Simon Ward
@simonward.bsky.social
UK media magnet and follower of sport, news, retro music, cinema, history, travel etc. London and West Country vibes. #thingilearnedtoday
Brian Rix, the long-time producer of theatre and TV farces, was the joint highest paid star on the BBC (along with Robert Morley) in the early 1960s. #thingilearnedtoday
January 27, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Brian Rix, the long-time producer of theatre and TV farces, was the joint highest paid star on the BBC (along with Robert Morley) in the early 1960s. #thingilearnedtoday
The first Sainsbury's store opened at 173 Drury Lane in London in 1869. (London's Hidden Walks Volume 2) #thingilearnedtoday
January 25, 2026 at 9:39 PM
The first Sainsbury's store opened at 173 Drury Lane in London in 1869. (London's Hidden Walks Volume 2) #thingilearnedtoday
The Battle of Borodino contested by Napoleon's army and the Imperial Russian army took place in 1812 and preceded the French occupation of Moscow. #thingilearnedtoday
January 25, 2026 at 1:08 AM
The Battle of Borodino contested by Napoleon's army and the Imperial Russian army took place in 1812 and preceded the French occupation of Moscow. #thingilearnedtoday
Robbie Williams has overtaken The Beatles to become the first artist to have 16 number one albums in the UK, breaking the record with his latest release Britpop. #thingilearnedtoday
January 24, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Robbie Williams has overtaken The Beatles to become the first artist to have 16 number one albums in the UK, breaking the record with his latest release Britpop. #thingilearnedtoday
Israel has qualified a bobsleigh team for the Winter Olympics for the first time, with the men's four to compete in Milano Cortina next month. (Jewish News) #thingilearnedtoday
January 23, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Israel has qualified a bobsleigh team for the Winter Olympics for the first time, with the men's four to compete in Milano Cortina next month. (Jewish News) #thingilearnedtoday
Horror movie Sinners is the first film in history to get 16 Oscar nominations. #thingilearnedtoday
January 22, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Horror movie Sinners is the first film in history to get 16 Oscar nominations. #thingilearnedtoday
Christmas Day only became an official public holiday in Scotland in 1958, with Boxing Day added in 1974. #thingilearnedtoday
January 21, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Christmas Day only became an official public holiday in Scotland in 1958, with Boxing Day added in 1974. #thingilearnedtoday
Anthropic's AI assistant Claude is named after Claude Shannon, the US computer scientist regarded as the father of information theory. ##thingilearnedtoday
January 20, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Anthropic's AI assistant Claude is named after Claude Shannon, the US computer scientist regarded as the father of information theory. ##thingilearnedtoday
The biggest place in the UK without city status is Reading, which has a population of around 358,000. ##thingilearnedtoday
January 19, 2026 at 8:07 PM
The biggest place in the UK without city status is Reading, which has a population of around 358,000. ##thingilearnedtoday
Given Trump's increasingly unhinged behaviour NATO could boycott the US World Cup and stage its own one in Greenland.
January 19, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Given Trump's increasingly unhinged behaviour NATO could boycott the US World Cup and stage its own one in Greenland.
Bears finally Rammed into submission but a thrilling end to NFL extravaganza that also featured Broncos-Bills points stampede. Can argue divisional round is the best sporting weekend of the year.
January 19, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Bears finally Rammed into submission but a thrilling end to NFL extravaganza that also featured Broncos-Bills points stampede. Can argue divisional round is the best sporting weekend of the year.
