Graeme Thomson

Graeme Thomson

@graemethomson.bsky.social

Writes books. In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk out now. Also: Under The Ivy; Small Hours; Themes For Great Cities &tc. Web: www.graemethomson.net

3K followers965 following3.2K posts

Pinned

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

Some weekend housekeeping: a gathering together of most, if not all, coverage of 'In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk' to date. www.graemethomson.net/post/in-anot...

graemethomson.netIn Another World / Media coverageOctober 2026.There has been a lot of media coverage of 'In Another World' since its publication in May, for which I'm grateful. This week I took a little time to gather it all in one place. Below are many if not all of the reviews thus far, with links and screenshots where possible. There are also interviews, both print and audio/visual, as well as extracts in places such as The Wire, the i Paper and Uncut, features, testimonies, a news item in the Bookseller and a link to 3+ hour playlist I com
Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

In light of today's news about Brett Morgen's Stage film, I'm giving this a relatively rare run out. '75-80 Bowie is a hairpin ascent into the modern world. So thrilling, so alive and weirdly euphoric.

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

Just taken a call from Sutton Bingham, semi-mythical hard bop pioneer

Graeme Thomson@graemethomson.bsky.social

I miss the West Country at this time of year, especially the parts where every second village sounds like a long-lost jazz legend - Monkton Combe; Farleigh Hungerford; 'Cold' Ashton - and you keep looking for that concealed left turn for Grachan Moncur...

Graeme Thomson reposted

Leicester Gazette
@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

Donal Lunny was involved in the creation of so much incredible music it's impossible tonight to pick favourites. I'm playing this great record because the last time I saw him perform, a few years back, it was revisiting this album.

Graeme Thomson reposted

Gary Parkinson
@garyparkinson.bsky.social

Hurts, Van rental.

Graeme Thomson@graemethomson.bsky.social

From the Amol Rajan School of Pricing: pay $20 to access a filmed concert from Van Morrison's online vault (there are currently only 2 shows available). The catch? This only allows you to view the film for 7 days: "you can watch the concert as many times as you like during this period," mind you.

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

From the Amol Rajan School of Pricing: pay $20 to access a filmed concert from Van Morrison's online vault (there are currently only 2 shows available). The catch? This only allows you to view the film for 7 days: "you can watch the concert as many times as you like during this period," mind you.

Graeme Thomson reposted

mellotronworker
@mellotronworker.bsky.social

Can you help save Edinburgh's cherished arts and culture hub? Summerhall is under threat - can you sign the petition to demand the Council stop its redevelopment destroying the vibrant arts community?✍️🙏 you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

you.38degrees.org.ukSave Summerhall - Scotland's premier arts venue!Summerhall is under threat - can you sign the petition to demand the Council stop its redevelopment destroying the vibrant arts community?

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

I'm glad this is coming out. Lynott's solo material is quite scattershot but much of it is underrated. And some of the songs he wrote and demoed but never released towards the end of his life are really beautiful. 'One Wish', for example, is deeply moving. shop.thinlizzyofficial.com/collections/...

shop.thinlizzyofficial.comThe Story Of My Life 8CD Box SetPre-order: This item is currently on pre-order and will ship for release date 30th October. The Story Of My Life is the definitive collection celebrating the extraordinary solo work of Philip Lynott, the legendary Thin Lizzy frontman, bassist and songwriter. Compiled by renowned Thin Lizzy archivist Nick Sharp and rele
Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

I'm here for any sentence that begins "That cunt Matt Hancock..." There's certainly no shortage of ways to complete the line.

Bruce Gorrie@bsrg1.bsky.social

That cunt Matt Hancock got £300,000 for I'm A Celebrity, £40,000 for Celebrity SAS. He should be in the jail. We do not live in a serious society.

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

I learned a great new phrase this morning: 'Strike the tower' - meaning, to dismantle scaffolding. Not an easy one to jemmy into everyday speech, but I'll be trying...

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

Summer Visitor is a lovely, curious (in both senses), fully living thing. I wrapped my lugs around it today as a generous allocation of held-over summer light ghosted in through the upstairs windows – and it marked the moment beautifully. Looking forward to many revisitations.

This post is unavailable.

Graeme Thomson reposted

Stevie Chick
@steviechick.bsky.social

So many reasons to buy the new MOJO: Martin Aston meets Alice Cooper! Graeme Thomson on Fela! Tom Doyle faces down QOTSA! Plus ME telling you how to buy neo-soul. On newsstands now, he said, like he was Stan Lee penning the Bullpen Bulletins.

Graeme Thomson reposted

Patrick Ness
@patricknessbooks.bsky.social

The NHS Guidance on trans people in hospital will protect zero women but will badly harm trans people. What a hateful disgrace and will be remembered by future generations as a stain on us all.

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

If you've read ‘In Another World’ you may recall I wrote about Bristol Dave: drummer in our school band ‘on the piratical fringes of Bristol.’ Here we are c '88, trying v hard to be REM c'83. Dave's far left; the man who first played me Spirit Of Eden. And the world turned upside down. Thanks Dave 🙏

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

If you've read ‘In Another World’ you may recall I wrote about Bristol Dave: drummer in our school band ‘on the piratical fringes of Bristol.’ Here we are c '88, trying v hard to be REM c'83. Dave's far left; the man who first played me Spirit Of Eden. And the world turned upside down. Thanks Dave 🙏

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

Paul Simon is 85 today. He had his first hit in 1957. His career spans the ages of doo wop, early rock & roll and the Brill Building, the folk revival (UK & US), pop stardom, the singer-songwriter era, ‘world’ music, Eno collabs, Broadway musicals, devotional music... At his best he is the best.

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

Paul Simon is 85 today. He had his first hit in 1957. His career spans the ages of doo wop, early rock & roll and the Brill Building, the folk revival (UK & US), pop stardom, the singer-songwriter era, ‘world’ music, Eno collabs, Broadway musicals, devotional music... At his best he is the best.

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

"This book is quite extraordinary. Masterfully conceived and beautifully executed ... it can only serve to enrich your love and understanding of those intricate creations." Thanks @hobocampreview.bsky.social for very kind words on 'In Another World' 🙏 hobocampreview.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-re...

hobocampreview.blogspot.comA Review of In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk by Graeme ThomsonI kept my eye out for this book ever since I heard of it, scanning bookstores in recent visits around the US. But I never had any luck. So o...
Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

"This book is quite extraordinary. Masterfully conceived and beautifully executed ... it can only serve to enrich your love and understanding of those intricate creations." Thanks @hobocampreview.bsky.social for very kind words on 'In Another World' 🙏 hobocampreview.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-re...

hobocampreview.blogspot.comA Review of In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk by Graeme ThomsonI kept my eye out for this book ever since I heard of it, scanning bookstores in recent visits around the US. But I never had any luck. So o...

Graeme Thomson reposted

Graeme Thomson
@graemethomson.bsky.social

In Another World hanging out with Rodge Glass's excellent Suede Mk II book (and a paperback Jim & Charlie) at the Edinburgh Bookshop earlier today.