John Kell
@johnkell.bsky.social
Some indie music, radio, archive TV, F1. Roobarbarian. Personal account. My views.
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up today (assuming there's a show?). Is it the 8s?
November 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up today (assuming there's a show?). Is it the 8s?
Was reminded of this story during Chris's performance of The English Earth tonight. Back in 2002 I played that and other tracks from The 253 on student radio. A random American online listener emailed in, more than once, to ask who the artist was, sounding increasingly infuriated about it.
I sometimes agonise when putting shows together or just listening to music generally that I lean too hard on old favourites. But of course it's the fact I've had relationships with artists like Chris T-T, Pulp or the Hidden Cameras for so long that makes nights like tonight so valuable and precious.
November 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Was reminded of this story during Chris's performance of The English Earth tonight. Back in 2002 I played that and other tracks from The 253 on student radio. A random American online listener emailed in, more than once, to ask who the artist was, sounding increasingly infuriated about it.
The only very very slight downside to this was not being able to see @thejustjoans.bsky.social playing Cambridge tonight, but I'm hugely looking forward to catching up with them in January at the Winter Sprinter.
Well. Music's quite a thing, isn't it? Chris T-T's brief roar out of retirement. Lots of thoughts, lots of feelings. Remarkable performance, remarkable evening.
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The only very very slight downside to this was not being able to see @thejustjoans.bsky.social playing Cambridge tonight, but I'm hugely looking forward to catching up with them in January at the Winter Sprinter.
Well. Music's quite a thing, isn't it? Chris T-T's brief roar out of retirement. Lots of thoughts, lots of feelings. Remarkable performance, remarkable evening.
November 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Well. Music's quite a thing, isn't it? Chris T-T's brief roar out of retirement. Lots of thoughts, lots of feelings. Remarkable performance, remarkable evening.
Reposted by John Kell
The sheer cheek of writing "oop north" when you pronounce it "ap north".
Always eye-opening when someone with a southern English accent tries to write a northern English accent "phonetically" revealing what an alien perspective they have of the relationship between sounds and letters
November 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The sheer cheek of writing "oop north" when you pronounce it "ap north".
@samholloway.bsky.social Will be catching up. Is it the 9s? (I got the 3s the other week from Howard Jones; it had cropped up in the FM Nights top 10 the week before!)
November 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social Will be catching up. Is it the 9s? (I got the 3s the other week from Howard Jones; it had cropped up in the FM Nights top 10 the week before!)
Monday's show! Featuring a rather extreme radio edit... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Monday's show! Featuring a rather extreme radio edit... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
On now!
We've got more great independent and alternative music for you in John Kell Vs Satan at 9pm, with a 20 Years Young album that's newly reissued on vinyl, and a clutch of long-awaited new releases. Tune in on DAB in Bedford, online, on your smart speaker or on the Bedford Radio app!
November 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
On now!
This is nice. I've occasionally wondered what the state of play is between the ex-Pipettes - lovely to find they're still pals!
GIG UPDATE: Gwenno. Beautiful and gorgeous and full of cornish joy and sadness. And Gwenno was also joined by her former Pipette pal Rose Elinor Dougall for a song, so that was an unexpected Halloween treat!
October 31, 2025 at 11:38 PM
This is nice. I've occasionally wondered what the state of play is between the ex-Pipettes - lovely to find they're still pals!
Reposted by John Kell
Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
The gig: Courtney Marie Andrews! Previewing her new album and also, it turns out, another recorded but unreleased album that may emerge at some point! A treat to see her in such a small venue - this sold out very quickly!
October 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The gig: Courtney Marie Andrews! Previewing her new album and also, it turns out, another recorded but unreleased album that may emerge at some point! A treat to see her in such a small venue - this sold out very quickly!
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up again. 9s?
October 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up again. 9s?
This is beautiful.
A bit of advice for journalists: At least *read* the quotes you’re cut and pasting into a story.
October 29, 2025 at 6:17 PM
This is beautiful.
Grabbing a pre-gig meal in one of the surprisingly decent curry houses over the road from Kings Cross. Props to the bloke on the next table for his triple carbs choice of rice, naan and chips. Loving your work.
October 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Grabbing a pre-gig meal in one of the surprisingly decent curry houses over the road from Kings Cross. Props to the bloke on the next table for his triple carbs choice of rice, naan and chips. Loving your work.