The US has the right to have bases in Greenland under a 1951 agreement with Denmark. (BBC News) #thingilearnedtoday
January 18, 2026 at 1:11 PM
The US has the right to have bases in Greenland under a 1951 agreement with Denmark. (BBC News) #thingilearnedtoday
Castlenau, meaning new castle, is a residential area of Barnes in south west London. #thingilearnedtoday
January 17, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Castlenau, meaning new castle, is a residential area of Barnes in south west London. #thingilearnedtoday
Robert Jenrick, now a Reform UK MP, has held the seat of Newark for the Conservative Party since 2014, and had a much reduced majority of 3,572 at the 2024 general election. #thingilearnedtoday
January 16, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Robert Jenrick, now a Reform UK MP, has held the seat of Newark for the Conservative Party since 2014, and had a much reduced majority of 3,572 at the 2024 general election. #thingilearnedtoday
On average men are 60% body water while women are 50-55% because of more body fat. ##thingilearnedtoday
January 15, 2026 at 10:32 PM
On average men are 60% body water while women are 50-55% because of more body fat. ##thingilearnedtoday
Aldi is a syllabic abbreviation for the German name Albrecht Diskont and its original store was in Essen. #thingilearnedtoday
January 14, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Aldi is a syllabic abbreviation for the German name Albrecht Diskont and its original store was in Essen. #thingilearnedtoday
The song She Was Beautiful (Cavatina) was performed by Bryn Terfel and released on the album Simple Gifts in 2005. It was written as He Was Beautiful by Cleo Laine and Stanley Myers, and released by Laine and John Williams in 1976. #thingilearnedtoday
January 13, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The song She Was Beautiful (Cavatina) was performed by Bryn Terfel and released on the album Simple Gifts in 2005. It was written as He Was Beautiful by Cleo Laine and Stanley Myers, and released by Laine and John Williams in 1976. #thingilearnedtoday
True Love Ways was written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and Holly's original was recorded with the Dick Jacobs Orchestra in New York in October 1958. #thingilearnedtoday
January 12, 2026 at 11:44 PM
True Love Ways was written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and Holly's original was recorded with the Dick Jacobs Orchestra in New York in October 1958. #thingilearnedtoday
The Italian friar Padre Pio was declared a saint in 2002 and is honoured in the Catholic pilgrimage town of San Giovanni Rotondo. #thingilearnedtoday
January 11, 2026 at 10:36 PM
The Italian friar Padre Pio was declared a saint in 2002 and is honoured in the Catholic pilgrimage town of San Giovanni Rotondo. #thingilearnedtoday
Venezuela was originally known as Veneziola, the name given to it by explorer Amerigo Vespucci in 1499 as he claimed the stilt houses on Lake Maracaibo reminded him of Venice. #thingilearnedtoday
January 10, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Venezuela was originally known as Veneziola, the name given to it by explorer Amerigo Vespucci in 1499 as he claimed the stilt houses on Lake Maracaibo reminded him of Venice. #thingilearnedtoday
In beating Crystal Palace Macclesfield are the first non-league team to knock out the FA Cup holders since Palace beat Wolves in 1908/09. #thingilearnedtoday
January 10, 2026 at 2:35 PM
In beating Crystal Palace Macclesfield are the first non-league team to knock out the FA Cup holders since Palace beat Wolves in 1908/09. #thingilearnedtoday
The Hitchcock thriller North by Northwest starring Cary Grant concludes at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, USA. #thingilearnedtoday
January 9, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The Hitchcock thriller North by Northwest starring Cary Grant concludes at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, USA. #thingilearnedtoday
The BBC broadcast a six-part version of War and Peace starring Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton in 2016. #thingilearnedtoday
January 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
The BBC broadcast a six-part version of War and Peace starring Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton in 2016. #thingilearnedtoday
The 4-1 scoreline a fair reflection of an Ashes series not great on quality but high on drama, as shown by a pair of two-day tests. Starc and Head the outstanding players for an understrength Australia, and England should reflect on inadequate preparation and failure to seize moments. #ashes
January 8, 2026 at 9:06 AM
The 4-1 scoreline a fair reflection of an Ashes series not great on quality but high on drama, as shown by a pair of two-day tests. Starc and Head the outstanding players for an understrength Australia, and England should reflect on inadequate preparation and failure to seize moments. #ashes
The video to Fatboy Slim's hit Praise You starring Spike Jonze and the fictional Torrance Community Dance Group reportedly cost only $800 to make. #thingilearnedtoday
January 7, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The video to Fatboy Slim's hit Praise You starring Spike Jonze and the fictional Torrance Community Dance Group reportedly cost only $800 to make. #thingilearnedtoday