Sam
@samkarlharrison.bsky.social
Sporadic writer & editor at Lion & Unicorn
https://thelionandunicorn.com/
https://thelionandunicorn.com/
Pinned
Now we are ten
We’re celebrating the tenth anniversary of Lion & Unicorn. Come and join us…
thelionandunicorn.com
"We don’t write to order – just stuff that interests us. And when we get bored, we stop. The internet was made for man, not man for the internet"
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
Reposted by Sam
Fifty years ago today, Leo McKern made his first appearance as defence barrister Horace Rumpole in an episode of Play for Today by John Mortimer.
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
December 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Fifty years ago today, Leo McKern made his first appearance as defence barrister Horace Rumpole in an episode of Play for Today by John Mortimer.
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
Reposted by Sam
"The creeping cold has fingers
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Top 10: Yuletide
BEN FINLAY has some music to set the festive mood.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
"The creeping cold has fingers
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Tonight on Dailymotion, BBC ghost story for Christmas 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972).
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS (1972) V.O.S.T.Fr.
Dailymotion video by holas reuil
www.dailymotion.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Tonight on Dailymotion, BBC ghost story for Christmas 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972).
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
Reposted by Sam
What to buy for the dad who "doesn't want anything"? The Sunday Times has a suggestion.
December 14, 2025 at 11:30 AM
What to buy for the dad who "doesn't want anything"? The Sunday Times has a suggestion.
Reposted by Sam
'Tis the season to be jolly, and maybe to indulge in a little nostalgia, and certainly to gather round the hearth.
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Top 10: Yuletide
BEN FINLAY has some music to set the festive mood.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
'Tis the season to be jolly, and maybe to indulge in a little nostalgia, and certainly to gather round the hearth.
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Reposted by Sam
Seventy years ago today, Hugh Gaitskell was elected Labour leader.
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
Labour leadership elections: Part 1
ALWYN TURNER’s history of the post-war Labour Party, seen through the ghosts of leadership elections past 1955-63.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Seventy years ago today, Hugh Gaitskell was elected Labour leader.
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
DIVORCE. Homecoming gig, Rock City, Nottingham. Brilliant and lovely. (I once chatted with Tiger about pork scratchings in the Newshouse.)
December 13, 2025 at 9:20 PM
DIVORCE. Homecoming gig, Rock City, Nottingham. Brilliant and lovely. (I once chatted with Tiger about pork scratchings in the Newshouse.)
Reposted by Sam
"He knew, of course. He had always known..."
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
Rear-view review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
DAN ATKINSON revisits ‘the most brilliant spy novel of our time’.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:36 AM
"He knew, of course. He had always known..."
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
Our The Larry Sanders Show (not posted in jest)
December 12, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Our The Larry Sanders Show (not posted in jest)
Tonight on BBC iPlayer, DOCTOR WHO 'The Husbands of River Song' (2015).
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), The Husbands of River Song
The Doctor finds himself recruited by River Song and hurled into a chase across the galaxy
www.bbc.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Tonight on BBC iPlayer, DOCTOR WHO 'The Husbands of River Song' (2015).
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
The final night of Beer & Carols at the Malt Cross — one of Britain's few standing music halls — in Nottingham. Posted in excelsis.
December 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The final night of Beer & Carols at the Malt Cross — one of Britain's few standing music halls — in Nottingham. Posted in excelsis.
Reposted by Sam
Coming soon on @lionunicorn.bsky.social, my top ten British Yuletide albums and playlist...
#musicsky #folk #prog #classical #traditional #topten #vintlcommunity #yuletide
#musicsky #folk #prog #classical #traditional #topten #vintlcommunity #yuletide
December 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Coming soon on @lionunicorn.bsky.social, my top ten British Yuletide albums and playlist...
#musicsky #folk #prog #classical #traditional #topten #vintlcommunity #yuletide
#musicsky #folk #prog #classical #traditional #topten #vintlcommunity #yuletide
Reposted by Sam
"This is simple entertainment with no intellectual pretensions: we’re not talking Schindler’s List or Citizen Kane."
Movie director Gerald Thomas was born 105 years ago today. Is his final film, Carry On Columbus, as bad as its reputation suggests?
thelionandunicorn.com/2024/12/20/f...
Movie director Gerald Thomas was born 105 years ago today. Is his final film, Carry On Columbus, as bad as its reputation suggests?
thelionandunicorn.com/2024/12/20/f...
Final Cut: Carry On Columbus (1992)
SIMON MATTHEWS on the much maligned (perhaps wrongly) Carry On Columbus.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
"This is simple entertainment with no intellectual pretensions: we’re not talking Schindler’s List or Citizen Kane."
Movie director Gerald Thomas was born 105 years ago today. Is his final film, Carry On Columbus, as bad as its reputation suggests?
thelionandunicorn.com/2024/12/20/f...
