Illuminations
@illuminations.bsky.social
Media producer of arts docs, screen performance; posts by John Wyver, Professor of the Arts on Screen, Univ of Westminster; broadcasting history, esp early TV, theatre, film, visual art
Images: Man w the Flower, ‘30 / de Stael, Le Saladier (detail), ‘54
Images: Man w the Flower, ‘30 / de Stael, Le Saladier (detail), ‘54
Pinned
Illuminations
@illuminations.bsky.social
· Jul 31
Magic Rays of Light
Magic Rays of Light is an original and ambitious history of the largely unknown early years of television in Britain. A detailed cultural study of the first dem…
www.bloomsbury.com
My book 'Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain' can be pre-ordered from Bloomsbury here, currently with discounts on the hardback, paperback and e-book versions.
Publication 8 January, just ahead of the centenary of television in Britain.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...
Publication 8 January, just ahead of the centenary of television in Britain.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...
Excellent from Lyn Gardner in The Stage: 'Theatre needs more than occasional red-carpet treatment from TV'
www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/thea...
www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/thea...
Lyn Gardner on TV's support for theatre
While the BBC's prime-time screening of the Oliviers is great news, theatre deserves ongoing support from TV because stage talent feeds the broadcast industry, says Lyn Gardner
www.thestage.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Excellent from Lyn Gardner in The Stage: 'Theatre needs more than occasional red-carpet treatment from TV'
www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/thea...
www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/thea...
Brief thoughts on seeing Marcel Carné's Le Quai des brumes, 1938, and High Treason, 1929, on cinema screens at BFI Southbank yesterday. In their different ways, both were glorious.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/fog-and-war/
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/fog-and-war/
Fog and war - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: To BFI Southbank yesterday for an accidental double bill. I hadn’t planned it this way, but it happened that I watched Marcel Carné’s Le Quai des brumes, 1938 (above), just before t...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Brief thoughts on seeing Marcel Carné's Le Quai des brumes, 1938, and High Treason, 1929, on cinema screens at BFI Southbank yesterday. In their different ways, both were glorious.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/fog-and-war/
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/fog-and-war/
Reposted by Illuminations
Excellent interview with Michael Sheen by daughter (mine, not his) Kate Wyver
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
‘I can’t waste this’: Michael Sheen on his riskiest role yet – saving Wales’s national theatre
When funding cuts closed National Theatre Wales, the actor saw it as an emergency, and set about building a replacement. As its first show comes to the stage, he explains his plan to bring big product...
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Excellent interview with Michael Sheen by daughter (mine, not his) Kate Wyver
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
Looks like all of these glorious Ibsen treats from the archive are now live and available for the best part of a year @bbciplayer.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Ibsen
A collection of Henrik Ibsen adaptations and documentaries from the BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Looks like all of these glorious Ibsen treats from the archive are now live and available for the best part of a year @bbciplayer.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Excellent interview with Michael Sheen by daughter (mine, not his) Kate Wyver
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
‘I can’t waste this’: Michael Sheen on his riskiest role yet – saving Wales’s national theatre
When funding cuts closed National Theatre Wales, the actor saw it as an emergency, and set about building a replacement. As its first show comes to the stage, he explains his plan to bring big product...
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Excellent interview with Michael Sheen by daughter (mine, not his) Kate Wyver
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
Reposted by Illuminations
The Sunday dozen
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The usual weekly round-up of some of the stuff that has engaged and interested me over the past week; more literary than some weeks, and with much, mostly cultural, from across the ...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 9:48 AM
The Sunday dozen
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The usual weekly round-up of some of the stuff that has engaged and interested me over the past week; more literary than some weeks, and with much, mostly cultural, from across the ...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 9:48 AM
The Sunday dozen
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with von Stroheim, Our Friends in the North, Agatha Christie, Charles Bukowski, Jorge Luis Borges, Adam Tooze, the late Bob Weir and more.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
If you're interested in tomorrow's Magic Rays of Light screening at BFI Southbank of the 1929 sci-fi drama High Treason, with live accompaniment by the excellent @silentsweeney.bsky.social, the web site shows just 3 seats left
tinyurl.com/3fnfchhd
tinyurl.com/3fnfchhd
Buy cinema tickets for High Treason | BFI Southbank
whatson.bfi.org.uk
January 17, 2026 at 1:17 PM
If you're interested in tomorrow's Magic Rays of Light screening at BFI Southbank of the 1929 sci-fi drama High Treason, with live accompaniment by the excellent @silentsweeney.bsky.social, the web site shows just 3 seats left
tinyurl.com/3fnfchhd
tinyurl.com/3fnfchhd
Can't resist - sorry.
