Nick Hilton
@nickfthilton.bsky.social
Chief TV Critic: @theindependent
Podcaster in Chief: @podotpods
Other "chief" roles: tbc
Podcaster in Chief: @podotpods
Other "chief" roles: tbc
Pinned
Nick Hilton
@nickfthilton.bsky.social
· Dec 4
Future Proof | Nick Hilton | Substack
100% Undiluted Media Futurology. Click to read Future Proof, by Nick Hilton, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
futureproofnews.substack.com
I have a newsletter – Future Proof – where I write bitter musings about digital media, from podcasts and YouTube to movies and TV. Basically every post is free and harmless, and I like seeing the subscriber ticker going up: so please sign up!
I made all the Spectator's podcasts for a couple of years (2016-2018) and in those two years we didn't once cover 'the trans debate'. Not once. I find that mind-blowing now.
The trans issue is particularly instructive because you can actually see how the spike in anti-trans newspaper articles significantly anticipated any shift in public polling. It very much started in the U.K. as an elite obsession.
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I made all the Spectator's podcasts for a couple of years (2016-2018) and in those two years we didn't once cover 'the trans debate'. Not once. I find that mind-blowing now.
Somewhere, Nathan Fielder is smiling to himself and linking to this article on a bodybuilding forum.
November 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Somewhere, Nathan Fielder is smiling to himself and linking to this article on a bodybuilding forum.
PITCH: An episode of Black Mirror where a married, conservative political figure has to choose whether to be interviewed by Isaac Chotiner or Olivia Nuzzi.
November 18, 2025 at 11:01 AM
PITCH: An episode of Black Mirror where a married, conservative political figure has to choose whether to be interviewed by Isaac Chotiner or Olivia Nuzzi.
New host, same MasterChef.
Is Grace Dent the fresh ingredient MasterChef sorely needs?
Nick Hilton shares his verdict on restaurant critic Dent as she arrives to co-host ‘Celebrity MasterChef’
www.independent.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:10 AM
New host, same MasterChef.
It's got to the point where I am forced to judge people for watching boxing. This is like the football World Cup being played with Baller League rules.
Anthony Joshua v Jake Paul fight scheduled for 19 December
YouTuber Jake Paul will fight ex-world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a professional bout in December.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
It's got to the point where I am forced to judge people for watching boxing. This is like the football World Cup being played with Baller League rules.
AI Slop is (relatively) easy to deal with. It's the tsunamAI that worries me.
The TsunamAI: are our systems ready for the coming flood of vexatious AI?
Shortly I will send out my subscriber-only email, The Frigest, with stray thoughts, recommendations and gossip.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
AI Slop is (relatively) easy to deal with. It's the tsunamAI that worries me.
The BBC is live-blogging the TikTok UK awards - including this scintillating category - and I hate to say it but maybe Dunold Tromp was right.
November 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
The BBC is live-blogging the TikTok UK awards - including this scintillating category - and I hate to say it but maybe Dunold Tromp was right.
It's such a shame that golf is so full of greasy grifters – who give Trump's 18-year-old granddaughter an 'exemption' to play on the pro LPGA tour despite only being the 461st ranked junior in the country – because it's actually a very fun game. But, all things being considered, it must be banned.
Kai Trump to make LPGA debut with support from President Trump and Tiger Woods
Eighteen-year-old Kai Trump will not be short of high-profile supporters when she makes her LPGA debut in Florida on Thursday.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:04 PM
It's such a shame that golf is so full of greasy grifters – who give Trump's 18-year-old granddaughter an 'exemption' to play on the pro LPGA tour despite only being the 461st ranked junior in the country – because it's actually a very fun game. But, all things being considered, it must be banned.
Imagine living in a city, and this is the entirety of the History section on its Wikipedia page.
November 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Imagine living in a city, and this is the entirety of the History section on its Wikipedia page.
Small mercies: for the first time since December 2024, Nigel Farage is not currently the bookies' favourite to be our next Prime Minister.
November 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Small mercies: for the first time since December 2024, Nigel Farage is not currently the bookies' favourite to be our next Prime Minister.
For @theipaper.com, I looked into 'microdramas', the short-form, social media series that are being eyed as a replacement for struggling soap operas. It says something quite terrifying about our attention spans that this is the way things are headed...
