Dr Nigel Fletcher

Baked a cake for the first time in a while this evening. Disaster struck when my chocolate ganache wouldn’t thicken, but I kept calm and managed to save the situation. The sense of achievement when it reached the right consistency was off the scale. It’s the small wins. #baking

How a quiet chat over a glass of wine and a walk in the park help keep the British state on track. My new article on the “Golden Triangle” of officials who help guard the constitution, featuring details of what the late Queen said to her Prime Ministers... nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/inside-the...

How a quiet chat over a glass of wine and a walk in the park help keep the British state on track. My new article on the “Golden Triangle” of officials who help guard the constitution, featuring details of what the late Queen said to her Prime Ministers... nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/inside-the...

This Sunday I somehow find myself running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. I know there are a lot of these "sponsor me" requests, but if you could lob me a few quid to encourage me in this latest folly, it would be hugely appreciated. 🙏 justgiving.com/page/nigel-f...

And once again, Miranda is ON IT.

I admire the optimism of the news producer who asked if I would join their by-election coverage between 3am and 5am tonight, but this elderly princess badly needs her beauty sleep.

One consequence of Jeffrey Archer’s sudden death occurring during Tory Party conference is that there have been ample opportunities on the fringes and in the bars to collect INDUSTRIAL grade gossip about the old rogue. Entertaining to the end. RIP

Some top sleuthing from Miranda “Miss Marple” Hart at the round table, which isn’t getting the credit it deserves. #CelebrityTraitors

Gearing up for my talk tomorrow at the Chelsea History Festival on “Churchill’s Queen”. I’ll be sharing some exclusive insights on my research and new discoveries, and it’d be lovely to see you there. Do come along! Tickets via: chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk/chf-2026/chu...

Every time I do a running challenge I say “this will be the last one”. Well, I should have known better… It seems I'm doing the @royalparkshalf.bsky.social in aid of @macmillancancer.bsky.social in a couple of weeks, so any support would be much appreciated: justgiving.com/page/nigel-f...

Really excited to be taking to the stage at Greenwich Theatre in November to discuss “Churchill’s Queen”, alongside the superb Katherine Carter, whose own book on Churchill and Chartwell is excellent. Do come along and see us, and get your books signed! greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/churc...

Really excited to be taking to the stage at Greenwich Theatre in November to discuss “Churchill’s Queen”, alongside the superb Katherine Carter, whose own book on Churchill and Chartwell is excellent. Do come along and see us, and get your books signed! greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/churc...

A rather apt song served up as I opened the #DoctorWho tender document.

I'm really looking forward to speaking about "Churchill's Queen" at the Chelsea History Festival next month! I'll be presenting new discoveries and discussing how the friendship between these two historical giants shaped modern Britain. Tickets from: chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk/chf-2026/chu...

How did this window change the history of the start of Queen Elizabeth II's reign? My latest video on YouTube considers a fateful - and slightly mysterious - aspect of the story of the death of King George the Sixth on a cold night in February 1952... youtu.be/obQB4_7DLdI?...

I’m trying to remain optimistic that the response to the terrifying AI warnings this week show enough people are worried and will start to demand robust action to halt development and put in place effective safeguards. That hope is the only thing preventing me from going into complete meltdown.

Hecklers and masked gangs - looking back at previous interruptions to leaders' conference speeches, and considering whether norms of behaviour in politics are breaking down...

If this week’s AI news wasn’t alarming enough, they’re now talking about giving our new robot overlords actual defensive capabilities. Jeesh. 😫

My generally optimistic outlook is taking quite a battering this week. That latest AI warning story has sparked quite the doom spiral of catastrophizing in my little human brain, I can tell you. My usual response is “Ah well, I’m sure it’ll all be OK in the end”. I’m not actually sure it will. 😕

I remain utterly bemused at the casual nonchalance with which so many people are cheerfully embracing tech products from companies whose reckless disregard for our safety could literally kill us all. It’s completely mad. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

I remain utterly bemused at the casual nonchalance with which so many people are cheerfully embracing tech products from companies whose reckless disregard for our safety could literally kill us all. It’s completely mad. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

I was delving into a political issue today and piecing together evidence to back up the case I needed to make. It was like a policy nerd version of a detective thriller. At least in my mind.

Yesterday was Accession Day- with the King marking four years on the throne, while his Prime Minister marked his own milestone “Truss Day”… Some musings on longevity, legacy and what I think is the biggest challenge facing both monarch and PM: nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/a-mileston...

I’m back on the 'stack! It’s been a while (as you might know, I’ve been somewhat preoccupied writing a book…), but I plan to return to regular posting on Substack. Do please subscribe if you like this sort of thing, and share for others who might also. nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/a-mileston...

Watching Gosford Park on BBC2 for the umpteenth time: it never gets old. Such an absolute gem of a film with a stellar cast. Lovely stuff.

I’m back on the 'stack! It’s been a while (as you might know, I’ve been somewhat preoccupied writing a book…), but I plan to return to regular posting on Substack. Do please subscribe if you like this sort of thing, and share for others who might also. nigelfletcher.substack.com/p/a-mileston...

Even leaving any politics at all aside: as general rule, no state can allow a group of masked men to be able to close down critical infrastructure. This is basic stuff.

I was in the hall last year, and once a few protesters had been evicted, the attention of the audience (and presumably Farage himself) was distracted by wondering when the next one would pop up.

It begins. The first of what I predict will be quite a few hecklers to Farage’s speech. If last year is any guide, they will be bundled out quite roughly, amid quite a lot of abuse from members.

As has become usual, Farage arrives on stage like an X Factor finalist, with a quite unnecessary number of explosive pyrotechnics. I’m calling it the Farage barrage.

I do think we need to make a clear distinction at political events between “serious security issues” and “possibly embarrassing protests”. Last year protesters heckling Farage from the hall were treated with quite alarming violence by the party’s security people (and delegates).

Ah- this would seem to explain the delay. Presumably they’re checking for further banners that might have somehow been placed to pop up during Farage’s speech.

The feed from the hall seems to show technical staff sorting something out by the stage. Are they delaying Farage’s speech to fix his customary fireworks display?

Why does the latest Reform UK donations scandal matter? Well, primarily because it appears to show a wanton disregard for the laws on political donations and raises serious questions about who is actually funding the party. But in political terms, it also has an impact that could become decisive:

Scones done right. (I’m in Devon, so any dissent from this is basically treason and will not be tolerated).

I hugely enjoyed joining Richard and Lee on their excellent podcast- do take a listen (and not just to my episode!)

Most British thing ever is for the day it becomes legal to fit solar extremely easily to your home is the day the sun finally disappears after three months.