Alex von Tunzelmann
@alexvont.bsky.social
Historian, writer, broadcaster. She/her. Latest book, FALLEN IDOLS, shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2022. HISTORY’S SECRET HEROES and THE LUCAN OBSESSION on BBC Radio 4. One of the Silk Road Slippers https://www.silkroadslippers.com
Pinned
Alex von Tunzelmann
@alexvont.bsky.social
· Oct 28
Fifty years ago, a possibly mistaken murder and the disappearance of a playboy aristocrat gripped the nation. My documentary The Lucan Obsession starts this lunchtime at 1.45pm on BBC Radio 4. Or you can binge all 10 eps (they’re only 15 mins each) on BBC Sounds now. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
You people are monsters
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
You people are monsters
Total agreement here
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Total agreement here
I can’t type “no” in big enough capitals
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I can’t type “no” in big enough capitals
Huma, I would follow you over the high passes of the Hindu Kush, but I would not follow you to chicken tikka pizza
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Huma, I would follow you over the high passes of the Hindu Kush, but I would not follow you to chicken tikka pizza
Stop saying anchovies. Anchovies are awful in any context
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Stop saying anchovies. Anchovies are awful in any context
I realise some people would argue this, but I’m afraid anchovies to me are the devil’s own fish and they belong in the bin
November 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I realise some people would argue this, but I’m afraid anchovies to me are the devil’s own fish and they belong in the bin
Chicken on pizza: too dry, weird
Beef on pizza: too rich, weird
Duck on pizza: perverse
Fish on pizza: repulsive
Almost any form of pork, ham or sausage types on pizza: fabulous
Vegetarian pizza: fabulous
I mostly don’t eat red meat, though occasionally I fall off the wagon for 🍕
Beef on pizza: too rich, weird
Duck on pizza: perverse
Fish on pizza: repulsive
Almost any form of pork, ham or sausage types on pizza: fabulous
Vegetarian pizza: fabulous
I mostly don’t eat red meat, though occasionally I fall off the wagon for 🍕
November 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Chicken on pizza: too dry, weird
Beef on pizza: too rich, weird
Duck on pizza: perverse
Fish on pizza: repulsive
Almost any form of pork, ham or sausage types on pizza: fabulous
Vegetarian pizza: fabulous
I mostly don’t eat red meat, though occasionally I fall off the wagon for 🍕
Beef on pizza: too rich, weird
Duck on pizza: perverse
Fish on pizza: repulsive
Almost any form of pork, ham or sausage types on pizza: fabulous
Vegetarian pizza: fabulous
I mostly don’t eat red meat, though occasionally I fall off the wagon for 🍕
I misunderstood this story from the headline because I strongly believe that the only meat that belongs on a pizza is pork. So I thought “good, if he puts chicken on a pizza he should go.” In fact he just wanted to sell fried chicken instead of pizza. Even weirder www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Peak pizza? Domino’s boss ousted after launching shift towards chicken
Firm says Andrew Rennie departs ‘by mutual agreement’ but it is thought he faced tensions with the board
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I misunderstood this story from the headline because I strongly believe that the only meat that belongs on a pizza is pork. So I thought “good, if he puts chicken on a pizza he should go.” In fact he just wanted to sell fried chicken instead of pizza. Even weirder www.theguardian.com/business/202...
No need to show me your hands torn up by the coal face. We all work hard & I’m self employed too. If you’re not in the 4% you aren’t liable. This idea that it’s “double” taxation is daft: we tax many transactions such as income+capital gains, VAT+corporation tax+dividends. I favour a wealth tax too.
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 AM
No need to show me your hands torn up by the coal face. We all work hard & I’m self employed too. If you’re not in the 4% you aren’t liable. This idea that it’s “double” taxation is daft: we tax many transactions such as income+capital gains, VAT+corporation tax+dividends. I favour a wealth tax too.
It’s very fair - in fact there’s a strong argument that we should be shifting more of the tax burden away from earned income and towards unearned income and assets. If you’re so fortunate as to be in the top 4% of UK estates that are liable for IHT, you can afford it. 96% don’t have to pay.
November 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
It’s very fair - in fact there’s a strong argument that we should be shifting more of the tax burden away from earned income and towards unearned income and assets. If you’re so fortunate as to be in the top 4% of UK estates that are liable for IHT, you can afford it. 96% don’t have to pay.
