David Benedict
@eggsbened.bsky.social
Cultural talk and typing. And singing.
Biographer of Stephen Sondheim.
Variety, London theatre critic.
The Stage, Associate writer.
Tristram Hawkshaw in The Archers.
Somewhat gay.
Biographer of Stephen Sondheim.
Variety, London theatre critic.
The Stage, Associate writer.
Tristram Hawkshaw in The Archers.
Somewhat gay.
Reposted by David Benedict
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Reform cabinet backs £10mn cuts to start filling Durham’s growing black hole
Reform is now learning that running a big council is not as easy as it probably thought
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
‘Farage … has said: “I have never, directly really, tried to go and hurt anybody.” And also: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.” I suppose meaning that, if he did indeed hiss like gas at his Jewish classmates, he meant it nicely.’
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Was Nigel Farage a bit of a Nazi? Only he knows
The Reform leader was a teenager when he made crass remarks but we’re entitled to ask a would-be prime minister what lay behind them
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
‘Farage … has said: “I have never, directly really, tried to go and hurt anybody.” And also: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.” I suppose meaning that, if he did indeed hiss like gas at his Jewish classmates, he meant it nicely.’
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by David Benedict
From January 2026, The Stage will no longer appear as a weekly newspaper but rather as a monthly magazine designed for deeper reading, says Alistair Smith.
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 AM
From January 2026, The Stage will no longer appear as a weekly newspaper but rather as a monthly magazine designed for deeper reading, says Alistair Smith.
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
After seeing Ann Hampton Callaway* on frankly spectacular form at Brasserie Zedel - there are a few tickets left for Saturday: grab them! - I saw my most coveted poster there. I want it badly.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 PM
After seeing Ann Hampton Callaway* on frankly spectacular form at Brasserie Zedel - there are a few tickets left for Saturday: grab them! - I saw my most coveted poster there. I want it badly.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
“You’ll be visited by three spirits…”
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
“You’ll be visited by three spirits…”
Reposted by David Benedict
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Quando Quando - Kessler twins - HD HQ - Scopitone
YouTube video by Marcelo Blanco Pinball
m.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Reposted by David Benedict
🚨BOOM!! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 50,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
🚨BOOM!! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 50,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Quando Quando - Kessler twins - HD HQ - Scopitone
YouTube video by Marcelo Blanco Pinball
m.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Reposted by David Benedict
If he can't remember, how does he know he wasn't doing this "with intent"?
November 26, 2025 at 7:52 AM
If he can't remember, how does he know he wasn't doing this "with intent"?
Reposted by David Benedict
This is an incredibly powerful article by Peter Ettedgui. I hope people listen to him and to the others who are brave enough to come forward.
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
This is an incredibly powerful article by Peter Ettedgui. I hope people listen to him and to the others who are brave enough to come forward.
Reposted by David Benedict
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
Reposted by David Benedict
Critical viewing:
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
Art of the review
Cultural criticism: Pleasures and pains of arts reviewing
www.gold.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Critical viewing:
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
Long before Jessica Fletcher, Angela Lansbury wowed the crowd opening the 1973 Oscars. And then some. Nothing succeeds like excess.
Starts at 2.02.
youtu.be/zY6y-NFiSec
Starts at 2.02.
youtu.be/zY6y-NFiSec
Angela Lansbury Opening the 45th Oscars in 1973
YouTube video by Oscars
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Long before Jessica Fletcher, Angela Lansbury wowed the crowd opening the 1973 Oscars. And then some. Nothing succeeds like excess.
Starts at 2.02.
youtu.be/zY6y-NFiSec
Starts at 2.02.
youtu.be/zY6y-NFiSec
Reposted by David Benedict
BBC board member Robbie Gibb, whose previous jobs have included being Conservative communications director to Theresa May, and helping to set up GB News, tells MPs that he is "hugely impartial"
November 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
BBC board member Robbie Gibb, whose previous jobs have included being Conservative communications director to Theresa May, and helping to set up GB News, tells MPs that he is "hugely impartial"
Reposted by David Benedict
The demand (from Prescott and others) that the BBC be held to higher standards on impartiality than others shows precisely why Ofcom's failure on GB News is so damaging.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
November 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The demand (from Prescott and others) that the BBC be held to higher standards on impartiality than others shows precisely why Ofcom's failure on GB News is so damaging.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
All broadcasters must be impartial *within themselves* not have one partisan broadcaster balanced by a differently partisan one.
