Paul Whitelaw
@paulwhitelaw.bsky.social
I write about pop culture. Credits include The Scotsman, Radio Times, The Big Issue, Classic Rock, Doctor Who Magazine, Afternoons on BBC Radio Scotland. Co-creator of the So Disappointed podcast. Black cat enabler.
paulbwhitelaw.blogspot.com
paulbwhitelaw.blogspot.com
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Dream jobs do come along… I’ve spent the last few months immersed in BBC Scotland’s City Lights as Assistant Producer on a new 60min doc telling the story of the show. With vintage clips + new interviews, it’s pure dead brilliant!
On telly/iPlayer 30th November.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
On telly/iPlayer 30th November.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
November 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Dream jobs do come along… I’ve spent the last few months immersed in BBC Scotland’s City Lights as Assistant Producer on a new 60min doc telling the story of the show. With vintage clips + new interviews, it’s pure dead brilliant!
On telly/iPlayer 30th November.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
On telly/iPlayer 30th November.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
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.
Far too many to choose from, the man is an actual comic genius, but the 1985 TV special An Audience With Billy Connolly is one of the most relentlessly hilarious stand-up comedy sets ever captured on tape. A masterclass.
"Saddle up and ride your pony..."
"Saddle up and ride your pony..."
Happy Birthday, Billy.
Terry feels proud knowing they’re from the same place as one of the world’s greatest comedians.
What’s YOUR favourite Billy Connolly routine?
#BillyConnolly
Terry feels proud knowing they’re from the same place as one of the world’s greatest comedians.
What’s YOUR favourite Billy Connolly routine?
#BillyConnolly
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Far too many to choose from, the man is an actual comic genius, but the 1985 TV special An Audience With Billy Connolly is one of the most relentlessly hilarious stand-up comedy sets ever captured on tape. A masterclass.
"Saddle up and ride your pony..."
"Saddle up and ride your pony..."
Many Rivers To Cross
YouTube video by Jimmy Cliff - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Terribly sad news. I am literally working on an episode on Cliff at the moment.
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Terribly sad news. I am literally working on an episode on Cliff at the moment.
BONUS FACT: The cast and crew were in the middle of recording The Daleks when the news of JFK's assassination broke. #DoctorWhoDay
Happy #DoctorWhoDay to all who celebrate! The transmission of the very first episode in 1963 has given us an idea for a special bonus mini-episode, which will be available next month alongside our next full episode, ‘Aliens: Close Encounters of the Meh Kind?’.
November 23, 2025 at 6:35 PM
BONUS FACT: The cast and crew were in the middle of recording The Daleks when the news of JFK's assassination broke. #DoctorWhoDay
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
New Podcast! I’m joined by Tom Doyle to discuss his fabulous mosaic biography of Ringo Starr - ‘A Fab Life’. From near death as a child to the dizzying heights of Beatlemania and the ups and downs that came after, Tom covers it all in this brilliant book.
October 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
New Podcast! I’m joined by Tom Doyle to discuss his fabulous mosaic biography of Ringo Starr - ‘A Fab Life’. From near death as a child to the dizzying heights of Beatlemania and the ups and downs that came after, Tom covers it all in this brilliant book.
Happy #DoctorWhoDay to all who celebrate.
November 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Happy #DoctorWhoDay to all who celebrate.
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
And, of course, we did all the New Who too.
All of them. ALLLLL of them!
Happy #DoctorWhoDay! We'll be celebrating more a little later in the day, but enjoy Terry's deep dive!
All of them. ALLLLL of them!
Happy #DoctorWhoDay! We'll be celebrating more a little later in the day, but enjoy Terry's deep dive!
Rounding up our second (and final) #DoctorWho costume day into one lovely reel. It’s #NewWho!
We had fun making these today.
If you’re enjoying the silliness of #plasticenehalloween, look out for Terry’s Horror costumes coming soon.
And listen to our podcast!
SoDisappointedPod.com
We had fun making these today.
If you’re enjoying the silliness of #plasticenehalloween, look out for Terry’s Horror costumes coming soon.
And listen to our podcast!
SoDisappointedPod.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM
And, of course, we did all the New Who too.
All of them. ALLLLL of them!
Happy #DoctorWhoDay! We'll be celebrating more a little later in the day, but enjoy Terry's deep dive!
All of them. ALLLLL of them!
Happy #DoctorWhoDay! We'll be celebrating more a little later in the day, but enjoy Terry's deep dive!
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Reposting for #DoctorWhoDay.
Terry's foray into early doctor cosplay. Colin Baker was particularly challenging!