The two-minute soaps putting Corrie and EastEnders out of business
TV soap ratings are in decline - but millions of viewers are tuning in to shortform 'microdramas' on social media
inews.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
For @theipaper.com, I looked into 'microdramas', the short-form, social media series that are being eyed as a replacement for struggling soap operas. It says something quite terrifying about our attention spans that this is the way things are headed...
There has been loads of excellent punditry and analysis on the BBC's current crisis. All those people should band to together and form some sort of British Broadcasting... Company? Conglomerate? Co-operative?
November 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
There has been loads of excellent punditry and analysis on the BBC's current crisis. All those people should band to together and form some sort of British Broadcasting... Company? Conglomerate? Co-operative?
"The free market can't stop Hollywood using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market not using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market from using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market stopping the fre-
"The free market can't stop the free market not using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market from using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market stopping the fre-
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
"The free market can't stop Hollywood using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market not using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market from using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market stopping the fre-
"The free market can't stop the free market not using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market from using AI actors"
"The free market can't stop the free market stopping the free market stopping the fre-
Extremely important for the IOC to crack down on the *checks notes* zero transgender women who competed at the last Olympics.
IOC moves closer to ban on transgender women
The International Olympic Committee moves a step closer to introducing a blanket ban on transgender women from female categories across all sports.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Extremely important for the IOC to crack down on the *checks notes* zero transgender women who competed at the last Olympics.
Trespasses = good.
A captivating Lola Petticrew elevates Trespasses’ tale of forbidden love – review
Channel 4’s adaptation of Louise Kennedy’s novel, which also stars Gillian Anderson, feels like grown-up fare in tone and substance
www.independent.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Trespasses = good.
Reposted by Nick Hilton
The BBC: quite a big deal.
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The BBC: quite a big deal.
This column may be complete bollocks, but I'm not sure I could've come up with a better cover image.
The BBC is not really institutionally biased. But reality no longer matters. The BBC has to change. A few thoughts ⬇️
The BBC's Reckoning: can the next Director-General solve its impartiality permacrisis?
Tim Davie has resigned, but does this help the BBC move forward?
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
This column may be complete bollocks, but I'm not sure I could've come up with a better cover image.
The BBC is not really institutionally biased. But reality no longer matters. The BBC has to change. A few thoughts ⬇️
The BBC's Reckoning: can the next Director-General solve its impartiality permacrisis?
Tim Davie has resigned, but does this help the BBC move forward?
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The BBC is not really institutionally biased. But reality no longer matters. The BBC has to change. A few thoughts ⬇️
Must be wild for the Trump administration to bear witness to a culture of accountability.
November 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Must be wild for the Trump administration to bear witness to a culture of accountability.
In an effort to cure my low self-esteem with one of those gold ticks on Substack, I am providing my first perk for premium subscribers: The Frigest, a Friday digest of cultural delights, industrial gossip, and stray observations about moustache growth.
The Frigest #1: Surrogates, Tories, Moustaches, and Treachery
The first edition of my premium Friday digest of cultural and political treats
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
In an effort to cure my low self-esteem with one of those gold ticks on Substack, I am providing my first perk for premium subscribers: The Frigest, a Friday digest of cultural delights, industrial gossip, and stray observations about moustache growth.
I really wasn't sure what sort of response critics would give Pluribus. It's interesting but slippery; engaging but not gripping. Rhea Seehorn is excellent, but is its dystopian built out in sufficient technicolour? I remain unconvinced.
Rhea Seehorn is a force of nature in dystopian drama Pluribus – review
Vince Gilligan makes his first return to the small screen after ‘Breaking Bad’ spin-off ‘Better Call Saul’ with an interesting show that nevertheless fails to live up to those two masterpieces
www.independent.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I really wasn't sure what sort of response critics would give Pluribus. It's interesting but slippery; engaging but not gripping. Rhea Seehorn is excellent, but is its dystopian built out in sufficient technicolour? I remain unconvinced.
Someone has to to stand up to the celebification of every half-decent reality TV format.
Celebrity Race Across the World is an all-star version that just doesn’t work
‘Race Across the World’ has always felt like a format created by the people, for the people
www.independent.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Someone has to to stand up to the celebification of every half-decent reality TV format.
Huge respect for the 2% of Celeb Traitors viewers who think that David Olusoga played the best game.
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Huge respect for the 2% of Celeb Traitors viewers who think that David Olusoga played the best game.