Christopher Pittard
@christopherpittard.bsky.social
Course leader and Senior Lecturer in Victorian Literature. Specialist in detective fiction, Arthur Conan Doyle, Dickens, Wilkie Collins. New book: *Literary Illusions: Performance Magic and Victorian Literature* (Edinburgh UP, 2025).
There was a lawyer on the news this morning explaining that Trump can't sue the BBC in the UK because it's over a year since the programme was screened, and he probably can't sue in the US because Panorama wasn't shown there. But, y'know, he's the most brilliant businessman, right?
November 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
There was a lawyer on the news this morning explaining that Trump can't sue the BBC in the UK because it's over a year since the programme was screened, and he probably can't sue in the US because Panorama wasn't shown there. But, y'know, he's the most brilliant businessman, right?
Remember kids - you can save a lot of time when reading the Times Higher by checking the writer bio first.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Remember kids - you can save a lot of time when reading the Times Higher by checking the writer bio first.
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
The BBC’s problem is not really impartiality, it’s understanding the relationship between impartiality and accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
November 10, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The BBC’s problem is not really impartiality, it’s understanding the relationship between impartiality and accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
The two are paired in the BBC’s code. Due impartiality is paired with due accuracy. The BBC forgets this all too often, focussing only on impartiality and neglecting accuracy.
"I am the Prince of Fluid Beef, and I bring you... BEEF!"
forgotten fortifying beef drinks of the 1890s ...
November 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
"I am the Prince of Fluid Beef, and I bring you... BEEF!"
Takes me back to my museum gift shop retail days at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro.
We don't care what James Acaster says - he's just trying to be edgy.
Bet he was more into those little coin purses that looked like a backpack...
Bet he was more into those little coin purses that looked like a backpack...
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Takes me back to my museum gift shop retail days at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro.
Apparently, the problem with the Panorama edit is that it connected Trump's statement of walking to the Capitol with a incitement to fight made an hour later. I can see how that would be misleading, if Trump hadn't referred to walking to the Capitol only 35 seconds *after* talking about fighting.
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Apparently, the problem with the Panorama edit is that it connected Trump's statement of walking to the Capitol with a incitement to fight made an hour later. I can see how that would be misleading, if Trump hadn't referred to walking to the Capitol only 35 seconds *after* talking about fighting.
I have three copies of *The Beetle* (Broadview, Valancourt, and the Penguin *Victorian Villainies* anthology), but I might have to expand. The Fisher Unwin cover is nicely understated, but the Consul is clearly the best.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I have three copies of *The Beetle* (Broadview, Valancourt, and the Penguin *Victorian Villainies* anthology), but I might have to expand. The Fisher Unwin cover is nicely understated, but the Consul is clearly the best.
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Tips for the next DG:
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them.
2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.
I’ve been re-reading *The Beetle* for lecturing purposes, and am wondering if Terry Nation had read Richard Marsh?
November 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
I’ve been re-reading *The Beetle* for lecturing purposes, and am wondering if Terry Nation had read Richard Marsh?
My wife is watching the 1993 *Three Musketeers.* The harbour scenes were filmed at Charlestown in Cornwall, meaning that at some points Kiefer Sutherland is standing just across the harbour basin from where his dad went into the pub in *The Eagle Has Landed* nearly 20 years earlier.
November 9, 2025 at 8:23 PM
My wife is watching the 1993 *Three Musketeers.* The harbour scenes were filmed at Charlestown in Cornwall, meaning that at some points Kiefer Sutherland is standing just across the harbour basin from where his dad went into the pub in *The Eagle Has Landed* nearly 20 years earlier.
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
It’s ironic to resign over editing a bunch of lies to reflect the truth.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
It’s ironic to resign over editing a bunch of lies to reflect the truth.
My vision as BBC Director General:
* More Jonathan Meades documentaries.
* 70% less soundtrack on Doctor Who; remaining soundtrack to be experimental electronica.
* Newsnight Review is back (without Pearson, obviously).
* Events on BBC game shows no longer reported as news.
* No Chris Mason.
* More Jonathan Meades documentaries.
* 70% less soundtrack on Doctor Who; remaining soundtrack to be experimental electronica.
* Newsnight Review is back (without Pearson, obviously).
* Events on BBC game shows no longer reported as news.
* No Chris Mason.
Am willing to be BBC DG but only if they let me bring back Moviedrome.
