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Ben Baker

@benbaker.bsky.social
1.1K followers 481 following 5.7K posts

Writer. Radio host. Splainer. I've been waiting for so long to sing my middle-aged victory song. Buy a book here: linktr.ee/BenBakerBooks

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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 1h
It does my heart good to know "Oranges and Lemons" was produced by the same person who went on to do "John Henry" and "Stick Around For Joy". #XTCmusic
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 1h
XTC inventing MTV Unplugged there as presented by The Very Best Of Us.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 1h
Which is your favourite: Rock, Bop or Pop? #XTCmusic
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XTC Listening Party @xtclisteningparty.bsky.social · 2h
📢TEN MINUTES until the ORANGES & LEMONS Listening Party begins! 🎵 Prepare your copy, in whichever format you have, and join in the chat with some lovely folk (with excellent taste!) using the tag #XTCmusic (Reposts welcome!)
Colourful front sleeve of the 1989 XTC album, Oranges and Lemons.The poster by Milton Glaser, which inspired the O&L artwork.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 3h
Imagine Cyril up there to meet her with all the odd odes he's penned since he carked it himself.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 3h
Who the fuck am I going to threaten my elderly parents with calling now?
A floral display of teeth.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 12h
When Ken Bruce asks "what’s the best thing that happened to you in [year]?" I have to assume they get a lot of "I got tops and fingers off Theresa Kelly behind the swings" text responses. Because Britain.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 14h
I am not joking when I say this. Spotify, Apple Music, and streaming in general is over. @alfsplaining.bsky.social is very, very good. You just don't know yet because all you listen to inferior ALF circulations. ALFsplaining has solved infinite personalised ALF podcasts.
ALFsplaining logo for the newly launched season four
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
AI should've stopped after it made this bewildering picture of The Wombles for me in 2022. The jank was the best bit. The rest is bollocks.
The Wombles created by Craiyon looking like something from Threads.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
AI should've stopped after it made this bewildering picture of The Wombles for me in 2022. The jank was the best bit. The rest is bollocks.
The Wombles created by Craiyon looking like something from Threads.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"We're going to Southsea, Portsmouth again this year! The sun man makes us. I don’t even remember what my family look like any more. The light...it burns...IT BURNS..."
1958 TV Times ad for Southsea with a very eery sun faced man
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Heavenly radio - live and direct from Hell. "Ben Baker Vs Monday" returns tonight at 8pm. Praise bastard be! @noiseboxradio.com
Ben Baker is preparing for rapture. But probably wont be playing The Rapture.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Happy birthday to my great pal and favourite son "NAME". Hope you get all the Beatles @pablovich.bsky.social.
The Transformers wish a special young man a great birthday. Well, its implied.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Tell the authorities, ALFsplaining is back. And...it's had a baby???
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Tomorrow we can drive around this town And let the cops chase us around The past is gone but something might be found To take its place Hey Macarena.
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Ricardo Autobahn @ricardoautobahn.co.uk · 27/09/2026
Have *you* nothing to do on a lazy Sunday? Visit @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social for a huge vault of top notch entertainment, a podcast looking at anything that makes me and @benbaker.bsky.social laugh. Linktr.ee/theHouseOfSplain
linktr.ee
The House Of Splain Official: Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
From TV's Ben Baker and John Matthews. The Splaining Family Of Podcasts so far include ALFsplaining and PantoSplaining under the House Of Splain umbrella.
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The House Of Splain @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Our new promotional photos from the actual House Of Splain.
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Tim Worthington @outonbluesix.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Spitting Image meets Oink! tabloid newspaper satire Round The Bend was @benbaker.bsky.social's favourite show, so why was he very nearly too scared to watch it?? Find out in this... timworthington.org/2024/11/01/t...
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A happy Easter to anyone who doesn’t have a calendar.
The Bash Street Kids wish everyone a Happy Easter in a big egg.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Chris Evert and the Temperance Seven will save the UK music scene.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Look how excited he is. It's like he understands.
John Matthews rubs his hands with glee at the idea of booze. Slurp and sloo.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Oh aye, I bet Bret Hart was always playing "The Sebadoh" in the locker room to get fired up. "Its no Harmacy but GODDAMN SHAWN MICHAELS scratched my CD."
Hitman Hart CD featuring his theme and a load of not very related rock and alternative songs of the era.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
When it happened my mum said "Isn't that the band you like?" but I think she was more just fascinated as to what "a drugs wrap" was. Neither of us found out though because I only had the cassingle anyway. What might have been!
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ALFsplaining - the ALF Podcast @alfsplaining.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🚨NEW ALFSPLAINING ON MONDAY🚨
Willie Tanner, performed by award winning stage actor Max Wright, in a scene from the episode of ALF we're covering next Monday.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Yeah well okay so I might not have a university degree or one of those fancy indoor toilets but I got something even better...