14 years since I was in the room when they announced two missing Doctor Who episodes has been discovered. I'd be going anyway, but a similar announcement at this year's event doesn't seem totally out of the question...
2025 BFI Missing Believed Wiped is on Saturday 13 December.
“The programme will feature other titles, to be confirmed closer to the event.”
Genuinely have no idea whether this will be Doctor Who missing episodes, but 🤞🏽.
“The programme will feature other titles, to be confirmed closer to the event.”
Genuinely have no idea whether this will be Doctor Who missing episodes, but 🤞🏽.
October 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
14 years since I was in the room when they announced two missing Doctor Who episodes has been discovered. I'd be going anyway, but a similar announcement at this year's event doesn't seem totally out of the question...
@samholloway.bsky.social An even better way to remember them!
I know nothing about Dr Who, but, for Londoners, the phrase "Going For Dinner With Billie Piper" is the absolute best way to remember the order of the vertical streets running east to west in Soho (Greek, Frith, Dean, Wardour, Berwick, Poland) and has saved many a late night out
October 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social An even better way to remember them!
Y'know what, I'm far less disappointed about the show that got nominated not winning the actual award than I am about FM Nights not getting a nomination. I mean, this is the show people sometimes actually say they like! www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
October 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Y'know what, I'm far less disappointed about the show that got nominated not winning the actual award than I am about FM Nights not getting a nomination. I mean, this is the show people sometimes actually say they like! www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
Because the Internet needs another hot take about DW: what's needed is a serious think about the right form of storytelling for it in the streaming age. Single 45 min eps were right in 2005. Probably need longer form serials now, with guest characters and settings viewers can invest in over 3-4 hrs
An earlier and more decisive announcement than I expected, tbh! Though the BBC making further DW without Disney always looked nailed on.
BBC: "Doctor Who will be back on our screens at Christmas 2026 with a special episode written by Russell T Davies."
Disney+ have confirmed they will not partner on the next season, but BBC says they remain fully committed and will announce plans in due course.
Disney+ have confirmed they will not partner on the next season, but BBC says they remain fully committed and will announce plans in due course.
October 28, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Because the Internet needs another hot take about DW: what's needed is a serious think about the right form of storytelling for it in the streaming age. Single 45 min eps were right in 2005. Probably need longer form serials now, with guest characters and settings viewers can invest in over 3-4 hrs
An earlier and more decisive announcement than I expected, tbh! Though the BBC making further DW without Disney always looked nailed on.
BBC: "Doctor Who will be back on our screens at Christmas 2026 with a special episode written by Russell T Davies."
Disney+ have confirmed they will not partner on the next season, but BBC says they remain fully committed and will announce plans in due course.
Disney+ have confirmed they will not partner on the next season, but BBC says they remain fully committed and will announce plans in due course.
October 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
An earlier and more decisive announcement than I expected, tbh! Though the BBC making further DW without Disney always looked nailed on.
Reposted by John Kell
Cant believe Bob Seconds won the Mexican Grand Prix. Well done Bob
October 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Cant believe Bob Seconds won the Mexican Grand Prix. Well done Bob
This is a good one.
Settle down with some 80s and 90s nostalgia for a dark evening - as usual, there's a top 10 countdown and a mystery year to test your local knowledge with, so tune in for FM Nights at 9pm.
October 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This is a good one.
Reposted by John Kell
Amazing that this entire mathematical problem is framed by nomenclature derived from Prince Rupert - yes, the Civil War Prince Rupert.
In important math news: new shape just dropped (the noperthedron) www.quantamagazine.org/first-shape-...
First Shape Found That Can’t Pass Through Itself | Quanta Magazine
After more than three centuries, a geometry problem that originated with a royal bet has been solved.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Amazing that this entire mathematical problem is framed by nomenclature derived from Prince Rupert - yes, the Civil War Prince Rupert.
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up. Is it the 1s?
October 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up. Is it the 1s?
Yesterday's show - it started good, but it was quickly goodbye! www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
October 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Yesterday's show - it started good, but it was quickly goodbye! www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
Starting at 9!
Join us for another chapter from the Alphabetical Songbook at 9 - it's all good to begin with, until it's goodbye!
October 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Starting at 9!