We've got more So Disappointed Doctor Who news coming later today but we thought we'd start the day right!
Terry's foray into early doctor cosplay. Colin Baker was particularly challenging!
We've got more So Disappointed Doctor Who news coming later today but we thought we'd start the day right!
We asked Which Doctor you lot wanted to see Terry dress up as and we got so many replies, we decided to make them *all*.
Starting today with Classic Who.
(Next week, New Who).
(You should listen to the podcast! SoDisappointedPod.Com)
#DoctorWho #PlasticeneHalloween
Starting today with Classic Who.
(Next week, New Who).
(You should listen to the podcast! SoDisappointedPod.Com)
#DoctorWho #PlasticeneHalloween
November 23, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposting for #DoctorWhoDay.
Terry's foray into early doctor cosplay. Colin Baker was particularly challenging!
We've got more So Disappointed Doctor Who news coming later today but we thought we'd start the day right!
Terry's foray into early doctor cosplay. Colin Baker was particularly challenging!
We've got more So Disappointed Doctor Who news coming later today but we thought we'd start the day right!
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
We hope this makes you violently happy.
You know who’s just not disappointing at all?
Björk!
Happy Birthday, Björk
Björk!
Happy Birthday, Björk
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
We hope this makes you violently happy.
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Terry is going to dress up as Bjork later to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Do you have a favourite iteration of the Icelandic Goddess you'd like to see Terry emulate?
Do you have a favourite iteration of the Icelandic Goddess you'd like to see Terry emulate?
November 21, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Terry is going to dress up as Bjork later to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Do you have a favourite iteration of the Icelandic Goddess you'd like to see Terry emulate?
Do you have a favourite iteration of the Icelandic Goddess you'd like to see Terry emulate?
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Just realised this is referring to a church in North Carolina and not the Welsh singer
November 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Just realised this is referring to a church in North Carolina and not the Welsh singer
In 1974, Blue Peter revealed the inner workings of Studio 1 at BBC Television Centre. This sort of thing always fascinated me as a child. Years later, for work reasons, I was lucky enough to visit that building from time to time. It was always such a thrill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3w...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3w...
BBC TV Centre Behind The Scenes Item on Blue Peter 4th November 1974. Featuring EMI 2001 cameras
YouTube video by jonno4316
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
In 1974, Blue Peter revealed the inner workings of Studio 1 at BBC Television Centre. This sort of thing always fascinated me as a child. Years later, for work reasons, I was lucky enough to visit that building from time to time. It was always such a thrill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3w...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3w...
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Remarkably simple solution. If you don't want the backing of the far-right for your immigration policy, or to have people point out that you have their backing, don't base your immigration policy on the far-right's rhetoric and ideology.
www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/shab...
www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/shab...
Shabana Mahmood hits out at Tommy Robinson’s backing of Labour’s migration policy
Shabana Mahmood has said she finds it “deeply offensive” when MPs quote Tommy Robinson at her in the Commons, after the far-right activist backed the government’s sweeping asylum reforms. Asked about ...
www.independent.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Remarkably simple solution. If you don't want the backing of the far-right for your immigration policy, or to have people point out that you have their backing, don't base your immigration policy on the far-right's rhetoric and ideology.
www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/shab...
www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/shab...
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
This is making me think of my favourite bit ever from any Saturday morning tv. It’s stupid and brilliant and surreal - it’s from Dick and Dom and it’s the Stoke on Trent song.
youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?...
youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?...
November 19, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This is making me think of my favourite bit ever from any Saturday morning tv. It’s stupid and brilliant and surreal - it’s from Dick and Dom and it’s the Stoke on Trent song.
youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?...
youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?...
While writing a thing about the Blues Brothers, I thought I'd find out a bit more about the Universal Ampitheatre in LA, where they opened for Steve Martin in Sep 1978. What's happening with it these days? It was demolished in 2013 to make way for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction. Oh.
November 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
While writing a thing about the Blues Brothers, I thought I'd find out a bit more about the Universal Ampitheatre in LA, where they opened for Steve Martin in Sep 1978. What's happening with it these days? It was demolished in 2013 to make way for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction. Oh.
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
HELLO WORLD!
We’re looking for a very particular guest for our next episode:
‘Close encounters of the *Meh* kind’
In which we explore the general public’s response to the UAP hearings.
We’re looking for someone who can discuss this 👇🏻
Fermi’s Paradox and SETI
Is anybody out there???
We’re looking for a very particular guest for our next episode:
‘Close encounters of the *Meh* kind’
In which we explore the general public’s response to the UAP hearings.