A badge reading "Deputy Toffo Sheriff"
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The second I posted the "Gulf Aid" cover I was waiting for someone to say "Millard Did It". Took very nearly eleven minutes. I'm a big fan but I promise I've been writing about this old guff for two decades, I'm just spectacularly bad at promoting it.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I respect our British culture. DO YOU?
The VHS cover for Gulf Aid
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"And could you tell us who did it?" "It was Jimmy....erm, Unknown"
"And established hit JIMMY UNKNOWN"
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Imagine having to choose between Bernie Clifton and Harrington Quadraphonic Discotheque of Distinction.
Local advert for Bernie Clifton and Harrington Quadraphonic Discotheque of Distinction in late 1980.
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The House Of Splain @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Our new episode is out now! youtu.be/ZPDWYz7dYY4
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Phil Fletcher @philfletcher.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Coming soon from @poundshopboys.bsky.social #killerklownsfromouterspace
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
What a very special treat for the fortieth anniversary of TV's ALF in America. We're back on Monday...tell your disconcertingly thumbed sea dwelling pals.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
To those who did, thanks for listening live tonight. Always a stupid time guaranteed - along with far too many covers of bloody "September". If you didn't remember, hear them all on Mixcloud or my Patreon now, why dont'cha? www.patreon.com/BenBaker2000
patreon.com
Get more from Ben Baker on Patreon
Get more from Ben Baker on Patreon. Become a member for just £3/month. Ben Baker has been making downloadable radio programmes for over 25 years now -…
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
On air now! noiseboxradio.com until 10pm
noiseboxradio.com
Noisebox Radio
Making a noise about great music
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I wish John had been available to join me for this. We shall miss him greatly.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
As Earth, Wind, Fire and Theft once sang "Do you remember? Ben Baker Vs Monday is at 8pm on the 21st September." Other things you might like to remember: tea; milk; the Alamo; you're a Womble. noiseboxradio.com
Ben Baker remembers the Alamo. Also: Paul Squire.
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The House Of Splain @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
See our latest video for context. youtu.be/ZPDWYz7dYY4?...
Ben Baker meeting one of the Barndance Boys
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I find it very sad when posts are immediately retweeted by accounts called things like "Do Not Ignore Please Help My Dying Son" because I absolutely wont be doing anything due to not being arsed. If they had a large amount of African gold they need to temporarily store in my account however...
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I mean, that is literally all I do each day anyway, Ian Windows.
Windows 11 suggests I search sea otters, a thing I do a frequently high amount because otters are the best.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I remember when Wokingham was called [deeply unpleasant old slang term removed]ingham.
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ever wondered how to get to number 32 in the charts with a great deal of effort? The @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social are here to show you how. No refunds. youtu.be/ZPDWYz7dYY4?...
youtu.be
The weirdest one-hit wonder you've *never* heard of
YouTube video by The House Of Splain
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm not sure I've ever seen a 5th anniversary edition of something before but I sure remember living through the "Seventeen Going Under" era when they shut all the pubs and made everyone stay 10ft apart.
"Sam Fender's era defining second album and the record that made him on of Britain's leading voices in rock" from an email I just received by Townshend.
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The House Of Splain @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
💥Saturday morning fizzy pop fun is back, the new House Of Splain episode comes out tomorrow in the old Tiswas/Swap Shop timeslot!💥 youtu.be/ZPDWYz7dYY4?... But why are we investigating a one hit wonder from 2003? Well...
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Just submitted my 'Doctor Who' tender bid. (Am I doing this right?)
The new Doctor Who
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The name's Havenhand, Greville Havenhand.
Research Consultant....GREVILLE HAVENHAND
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Gayle Ramage @mealygarage.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Hooray, they took both copies! So if anyone is passing Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders, pop to the Heron & Willow bookshop and treat yourself to a copy of 'Jockula' for Hallowe'en! #BookSky
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Off to sensual Scarborough this weekend. Any recommendations?
Scarborough postcard
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Walk of Life is worse than bees nesting in your scrotum and I am willing to test that hypothesis. Except for when I'm not.
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The House Of Splain @thehouseofsplain.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
🏮Coming up this Saturday morning: an all new House Of Splain telling YOU all the insider tricks on how to have a BONA FIDE top 40 single. Subscribe and be there!🏮 youtu.be/ZPDWYz7dYY4?...
youtu.be
The weirdest one-hit wonder you've *never* heard of
YouTube video by The House Of Splain
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Ben Baker @benbaker.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Are you affiliated? #XTCmusic
Star Turn – Are You Affiliated
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