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Melanie Branton

@melaniebranton.bsky.social
633 followers 447 following 105 posts

Spoken word artist, Green Party member, lover of linguistics and cryptic crosswords, hater of plastic (she/her or they/them)

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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Bridport! I am coming! www.bridport-arts.com/event/the-fu...
bridport-arts.com
The Full English - Bridport Arts
“It’s a bish-bosh, wish-wash, car crash mishmash!” Ever wondered where the word ‘hoo-ha’ comes from? Why there ain’t no party like a double negative party?  And why ‘bead’ doesn’t rhyme with ‘bread’, ...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It was an absolute honour and a pleasure to be featured in the lovely Black Nore Review this week
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
DORSET! Want to know when England passed an enormous vowel movement? Or why a nifty Chinese invention made English spelling go a bit Belgian? Then come to my show, The Full English, @bridportarts.bsky.social on 24th September! www.bridport-arts.com/event/the-fu...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Woohoo! Can't wait to make my Ventnor Fringe debut! @ventnorfringe.bsky.social @ventnorexchange.bsky.social
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I'm appearing in CLEVEDON tomorrow as part of the Bandstand Takeover with som fabulous poets! Please do come! www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/2026-bandsta...
clevedonlitfest.org.uk
Summer Festival 2026 - Bandstand Takeover | Clevedon Litfest
Our bandstand takeover will feature lots of great things to watch, including poetry from Bristol-based ensemble members Hi-Art & Mischief (with mystery guests!), a performance by young people from Cle...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
23rd and 24th February! Do the crossword to get the details or scan the QR code!
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
This is me having the time of my life at Wolves Litfest. There will be EVEN MORE silly hats, shenanigans and cardigans at THE CROWN INN, OXTED, SURREY on MONDAY 23rd FEB and TUESDAY 24th FEB. Book soon to avoid disappointment! threadbare-theatre-company.sumupstore.com
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Reposted by Melanie Branton
Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 10/02/2026
Melanie Branton's 'Anorexia Nervosa' is a sonically accomplished compilation of energy and destruction. @melaniebranton.bsky.social Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/melanie-bran... #InkSweatAndTears #FeaturedPoem
A mine. Text over photo reads: Arson, via an ex. Ore. A ravine. Title reads: Anorexia Nervosa. Bottom text reads: Melanie Branton (c)
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
I am very proud to have a poem up on I, S & T today. Thank you so much, Helen!
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poets and prattlers @pandemonialists.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
First up will be @melaniebranton.bsky.social with her fantastic show 'The Full English'. It's so good we booked it for last summer's #MidlandsFringe *and* asked her to bring it back now! Where does our language come from? Melanie's here to explain. wlv.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
FUN FACT! The Italian for SIGNATURE is FIRMA (from Latin FIRMARE - to make firm, to secure, to finalise), because SIGNING a contract makes a FIRM agreement. That's why, when a group of people SIGN a contract agreeing to go into business together, they create a FIRM
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Can't wait for Saturday 7th Feb when I'm appearing at Wolves Lit Fest @pandemonialists.bsky.social Please do come!
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poets and prattlers @pandemonialists.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
They're here! The finalists in Saturday's #WolvesLitFest poetry slam each receive an *incredible* literary work salvaged from a local charity shop. Join us this weekend to find out just how toe-curlingly bad these books are! 😎 wlv.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
An image of three books stacked on top of one another. The covers are hidden, so the identity of these three incredible literary works remains a secret.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
I thought the free fruit was over now for this winter. I was wrong #urbanforaging #foodwastesucks
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Absolutely delighted to be returning to Wolverhampton, but do check out the whole Literature Festival, which is going to be SUPERB!
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
CROSSWORD CLUE: Peacekeepers bend over backwards with Keir Starmer's country to make a city not American (4)
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
CROSSWORD CLUE: Spooner's spare thousand for country to which the US has no right (9)
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Fabulous customer service skills, guys
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Found this lying on the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path and did what it told me to! If all of us picked up plastic pollution when we saw it, there'd be less of it in our oceans. But, then again, if manufacturers stopped swathing their products in it we wouldn't have to, would we, @bahlsen.bsky.social ?
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Because I am a disorganised klutz, I have only just seen this lovely, lovely post. Thank you, Pascal, <3
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
@susiedent.com Hi, Susie, I am doing my show, The Full English, in London from 16th-20th September, and I would love you to see it. Let me know if you would like to come, and I will happily put you and a plus one on the guest list. You're fabulous!
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
@richardosman1.bsky.social Hi, Richard, I am doing my show The Full English in London from 16th to 20th September, and I would love you to see it. Just get in touch, and I will happily put you and a plus one on the guest list
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
CROSSWORD DU JOUR: crosshare.org/crosswords/L...
crosshare.org
Going Back for Seconds 1
Tom second to get Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical (4); Leave out second to return to the computer department (4); Seconds Twist's request (4); Make beer the wrong way in St Werburgh's (4); Haircare device...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
I am hugely excited that The Cryptic Mystic YouTube channel has done a feature on one of my puzzles! Do check out this fantastic crossword tutorial channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hgg...
youtube.com
How to solve a Cryptic Crossword - Walkthrough for beginners - No.122 Cockney Rhyming Slang edition
YouTube video by The Cryptic Mystic
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Break Free From Plastic @breakfreefromplastic.org · 05/03/2025
The Global Plastics Treaty must include strong provisions for a just transition to safer and more sustainable livelihoods for workers and communities across the plastics supply chain, including those in the informal waste sector. #BreakFreeFromPlastic #WastePickersDay
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Break Free From Plastic @breakfreefromplastic.org · 05/03/2025
According to @unep.org, 60% of the plastic recycled across the world is collected by waste pickers. While their contribution to the community is vital, they are often unrecognised, unprotected and discriminated against. #WastePickersDay
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
FUN FACT! I love the way that Latin medical words sound all grown-up and stuffy and serious, but actually aren't...like if you move the MUSCLE attached to your PATELLA, you are literally moving the MOUSE on your FRYING PAN. PATELLA is cognate with PAN and PATINA and PAELLA.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
PEOPLE IN THE NEWCASTLE AREA! I have a show on at the Hearth Arts Centre in Horsley, Northumberland on 20th March! I need all the help I can get with publicising this, so I'd really appreciate your sharing it with those who might be interested: www.thehearth.co.uk/whatson/the-...
thehearth.co.uk
THE FULL ENGLISH
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
My show about the English language is playing at the Hearth Arts Centre, Horsley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 20th March Early booking advised - this venue is teeny-weeny! www.thehearth.co.uk/whatson/the-...
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Attie Lime @attielime.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
A poem about being yourself, on The Dirigible Balloon, which might be useful for #EYFS #KS1 in #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek dirigibleballoon.org/poem/What-I-... #EduSky
What I Like