Magic Rays of Light spotted by my brilliant copy editor Liz Hudson in Waterstones Piccadilly
Magic Rays of Light spotted by my brilliant copy editor Liz Hudson in Waterstones Piccadilly
January 16, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Can't resist - sorry.
Magic Rays of Light spotted by my brilliant copy editor Liz Hudson in Waterstones Piccadilly
Magic Rays of Light spotted by my brilliant copy editor Liz Hudson in Waterstones Piccadilly
Reposted by Illuminations
The successful series of screenings at BFI Southbank continues on Sunday, 18 January, with the first of three programmes of British feature films that offer imagined versions of television at its start.
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
Magic Rays at BFI: High Treason - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The successful series of screenings at BFI Southbank continues on Sunday, 18 January, with the first of three programmes of British feature films that offer imagined versions of tel...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 8:23 AM
The successful series of screenings at BFI Southbank continues on Sunday, 18 January, with the first of three programmes of British feature films that offer imagined versions of television at its start.
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
The successful series of screenings at BFI Southbank continues on Sunday, 18 January, with the first of three programmes of British feature films that offer imagined versions of television at its start.
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
Magic Rays at BFI: High Treason - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The successful series of screenings at BFI Southbank continues on Sunday, 18 January, with the first of three programmes of British feature films that offer imagined versions of tel...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 8:23 AM
The successful series of screenings at BFI Southbank continues on Sunday, 18 January, with the first of three programmes of British feature films that offer imagined versions of television at its start.
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
First up is the silent version of High Treason...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-a...
Reposted by Illuminations
Absolutely extraordinary - and hugely welcome: a great archive collection of Ibsen productions and docs coming to BBC Four and iPlayer; the earliest is the 1953 (!) Lady from the Sea with Irene Worth and Robert Harris, produced by Harold Clayton.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Four - Ibsen - Episode guide
All episodes of Ibsen
www.bbc.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Absolutely extraordinary - and hugely welcome: a great archive collection of Ibsen productions and docs coming to BBC Four and iPlayer; the earliest is the 1953 (!) Lady from the Sea with Irene Worth and Robert Harris, produced by Harold Clayton.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Illuminations
The BFI Southbank season linked to Magic Rays of Light continues tomorrow, Thursday 15 January, with two remarkable broadcasts. My blog post is the text of the programme note that I have compiled for the evening.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Magic Rays of Light at BFI Southbank 2. - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The BFI Southbank season continues tomorrow, Thursday 15 January, with an early evening screening in NFT2 of two remarkable programmes. First is a 1970 edition of the BBC2 arts maga...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM
The BFI Southbank season linked to Magic Rays of Light continues tomorrow, Thursday 15 January, with two remarkable broadcasts. My blog post is the text of the programme note that I have compiled for the evening.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
The BFI Southbank season linked to Magic Rays of Light continues tomorrow, Thursday 15 January, with two remarkable broadcasts. My blog post is the text of the programme note that I have compiled for the evening.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Magic Rays of Light at BFI Southbank 2. - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: The BFI Southbank season continues tomorrow, Thursday 15 January, with an early evening screening in NFT2 of two remarkable programmes. First is a 1970 edition of the BBC2 arts maga...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM
The BFI Southbank season linked to Magic Rays of Light continues tomorrow, Thursday 15 January, with two remarkable broadcasts. My blog post is the text of the programme note that I have compiled for the evening.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Absolutely extraordinary - and hugely welcome: a great archive collection of Ibsen productions and docs coming to BBC Four and iPlayer; the earliest is the 1953 (!) Lady from the Sea with Irene Worth and Robert Harris, produced by Harold Clayton.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Four - Ibsen - Episode guide
All episodes of Ibsen
www.bbc.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Absolutely extraordinary - and hugely welcome: a great archive collection of Ibsen productions and docs coming to BBC Four and iPlayer; the earliest is the 1953 (!) Lady from the Sea with Irene Worth and Robert Harris, produced by Harold Clayton.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
From time to time I amuse myself posting photos of elaborate assemblies of scaffolding that I encounter; this impressive frontage is just opposite the London Palladium.
