive of historic shows
radiotoday.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Manchester Central Library is appealing for missing Piccadilly Radio tapes to help complete its digital archive of historic shows
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Extraordinary film from the BBC’s archive. Marvel at Marty Feldman as he chats to pretty much everyone working in comedy in 1969.
youtu.be/S0it6iARj64?...
youtu.be/S0it6iARj64?...
1969: Marty Feldman - What is Comedy? | One Pair of Eyes | Comedy Icons | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
November 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Extraordinary film from the BBC’s archive. Marvel at Marty Feldman as he chats to pretty much everyone working in comedy in 1969.
youtu.be/S0it6iARj64?...
youtu.be/S0it6iARj64?...
Writing the new series of Into the Archives with Peter Fleming is taking time, but to tide listeners over, I have just written the line, "I’m sorry I beat you and smashed my paperweight into your head."
November 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Writing the new series of Into the Archives with Peter Fleming is taking time, but to tide listeners over, I have just written the line, "I’m sorry I beat you and smashed my paperweight into your head."
I coveted this so deeply. Still got my Cybermen and Master tins!
ON THIS DAY... 26 years ago, Planet of the Daleks and Revelation of the Daleks were released together in a VHS tin set.
#DoctorWho
#DoctorWho
November 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I coveted this so deeply. Still got my Cybermen and Master tins!
BBC should do the decent thing and hand Trump the £45m they raised for Children in Need last night
November 15, 2025 at 8:52 AM
BBC should do the decent thing and hand Trump the £45m they raised for Children in Need last night
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Amused that Trump's lawyers really sent the legal letter to:
BBC Television Centre,
London W12 8QT.
I wonder if they included a self addressed envelope for a reply and called 018118055 to confirm receipt.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/tru...
BBC Television Centre,
London W12 8QT.
I wonder if they included a self addressed envelope for a reply and called 018118055 to confirm receipt.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/tru...
November 11, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Amused that Trump's lawyers really sent the legal letter to:
BBC Television Centre,
London W12 8QT.
I wonder if they included a self addressed envelope for a reply and called 018118055 to confirm receipt.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/tru...
BBC Television Centre,
London W12 8QT.
I wonder if they included a self addressed envelope for a reply and called 018118055 to confirm receipt.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Tom Burgess
I reckon a shared national popular culture is just as important (if not more important) than a fact based, impartial news service for liberal democracy to work.
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I reckon a shared national popular culture is just as important (if not more important) than a fact based, impartial news service for liberal democracy to work.
Reposted by Tom Burgess
At a wider level 90% of the BBC's "stuff" is not the shit domestic newscasting, and it'll be that stuff - the Proms, coverage of regional music and events, BBC Africa, the World Service, choirs and orchestras - that will go first
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
At a wider level 90% of the BBC's "stuff" is not the shit domestic newscasting, and it'll be that stuff - the Proms, coverage of regional music and events, BBC Africa, the World Service, choirs and orchestras - that will go first
Reposted by Tom Burgess
A thread of informed observations.
if you pare back expertise and experience, you end up with a newsroom full of well-meaning kids with no old lags to go "er, no, you need to make clear that that's an edited speech"; you end up with an emasculated Newsnight; you end up with no scope to do time-consuming investigations.
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A thread of informed observations.
The point is Panorama should have quoted Trump in full: "Look, we just have to accept it. I lost the election. This was a fair result, Biden won, and we must now have a peaceful transfer of power. You should all go home. I don't even know what you're all doing here. I certainly didn't invite you."
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 AM
The point is Panorama should have quoted Trump in full: "Look, we just have to accept it. I lost the election. This was a fair result, Biden won, and we must now have a peaceful transfer of power. You should all go home. I don't even know what you're all doing here. I certainly didn't invite you."
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Tom Burgess
Surprising number of Tim Davie fans in the NFL
BREAKING: Trump was just viciously BOOED at the Washington Commanders Detroit Lions game.
I’ve never heard a president booed this loudly in my life. Holy cow!
I’ve never heard a president booed this loudly in my life. Holy cow!
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Surprising number of Tim Davie fans in the NFL
Surprising number of Tim Davie fans in the NFL
BREAKING: Trump was just viciously BOOED at the Washington Commanders Detroit Lions game.
I’ve never heard a president booed this loudly in my life. Holy cow!
I’ve never heard a president booed this loudly in my life. Holy cow!
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Surprising number of Tim Davie fans in the NFL
Woke up too early and angry about the state of things, so naturally watching this.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Woke up too early and angry about the state of things, so naturally watching this.