iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.

This is the saddest day of my professional life.
Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage.
I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys.
I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show,
A show that I named and helped develop over all those years.
Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry.
These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter

In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices.
Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'.
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I chose the latter.
It broke my heart.
I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make.
I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer.
I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence.
One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career.

I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more.
I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost".
James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice.
Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences.
I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness.
Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire.
I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal.
I am so sorry to let you down.
I hope that you can understand my reasoning.
I have to accept that I am not what the current
BBC expects of their freelance presenters.

Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not
"just a job"
I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world.
From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too.
The strawberry is dead.
Long live the strawberry. B

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Margaret Low @megjlow.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Watch the live recording of the @rigb.org #ChristmasLectures before they are shown on BBC! Featuring Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock. @wmgwarwick.bsky.social hosts a FREE livestream 11 & 16 Dec, for ages 11+. Register here: warwick.ac.uk/wmgoutreach/... #Space #STEM #ScienceForAll #STEMeducation

A poster showing Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock with a background showing space and stars. The text says its the Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution, supported by CGI, and Paul Wilkinson Photography is credited.

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

These lectures will be brilliant & you can watch the live recordings at @warwickuni.bsky.social, hosted by the always brilliant @philjemmett.bsky.social 🤩 Dame Maggie is an absolute icon, so these’ll be great events 👏🏼 Registration link in the post below 👇🏼

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Very happy to be representing the hard work of the School Tasking team! Good luck to all the @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social projects shortlisted at #THEawards in 2025 🎊🎉🥳🏆

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

School Tasking is up for Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year at tonight’s @timeshighered.bsky.social Awards 2025 🏆 Representing the best project team ever is the wonderful @philjemmett.bsky.social, so please wish us luck 🤞🏼 And well done & good luck to everyone nominated 🤩

A male smiling at the camera on a suit with a red tie.

A place setting saying ‘Phil Jemmett’ with cutlery, a cup and glasses surrounding it.

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

We wrote a thing! But, perhaps more importantly, this @timeshighered.bsky.social article contains an exclusive on whether @alexhorne.bsky.social considers Jaffa Cakes to be cakes or biscuits... 👀

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Some things are exciting even when you work for #Taskmaster 🏆

Phil Jemmett and Ali Struthers holding the Greg’s head trophy from Taskmaster.

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School Tasking @schooltasking.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Special shout out here to @philjemmett.bsky.social who, every year, takes the winning trophy from the Champion of Champions Prize Task & makes it into the real trophy for the next year of the competition. Here is Phil with last year's trophy & the real trophy that the children won this year 🏆

Phil Jemmett holding the real trophy shaped like a gold pineapple, with a hand crafted gold pineapple trophy in the foreground. Phil smiles for the camera.

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Allen Tsui @compscitsui.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Indeed @philjemmett.bsky.social What an incredibly brilliant day @warwickengages.bsky.social #ResonateFestival So many fabulous families engaged and ethused about STEM.

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

What a brill day today at @warwickengages.bsky.social #Resonate Festival of Science and Technology. Thanks to the awesome helpers from @wmgwarwick.bsky.social and the amazing @compscitsui.bsky.social for making the Engineers, Inventors, and Explorers room come to life! #WarwickSTEM #WMGoutreach

A group of people standing in a university classroom.

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Margaret Low @megjlow.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Happy #IWD25 Today, our predominantly female crew led the @ri-science.bsky.social #Engineering Masterclass at @wmgwarwick.bsky.social We explored #Manufacturing & Assembly creating beautifully framed patterns using @turtlestitch.bsky.social #InternationalWomensDay #IWD25 #WomenInSTEM #Engineering

A group of people standing together to take a selfie. The picture is of the workshop leaders.

a sheet of paper with red writing on it. The writing shows the costs involved in making a product.

There are 4 picture frames shown, and in each frame is a stitched patern.

image shows four picture frames with stitched patterns in them.

