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Simon Tillotson

@simontillotson.bsky.social
4.3K followers 2.2K following 355 posts

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

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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Among the many delightful experiences when making this In Our Time on Casablanca in Sheffield: exploring Sheffield and watching Casablanca. Highly recommend both (and this programme) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
From the producer’s chair at the Crossed Wires recording in Sheffield in July
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
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.uk
British Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damage
As 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...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
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.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
And for hundreds and hundreds of live editions of In Our Time, this is what the producer would see through the soundproof window
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
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.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
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.uk
Record quarter for BBC Sounds as flagship speech, sport and news titles drive growth on and off platform
The Archers, The Traitors: Uncloaked, In Our Time, and Newscast helped drive BBC Sounds to a record start to 2026
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
In my locker I also found this trophy from the Daily Mail in praise of In Our Time from 2017. I wonder what became of Dominic 🙂. I pinned a copy above my desk for a while
Dominic Sandbrook writing in praise of In Our Time in the Daily Mail in 2017, found when clearing out my locker
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
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
A beach pebble and decoration which my children gave me when I started Small decorative plate for biscuits after recordingsBefore I started I was advised to have shiny black shoes on recording days and I took this seriously Ear defenders for firing shotguns or something like that, which I wore in the open plan office when trying to concentrate on complex ideas
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
For viewers in the UK like me, here’s a link to the first iPlayer version of In Our Time. Wishing my former colleagues every success with this new stage www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
bbc.co.uk
In Our Time - Thomas More’s Utopia
Misha Glenny and guests discuss Thomas More’s notoriously ambiguous text, which coined our word ‘utopia’ and gave rise to new genres of writing, theorising, and thinking.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Best of luck to In Our Time for this next stage (and looking forward to seeing how our Sheffield Casablanca recording turns out) www.bbc.com/mediacentre/...
bbc.com
BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time to launch as a video podcast on iPlayer from September
Alongside new weekly episodes, a specially-curated audio-only archive edition will be added to the In Our Time feed on BBC Sounds
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Jane Thurber @thurberteam.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A fun painting in front of a Tate Britain exhibition of JMW Turner's work. The joke is that Turner spelled his second name "Mallord" with an O - not like the duck.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Catching up with an old friend 🙂 and noticing details I’d missed before www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
In my ignorant state, this episode delivered many “NOW I understand“ moments (and has helped in a couple of quizzes)
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Frank Cogliano @frankcogliano.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
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.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time - Next on
Upcoming episodes of In Our Time
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
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)
The view from my holiday terrace overlooking Favignana and Marsala
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Admiring ‘Penelope’s Castle’ from a sunbed
The castle used for Ithaca in Nolan’s Odyssey
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
When I realised the BBC (founded October 1922) is a Libra
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Where the University of Catania houses the Humanities department (and its library)
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Off to see Nolan’s Odyssey later and unsure whether these will help or hinder my enjoyment 🙂https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01h9vvk
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Ancient Greece
Browse the Ancient Greece era within the In Our Time archive.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
In the back garden of a student house in Bristol (near docks) and no idea what it can be
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
So many sea shells and I don’t yet know what this larger one is
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Good morning Sheffield! crossedwires.live/podcast/in-o...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
“Everybody comes to In Our Time in Sheffield this Saturday“ crossedwires.live/podcast/in-o...
crossedwires.live
In Our Time — Crossed Wires Festival 2026
Radio 4's In Our Time makes its Sheffield debut, with a rare chance to see new host Misha Glenny and guests in action. From its start in 1998 with host Melvyn Bragg, In Our Time has become essential l...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Wonderful afternoon celebrating the career of In Our Time royalty Judith Hawley. Anyone not heard the gin craze episode? www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Closing a wonderful weekend with family fans of Belle and Sebastian first in Glasgow then nearer home 🦊❄️
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Catching up with Belle and Sebastian at Kelvingrove Bandstand, c30 years since I picked Dog on Wheels out of the surplus promo CDs box at GLR and played it to death
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Available now for download globally: The Welsh Marches www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... recorded on a sweltering day at Hay last month
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Welsh Marches
How the Norman invasion of Britain created semi-independent warlord territories in Wales.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Off air now: me From Dark Matter in 2015 to Vigée Le Brun today and Casablanca next season en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... I’d best put the kettle on 🙂
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
On air now: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Vigée Le Brun
The woman who became Marie Antoinette's official portraitist and won fame across Europe.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Vigée Le Brun‘s self portrait in a straw hat alongside the Rubens ‘straw hat’ portrait that inspired her, at the National Gallery in London www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Delighted to find Vigée Le Brun’s Countess Golovina at the Courtauld, so close to her self portrait at the National Gallery www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Vigée Le Brun at the National Gallery in London alongside the Rubens that inspired her self portrait with a straw hat www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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Prof Bob Davis @rokewood.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Outstanding episode of BBCRadio4 BBCInOurTime — on a decisive period in Greek history often overshadowed by events & personalities before & after. Misha Glenny talks to Paul Cartledge, Leah Lazar, Polly Low www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Delian League