Poorest man in the world
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Poorest man in the world
Also featuring Hema Malini dressed as sparkly mermaid Cleopatra. A look I must someday find an excuse to copy. Might have to throw a sparkly mermaid Cleopatra-themed party
November 24, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Also featuring Hema Malini dressed as sparkly mermaid Cleopatra. A look I must someday find an excuse to copy. Might have to throw a sparkly mermaid Cleopatra-themed party
Dharmendra has died at 89. One of the handsomest men ever to grace a screen. Just look at him in Tum Haseen Main Jawan. Devastating m.youtube.com/watch?si=u9K...
Tum Haseen Main Jawan Title Song (HD) | Tum Haseen Main Jawan (1970) | Dharmendra | Hema Malini
YouTube video by Shemaroo Filmi Gaane
m.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Dharmendra has died at 89. One of the handsomest men ever to grace a screen. Just look at him in Tum Haseen Main Jawan. Devastating m.youtube.com/watch?si=u9K...
Especially if they go on into their late nineties! Hardly a shock premature bereavement. She’s extremely lucky the thing wasn’t sold to pay for care.
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Especially if they go on into their late nineties! Hardly a shock premature bereavement. She’s extremely lucky the thing wasn’t sold to pay for care.
It may not have been published as ragebait but this is a terrible piece. Unbalanced and unchallenged. Who does this woman think should pay taxes if not her, on her massive unearned windfall?
I don't think this was actually deliberately published as ragebait, but the entitlement contained within is remarkable and a classic example of the sort of sentiment governments sometimes just have to face down inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...?
We were hit with a £148k inheritance tax bill when mum died at 97 - it's disgusting
Jill Lemon has labelled inheritance tax as 'cruel', 'horrible' and 'unfair'
inews.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
It may not have been published as ragebait but this is a terrible piece. Unbalanced and unchallenged. Who does this woman think should pay taxes if not her, on her massive unearned windfall?
Reposted by Alex von Tunzelmann
100% hit rate RIP king
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 AM
100% hit rate RIP king
Reposted by Alex von Tunzelmann
Reposted by Alex von Tunzelmann
I found 2024 incredibly frustrating. Because I (and lots of other people) kept explaining that the fiscal position of all parties was literally impossible but broadcast (in particular) was never willing to go that far.
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
November 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I found 2024 incredibly frustrating. Because I (and lots of other people) kept explaining that the fiscal position of all parties was literally impossible but broadcast (in particular) was never willing to go that far.
It’s the late part of Caribbean season which would certainly work, but I’m a fan of Morocco in February – 3-4 hours flight, sunny, about 17-23 degrees, and just a one hour time difference from London.
November 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It’s the late part of Caribbean season which would certainly work, but I’m a fan of Morocco in February – 3-4 hours flight, sunny, about 17-23 degrees, and just a one hour time difference from London.
Reposted by Alex von Tunzelmann
Latest Foreign Desk on Monocle Radio. This was a fun one to do: assessing the difference between the reality of politics and diplomacy, and the fictions and satires. With @alexvont.bsky.social, John Everard and @quantick.bsky.social. monocle.com/radio/shows/...
Stranger than fiction? - Monocle
Many politicians and diplomats serve during incidents that feel stranger than fiction. Veep writer David Quantick and former UK ambassador John...
monocle.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Latest Foreign Desk on Monocle Radio. This was a fun one to do: assessing the difference between the reality of politics and diplomacy, and the fictions and satires. With @alexvont.bsky.social, John Everard and @quantick.bsky.social. monocle.com/radio/shows/...
Ultimately these people are constitutionally incapable of minding their own business.
November 22, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Ultimately these people are constitutionally incapable of minding their own business.
I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately this sort of radicalisation seems to be everywhere.
November 22, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately this sort of radicalisation seems to be everywhere.
Also this, of course! If women are defined by the production of large gametes, the production of large gametes quickly comes to define women. Feminism once argued that biology was not destiny; the anti-trans movement insists that it is. bsky.app/profile/jack...
If you are arguing that what essentially makes you a woman is your reproductive capacity, then it’s real easy to slide into the “you must reproduce” logic.
November 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Also this, of course! If women are defined by the production of large gametes, the production of large gametes quickly comes to define women. Feminism once argued that biology was not destiny; the anti-trans movement insists that it is. bsky.app/profile/jack...
There are plenty of links between the anti-trans “women’s rights” movement & anti-feminist conservatism. And opposing abortion is a logical conclusion for a movement that says no, you should not have agency over your own body; no, you do not know best about yourself; no, you have no choice.
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 AM
There are plenty of links between the anti-trans “women’s rights” movement & anti-feminist conservatism. And opposing abortion is a logical conclusion for a movement that says no, you should not have agency over your own body; no, you do not know best about yourself; no, you have no choice.