BBC
Why emote about migrants during a concert?
How should we deal with people who sneeze in public places? Stephen Jackson, aged 49, has found himself in court…
The Spectator’s notes
Presumably Britain has some sort of policy on immigration, asylum and refugees, but instead of struggling to understand it, you…
Bloated Biased Correct
The BBC was created out of the ether in 1922. Its first director general, Lord Reith, inhabited a cupboard some…
Look at my Fringe
Our theatre critic, Lloyd Evans, makes his Edinburgh debut
Orchestral infallibility
Watching the Berlin Philharmonic going into conclave to choose a successor to Simon Rattle — after countless hours of secret…
Diary
There’s nothing quite like a First Night — and last Friday we launched the Proms, the most celebrated classical music…
Diary
I witnessed what was almost a violent fight to the death on Hampstead Heath the other morning. Broad flawless sunlight,…
Tax return
Make no mistake: the Proms, whose 2015 season was launched last night, would not, could not, exist without the BBC,…
Première league
This year the Proms are to stage 21 world premières and 11 European, UK or London premières. It is good…
Caught offside
It’s not surprising that politicians have such an on-off relationship with the broadcast media. One slip. One casual comment. One…
You can’t take the Islam out of Islamic State
At last, British politicians have been galvanised into action by the appalling events last weekend in the Tunisian resort of…
The questions you don’t ask at the BBC
There was a remarkable scene in one BBC Today programme morning meeting in about 1995, as all the producers gathered…
High life
Last Wednesday, 24 June, Pugs held a luncheon in honour of our first member to depart for the Elysian Fields,…
Is suicide bombing now a Yorkshire tradition?
Where would you rather live, Dewsbury or Bradford? I ask because it seems that there are probably some good property…
Bad robots
You’d think scientists might have realised by now that creating a race of super-robots is about as wise as opening…
Evan sent
Evan Davis’s series on business life, The Bottom Line (made in conjunction with the Open University), has become one of…
There will be blood
If you’re in the least bit squeamish you’d better stop reading now. What follows is not for those who blanch…
The Spectator’s notes
David Cameron is taking a bit of trouble to unite his parliamentary party. Having built a coalition outside it last…
Diary
I am writing a play about Dr Johnson and his Dictionary. It will be performed in Scotland later this year.…
Target practice
Ever since the days of Tony Hancock, many of the best British sitcoms — from Dad’s Army to Fawlty Towers,…
I, Bette Davis
It was called Frankly Speaking and by golly it was. The great screen actress Bette Davis was being interviewed by…
Screen grab
Ever since Boy got back from school my work schedule has fallen to pieces. Every few minutes, just when I’ve…
How to make a political party vanish
The establishment drive to marginalise Ukip has been under way for three months now, and it has having its effect.…
High life
It’s a famous quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one that Elton John should ponder (when he’s not out shopping, that…
The nailbiting run-up to Question Time
I was invited on Question Time this week, which gave me a few sleepless nights. Natalie Bennett’s disastrous interview on…
