Alan Davey
@armslengthal.bsky.social
PhD researcher in Old Icelandic at Birkbeck College, University of London. Chair at Trinity Laban Conservatoire; Board, Hall for Cornwall. Formerly Controller, BBC Radio 3, CEO Arts Council England, Director of Culture at DCMS. Great Art For Everyone.
The grand entrance
November 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The grand entrance
Arriving at the Painted Hall in Greenwich for a celebration of Trinity Laban’s scholars and those who support them. Meanwhile the Trinity Laban building is full of life and sound …
November 12, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Arriving at the Painted Hall in Greenwich for a celebration of Trinity Laban’s scholars and those who support them. Meanwhile the Trinity Laban building is full of life and sound …
Reposted by Alan Davey
At a time when humanities and social science courses are facing severe cutbacks I’ll be mounting a defence of them and their role in shaping a better future at this lecture at De Montfort University on 27 November. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Shaping a Brighter Future
The first event in our Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series, delivered by Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
At a time when humanities and social science courses are facing severe cutbacks I’ll be mounting a defence of them and their role in shaping a better future at this lecture at De Montfort University on 27 November. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Reposted by Alan Davey
Happy 100th anniversary to the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra; here celebrating with Mahler's utterly mad, bonkers and magnificent 8th Symphony.
BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 in Concert, Mahler's Eighth Symphony
To mark its 100th anniversary, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra performs Mahler.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Happy 100th anniversary to the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra; here celebrating with Mahler's utterly mad, bonkers and magnificent 8th Symphony.
Reposted by Alan Davey
“So now is the time to come to the aid of the BBC. It needs all the friends it can get (and that includes members of the current government, who might like to be a bit more voluble in their support).
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
“So now is the time to come to the aid of the BBC. It needs all the friends it can get (and that includes members of the current government, who might like to be a bit more voluble in their support).
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
Reposted by Alan Davey
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
How the government captured the BBC
A right-wing cabal, largely unaccountable, is waging war on the principles that made our public broadcaster great. It must not succeed
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the extraordinary influence of former Tory spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC. It's still a helpful backgrounder for what's going on now. New readers start here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Alan Davey
Made this a few years back with the late great Steve Hewlett - a history of the BBC's many mortal crises:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, The Future of the BBC: A History
Steve Hewlett explores the troubled past behind today's debates on the future of the BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Made this a few years back with the late great Steve Hewlett - a history of the BBC's many mortal crises:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Reposted by Alan Davey
I do slightly wonder how prepared Robbie Gibb was for this to now become Robbie Gibb week rather than Tim Davie week.
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I do slightly wonder how prepared Robbie Gibb was for this to now become Robbie Gibb week rather than Tim Davie week.
Reposted by Alan Davey
Choral Evensong this afternoon at 3.00 and afterwards on Sounds from Greenwich with the Trinity Laban Chapel choir … www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London
From the Chapel of the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Choral Evensong this afternoon at 3.00 and afterwards on Sounds from Greenwich with the Trinity Laban Chapel choir … www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Alan Davey
‘If the industrial strategy is to succeed, we’ll need English graduates as well as engineers, historians alongside computer scientists, and social scientists together with health professionals.’
www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n... @timeshighered.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Do we need humanities graduates to deliver the industrial strategy?
Policymakers should take a broad view of the value of degree courses when building our future workforce, says Charlotte Hallahan
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:44 AM
‘If the industrial strategy is to succeed, we’ll need English graduates as well as engineers, historians alongside computer scientists, and social scientists together with health professionals.’
www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n... @timeshighered.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/do-we-n... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Reposted by Alan Davey
Awesome news!
www.sciencenorway.no/cultural-his...
www.sciencenorway.no/cultural-his...
Eight pages bound in furry seal skin may be Norway's oldest book
The little book is so rare that the National Library of Norway is bringing in experts from around the world to learn more.
www.sciencenorway.no
November 4, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Awesome news!
www.sciencenorway.no/cultural-his...
www.sciencenorway.no/cultural-his...
Wish the BBC could make a bit more of the Drama on 3 Archive available - there are some things worth hearing at any time - such as the excellent Colin Morgan giving us MacNeice’s ‘Autumn Journal’ ….
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
November 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Wish the BBC could make a bit more of the Drama on 3 Archive available - there are some things worth hearing at any time - such as the excellent Colin Morgan giving us MacNeice’s ‘Autumn Journal’ ….
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...
Reposted by Alan Davey
Trolls and Dragons — A Long History with Carolyne Larrington - Caper
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checkout.square.site
October 31, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Reposted by Alan Davey
On Radio 4 at 4pm. Hurrah for primary sources! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
October 28, 2025 at 3:08 PM
On Radio 4 at 4pm. Hurrah for primary sources! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Alan Davey
RIP Prunella Scales. Does so much with a fag, a box of chocolates, and little more than three words.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zva...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zva...
Fawlty Towers: Oh I know!