November 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM
My vision as BBC Director General:
* More Jonathan Meades documentaries.
* 70% less soundtrack on Doctor Who; remaining soundtrack to be experimental electronica.
* Newsnight Review is back (without Pearson, obviously).
* Events on BBC game shows no longer reported as news.
* No Chris Mason.
* More Jonathan Meades documentaries.
* 70% less soundtrack on Doctor Who; remaining soundtrack to be experimental electronica.
* Newsnight Review is back (without Pearson, obviously).
* Events on BBC game shows no longer reported as news.
* No Chris Mason.
Watched *Late Night with the Devil* last night and enjoyed it a lot; even the moment where I thought “oh, they’ve gone a bit over the top” was a deliberate move. However - a very clear debt to *Ghostwatch* which I’m not sure has been fully recognised.
November 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Watched *Late Night with the Devil* last night and enjoyed it a lot; even the moment where I thought “oh, they’ve gone a bit over the top” was a deliberate move. However - a very clear debt to *Ghostwatch* which I’m not sure has been fully recognised.
Just listened the @world-of-telly.bsky.social episode with @neilperryman.bsky.social and @worldoftelly.bsky.social talking about *A Very Peculiar Practice*, a series I was only vaguely aware of, but must now watch urgently; the university as “a magical place full of weirdos.”
urgently.university
November 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Just listened the @world-of-telly.bsky.social episode with @neilperryman.bsky.social and @worldoftelly.bsky.social talking about *A Very Peculiar Practice*, a series I was only vaguely aware of, but must now watch urgently; the university as “a magical place full of weirdos.”
This is correct. I love Christmas, but partially because it’s a few weeks, not a whole quarter of the year.
The worst thing is I like Christmas and I quite like some Christmas music but…it’s early November.
November 8, 2025 at 12:28 AM
This is correct. I love Christmas, but partially because it’s a few weeks, not a whole quarter of the year.
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
a mental health crisis among British students whilst universities are pushing faculty to accept or even encourage students using generative AI is a catastrophe waiting to happen
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 9:19 PM
a mental health crisis among British students whilst universities are pushing faculty to accept or even encourage students using generative AI is a catastrophe waiting to happen
Reposted by Christopher Pittard
The perfect photo to challenge narratives of progress.
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The perfect photo to challenge narratives of progress.
It’s been a while since I saw a good social media juxtaposition, but this one is nicely subtle.
November 6, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It’s been a while since I saw a good social media juxtaposition, but this one is nicely subtle.
Finished Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö’s *Roseanna* tonight, and found it strangely disappointing - a blend of Simenon and McBain without being nearly as good as either. The sparseness of the prose often lapses into blandness; one section is surely awkwardly translated.
November 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Finished Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö’s *Roseanna* tonight, and found it strangely disappointing - a blend of Simenon and McBain without being nearly as good as either. The sparseness of the prose often lapses into blandness; one section is surely awkwardly translated.
Wait, is this the same BBC News that has spent the last six or so months saying that Farage is the likely winner in 2029?
![Screenshot of a BBC News report on US elections saying “Of course, much could change before those [midterm] 2026 elections”.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:igsuzmzz5ac2pfwpvz4bsscx/bafkreif6baoz5aewryh2kxegy6gtbjalqab4pexvvsarc6szxvfvmfudfe@jpeg)
November 5, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Wait, is this the same BBC News that has spent the last six or so months saying that Farage is the likely winner in 2029?
Once again the clearance trolley at the Waterstone’s on Trafalgar Square is providing bargains.
November 5, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Once again the clearance trolley at the Waterstone’s on Trafalgar Square is providing bargains.
A great day at #AHTV today, on getting humanities research on television. Nice to meet up with Amber Regis again (pictured here talking about her Brontes documentary).
November 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
A great day at #AHTV today, on getting humanities research on television. Nice to meet up with Amber Regis again (pictured here talking about her Brontes documentary).
Going to the AHTV conference tomorrow. I went last year, but for me the day was characterised by getting up at 5am to discover Trump had won and having a weird numbness in my left leg that by the end of the day had developed into a full blown sciatic attack. Hoping this year will be more successful.
November 4, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Going to the AHTV conference tomorrow. I went last year, but for me the day was characterised by getting up at 5am to discover Trump had won and having a weird numbness in my left leg that by the end of the day had developed into a full blown sciatic attack. Hoping this year will be more successful.