Reposted by David Benedict
The loneliest man in the world.
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The loneliest man in the world.
Critical viewing:
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
Art of the review
Cultural criticism: Pleasures and pains of arts reviewing
www.gold.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Critical viewing:
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
Brimming with enthusiasm, Better Known has been Radio Times’ Show of the Week, in The Guardian’s 50 podcasts that make life better, and more.
Hear me – and heaps of more eye-catching names – extolling the virtues of six things we love which should be better known. betterknown.co.uk/2021/08/21/d...
Hear me – and heaps of more eye-catching names – extolling the virtues of six things we love which should be better known. betterknown.co.uk/2021/08/21/d...
David Benedict
David Benedict discusses with Ivan six things which he thinks should be better known. David Benedict is a culture critic and broadcaster. He read drama at Hull University, spent ten years as an act…
betterknown.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Brimming with enthusiasm, Better Known has been Radio Times’ Show of the Week, in The Guardian’s 50 podcasts that make life better, and more.
Hear me – and heaps of more eye-catching names – extolling the virtues of six things we love which should be better known. betterknown.co.uk/2021/08/21/d...
Hear me – and heaps of more eye-catching names – extolling the virtues of six things we love which should be better known. betterknown.co.uk/2021/08/21/d...
Reposted by David Benedict
This has lost me thousands of pounds (not to mention book sales) and put me in a state of terror and panic. I urge anyone thinking of moving their list from Substack, or wanting to know more about how Substack works, to read it....
I'm not going back to Substack. I will continue to post my newsletters from Ghost. But I did have to get back in there, just to post this and let people who thought I'd vanished know about this utter nightmare: substack.com/home/post/p-...
An Explanation (Which I Would Be Very Grateful If You Took The Time To Read)
What follows is a minor modern horror story.
substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:43 AM
This has lost me thousands of pounds (not to mention book sales) and put me in a state of terror and panic. I urge anyone thinking of moving their list from Substack, or wanting to know more about how Substack works, to read it....
Reposted by David Benedict
NEW: Nigel Farage is facing renewed calls to explain why he repeatedly aired tropes and conspiracy theories associated with antisemitism during interviews, after claims the Reform UK leader used racist language in his teens.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage urged to explain conspiracy theories linked to antisemitism he voiced in US media
Exclusive: The Reform UK leader discussed far-right talking points in web TV and radio appearances between 2009 and 2018
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 AM
NEW: Nigel Farage is facing renewed calls to explain why he repeatedly aired tropes and conspiracy theories associated with antisemitism during interviews, after claims the Reform UK leader used racist language in his teens.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by David Benedict
I have just signed this petition on the Parliamentary web site: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 23, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I have just signed this petition on the Parliamentary web site: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by David Benedict
Reposted by David Benedict
Still hear people saying that this charlatan was “doing his best”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Still hear people saying that this charlatan was “doing his best”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Eleanor Powell was the only dancer to intimidate Fred Astaire. Thrill to her tapping – and drumming – with Buddy Rich (and the Tommy Dorsey orchestra) in Ship Ahoy. The ease, energy, wit, antics, acrobatics, athleticism: there was no-one like her.
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
Unbelievable Tap Dance and Drumming Routine - Lido Deck - 2 Legends - Eleanor Powell & Buddy Rich
YouTube video by Skro's Nest
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Eleanor Powell was the only dancer to intimidate Fred Astaire. Thrill to her tapping – and drumming – with Buddy Rich (and the Tommy Dorsey orchestra) in Ship Ahoy. The ease, energy, wit, antics, acrobatics, athleticism: there was no-one like her.
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
TFW you sit down to rewatch what you remember as the terrifically entertaining Wargames - the 80s thriller with Matthew Broderick - and the tense opening sequence is thrown for a loop because the key player is a young Leo McGarry.
November 22, 2025 at 10:26 PM
TFW you sit down to rewatch what you remember as the terrifically entertaining Wargames - the 80s thriller with Matthew Broderick - and the tense opening sequence is thrown for a loop because the key player is a young Leo McGarry.