Rachel Mann

Rachel Mann

@revrachelmann.bsky.social

Priest. Poet. Writer. Broadcaster. Trans. Tired. Disabled. Autistic. (Private Passions: Military History, Austen, Golden Age Detective Fiction) T.S. Eliot Prize Shortlisted 2024 Retired Archdeacon 16 books. www.rachelmann.co.uk

3.6K followers608 following4K posts

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.361/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

I’m shocked I tell ya, shocked …

Samantha Brennan@samanthabrennan.bsky.social

A new survey of 1,000 American adults found that the strongest supporters of transgender sports bans are not the people who admire women most: they are the people who hold the most hostile views about women. www.helenwebberley.com/news/transge...

helenwebberley.comAre transgender sports bans really about protecting women? | Dr Helen WebberleyThe data says no. Those most hostile to women are most in favour of banning trans athletes.

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.360/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann reposted

Diocese of Manchester
@manchester.anglican.org

🥇 🌱 A diocesan first for St John’s, Pendlebury! 🥇 🌱 Huge congratulations to St John the Evangelist Church, which has become the first church in our diocese to achieve a Gold Eco Church Award, the highest level of accreditation from A Rocha UK.

Rachel Mann reposted

Prem Sikka
@premnsikka.bsky.social

Reform UK's Suella Braverman claims massive taxpayer-funded water bill at home equal to 18 baths a day Claim to have used 1,504 litres of water daily at her £1.2million four-bedroom pad in a five-month period. Reform have promised benefit cuts for the disabled, old, sick, poor, unfortunate.

mirror.co.ukSuella Braverman claims huge taxpayer-funded water bill equal to 18 baths a dayEXCLUSIVE: Benefits-bashing Reform UK MP Suella Braverman claimed £45,000 in parliamentary expenses towards her utility bills, newly-emerged files show - leaving the taxpayer on the hook

Rachel Mann reposted

ændra.
@aendra.com

Imagine feeling like your country's newsmedia could at any time turn its back and begin this level of hate campaign against you, to the point that they harass you and everyone you love to the literal ends of the earth, mining you for content until your death and even after. How would you live life?

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Another one here where the British press just smashed fuck out of a member of the public’s life for no good reason, just because they wanted to and nobody will stop them doing at. And they’re still going, even now.

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.359/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

🎶It’s the Final Countdown …🎶

@With1v@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.359/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann reposted

churchtimes.bsky.social
@churchtimes.bsky.social

📒 Notebook: As she prepares for retirement, Rachel Mann reflects on the loss of status, the freedom of letting go, and the challenge of returning to the pews after a lifetime in ministry #ChurchTimes

churchtimes.co.ukNotebook: Rachel MannDiminishing returns I HAVE a gift for misremembering classic film quotes, which I then recycle as a script for my life. Thus, as the day arrives when I must leave the Archdeacon’s expansive residence to move into my retirement home, a garbled vers...

Rachel Mann reposted

Stephen Collins
@stephencollins.bsky.social

Prints available in my shop of this one from last year. The perfect Christmas gift for the philosophically-inclined office wall . Limited edition, numbered and signed giclee art print - link to shop in bio. #philosophy

Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

Ooh *the* definitive version of The Body in the Library is about to start on BBC 4 … and I’m 14 again and obsessed with Joan Hickson … AND this is the cleaned up remastered version too … SIMPLY MARVELLOUS

Rachel Mann reposted

Luke Turner
@luketurner.bsky.social

Via @judew.bsky.social, who points out that we’re soon entering the mad season of POPPY JUDGEMENT. Can someone invite me on telly so I can confound the censors with my pride poppy badge? They don’t like it up ‘em!

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. * * *

Rachel Mann 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. * * *

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.358/365 The final countdown

Rachel Mann reposted

Robin Ince
@robinince.bsky.social

Hoping to shift enough tickets for these shows to keep this tour a possibility - looks like I burnt too many bridges to be viable

Robin Ince@robinince.bsky.social

These are dispiriting times for many touring performers - Birmingham , Cardiff and London all proving hard sells - a deep sense of personal failure crosstownconcerts.seetickets.com/search?c=27&...

Rachel Mann reposted

James O’Brien
@mrjamesob.bsky.social

You don’t fight fascists by pretending their ‘concerns’ are ‘legitimate’.

Jonathan Portes@jdportes.bsky.social

The immigration doom loop, summed up here by @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.357/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann reposted

Philippa East (Author)
@philippaeast.bsky.social

Great work here by @transactualuk.bsky.social and if you read the full statement on their website (linked in the thread below), you’ll also find a link to a mass mailing campaign that I would encourage as many of you as possible to get involved with (I’ll be writing to my MP – again!) Also… 1/

TransActual@transactualuk.bsky.social

We believe that the public has the right to know the consequences of this policy change. So if NHS England won’t publish the full assessment, we will. transactual.org.uk/blog/2026/10...

