Simon Tillotson

Simon Tillotson

@simontillotson.bsky.social

Ex-BBC, formerly senior producer of In Our Time now quietly enjoying and celebrating the humanities

4.3K followers2.2K following369 posts

Simon Tillotson reposted

The British Academy
@britishacademy.bsky.social

1/3 Higher education in the UK is at a critical juncture. Universities make a substantial contribution to society and the economy, but the system faces mounting pressures, and too many difficult questions remain unresolved. Today we launch a new policy programme, to tackle that shorturl.at/079yt

Simon Tillotson reposted

Hetan Shah
@hetanshah.bsky.social

We've awarded the @britishacademy.bsky.social President's Medal to the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra which was founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said to bring musicians across borders together to share in the act of performing music www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/pioneer...

thebritishacademy.ac.ukPioneering orchestra promoting solidarity across borders receives 2026 British Academy President’s MedalThe West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has been awarded the British Academy’s most prestigious award, the President’s Medal for 2026, recognising the orchestra’s outstanding musical achievements and its vit...
Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

Congratulations @pamhutch.bsky.social you were brilliant

Simon Tillotson@simontillotson.bsky.social

I enjoyed watching this Casablanca discussion for In Our Time, broadcast today, which we recorded (as live, to time) back in July at Crossed Wires. Play it! www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

bbc.co.ukIn Our Time - CasablancaMisha Glenny and guests discuss one of the most popular films of the twentieth century and the remarkable story of its production amidst the Second World War.
Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

This iPlayer edit removes the radio break after 42 minutes, before the podcast extra part ‘what did we miss out’. Thanks to the video edit team who looked after everything once I’d left two days later 👏

Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

And, as with every edition, I‘m in awe of what Misha and guests achieved - and here not just their broadcast performance but delighting the full house in front of them 🏆.

Simon Tillotson reposted

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
@sundersays.bsky.social

Higher Education risks irreversible damage, says British Academy president Prof Susan Smith, with humanities and social sciences disciplines disappearing in many cold spots. BA is tracking subject provision & calling for a comprehensive review www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...

thebritishacademy.ac.ukBritish Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damageAs course closures, shrinking provision and widening regional inequalities threaten the future of UK higher education and research, President of the British Academy, Susan J Smith calls for an immedia...
Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

Last day at BBC. First job: interviewing Würzel at a roadies convention. Last job: recording In Our Time in Sheffield on Casablanca. Best job: those days and everything in between. Thanks to everyone who made this possible for me and anyone who listened. And now, time for a tea or coffee.

Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

I realise radio has the best pictures and the studio of the imagination is different from reality, but this is a view of the great workhorse 50F before a regular live In Our Time back in 2016. Taken from the doorway.

Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

Meanwhile (and this is probably a joke someone other than me should make) I hope the new visualised In Our Time does as much for iPlayer as the audio version has for BBC Sounds (figures from last May). Move over, Strictly www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...

bbc.co.ukRecord quarter for BBC Sounds as flagship speech, sport and news titles drive growth on and off platformThe Archers, The Traitors: Uncloaked, In Our Time, and Newscast helped drive BBC Sounds to a record start to 2026
Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

Clearing out my In Our Time locker and finding some good luck offerings from my children, the plate from Oxfam for serving biscuits after recordings, shoe polish for the 9am lives (!) and ear defenders to help me concentrate on eg Hegel in an open plan office

Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

In my ignorant state, this episode delivered many “NOW I understand“ moments (and has helped in a couple of quizzes)

Frank Cogliano@frankcogliano.bsky.social

The episode of In Our Time on the Spanish-American War that I was in the spring will be rebroadcast on the #bbcworldservice this weekend. It was a fun conversation with Misha Glenny, Mary Vincent & Stephen Wilkinson, expertly produced by @simontillotson.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

bbc.co.ukBBC Radio 4 - In Our Time - Next onUpcoming episodes of In Our Time
Simon Tillotson
@simontillotson.bsky.social

How many In Our Time programmes have links to this image? I can think of Archaea (pink salt pans), Unification of Italy (Garibaldi landing at Marsala), The Phoenicians (settlement on island in lagoon left of centre), Odyssey, Aeneid, Destruction of Carthage, Venus (though temple site is behind me)