Movie director Gerald Thomas was born 105 years ago today. Is his final film, Carry On Columbus, as bad as its reputation suggests?
thelionandunicorn.com/2024/12/20/f...
You will be visited by three spirits.
December 10, 2025 at 1:30 AM
You will be visited by three spirits.
December 9, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Sam
Happy 65th to the best loved street in the nation
December 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Happy 65th to the best loved street in the nation
Reposted by Sam
Here's the blog post that prompted this discussion. I'm prepping a follow up with more recommendations.
precastreinforced.co.uk/2024/11/24/t...
precastreinforced.co.uk/2024/11/24/t...
December 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Here's the blog post that prompted this discussion. I'm prepping a follow up with more recommendations.
precastreinforced.co.uk/2024/11/24/t...
precastreinforced.co.uk/2024/11/24/t...
Reposted by Sam
"Call My Bluff is a model of understated entertainment and - God forbid in the present day - maturity."
@benfinlay74.bsky.social on the delights to be found over on BBC Four.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/22/l...
@benfinlay74.bsky.social on the delights to be found over on BBC Four.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/22/l...
Let us now praise: BBC Four
BEN FINLAY celebrates the BBC that used to be.
thelionandunicorn.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
"Call My Bluff is a model of understated entertainment and - God forbid in the present day - maturity."
@benfinlay74.bsky.social on the delights to be found over on BBC Four.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/22/l...
@benfinlay74.bsky.social on the delights to be found over on BBC Four.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/22/l...
Reposted by Sam
"Nothing fancy, just some nicely chilled Blue Nun and a few vol-au-vents..."
@alwynturner.bsky.social on the world of LIFE ON MARS.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/27/h...
@alwynturner.bsky.social on the world of LIFE ON MARS.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/27/h...
History cops: Life on Mars
ALWYN TURNER takes history lessons from Gene Hunt.
thelionandunicorn.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"Nothing fancy, just some nicely chilled Blue Nun and a few vol-au-vents..."
@alwynturner.bsky.social on the world of LIFE ON MARS.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/27/h...
@alwynturner.bsky.social on the world of LIFE ON MARS.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/11/27/h...
Reposted by Sam
Released OTD in 1966, the debut album by Cream, 'Fresh Cream'. Read about my top ten British Blues albums of the 1960s here:
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/18/b...
@lionunicorn.bsky.social #musicsky #blues
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/18/b...
@lionunicorn.bsky.social #musicsky #blues
December 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Released OTD in 1966, the debut album by Cream, 'Fresh Cream'. Read about my top ten British Blues albums of the 1960s here:
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/18/b...
@lionunicorn.bsky.social #musicsky #blues
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/18/b...
@lionunicorn.bsky.social #musicsky #blues
Tonight on BBC iPlayer, ONE FOOT IN THE ALGARVE (1993).
This is feature-length Warboys! And as @hellothisisivan.bsky.social has rightly observed, she's one of the greatest ever TV characters. Her mere presence in a scene catalyses a build-up of comic potential.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
This is feature-length Warboys! And as @hellothisisivan.bsky.social has rightly observed, she's one of the greatest ever TV characters. Her mere presence in a scene catalyses a build-up of comic potential.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
One Foot in the Grave - One Foot in the Algarve
The Meldrews and Mrs Warboys embark upon a hellish holiday to Portugal. After an entanglement with the police, they finally arrive at their unpleasant villa.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Tonight on BBC iPlayer, ONE FOOT IN THE ALGARVE (1993).
This is feature-length Warboys! And as @hellothisisivan.bsky.social has rightly observed, she's one of the greatest ever TV characters. Her mere presence in a scene catalyses a build-up of comic potential.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
This is feature-length Warboys! And as @hellothisisivan.bsky.social has rightly observed, she's one of the greatest ever TV characters. Her mere presence in a scene catalyses a build-up of comic potential.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Sam
From the Sunday Times's guide to the paperbacks of the year.
December 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
From the Sunday Times's guide to the paperbacks of the year.
Reposted by Sam
"That’s the paradox at the heart of BBC Archive’s appeal: we are nostalgic for the pre-digital world, yet only the digital world can give it back to us."
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/04/l...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/04/l...
Last night on YouTube: BBC Archive
FINLAY McLAREN gets nostalgic over highland crofters, pub pianists and the morning commute.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
"That’s the paradox at the heart of BBC Archive’s appeal: we are nostalgic for the pre-digital world, yet only the digital world can give it back to us."
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/04/l...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/04/l...
"We don’t write to order – just stuff that interests us. And when we get bored, we stop. The internet was made for man, not man for the internet"
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
Now we are ten
We’re celebrating the tenth anniversary of Lion & Unicorn. Come and join us…
thelionandunicorn.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"We don’t write to order – just stuff that interests us. And when we get bored, we stop. The internet was made for man, not man for the internet"
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...