We’re looking for someone who can discuss this 👇🏻
Fermi’s Paradox and SETI
Is anybody out there???
The Fermi paradox asks why we've yet to find evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. The odds are we should!
A NASA scientist suggests that "alien societies might plateau at modest technological levels and even grow bored with exploration."
www.sciencefocus.com/news/aliens-...
A NASA scientist suggests that "alien societies might plateau at modest technological levels and even grow bored with exploration."
www.sciencefocus.com/news/aliens-...
Why aliens are (probably) too lazy to make first contact | BBC Science Focus Magazine
Space is big. Why not kick back, relax, and wait for them to come to you?
www.sciencefocus.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
HELLO WORLD!
We’re looking for a very particular guest for our next episode:
‘Close encounters of the *Meh* kind’
In which we explore the general public’s response to the UAP hearings.
We’re looking for someone who can discuss this 👇🏻
Fermi’s Paradox and SETI
Is anybody out there???
We’re looking for a very particular guest for our next episode:
‘Close encounters of the *Meh* kind’
In which we explore the general public’s response to the UAP hearings.
We’re looking for someone who can discuss this 👇🏻
Fermi’s Paradox and SETI
Is anybody out there???
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
I am reading an Agatha Christie novel - Five Little Pigs.
This description made me think of his mansion…
Money, money everywhere. Of taste, not so much… only a solid lavishness. The best… not necessarily the most startling. Merely “expense no object,” allied to a lack of imagination.
This description made me think of his mansion…
Money, money everywhere. Of taste, not so much… only a solid lavishness. The best… not necessarily the most startling. Merely “expense no object,” allied to a lack of imagination.
Anyway Ricky Gervais primarily lives in a £14.75 million mansion in North London.
If he hates this city so much why doesn't this edgy outsider live in his riverside home in Buckinghamshire or one of his two apartments in New York
#EdgyOutsider
If he hates this city so much why doesn't this edgy outsider live in his riverside home in Buckinghamshire or one of his two apartments in New York
#EdgyOutsider
November 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I am reading an Agatha Christie novel - Five Little Pigs.
This description made me think of his mansion…
Money, money everywhere. Of taste, not so much… only a solid lavishness. The best… not necessarily the most startling. Merely “expense no object,” allied to a lack of imagination.
This description made me think of his mansion…
Money, money everywhere. Of taste, not so much… only a solid lavishness. The best… not necessarily the most startling. Merely “expense no object,” allied to a lack of imagination.
Amity surveying the situation from level three of his leisure complex.
November 18, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Amity surveying the situation from level three of his leisure complex.
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
New! Ste from @scarredforlife.bsky.social on Grange Hill, @sugarraybuzzard.bsky.social on The Adventure Game, @superjules84.bsky.social on The Sooty Show, @dannykodicek.bsky.social on Big John Little John and @paulwhitelaw.bsky.social on The Monkees.
timworthington.org/2025/11/05/t...
timworthington.org/2025/11/05/t...
The Golden Age Of Children’s TV – “His Hair Represents Something Or Other”
Watch with Ste Brotherstone on Grange Hill, Martin Ruddock on The Adventure Game, Juliet Harris on The Sooty Show, Danny Kodicek on Big John Little John and Paul Whitelaw on The Monkees.
timworthington.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
New! Ste from @scarredforlife.bsky.social on Grange Hill, @sugarraybuzzard.bsky.social on The Adventure Game, @superjules84.bsky.social on The Sooty Show, @dannykodicek.bsky.social on Big John Little John and @paulwhitelaw.bsky.social on The Monkees.
timworthington.org/2025/11/05/t...
timworthington.org/2025/11/05/t...
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Twitter and chat gpt are down. Bad day for people who suck.
November 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Twitter and chat gpt are down. Bad day for people who suck.
Reposted by Paul Whitelaw
Watched this when it was on BBC4 a while back, and massively distracted by everyone smoking like chimneys, Marty even having a fag on the go while talking to a bunch of schoolkids
The amazing BBC Archive account doesn't exist on Bluesky - it must still be languishing in that fascist hellscape formerly known as Twitter - but here's an example of the riches it provides: a 1969 doc in which Marty Feldman investigates the very essence of comedy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0it...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0it...
1969: Marty Feldman - What is Comedy? | One Pair of Eyes | Comedy Icons | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Watched this when it was on BBC4 a while back, and massively distracted by everyone smoking like chimneys, Marty even having a fag on the go while talking to a bunch of schoolkids