Rachel Mann reposted

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance
@transsolidarity.bsky.social

We have worked with @transactualuk.bsky.social to share the damning impact assessment that NHS England refused to publish. Send it to your MP now here: transactual.org.uk/blog/2026/10...

transactual.org.ukNHS England knows that new guidance on single sex accommodation will harm patientsNHS England knows that its new guidance on single sex accommodation will harm patients. Publicly, they say that the guidance offers “privacy, dignity and safety in hospital accommodation” - but internally, NHS England’s own Equality Impact Assessment shows that it may push trans patients out of t

Rachel Mann reposted

gailrenard.bsky.social
@gailrenard.bsky.social

Brits, please sign the petition to save BBC Radio 4 Extra. It costs tuppence ha'penny to run, is of national and cultural importance, and if the Beeb needs to save money, how about cutting down the endless layers of management? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

you.38degrees.org.ukSave Radio 4 ExtraRadio 4 Extra is a fabulous showcase of the BBC's phenomenal archive of radio comedy and drama, fields in which the Corporation is an undoubted pioneer, with a reputation for quality rivals woud envy ...
Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

This is part of what angers me about the loss of 4 Extra … the schedule has a ritual dimension, a rhythm and shape that is like a secular Mattins or Evensong … I’m so furious about faithful ways of going-on being abandoned for the increasingly squelchy mulch of ‘Content’ …

@With1v@with1v.bsky.social

I should start watching GB News as it seems the media I engage with gets taken off air. (This is a joke). I'm saddened that my favoured presenters & platforms are being removed. For 7 years, I've listened to 4 Extra every day. I've also listened to local BBC radio for the last 3 each weekend.

Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

Only ten to go …

@With1v@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.356/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.356/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann reposted

gailrenard.bsky.social
@gailrenard.bsky.social

Bad news: the BBC is set to scrap Radio 4 Extra. 📻 Losing this treasure trove of classic comedy, archive drama, and timeless storytelling would be a huge blow for millions of us. Sign the petition to help save it 👇 you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

you.38degrees.org.ukSave Radio 4 ExtraRadio 4 Extra is a fabulous showcase of the BBC's phenomenal archive of radio comedy and drama, fields in which the Corporation is an undoubted pioneer, with a reputation for quality rivals woud envy ...

Rachel Mann reposted

Carol Hedges
@riotgrandma.bsky.social

😟🇬🇧😟🇬🇧😟 Every time a BBC radio station is shut, it is a step forward in Robbie Gibbs’ campaign to close the BBC. It is OUR BBC Radio4xtra is so important to so many of us. The charter is up for renewal next yr. no coincidence they are trying to get rid you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/do...

you.38degrees.org.ukDo not scrap BBC Radio 4 ExtraThe proposal to scrap a radio station which contains no news or current affairs represents a misjudgement in a world in which entertainment - even escapism - is more necessary than ever.
Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

Heartbroken by this decision, and not just because I’m involved in producing content for it … it must cost pennies to run, but brings joy, focus and anchor. And a reach of (c.) 1.4 million listeners a week (so I read yesterday) is far from disastrous …

Natalie Haynes@nataliehaynes.bsky.social

I am really sorry to see Radio 4 Extra is going. I loved working there for many years: being part of the 7th Dimension (with Toby Hadoke, Dan Mersh, Nick Briggs et al) was an absolute joy. I don’t think listeners ever realised -

Rachel Mann reposted

Jamie Douglass
@jamesldouglass.bsky.social

Replying to @plashingvole.bsky.social

This one needs padding out to make it less depressing but the priest who is visiting the hospice, handing out sacraments, and gets round to the Brummie "My son, did you come here to die?" "No! Got 'ere yesterday!"

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.355/365 The final countdown.

Rachel Mann
@revrachelmann.bsky.social

One of the joys of the slew of crappy poorly selling books from ‘big names’ is how they’ve made even my worst selling books look like stone-cold bestsellers …

This post is unavailable.

Rachel Mann reposted

@With1v
@with1v.bsky.social

Connecting Wall. 4 groups of 4 are hidden in the grid. Only a FEW walls left. Send me your 4 groups plus a connection for each group. This is just for fun! There's no time limit but solutions will be revealed 6pm (UK time) each day. THERE ARE NO PRIZES! Here's grid No.354/365 The final countdown.