iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 9h

Much obliged to @davidmckenna.bsky.social for giving this album a shout out in his Quietus round-up of French releases this week. Was totally unaware of them, and this sounds splendid to me. They're called Odessey & Oracle. odesseyandoracle.bandcamp.com/album/techni...

odesseyandoracle.bandcamp.com

Technicolor, by Odessey & Oracle

13 track album

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Matt Owen @mjowen174.bsky.social · 10h

Interesting that quite a few people asking me to write speeches bring up AI, and the fact it’s dire. One-nil.

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Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 15h

Really sad to hear of the death of @annapicard.bsky.social, who I only knew on the other place and then here, but who I nevertheless felt I knew. A great loss to music and writing.

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Al Dupres @aldupres.bsky.social · 11h

Fun fact: In the pilot edition (which survives) the theme was sung by Patricia Routledge.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 11h

Actually: That’s Life - the closest thing to the internet in 1978.

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Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 11h

I volunteered for Childline for a decade at uni and I know firsthand a snapshot of how many lives Esther Rantzen changed. Her later years were known for assisted dying but her legacy will be giving vulnerable children someone to listen to and care. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

theguardian.com

Esther Rantzen, TV presenter and Childline founder, dies aged 86

Rantzen announced lung cancer diagnosis in 2023 and became a vocal assisted dying campaigner

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 11h

Many know this record. It samples Esther Rantzen. #RIP www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLZp...

youtube.com

In The Bath

YouTube video by Lemon Jelly - Topic

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 11h

Just that bit too young for early That’s Life! (and it was an 11pm show in the first few series) but the theme tune… had words. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NQh...

youtube.com

That's Life Series 1 Episode 1 1973

YouTube video by TV Heaven

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Ian McDougall @ianmcdougall.bsky.social · 11h

The voice of Topo Gigio has died too.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 12h

Easy to mock That’s Life, did it myself (and still watched it every week) but creating Childline’s the biggest achievement. #RIP

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Todd in the Shadows @shadowtodd.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Starting a running tally of New Old Songs On The Hot 100 for 2026 (old = older than three years). Let's see if we can beat the 13 from last year 1. "End of Beginning" - Djo (2022) 2. "Purple Rain" - Prince (1984) 3. "Landslide" - Fleetwood Mac (1975) 4. "Running Up That Hill" - Kate Bush (1985)

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 16h

Not that one, it turns out, but how funny to see this appear on 30 September, Radio 1's birthday. May be accidental, may be conscious, but it made me smile regardless.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 16h

The trouble with the term 'personalised music', though, is that in truth, most of us like a little bit of everything, and algorithms hate that.

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Julia Raeside @jnraeside.bsky.social · 17h

Free to read now, my review of The Swan: Behind the Mirror on Disney/Hulu. America’s cruelest reality show came out in 2004, but how much has reality tv really changed since then?

juliaraeside.substack.com

The Swan: Behind the Mirror

TV Review - Hulu has its cake and eats it in this deeply disturbing delve into one of America’s cruelest ever reality shows.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 18h

Geoff Atkinson, a brilliant, versatile and thoughtful writer/producer mentions in this ‘should have done a behind the scenes-type doc’ instead and I think he’s right.

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Kirkdale Bookshop @kirkdalebooks.bsky.social · 21h

further partial confirmation: gift horse, yes; Cyril, no

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 20h

Oh, I did discover yesterday that the words of Good Old Arsenal, a top 20 single in 1971, sung to the tune of Rule Britannia, were written by Jimmy Hill. So now I know.

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Samira Ahmed @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social · 20h

Discussing our books on the mid-60s - social change, pop culture & the architecture of the era with historian David Kynaston at Cheltenham Book festival next Saturday 10th October www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/deep-...

cheltenhamfestivals.org

Deep Into the Sixties | Cheltenham Festivals

Historian David Kynaston and broadcaster Samira Ahmed take us back to the heart of the Swinging Sixties: the Beatles and the Stones vie for the top of the

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 20h

Another one: 'While reviewing your work, I found myself particularly interested in the kind of reading experience your book could create for a mystery audience. We look for stories that do more than simply reveal a solution.' Tries to square it with my book. Maybe they're huge 808 State fans.

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Sara Gibbs @sararoseg.bsky.social · 22h

It’s my birthday! What an incredible gift to wake up to this Crowdfunding figure. Thank you so bloody much! If anyone wants to give me a birthday gift, all I want this year is for the show to be funded: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/its-a-supe...

It's a Superpower??
Season Two
£5,550
Target: £30,000
139 supporters
18%
80 days left

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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 21h

Most TV is just this now.

