John Kell
@johnkell.bsky.social
Some indie music, radio, archive TV, F1. Roobarbarian. Personal account. My views.
Seem to have started a new DIY project. The stairs in my flat have always had this wooden panel where you'd expect to see spindles. In fact it's some sort of modern-ish fibre board - I know because I stripped all the paint off when I repainted it all. There's another one on the inside face.
January 4, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Seem to have started a new DIY project. The stairs in my flat have always had this wooden panel where you'd expect to see spindles. In fact it's some sort of modern-ish fibre board - I know because I stripped all the paint off when I repainted it all. There's another one on the inside face.
This year's January re-watch: Wonderfalls. Already seen it through many times (5-6 years last?), so doubt there's much I'll have forgotten, but... three minutes in and a) gosh they look young, and b) yep, those big fast-forward camera moves date it to the mid-noughties. Still look cool, mind.
January 2, 2026 at 9:16 PM
This year's January re-watch: Wonderfalls. Already seen it through many times (5-6 years last?), so doubt there's much I'll have forgotten, but... three minutes in and a) gosh they look young, and b) yep, those big fast-forward camera moves date it to the mid-noughties. Still look cool, mind.
Very well observed, this. If I try a new podcast and just hear minutes of blah at the start without getting to the thing I'm interested in, I invariably conclude it's a bad podcast, switch it off, and never come back.
Radio programmes know they have to fit in a schedule so tend not to do this...
Radio programmes know they have to fit in a schedule so tend not to do this...
January 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Very well observed, this. If I try a new podcast and just hear minutes of blah at the start without getting to the thing I'm interested in, I invariably conclude it's a bad podcast, switch it off, and never come back.
Radio programmes know they have to fit in a schedule so tend not to do this...
Radio programmes know they have to fit in a schedule so tend not to do this...
Here it is, then - part two of my rough digest of what I've been listening to over the past quarter-century. Last show from me for a while, but more in 2026... at some point. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
January 1, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Here it is, then - part two of my rough digest of what I've been listening to over the past quarter-century. Last show from me for a while, but more in 2026... at some point. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
Experiencing slight dissonance this morning from all the accounts giving good wishes for 2026 to be better than 2025, and nobody mentioning the inevitable massive global recession and decade of terrible consequences. Oh well.
January 1, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Experiencing slight dissonance this morning from all the accounts giving good wishes for 2026 to be better than 2025, and nobody mentioning the inevitable massive global recession and decade of terrible consequences. Oh well.
Here it is, if you missed it last night: part 1 of a show 25 years in the making. Going through the first quarter of the century, one album per year. Part 2 is on New Year's Eve, but will be available on catch-up if you're busy that night for some reason. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
December 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Here it is, if you missed it last night: part 1 of a show 25 years in the making. Going through the first quarter of the century, one album per year. Part 2 is on New Year's Eve, but will be available on catch-up if you're busy that night for some reason. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
Two hour special! Lots of good stuff coming up...
The end of 2025 completes the first quarter of the 21st century! John's talking about it, even if nobody else is. Join him at 9 for an extended special edition, continuing on Wednesday, looking back at his favourite albums of the last 25 years.
December 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Two hour special! Lots of good stuff coming up...
Just occasionally I manage to get my various interests to align, so here's a happy combination of radio, history, transport and Bedford.
If you missed our #Railway200 programme yesterday, telling the story of how the railways came to Bedford, you can catch up here: bedford.radio/historic-bed...
Historic Bedford returns to mark Railway 200
Our acclaimed local history programme returns to mark this year's Railway 200 celebrations
bedford.radio
December 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Just occasionally I manage to get my various interests to align, so here's a happy combination of radio, history, transport and Bedford.
This is great - probably all the more effective if you don't know the twist beforehand, so DON'T look it up!
On BBC 4 Extra at 4pm: a repeat of @tobyhadoke.bsky.social’s estimable and effective 2018 radio adaptation of The Road. Genuinely not to be missed if you’re a Nigel Kneale fan.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - The Road by Nigel Kneale
The legendary 1963 lost TV play. Adapted by Toby Hadoke.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This is great - probably all the more effective if you don't know the twist beforehand, so DON'T look it up!
I guessed Michael Gove, very very wrongly. Have a click and see...
30 YEARS AGO TODAY: Christian Rave Special, a very odd Channel 4 lunchtime programme - not least as it's credited as God In The House on screen - about Christian dance acts in churches and youth services in nightclubs. Wait until you see who the presenter is. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NquS...
