iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 8h

Cruel, but funny, and well worth 1 minute 44 seconds of your time. (Sound up recommended for the full effect)

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Is it just me, or is Victoria wearing green every week?

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Sharp, insightful writing from Joel about why SNL UK sings (literally *and* metaphorically...)

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

No, spellcorrect on my phone, I never mean 'tge' for 'the'. Never.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I'd forgotten how much of a proper rock star Jim Kerr is (complimentary). Playing the Stirling audience like a fiddle #Radio2InThePark

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

"And what exactly do you do?" "I buttle" Farewell Tim Curry, one of the best to ever.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Casablanca The Titfield Thunderbolt Ride The High Country A Shot In The Dark Bullitt The Great Race The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) The Three Musketeers (1973) The Adventures of Robin Hood High Anxiety Jour de Fete Bob Le Flambeur Le Cercle Rouge Point Blank Charley Varrick Start anywhere...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

An oldie but a thoroughly reliable goodie: If you enjoy a wine, remember the name; if you were right last time, you'll be right next time.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Jeremy V currently being performatively baffled that teenagers use slang that their parents don't understand, as distinct from, oh, every single generation ever going back to the dawn of time.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. [...] He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world." Raymond Chandler, Dashiel Hammett's contemporary, writing about characters like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe in 1950

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

TV trivia hive mind - quick question. Which was the first TV series to give the lead detective a quirky/funny pathologist to play off? Is it Original Flavour Morse? Or is it much older than that?

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I do like this film, even though it has one or two moments that are spectacularly "of its time". Lovely cast on fine form, from John Cleese to Harold Pinter and all points in between - and some really sharp satire on what media-driven politics would become.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

They were just the very best at what they did: The Girl That I Knew Somewhere I'm A Believer Randy Scouse Git Pleasant Valley Sunday Early Morning Blues and Greens

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A bookseller writes: Oh so very absolutely this. New or second-hand, a busy bookshop is a small act of healing...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Birding hive mind: I'm seeing a small brown bird in my Nottinghamshire garden: too big to be a dunnock; too plain & pointy & upright to be any kind of sparrow; good tail; seen hopping round hoovering up spillage from the feeder. Is it a linnet? Some sort of finch? All thoughts cheerfully received.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Good news, everybody!! Proper Saturday evening telly is back!!

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

An independent bookseller writes: Oh yes. Oh so very much yes.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Fascinating thing about #YourSacked* this year - they're all *far* too young to get any of Lord Sugar's jokes. *H/T Justin

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

I own the hardback of this - it's brilliant. So pleased that it's now coming out in versions that will actually pay Joel properly...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Matt and Gail are good people - please help if you can.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Good result for the Greens, and I for one am looking forward to the endless stream of columns saying "This result confirms all my pre-existing prejudices"...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I am emosh. *Two* gold medals for Coming Down Head First on a Tea Tray. Go Team GB! #TheOlympics

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

"The men who made the Sixties what they are today..."

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

This is a great book, and if this kind of thing interests you, I absolutely recommend it...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

So, The Night Manager (so far). Lovely twist, if slightly spoiled by the trailer (and, to be fair, by the executive producer credit). Now that we've heard about Roxana's father, do we all think that she will go all Inigo Montaya on either Teddy or [spoiler]?

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

@levparikian.bsky.social Could I please ask your help with a garden bird spot? Deepest Nottinghamshire; slightly larger little brown thing with a good tail - and quite dark brown; on the bird feeder, then down to the ground, then back up to the feeder and away. Thoughts?

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Watching the last hour of the Last Crusade again because I can. It is still just completely magnificent.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

A bookseller writes: I loved working in an independent bookshop on Christmas Eve. From about this time onwards, well-lunched men of a certain age would fall out of the pub & into the shop. They would say to us "I must get my wife something", & we'd sell them an armful of hardbacks. Merry Christmas.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Catching up with #Strictly - delighted for Kaz, but also really impressed with George. What's been great about both of them over the weeks is just how much they've thrown themselves into this. Non-dancers finding themselves and having a fabulous time in the process. This is absolutely what we want.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Three of the finest books that I own are Parr's collections of Boring Postcards, which tell a splendidly subversive tale of post-war rebuilding in Britain, Germany and the US. Seek them out if you can - and farewell to a master of his art... www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

theguardian.com

Martin Parr, photographer acclaimed for observations of British life, dies aged 73

From sunbathers to Conservative clubs, Parr’s images were often in vivid colour with more than a dash of humour

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Currently watching San Ferry Ann (1965) on Talking Pictures TV. A silent-ish comedy of British tourists abroad, filmed on location in and around your actual Calais. Not least of its pleasures is the fact it's got *everyone* in it.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

An actor friend of mine has had a brilliant idea: could we rename a theatre for Tom Stoppard? He suggested the National's Lyttleton - any other suggestions?

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

As a student, many thousands of years ago, I went up to that London to see the first run of The Real Thing, with Roger Rees and Felicity Kendal. For the cricket bat speech and for so,so much else besides, Tom Stoppard has had my heart ever since. Farewell to one of the best to ever.

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Introduce yourself with 5 acts you've seen: Bellowhead (lots of times) Danny & the Champions of the World BNL (one time supported by KT Tunstall *and* Boothby Graffoe; one time supported by Colin James Hay; and lots of other times (...) Lizzie No (at the Gate to Southwell Festival) Peter Tork

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

You know, for all we mock, O What A Circus is an absolute stone cold banger #BBCRadio2 #SalveSalveRegina

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

I've known Dirk since I was a student back in the early 80s. It is brilliant to see that he's still creating epic audio magic, and I absolutely recommend that you hear this...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Top 5 movie genres: *Okay, dammit, I'll do the right thing, if I MUST... *Flawed protagonist solves crime *Ragtag ensemble pulls off heist (or doesn't), 1950 - 2000 *Paranoid spy/detective thriller 1965 - 1980 *Jean-Pierre Melville

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Love Dougray Scott on the One Show taking time to credit the writers (script and original novel)

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Farewell to the great Gilson Lavis, drummer for Squeeze (and so much more). Here's a fine example of exactly what he did: youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?...

youtu.be

Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by SqueezeVEVO

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

This was my home for nearly forty years (the city, not the cathedral, obviously) - and these are some gorgeous photos...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Back in the late 80s, I came fourth in the Radio Times Comedy Writing competition. I got a cheque for £150 and some kind words from Prunella Scales (one of the judges that year). I know which I valued more...

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David Simpkin @simplerdave.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

I know we all know this, but aren't the #Strictly pros *really* good at ensemble work...

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