On Radio
The best of The Rest Is …
Sequel podcasts are emerging with the inevitability of sprouts from an old potato
Spare me the Great Canadian Warbler
Radio 4 celebrates the limited talents of Joni Mitchell
Palin was a rare Radio 4 treat
The triumph of Michael Palin’s Book of the Week and the tragedy of Radio 4 comedy
Spotlight on the Black Country
BBC on the Black Country and on the passing of Michael Parkinson
Not having a gay old time
On BBC radio’s preoccupation with Americans and identity politics.
Remembering an unfashionable writer
BBC Radio 4 attempts to resurrect fallen literary figures.
Two essays in excellence
The BBC at its best on Shakespeare, and remembering Barry Humphries.
Multiple moans from the get-go
The americanisation of the BBC
Radio 2 is now beyond my Ken
What used to work, and what listeners enjoyed, is no longer the most important consideration for the decision-makers in Radio
The Turner Prize’s identity crisis
The art establishment has revived competent drawing in spite of itself
The way forward for conservatives
We must have bold politicians who really believe in the things they promise
June letters
Hard power is the only currency that is truly respected
The collapse of the Tory Party has just begun
How Reform crippled the Conservatives
Are the grown ups really back in charge?
Centrist commentators are wallowing in limp clichés instead of asking serious questions about policy
In the beginning: neither fish nor fowl
Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson
Jeremy Clarkson touches grass
How a cocky petrolhead found his soul
Is Beer the solution to all of life’s problems?
The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions — And How The World Lost its Mind. By Dan Davies
Put the money back into politics
Business and politics rubbed along much better before restrictions were introduced
The scarlet letter
A touchy-feely Labour government must embrace the ugly reality of business
Messing with the master’s work
Beethoven: Emperor Concerto; Brett Dean: A Winter’s Journey (Orchid)