God in the house - (It must be a spoof!?)
YouTube video by webm8.com
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I guessed Michael Gove, very very wrongly. Have a click and see...
I watched this on ITVX the other day out of curiosity. It lost out very deservedly.
40 YEARS AGO TODAY: the feature length Minder On The Orient Express was rumoured to be the final episode, but it lost out by four million viewers to the show on the other side... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd_R...
Minder on the Orient Express (1985)
YouTube video by Xen Oldies
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I watched this on ITVX the other day out of curiosity. It lost out very deservedly.
This has turned into an enduring tradition / ritual. Depends what your Christmas Eve vibe is, but I suspect it's a record that will hit the spot for a lot of people.
Decided on Christmas Eve a few years ago to listen to Nixon by Lambchop before bed. Once is precedent, twice is custom... and now it's that time of the year again.
December 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
This has turned into an enduring tradition / ritual. Depends what your Christmas Eve vibe is, but I suspect it's a record that will hit the spot for a lot of people.
Someone's about to get a visit from the ghost of their former business partner for starters...
December 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Someone's about to get a visit from the ghost of their former business partner for starters...
Here it is, the final FM Nights of the year (and for a while). Not a Christmas show, but there's a few nods... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
December 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Here it is, the final FM Nights of the year (and for a while). Not a Christmas show, but there's a few nods... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
Long shadows on the pitch, even before kick-off...
December 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Long shadows on the pitch, even before kick-off...
Reposted by John Kell
RIP Lorraine Cheshire. ❤🕊
𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨 is an all-time favourite of mine. Her performance as Joan was a masterclass. Truly brilliant. 🤌🏾
𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨 is an all-time favourite of mine. Her performance as Joan was a masterclass. Truly brilliant. 🤌🏾
December 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
RIP Lorraine Cheshire. ❤🕊
𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨 is an all-time favourite of mine. Her performance as Joan was a masterclass. Truly brilliant. 🤌🏾
𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨 is an all-time favourite of mine. Her performance as Joan was a masterclass. Truly brilliant. 🤌🏾
Oh dear. Sad news that we've lost Lorraine Cheshire, who I recognised most strongly as Joan from Early Doors.
"Where's Dopey?"
"Where's Dopey?"
December 19, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Oh dear. Sad news that we've lost Lorraine Cheshire, who I recognised most strongly as Joan from Early Doors.
"Where's Dopey?"
"Where's Dopey?"
Reposted by John Kell
Your annual reminder that Phil Collins didn't have to go that hard on Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and yet he did, he did that for us
December 18, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Your annual reminder that Phil Collins didn't have to go that hard on Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and yet he did, he did that for us
@samholloway.bsky.social ooh, hard. Mid-decade. Very mid. Hmm...
December 17, 2025 at 7:44 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social ooh, hard. Mid-decade. Very mid. Hmm...
Here's this year's Christmas special radio show - the carol-themed edition of the Alphabetical Wassail book I mentioned yesterday. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
December 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Here's this year's Christmas special radio show - the carol-themed edition of the Alphabetical Wassail book I mentioned yesterday. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
I made an animated show card last year and nobody commented on how cool it looked. Just saying.
It's beginning, alphabetically, to look a lot like Christmas! John's back at 9 for a carol-themed (but not Carol-themed) selection from his music collection. Tune in on DAB in Bedford, on the Bedford Radio app, via our website, or tell your smart speaker to play Bedford Radio.
December 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I made an animated show card last year and nobody commented on how cool it looked. Just saying.
Rentaghost klaxon!
December 13, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Rentaghost klaxon!
Brief Encounter. What is this contraption Laura's pouring coffee from? Looks like something from a school chemistry lab. Was that how they used to do posh coffee back in the day?
December 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Brief Encounter. What is this contraption Laura's pouring coffee from? Looks like something from a school chemistry lab. Was that how they used to do posh coffee back in the day?
Very much this.
Always felt Covid gave us the opportunity to make a cultural shift towards wearing a mask when unwell, not going in to work ill unless you have to and washing your bloody hands. But nah. It's amazing how quickly people reverted to being manky again.
Should people wear a mask in public if they feel unwell with flu?
With NHS and No 10 advice differing, we look at best practice for flu prevention and protection
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Very much this.
Last big landmark event in my year, bar Christmas, is always Missing Believed Wiped. Just got to the South Bank for one of my favourite days of the year!
December 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Last big landmark event in my year, bar Christmas, is always Missing Believed Wiped. Just got to the South Bank for one of my favourite days of the year!