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Izzy Mant 🔹 @izzymant.bsky.social · 21h

It's the last week of our crowdfunder for my comedy short film HOW TO DO A KIDNAP. Any Bluesky Peep Show fans here? You might like to know the cast now includes Gareth Tunley AKA Gog from series 2. (I produced series 5) You can pledge (and get rewards) at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/how-to-do-a-kidnap

Still from Peep Show featuring the character Gog. Caption: Gareth Tunley AKA Gog cast in comedy short by producer of Peep Show series 5. You know what I famcy right now? A crowdfunder donation.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 21h

I have never mentioned this before and I will never mention this again because it is far worse for them but someone else’s ever present breathlessness (even with all the help) is quite a stressful thing to process sometimes.

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David Quantick @quantick.bsky.social · 22h

STAR TREK ORIGINAL OPENER: "The Klingons have surrounded us and all hope is lost." STAR TREK STRANGE NEW WORLDS OPENER: "I've just been on a training course which I found extremely useful."

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 22h

Feels like he even had to get AI to generate the phrase ‘AI music is now very very good’.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 22h

Last on TV when Ardal O’Hanlon chose an episode for his perfect night’s viewing in early 2006. It’s a cliche to say this now but it feels more relevant than ever. Also jokes.

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David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 23h

Blog update: The Timelords aka The KLF reached number one in both the national and NME Indie Charts with "Doctorin' The Tardis". It's a track you could write off as a cheeky novelty hit, except unlike most novelty discs, it's proven enduring to many of us. indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2026/09/117-...

indienumber1s.blogspot.com

117. The Timelords - Doctorin' The Tardis

All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.

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Steve Doherty @stevedoherty.bsky.social · 23h

Regular readers will know I have a theory about “self loathing” Radio 4. A fresh example, this morning: “Our Friends In The North” is back as a stage show. Good. So it gets covered on Today. When R4 did a major (and excellent) adaptation, a few months ago: nothing.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 23h

What if you like music being unsolved?

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

First thought was 'The Yellow Submarine one?'

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

What the hell was I dreaming about last night so that I bit my tongue in two places.

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Elliott & Thompson @eandtbooks.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🚨 Scam email alert 🚨 We have been made aware of emails pretending to be from our staff members. Please note: legitimate correspondence will only come from an eandtbooks.com email address. If you have received a suspicious email, please ignore it.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Broadcasting is in such safe hands.

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DavidMcKenna @davidmckenna.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The new column is up!

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David Hendy @davidhendy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today would have been the 80th birthday of the Third Programme - BBC Radio 3’s remarkable predecessor. My latest for the BBC marks the occasion with a dip into the programme archives, unearthing some forgotten gems from the Third’s early years…

bbc.co.uk

The Third at 80 – a brief history of the unexpected

Weird and wonderful highlights from the early years of BBC Radio 3’s celebrated forerunner The Third Programme

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I've made it, gang. I've started to get those slightly creepy 'depressed hyperbole' emails from 'book club representatives' saying how they'd love to involve my book in their community. I particularly love how they explain what my own book is back to me as if I might not have read it.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The murders of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were horrific. I also feel as if Rob Reiner would have surely added some jokes as opposed to 'Sybil did oh no we meant DIED' and also 'I said a thing and was crossing my fingers behind my back' which are literally the level of what we had so far.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

When they do those 'Best Albums of the 21st Century' lists, this one rarely comes up. I feel it should more often.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

And on #SongsInTheKeyOfLife's 50th, thanks to my dad for picking up a cassette copy of it which would help enhance all those outings and holidays. Finally got round to the CD in the 90s - when it cost me £26.99 - and it's been worth every penny.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Not just nostalgic but open and revealing. Numerous insiders from both in front of and behind the camera share their memories, opinions and working methods. Yet another winner from @tenacrebooks.bsky.social.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Sad to see Tony de Meur aka Ronnie Golden go. Only met him in person the once, at a Rock'n'Roll Book Club book event a few years ago in Walthamstow, but we talked for some time about music, comedy, and in particular Barry Cryer. Tony was as thoroughly lovely a man as everyone had described him.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Conversely, remember that ITV sitcom where Simon Calder and Judith Chalmers shared a flat. With Cliff Michelmore as the landlord.

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Andrew Hickey @andrewhickey.500songs.com · 25/09/2026

A real sad loss. It would be easier to list the rocksteady and reggae classics he *didn't* play on between about 1967 and 75.

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Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Don't Leave Me This Way of course was dedicated to the GLC. On the back of the sleeve. #totp

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