NickPheas

NickPheas

@nickpheas.bsky.social

Scuba diver, SF reader, father, cyclist. Yorkshire immigrant.

387 followers157 following6.9K posts

NickPheas reposted

Sean Eric Fagan
@kithrup.bsky.social

There is still 1 UK/IE #KindleBookGiveaway copy of Outlaw Planet. Remember, this is a #UKKindleBookGiveaway, you MUST have an amazon.co.uk Kindle account to claim one. amazon.co.uk/kindle/redeem/?t=GSVPYG58AZUMVCH

Sean Eric Fagan@kithrup.bsky.social

Cached UK/IE #KindleBookGiveaway: 5 copies of Outlaw Planet by M. R. Carey, which I *have* and *have read* and *did enjoy*. This is a standalone sequel to the Pandominion duology. Because this is a #UKKindleBookGiveaway, you MUST have an amazon.co.uk Kindle account to claim one.

NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen.

Des Walsh@deswalsh.bsky.social

The Akira Kurosawa film Ran is on iPlayer, if you need to just shut your brain off this weekend I recommend his films and just have the storms blowing in the background.

NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social you should be converting this kind of thing. It's one thing to blur out a Labour or Reform badge, but Pride is for live, not for politics. The only people who think treating others with respect is a political act are themselves sick in the head. bsky.app/profile/leic...

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. * * *

NickPheas reposted

Sean Eric Fagan
@kithrup.bsky.social

Cached UK/IE #KindleBookGiveaway: 5 copies of Outlaw Planet by M. R. Carey, which I *have* and *have read* and *did enjoy*. This is a standalone sequel to the Pandominion duology. Because this is a #UKKindleBookGiveaway, you MUST have an amazon.co.uk Kindle account to claim one.

NickPheas reposted

John Wiswell
@wiswell.bsky.social

UK readers! My publisher made The Dragon Has Some Complaints just 99p for Halloween! A curmudgeonly dragon pretends to be tame so he can eat for free at the local dragon riding academy. But his new rider is... a lot.

uk.bookshop.orgThe Dragon Has Some Complaints: A Cozy Novel Of Friendship, Found Family and Dragons By The Award-Winning AuthorIn this heartfelt and humorous fantasy, a dragon whose three heads bear rather . . . different personalities finds family in the most unexpected of places.From the Nebula-winning author of Someone You...
NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

#UKSFFBookBargains

TheAfterwords@theafterwords.bsky.social

UK #DEAL ALERT! One-clickers unite because THE COPPER PROMISE @sennydreadful.bsky.social is on #sale on #Kindle UK until the end of the month! link.amazon/B0fkzREMz #TheCopperPromise #CopperCat #ad #amazonuk

NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

@muskratjohn.bsky.social do you know these guys? They're hugely fun, very good live and playing near you in a few days time

The Longest Johns - NEW TOUR 2026@thelongestjohns.bsky.social

No clickbait or memes: touring is an expensive risk for any band and we need to sell tickets for these shows. You can share, tell people, help us each anyone who'd enjoy the music. Thank you ❤️ www.thelongestjohns.com/live #TheLongestJohns #USTour #UKFolkMusic #LiveMusic #Shanty

NickPheas reposted

David Barnett
@davidmbarnett.bsky.social

BARGAIN OF THE DAY: The ebook of SCUTTLER'S COVE is down to 99p but for one day only. You have until midnight... Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Scuttlers-Co... Kobo: www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/... Google Play: play.google.com/store/books/... Apple Books: No idea how to link to them, but it's there too

amazon.co.ukScuttler's Cove: A chilling, unputdownable folk horror thrillerScuttler's Cove: A chilling, unputdownable folk horror thriller eBook : Barnett, David: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

#UKSFFBookBargains today only the rather wonderful Some Desperate Glory by @emilytesh.net Kyr thinks she is a super heroic soldier devour to avenge the destroyed Earth, but it's more complicated than that. Deserved Hugo winner. www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/... www.amazon.co.uk/Some-Despera...

kobo.comSome Desperate Glory ebook by Emily Tesh - Rakuten KoboRead "Some Desperate Glory The Hugo Award-winning novel" by Emily Tesh available from Rakuten Kobo. **WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL** **SHORTLISTED FOR THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD** ** SHORTLISTED FOR THE URSULA...
NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

@alasdairstuart.com Fantasycon question: Was there any kind of blurb about the BFA awards? Do you have any insight into the uncanny that was nominated in Audio (non-fiction)? I'm guessing the Danny Robbins ghost stories thing, but it could have been the magazine.

NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

@vjknipe.bsky.social you should talk to Lalli, they might stock your book

The Portal Bookshop@portalbookshop.bsky.social

Triple Portal Day is a go! 🥳 It's also National Bookshop Day! Glasgow, Fantasycon @britfantasysoc.bsky.social We look cute, come buy books (authors, come sign your books!) Every purchase today gets entered into a a draw to win a £5 National Book Token!

View full thread

NickPheas reposted

Tom Cox
@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social

FUCK IT. Let's give away 3 more signed paperbacks of my latest novel, each with fab linoprint bookmarks, made by my mum Jo. Repost & reply to enter! You might like it if you like: Folkloric creatures Old records Intricate psychedelic stories The idea of circular time All shares much-appreciated!

NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

#UKSFFBookBargains

David Green@davidgreenwriter.bsky.social

Special sale just in time for Fantasycon and the @britfantasysoc.bsky.social awards :) Get your free book and maybe check out the (discounted) sequel too! Shares greatly appreciated! mybook.to/magicmapsand...

NickPheas reposted

Cosmic Lighthouse Comics
@cosmiclighthouse.co.uk

🤖 Security system update: Free Sanctuary Moon pin for everyone who follows our Murderbot graphic novel campaign before it officially launches on October 15th and goes on to buy a physical product! This pin won't be available for sale—the ONLY way to get one is to follow and back the campaign. (1/2)

NickPheas
@nickpheas.bsky.social

It is clear that eventually there will be one state in the southern Levant. I would rather it was built on a principle of religious and cultural equality, where no one side was deemed second class citizens. If not that, the currently dominant class will murder or expel the rest. That would be bad.

This post is unavailable.

NickPheas reposted

Sean Eric Fagan
@kithrup.bsky.social

There are still 2 copies of this #KindleBookGiveaway waiting to be claimed! Remember, for a #UKKindleBookGiveaway you MUST have an amazon.co.uk Kindle account to claim one! This is a variant on Groundhog Day, combined with Amber (or, if you prefer, The Talisman). Recommended!

Sean Eric Fagan@kithrup.bsky.social

Cached UK/IE #KindleBookGiveaway: 5 copies of The Last Hour Between Worlds (The Echo Archives Book 1), by @melissacaruso.bsky.social, which I have and have read and did enjoy and there are sequels now. This is a #UKKindleBookGiveaway, so you MUST have an amazon.co.uk Kindle account to claim one.