I like to wear odd-patterned socks:
a stripe, a check or swirls.
I like to wear my hair up high
with lots of frizz and curls.
I like to paint my toenails 
red, blue, pink and green.
I like to wear gigantic shades, 
the biggest you have seen!
I like long scarves, I like big boots
I like badges: one, two, three!
I like a hat: tall or flat cap,
I just like being me!

Attie Lime
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
CROSSWORD DU JOUR: crosshare.org/crosswords/x...
crosshare.org
Heart Cryptic 1
Walter half-heartedly gets a drink (5); Heartless Dora has little stomach for piece of information (5); Half-hearted Haddon was wearing (3, 2); With taking old Penny to heart, gain breadth (5); Half-h...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
FUN FACT! The word GREGARIOUS means TENDING TO GATHER IN A FLOCK OR HERD, from Latin GREX (FLOCK or HERD). It's distantly related to the Germanic verb CRAM - apparently, GREGARIOUS types like to CRAM together in a tiny room. No, I don't see the attraction of that, either.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
CROSSWORD DU JOUR: crosshare.org/crosswords/L...
crosshare.org
Backwards 2
Took exam again after revolution to get a shocking gun (5); After spinning round, Delia was ill (5); Brer Rabbit's uncle in a spin in old Mesopotamian civilisation (5); Sting travelling back in street...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
CROSSWORD DU JOUR crosshare.org/crosswords/e...
crosshare.org
Workers Working 1
Worker going to church to get tree (5); Worker working for Chekhov, Mosimann, Lesser or du Beke (5); One of the Osmonds put on before New York (5); British Library taking headless worker is tasteless ...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
CROSSWORD DU JOUR: crosshare.org/crosswords/y...
crosshare.org
Now and Then Cryptic 1
Occasionally catch heels, causing pains (5); Occasional ball - a fiery one that used to be in 10 Downing Street! (5); Best shoots regularly - that's the moral code he lives by (5); Now and then, in Pa...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
FUN FACT: In the 19th century, they didn't have Primark and shirts were expensive, so men tended to take them off before they had a punch-up, to avoid scuzzing them up. And that is probably the origin of GETTING SHIRTY.
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Stone Cold Jane Austen @abbyhiggs.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
I’m done dating humans. I’ve got a better idea—
Book entitled: how to date buildings (an easy reference guide)
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
I'm out and about a lot this year with my show about the English language. Today, I am delighted to announce I will be in Street in September! www.strodetheatre.org.uk/event/melani...
strodetheatre.org.uk
Melanie Branton - THE FULL ENGLISH | Strode Theatre
Book tickets online for Melanie Branton - THE FULL ENGLISH at Strode Theatre today!
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
VERY NICHE JOKE: I've been traumatised by studying Middle English grammar, and now I'm suffering from PDSE.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
CROSSWORD DU JOUR: STUDY it carefully! crosshare.org/crosswords/K...
crosshare.org
Study Cryptic 2
I'm taking a point from study to make jeans (6); Denis is going to be "It'll Be All Right On The Night" presenter, and not study (6); One from the subcontinent in study, replacing echo with backward a...
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
I'm deeply honoured and very excited to be performing alongside this amazing line-up of poets at this FREE gig at The Greenbank on 29th January. Please come!
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
MON CROSSWORD DU JOUR: crosshare.org/edit/DhoC5Pr...
crosshare.org
Crosshare Crosswords
Crosshare is a community for crossword constructors and solvers. Each day we post a new mini crossword puzzle you can play for free.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
FUN FACT! STITCH and STICK (in all its senses, nouns and verbs) both derive from Germanic STIKIZ (to prick or pierce), from Indo-European STEIG (to stab). ONE STITCH is ONE JAB of the needle and if you STICK or STITCH something, you PIN it Greek STIGMA and STIGMATA are, fairly obviously, cognate.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
FUN FACT! Latin CAEDERE (to cut) gave us SCISSORS (cutters), EXCISE (cut out), CIRCUMCISE (cut around), INCISOR (cutter inner), DECIDE (cutting off your other options)and HOMICIDE (cutting down a man), amongst others.
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Melanie Branton @melaniebranton.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
A fairly easy anagram crossword: crosshare.org/crosswords/K...
crosshare.org
Mostly Anagrams
Crazily, risk mere rat becoming Prime Minister (4, 7); I'd a strange assistance (3); Fun organisation for problem drinkers mixed up animals (5); Criminal shirt scam celebrated every December (9); Aust...
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