iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 04/10/2026

🚇🚂 I too am hearing/seeing lots of adverts for train companies. What’s it all about? And are we – the taxpayer – picking up the tab for many of these ads? (Message sent from a friend)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 03/10/2026

He was as perky as a pilchard after 7am swim in Padstow harbour. I had a sore head. But we still managed to discuss his DJ’ing, feeling a failure, how tough it is running a restaurant, death, life, and family. And a range of seafood ready meals he’s created for Waitrose

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 03/10/2026

The secret to Rick Stein’s success is that viewers intuit that he’s someone they’d like to share a bottle of wine with. I discovered this to my joy – and cost – after he plied me with lots of v good white burgundy. The night before I was due to interview him at 8am…

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 02/10/2026

Amandaland Christmas special is back! Filming in our street in north London. (Islington, not ‘North Harlesden’). And features a massive inflatable Santa, Amanda in a sexy Santa outfit. And an ambulance…

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 24/09/2026

At Ocado Christmas launch I learnt: 🕐 4,000 people booked their Xmas delivery slots this week between midnight (when they were released) and 1am 🛒 By end of September, 52% of all the stuff Ocado will sell for Christmas is already in customers’ baskets

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 22/09/2026

How Nick Candy sold London's most expensive house. And helped the buyer avoid £18.5m in tax. Buy selling him *extra* houses. Another great bit of journalism from the ever-interesting @londoncentric.media (with number crunching from @danneidle.bsky.social & team)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 21/09/2026

The "Beckham Stack". When did the language of software developers enter the world of wellness?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 19/09/2026

Times births this morning. A future Marquess of Camden…

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 13/09/2026

🇹🇭🇨🇳This means that we are now importing lots of chicken meat to keep up with demand. Many supermarket 🍗 sandwiches are made with Thai or Chinese🐓. We used to be 96% self-sufficient in chicken. It’s now c60% 🧵5/6

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 13/09/2026

Farmers (encouraged by supermarkets) have, over last 2yrs, given birds more space. About 20% more space. But…this has meant we’re running out of space to grow chickens. Literally. Local councils won’t give permission for new chicken sheds. 🧵4/6

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 13/09/2026

🐓 This is v. rare picture of a British housewife c1955 with roast chicken. Why’s it rare? Because in 1950s hardly anyone ate chicken – consumed by less than 1% of the UK. We slaughtered 1m birds a year. Now? We slaughter 1.1 billion. And it’s the most popular meat. By far 🧵1/6

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 11/09/2026

This was voted “front page of the century” by @britishlibrary.bsky.social Other UK front pages went for stark images on 9/11 – axing all words (unusual in those days). But @telegraph.co.uk knew well that a few written, sparse words matter. The very first draft of history.

THE United States was on a
out great clouds of thick dust
machine. A fourth, believed to plane hit the Trade Centre kets. The departments of Jus-
war footing last night after the
that covered buildings and
be heading for the presiden-
minutes after the first. Land tice, State, Treasury, Defence
most devastating terrorist people in the streets.
Lower
tial retreat Camp
David,
borders were closed and air-
and
the CIA were all
attack in history.
Manhattan was evacuated and
crashed near Pittsburgh.
space cleared of all but mili-evacuated.
Two hijacked passenger air-
the New York skyline changed
The atrocity was meticulous
tary aircraft as US forces were
President Bush was flown to
liners crashed into the twin
for ever.
in its co-ordination and horri-
put on "high alert".
a bunker in Nebraska.
He
towers of New York's World
Minutes later in Washington
DC a third hijacked aircraft
fying in its effect.
Trade Centre. Both towers collapsed with the loss of crashed into the Pentagon, the
A global television audience
Financial centres were para-lysed when Wall Street closed
pledged: "Make no mistake,
and
shares
we will hunt down and punish
watched in
disbelief as live
indefinitely
those responsible for these
thousands of lives,
sending
heart of America's military
footage showed the
second
plunged across world mar- cowardly acts."
Reports: Pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and eight-page supplement. Comment: Pages 18 & 19

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 09/09/2026

“The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you’ve succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you’re someone…What People are saying is: ‘Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags!’”

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 08/09/2026

Aaagh! If you don't hear anything more from me, presume I have been arrested wearing a balaclava, wielding a weapon, in the vacinity of a drinks PR...

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 08/09/2026

The real story here is that a minor alleged crime has taken more than four years to come to trial. 50 months! Britain’s justice system is broken.

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 05/09/2026

David Hemingway has a point… 🧦⚔️🏹

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/08/2026

CEOs often boast about starting their day at 5am or even 4.30am. But this is the first time I’ve seen a boss claim he gets up at 3.30am 👀 (John Perkins of @specsaversuk.bsky.social in Sunday Times business)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/08/2026

Have UK workers become more anxious? Or bosses more racist? Maybe. Or is it because the max compensation for unfair dismissal is a year’s pay or £123k — whichever is lower. There is no max cap for discrimination. But most of these claims fail. Why? 3/5

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/08/2026

Has the UK workplace become a war zone? Are employers denying workers their rights? No. There aren’t more cases than pre-Covid. So why backlog? Each case has become much more complex. Most people now sue for unfair dismissal *and* discrimination. Including anxiety. 🧵2/6

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/08/2026

If you’ve been unfairly – maybe illegally – sacked from your job & you want to sue your employer you may have to wait until 2030. The number of cases in the system has doubled to 64,000. Why? I spent a week at the Croydon tribunal (above a Lidl) to find out 🧵1/6

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 22/08/2026

Times births column today. The first submitted by work colleagues?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 10/08/2026

Canonbury Station, London Overground. 3 burly, trained security staff to stop fare dodgers. Guy ahead of me (exiting) casually barges through barrier, not paying. Right in front of the guards. What do they do…? 1/3🧵