YouTube video by Fawlty's Vault
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM
RIP Prunella Scales. Does so much with a fag, a box of chocolates, and little more than three words.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zva...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zva...
Reposted by Alan Davey
My blog post with the ADAM network has now been published. It's about precarity, the future of small subjects, and communal approaches to academic work. I hope it will resonate with some. #IchBinHanna #KleineFaecher #SkandiRetten
difficultmedieval.com/2025/10/23/h...
difficultmedieval.com/2025/10/23/h...
Hard Times and Trial Approaches: Old Norse-Icelandic Studies Between Precarity and the Future
Dr Rebecca Merkelbach reflects on her keynote speech at the most recent Saga Conference. Held every three years, Saga Con is the most important meeting of Old Norse scholars, bringing together acad…
difficultmedieval.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM
My blog post with the ADAM network has now been published. It's about precarity, the future of small subjects, and communal approaches to academic work. I hope it will resonate with some. #IchBinHanna #KleineFaecher #SkandiRetten
difficultmedieval.com/2025/10/23/h...
difficultmedieval.com/2025/10/23/h...
@drmatthewsweet.bsky.social thank you for your last Sound of Cinema - a programme that over 12 years has allowed us to get under the bonnet of how cinema music works - what great radio can do. Thank you for giving us new insights and ways of listening as time has gone by.
October 26, 2025 at 9:47 AM
@drmatthewsweet.bsky.social thank you for your last Sound of Cinema - a programme that over 12 years has allowed us to get under the bonnet of how cinema music works - what great radio can do. Thank you for giving us new insights and ways of listening as time has gone by.
Reposted by Alan Davey
It’s been a pleasure to be part of the community of the programme. Thanks for listening with me.
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It’s been a pleasure to be part of the community of the programme. Thanks for listening with me.
Reposted by Alan Davey
Radio 3's ethos is love of culture and unapologetic intellectualism. For 12 years I’ve tried to follow those values by matching great movie music with the analysis it deserves. Where else would I be allowed to chat about David Shire, Adorno & serialism on a Saturday afternoon?
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Radio 3's ethos is love of culture and unapologetic intellectualism. For 12 years I’ve tried to follow those values by matching great movie music with the analysis it deserves. Where else would I be allowed to chat about David Shire, Adorno & serialism on a Saturday afternoon?
Reposted by Alan Davey
It's my last BBC Radio 3 Sound of Cinema tomorrow, and I will be saying a proper goodbye. So tomorrow's show is an argument for the intellectual depth and richness of the film music, and how it should never be treated like wallpaper. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 3 - Sound of Cinema, A place for ideas
Matthew Sweet's weekly look at music for the screen.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It's my last BBC Radio 3 Sound of Cinema tomorrow, and I will be saying a proper goodbye. So tomorrow's show is an argument for the intellectual depth and richness of the film music, and how it should never be treated like wallpaper. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
So sorry to hear of the passing David Jackson today hero of Cardiff singer and so much else at the BBC and in classical music. His benign and determined way of getting good things done will be so missed. A real public servant. Rest in Peace and thank you.
October 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
So sorry to hear of the passing David Jackson today hero of Cardiff singer and so much else at the BBC and in classical music. His benign and determined way of getting good things done will be so missed. A real public servant. Rest in Peace and thank you.
Reposted by Alan Davey
We are awarding our President's Medal to 'In Our Time' as it has done so much to showcase humanities & social sciences. We'd decided this before the news of Melvyn Bragg stepping down, but glad we got our timing right & had a chance to celebrate with him!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
Renowned BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time receives prestigious British Academy President’s Medal for 2025
The British Academy has awarded its prestigious President’s Medal to the long-running and beloved BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time. Recognising its outstanding contribution to humanities and social s...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 8:23 AM
We are awarding our President's Medal to 'In Our Time' as it has done so much to showcase humanities & social sciences. We'd decided this before the news of Melvyn Bragg stepping down, but glad we got our timing right & had a chance to celebrate with him!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/renowne...
Reposted by Alan Davey
If you'd like something calming, this is a nice read with great pictures www.ft.com/content/55b8...
Japan’s gardens embody the subtle side of wealth
For centuries they have been a symbol not just of money but of culture and sophistication
www.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:49 AM
If you'd like something calming, this is a nice read with great pictures www.ft.com/content/55b8...
This is not encouraging. “Bursaries for English, art and design, music and religious education are being removed entirely, meaning that trainees in these subjects will receive no financial incentive to train from next year, the guidance shows.”
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
DfE cuts teacher-training bursaries in 8 subjects
Maths scholarships worth £31,000 are being scrapped, while awards for modern foreign languages will fall by £6,000 under new DfE guidance
www.tes.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:07 AM
This is not encouraging. “Bursaries for English, art and design, music and religious education are being removed entirely, meaning that trainees in these subjects will receive no financial incentive to train from next year, the guidance shows.”
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
www.tes.com/magazine/new...