January 13, 2026 at 10:07 PM
From time to time I amuse myself posting photos of elaborate assemblies of scaffolding that I encounter; this impressive frontage is just opposite the London Palladium.
Reposted by Illuminations
Taking a break from posts about Magic Rays of Light, I am delighted to highlight another article of mine that has just been published in the latest edition of VIEW: Journal of European Television and Culture.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
Returning to Coventry Cathedral - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Taking a break from posts about Magic Rays of Light, I am delighted to highlight another article of mine that has just been published in the latest edition of VIEW: Journal of Europ...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Taking a break from posts about Magic Rays of Light, I am delighted to highlight another article of mine that has just been published in the latest edition of VIEW: Journal of European Television and Culture.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
Taking a break from posts about Magic Rays of Light, I am delighted to highlight another article of mine that has just been published in the latest edition of VIEW: Journal of European Television and Culture.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
Returning to Coventry Cathedral - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Taking a break from posts about Magic Rays of Light, I am delighted to highlight another article of mine that has just been published in the latest edition of VIEW: Journal of Europ...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Taking a break from posts about Magic Rays of Light, I am delighted to highlight another article of mine that has just been published in the latest edition of VIEW: Journal of European Television and Culture.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/returning-to...
Reposted by Illuminations
Fascinating talk from @illuminations.bsky.social on the (very!) early days of television tonight at the BFI - looking forward to reading the book!
January 12, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Fascinating talk from @illuminations.bsky.social on the (very!) early days of television tonight at the BFI - looking forward to reading the book!
Reposted by Illuminations
Magic Rays of Light, from the Introduction
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Magic Rays of Light: from the Introduction - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Tonight in the Reuben Library at BFI Southbank, I am in conversation with BFI Television Curator Lisa Kerrigan talking about, of course, Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Brit...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 6:41 AM
Magic Rays of Light, from the Introduction
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Magic Rays of Light, from the Introduction
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Magic Rays of Light: from the Introduction - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Tonight in the Reuben Library at BFI Southbank, I am in conversation with BFI Television Curator Lisa Kerrigan talking about, of course, Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Brit...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 6:41 AM
Magic Rays of Light, from the Introduction
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
In this extract I outline the five centeral arguments of the book. Also briefly noted are two of the key figures in the book, critic Grace Wyndham Goldie and 30-line producer Eustace Robb (pictured).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/magic-rays-o...
Reposted by Illuminations
The Sunday dozen
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday Dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: too much politics today perhaps, but it’s been that kind of a week; otherwise there are a couple of great film links and a terrific AI essay, along with other articles well worth yo...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 11:01 AM
The Sunday dozen
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The occasional reminder that you can sign up to receive all of our blog posts direct to your mailbox as they are published.
Just enter your email on any of the blog pages, like today's (and it's just as easy to cancel too).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
Just enter your email on any of the blog pages, like today's (and it's just as easy to cancel too).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: too much politics today perhaps, but it’s been that kind of a week; otherwise there are a couple of great film links and a terrific AI essay, along with other articles well worth yo...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 1:10 PM
The occasional reminder that you can sign up to receive all of our blog posts direct to your mailbox as they are published.
Just enter your email on any of the blog pages, like today's (and it's just as easy to cancel too).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
Just enter your email on any of the blog pages, like today's (and it's just as easy to cancel too).
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday dozen
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
The Sunday Dozen - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: too much politics today perhaps, but it’s been that kind of a week; otherwise there are a couple of great film links and a terrific AI essay, along with other articles well worth yo...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 11:01 AM
The Sunday dozen
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...
with Léger, Wajda, film studios, Richard Serra and Steve Reich, AI, V&AEast, quite a lot of politics, and Bowie.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/the-sunday-d...