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

My wife to my daughter: "Do you want the book about scientists that daddy's friend wrote, or do you want the one about bums?" My daughter: "Bums!" Sorry @dralistruthers.bsky.social.... this is what you're competing with 😆

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I just searched for something that started with "How to make b..." and one of the suggestions was How to make black coffee. Isn't that obvious? Option a) do it in the dark. Option b) start with white coffee and take the milk out.

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Today, two of my brilliant #SchoolTasking student team led a session at Warwick's Widening Participation Conference, putting none other that our own @philjemmett.bsky.social on the spot in this photo 😂 Ten of my now 28-strong student team are finalists & have been with the project since 2022. 1/2

Two students lead a conference session to a room of academic attendees.

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Margaret Low @megjlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Interested in creative cross-curricular #primary projects? Our paper #Engineering in the Classroom with @philjemmett.bsky.social explores #StitchInTime approach using @turtlestitch.bsky.social to create beautiful patterns on fabric: wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/18... #CSed #TeamCompSci #WMGoutreach

Photograph shows childrens work on display at Coventry Transport Museum. On the wall are collages of work done by primary school children. Each collage is made up of a collection of patterns stitched onto brightly coloured felt.

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

This trophy does look a bit like a star and a pineapple had a child.. I'm sure there's a CAD tool for that. Extrude, revolve, pineapple star.

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Well, this was an exciting start to a Wednesday. What a gentleman.

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

With @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social now having an account, a couple of us thought a Starter Pack of Warwick staff, doctoral students & postdocs might be helpful for those hopefully migrating here alongside the University. Please post below if you work at Warwick & would like to be added.

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

#outreach and #publicengagement: be creative. If a task has one answer, the students who know how to work it out will, and then have nothing to do, while those who don't, won't, and then have nothing to do. You'll have to drag the momentum back up. It's going to tire you out as a presenter!

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Jo Sinton-Hewitt @josintonhewitt.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

This time last year...30 kids, one lost sombrero, some sneaky clues in an antiquities cabinet, eggs and lots of tasks. All to celebrate the brilliant work done by @alexhorne.bsky.social in his support of @schooltasking.bsky.social

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Where possible, I try through #SchoolTasking to support talented independent creators. Kimberley's work is one example, but we've also commissioned many crocheted & needle-felted Alex Hornes (details of these below) & rely to a huge extent on the 3D printing prowess of @philjemmett.bsky.social 🤩

Tiny needle felted Alex Horne hangs on a Christmas tree next to a needle felted fox. He clutches a tiny task.

Alex Horne smiles at at camera holding a miniature crocheted version of himself.

Alex Horne looks quizzically at the camera clutching tiny crocheted versions of himself and Greg Davies.

A 3D printed round trophy with stars on it in gold and silver sits in the foreground with a giant duck behind.

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

This morning I was working with a company on how they can do #PublicEngagement work and heard the all-time classic "but our stuff isn't interesting". It always is. It's always fascinating! Here's a couple of things I think are useful to keep in mind:

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Well, at least I'm valued, right? @aajemmett93.bsky.social "Oh no, this idea is going to cost £5k. Phiiiilll....." @dralistruthers.bsky.social "Oh no, I need someone to travel across the country to pick up hula hoops once the wrestling ring is taken apart. Phiiilll..." ...what is my life. 🤷‍♂️

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

I did my final rehearsal for the #WarwickChristmasLectures yesterday. My audience was my daughter, 3, my wife (not pictured), and all her cuddly toys. Your family are often your harshest critics, but always with love. Everybody needs practice. Don't forget to get those minutes in before a talk!

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Phil Jemmett @philjemmett.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

The #TheAwards and we're all dressed up! @schooltasking.bsky.social has been shortlisted for #WideningParticipation or #Outreach Initiative of the Year 🥂 @dralistruthers.bsky.social puts so much love into this project, so please wish her lots of luck!

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Ali Struthers @dralistruthers.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Glad rags engaged! 🤩

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