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 10/08/2026

Bit of a blow for John Lewis. Its managing director, Peter Ruis – who has helped revitalise the department store, after quite a wobble – to step down after just 2.5yrs. "To pursue new projects"

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 24/07/2026

📰I've written about a small, south London company called Nella Cutlery, for this week's @thetimes.com business column. 🔪They sharpen knives. Which may sound dull. But according to the wise readers of The Times it's "absolutely fascinating"....and who am I to argue with them?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/07/2026

Truly we live in the Age of Stupid. The press releases I get...🤦‍♂️

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/07/2026

Burnham Government says it is cutting VAT of pubs, music venues & clubs – helping 32,000 businesses. But the British Beer and Pub Association says there are 44,650 pubs in UK. So...which pubs are missing out? Which pub is not a "pub"? Is Toby Carvery a pub? Is Wetherspoons missing out?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 21/07/2026

Why is it the Department for Business is always the one that gets a clumsy rebrand? Anyone remember the DTI? Berr, Bis, Beis or the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry, which lasted all of a week after it was pointed out its acronym was: PEnIs...😆

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 19/07/2026

Wayne Rooney – I used to think he was an overrated footballer and terrible pundit. But all is forgiven. After his wonderfully concise review of FIFA’s World Cup half time show: “I thought it was crap” 👌

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 19/07/2026

Weird story in Mail on Sunday. Commodity ingredients that are incredibly light cost much more – on a per gram basis – than luxury products that weigh far more – on a per gram basis. No sh*t, Sherlock.

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 17/07/2026

Intriguing Births announcement in the The Times. A daughter for descendent of a famous Titanic survivor. Congrats. But…why is it published 14 years after her birth? 🧐

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 16/07/2026

New York Times – we’re going to badly fall out. How can you allow “pshaw” in yesterday’s Wordle. But not allow a standard architectural term in today’s Spelling Bee?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 16/07/2026

Fascinated that Steven Bartlett has been forced (I presume he didn’t volunteer) to print this warning on his podcast clips. Translation: I interview people purely for clickbait purposes. Not to interrogate their wacky claims.

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 13/07/2026

This is *so* good. Maggie O’Farell is just brilliant. Brilliant plotting, brilliant ambiguous characters. Reads like a thriller. Top recommendation for a summer read…(yes, I know it came out a few years ago)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 12/07/2026

TV cameras at @wimbledonltc.bsky.social catch Zverev checking his phone in a break. And his password appears to be 1111. Kids, choose stronger passwords!

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 07/07/2026

Times Birth column Saturday – Evelyn x2 Today – Seraphina x2 Fascinating how baby names gather momentum.

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 06/07/2026

Terrific piece on @England’s epic victory vs Mexico by Martin Samuel in @thetimes.com. And, yes, I am glad my kids woke me up to watch. www.thetimes.com/article/28d1...

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 03/07/2026

Completely fascinated by how Emily Maitlis has become the new Nigel Farage/Andrew Bailey on the other platform – AI rendered public figure caught in “shocking” moment. Mostly because this looks nothing like Emily Maitlis.

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 29/06/2026

🍌 I’ve been exploring the amazing world of bananas. Again! Joining @edconway.bsky.social on his new (v good!) podcast Stuff Matters to explore why this is the most popular supermarket product & why it’s so cheap. We visited the Fyffes warehouse to see 13m bananas be ripened

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 28/06/2026

Ben Stokes has announced – in the middle of this test match – he’s retiring from England cricket. A sad day. He’s been such a force of nature over the last few years. And good for the game (whatever his personal issues)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 24/06/2026

Last year people went loopy for the M&S strawberry sandwich. 🤷With 1m sold in 5weeks. This year it's back. Plus a new Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme one. Which is bound to be even sweeter & strangely cake like. If I get my hands on one, I shall report back...

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 24/06/2026

Very chuffed to win ‘Commentator of the Year’ at last night’s @headlinemoney.bsky.social Awards. For my @thetimes.com business column – a bit of light relief at the end of the week. A chance to poke fun at idiot bosses and champion great innovative businesses. Keep sending me ideas!

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/06/2026

☔️ It’s absolutely p*ssing it down in Boston. Will @FIFAWorldCup nonetheless insist on a “hydration break” to keep its sponsors happy?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/06/2026

And here's another print advert from ChatGPT for the World Cup: "Help me stay calm during penalties." "Plan my route home from work" Really? This is what we're building vast datacentres for?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 23/06/2026

Am I the only one to find ChatGPT’s billboard/print adverts for the World Cup rather depressing? Outsourcing your imagination. Outsourcing joy.

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 20/06/2026

A Swedish Meatball flavoured lollipop. A ludicrous but strangely quite tasty collaboration between Ikea & Chupa Chups. Available until June 21st in Ikea stores…

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 20/06/2026

🇫🇷 Story of the day. 81-year-old pétanque player kills 68-year-old rival in small French resort of Mimizan. But wait…there’s more. Five years ago. another pétanque player stabbed a rival. IN THE SAME TOWN. (Via @thetimes.com)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 18/06/2026

Over the last decade there are 398,000 fewer people working in retail in the UK. Down to 2.79m. (via @britishretail.bsky.social). Obvs some of this is because of online shopping. But with the hospitality industry in crisis too, where do people go to get their first job?

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 17/06/2026

If you like a classic, high-crunch ready salted crisp these ones from Marks and Spencer are v decent. Good taste, good nutrition (in relative terms)

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Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 17/06/2026

I ate *a lot* of crisps. So you don’t have to. And discovered that – thanks to expertise of Bahee van de Bor – Walkers crisps are surprisingly okay nutritionally. And…

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