The ancient alliance initially formed to protect Greek city states from the Persian Empire
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Listen out for Pick of the Week this weekend to see what they feature on Machado de Assis! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... IOT here www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Pick of the Week, Jeffrey Boakye
Jeffrey Boakye presents a weekly selection of the best bits of audio across the BBC.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Ominously/coincidentally my old studio tea mug has just fallen from a shelf (my last recording this week) ☕️🫖
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
The Levellers: available now globally for download by the poorest he and the greatest he and everyone in between www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Levellers
The political movement during the English Civil War committed to a new idea of equality.
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Durham Classics and Ancient History @durhamclassics.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
🎙️ Tune in *today* to hear our very own Prof. Polly Low on ‘In Our Time’, chatting to Misha Glenny about The Delian League. 👩‍🏫 Prof. Low appears as an expert panelist alongside Dr Leah Lazar (Manchester) and Prof. Paul Cartledge (Cambridge). 🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Coming up at 9am in UK on BBC Sounds and globally on BBC.com - The Delian League (how Athens came to control what was initially a defensive alliance against Persia) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Delian League
The ancient alliance initially formed to protect Greek city states from the Persian Empire
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
On an anniversary of Waterloo: how Napoleon’s ambitions crumbled (and the significance of soft ground) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Napoleon's Hundred Days
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Napoleon Bonaparte's surprise coup in 1815 before Waterloo
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Mapping the March: Medieval Wales and England, c.1282-1550 @mappingthemarch.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
BBC Radio 4 ‘In Our Time’, recently featured the topic of ‘The Welsh Marches’. The programme was recorded in front of a live audience at the Hay Literary Festival. On the panel were Helen Fulton, Huw Pryce (Bangor University) and Rhun Emlyn (Aberystwyth), with presenter Misha Glenny.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Amused to see that Bras Cubas’s memoirs shot up to 31st place in biographies this week at a well known online store. Might encourage others to write posthumously 🙂
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REBRAC - Rede Europeia de Brasilianistas de Análise Cultural @rebracweb.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
BBC Radio 4 'In Our Time' programme, on Machado de Assis. Featuring two REBRAC members, Claire Williams from the University of Oxford and Viviane Carvalho da Annunciação from the University of Cambridge www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
In Our Time - Machado de Assis - BBC Sounds
The great Brazilian novelist, whose satires of slave owners transcend time and place.
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Sameer Padania @sdp.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Strange link between Machado de Assis and Stéphane Mallarmé - both involved with women‘s fashion magazines printed in Paris: La Dernière Mode - fashionartdaily.blogspot.com/2009/11/la-d... And #InOurTime describes Machado’s involvement here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
fashionartdaily.blogspot.com
La Dernière Mode
La Dernière Mode was a limited edition fashion magazine/art project created by 19th century poet Stéphane Mallarmé. Jonathan Crary expl...
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Trinity Hall, Cambridge @trinityhallcamb.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Fancy learning something new? Listen to Clare Jackson, Honorary Professor of Early Modern History and Trinity Hall Fellow, on BBC Radio 4’s 'In Our Time' exploring the Levellers – pioneering campaigners who pushed for social equality and religious tolerance during the 17th century. 👇
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Available now for download globally: on the Garamantes, ancient people of the once verdant Sahara www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Garamantes
The ancient civilisation which thrived in the Sahara Desert over 2,000 years ago.
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Simon Tillotson @simontillotson.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Coming up at 9am in UK on BBC Sounds and globally on bbc.com - Misha Glenny and guests discuss Machado de Assis, ‘the Pele of world literature’ www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Machado de Assis
The great Brazilian novelist, whose satires of slave owners transcend time and place.
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St Peter's College, University of Oxford @spcoxford.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
This Thursday, be sure to tune your radios/phones/smart speakers to BBC Radio 4 to hear our very own Prof Claire Williams discuss Brazilian writer Machado de Assis with Misha Glenny on the flagship programme, 'In Our Time'! www.spc.ox.ac.uk/news/claire-willia…
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The Linnean Society of London @linneansociety.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Delighted to hear about the evolution of trees & how they have transformed our planet. And even more delighted to hear two of our Fellows discuss the brilliance of tree evolution on 'In Our Time', with William Baker and Christopher Berry! You can listen below. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Evolution of Trees
How trees first arose from small plants and changed the world, and why new trees emerge.
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Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
🌱🌾🌍🌺🌳🌲🌿🐡🌴 Evolution of Trees. Fascinating – fossils, DNA, physiology, climate change. Speakers Jenny McElwain Trinity College Dublin, Christopher Berry Cardiff Uni & Bill Baker Kew. Teams from all in Botanical University Challenge. Prof McElwain asked questions 2025. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
In Our Time - The Evolution of Trees - BBC Sounds
How trees first arose from small plants and changed the world, and why new trees emerge.
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Alanna @southlondongirl.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
I was v devastated when Melvyn retired from In Our Time, and I was a right old grump when they gave it to Misha Glenny, as I thought he was too newsy. But I’m over myself now and today’s discussion on trees is fascinating. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Radio 4 - Listen Live - BBC Sounds
Listen live to Radio 4 on BBC Sounds
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