Jack Fifield

Jack Fifield

@jackfifield.uk

he/him, senior reporter @swns.com - but views my own. bi cyclist. 🏳️‍🌈 bylines: Guardian, Mirror, Express, Star, New York Post, MEN, Bolton News, Manchester Mill, others. 📍London, UK 🌐 jackfifield.uk/contact

4.4K followers1.6K following3.6K posts

Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

The Underground is boring. You can't see anything and it smells. It should be replaced with a network of cable cars at the earliest opportunity.

Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

In Thamesmead today - both to and from Abbey Wood the online departures and physical signs saying when the next bus will come have had no relation to reality. I swear it used to be better.

Jack Fifield 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. * * *
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Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

I look forward to the same leniency being applied to those accidentally buying a train ticket with an expired or incorrect Railcard.

Politics UK@politicsuk.com

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham has announced changes to car parking fines - Drivers will have a 5-minute grace period to decide whether to park and 10 minutes to leave after a parking session ends - A £20 maximum charge on appeal for minor mistakes, such as entering the wrong number plate

Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

Can someone please make a mod for Wii Sports Resort which allows more than four players in the turn-based games (bowling and golf)? It makes no sense that it's limited to four.

Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

OpenAI SynthID detected on Kent County Council's 'Be Bright Be Seen' infographic. It recommends cyclists wear a helmet and reflective clothes, pedestrians wear bright clothing and don't listen to music, and drivers to put away their phones and look out for kids. www.kmfm.co.uk/promos/bbbs-...

Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

Maybe just putting in a regular tap would have saved state-owned South Western Railway from having to sponsor the water dispenser in its own station. Just a thought.

Jack Fifield@jackfifield.uk

And the train station charging for tap water is how I know I'm fully home

Jack Fifield
@jackfifield.uk

Why do the UK tabloids always call scabies a Victorian disease when it existed before then and calling it a MITE that BURROWS IN YOUR SKIN is much more exciting anyway

Jack Fifield reposted

🦎
@loungeiguana.bsky.social

Spot the difference. Apparently the blue shirt on the right is ok for broadcast by the BBC, but not the white one on the left. 👀

Jack Fifield reposted

Disobedient Avocado 🥑
@disobedientavocado.bsky.social

It's wild to me how much space people have for harbouring dislike towards someone. If I dislike someone, I couldn't care less about them, I spend no time thinking about them, I just take them out of all aspects of my life. Fuelling your own hatred of person is so pathetic to me