David Simpkin
@simplerdave.bsky.social
Fine words butter no parsnips.
Once and future bookseller, currently based in deepest Nottinghamshire.
@Simplerdave on all decent social media - find me here, there and almost everywhere...
Once and future bookseller, currently based in deepest Nottinghamshire.
@Simplerdave on all decent social media - find me here, there and almost everywhere...
Watching the last hour of the Last Crusade again because I can. It is still just completely magnificent.
December 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Watching the last hour of the Last Crusade again because I can. It is still just completely magnificent.
A bookseller writes: I loved working in an independent bookshop on Christmas Eve. From about this time onwards, well-lunched men of a certain age would fall out of the pub & into the shop. They would say to us "I must get my wife something", & we'd sell them an armful of hardbacks. Merry Christmas.
December 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
A bookseller writes: I loved working in an independent bookshop on Christmas Eve. From about this time onwards, well-lunched men of a certain age would fall out of the pub & into the shop. They would say to us "I must get my wife something", & we'd sell them an armful of hardbacks. Merry Christmas.
Catching up with #Strictly - delighted for Kaz, but also really impressed with George. What's been great about both of them over the weeks is just how much they've thrown themselves into this. Non-dancers finding themselves and having a fabulous time in the process. This is absolutely what we want.
December 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Catching up with #Strictly - delighted for Kaz, but also really impressed with George. What's been great about both of them over the weeks is just how much they've thrown themselves into this. Non-dancers finding themselves and having a fabulous time in the process. This is absolutely what we want.
@moviessilently.bsky.social I'm sure you know about these - in fact I think I read a blog post once - but I thought you'd appreciate this:
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases review – on the hunt with Holmes in restored 1920s mysteries
From stealing a photo for the King of Bohemia to battling the Napoleon of crime on a clifftop, Holmes is witty and watchable in these early Conan Doyle-approved dramas
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
@moviessilently.bsky.social I'm sure you know about these - in fact I think I read a blog post once - but I thought you'd appreciate this:
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
Three of the finest books that I own are Parr's collections of Boring Postcards, which tell a splendidly subversive tale of post-war rebuilding in Britain, Germany and the US. Seek them out if you can - and farewell to a master of his art...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Martin Parr, photographer acclaimed for observations of British life, dies aged 73
From sunbathers to Conservative clubs, Parr’s images were often in vivid colour with more than a dash of humour
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Three of the finest books that I own are Parr's collections of Boring Postcards, which tell a splendidly subversive tale of post-war rebuilding in Britain, Germany and the US. Seek them out if you can - and farewell to a master of his art...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Currently watching San Ferry Ann (1965) on Talking Pictures TV. A silent-ish comedy of British tourists abroad, filmed on location in and around your actual Calais. Not least of its pleasures is the fact it's got *everyone* in it.
December 6, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Currently watching San Ferry Ann (1965) on Talking Pictures TV. A silent-ish comedy of British tourists abroad, filmed on location in and around your actual Calais. Not least of its pleasures is the fact it's got *everyone* in it.
An actor friend of mine has had a brilliant idea: could we rename a theatre for Tom Stoppard? He suggested the National's Lyttleton - any other suggestions?
November 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM
An actor friend of mine has had a brilliant idea: could we rename a theatre for Tom Stoppard? He suggested the National's Lyttleton - any other suggestions?
As a student, many thousands of years ago, I went up to that London to see the first run of The Real Thing, with Roger Rees and Felicity Kendal. For the cricket bat speech and for so,so much else besides, Tom Stoppard has had my heart ever since. Farewell to one of the best to ever.
November 29, 2025 at 11:06 PM
As a student, many thousands of years ago, I went up to that London to see the first run of The Real Thing, with Roger Rees and Felicity Kendal. For the cricket bat speech and for so,so much else besides, Tom Stoppard has had my heart ever since. Farewell to one of the best to ever.
Introduce yourself with 5 acts you've seen:
Bellowhead (lots of times)
Danny & the Champions of the World
BNL (one time supported by KT Tunstall *and* Boothby Graffoe; one time supported by Colin James Hay; and lots of other times (...)
Lizzie No (at the Gate to Southwell Festival)
Peter Tork
Bellowhead (lots of times)
Danny & the Champions of the World
BNL (one time supported by KT Tunstall *and* Boothby Graffoe; one time supported by Colin James Hay; and lots of other times (...)
Lizzie No (at the Gate to Southwell Festival)
Peter Tork
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen.
The Smiths
Moondog
Yehudi Menuhin
Divine Comedy
GnR
The Smiths
Moondog
Yehudi Menuhin
Divine Comedy
GnR
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen.
Pixies
Rolling Stones
Sade
John Otway
Cud
Pixies
Rolling Stones
Sade
John Otway
Cud
November 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 acts you've seen:
Bellowhead (lots of times)
Danny & the Champions of the World
BNL (one time supported by KT Tunstall *and* Boothby Graffoe; one time supported by Colin James Hay; and lots of other times (...)
Lizzie No (at the Gate to Southwell Festival)
Peter Tork
Bellowhead (lots of times)
Danny & the Champions of the World
BNL (one time supported by KT Tunstall *and* Boothby Graffoe; one time supported by Colin James Hay; and lots of other times (...)
Lizzie No (at the Gate to Southwell Festival)
Peter Tork
You know, for all we mock, O What A Circus is an absolute stone cold banger #BBCRadio2 #SalveSalveRegina
November 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
You know, for all we mock, O What A Circus is an absolute stone cold banger #BBCRadio2 #SalveSalveRegina
I've known Dirk since I was a student back in the early 80s. It is brilliant to see that he's still creating epic audio magic, and I absolutely recommend that you hear this...
RELEASED TODAY thanks to Penguin Random House and DC Comics our ‘audio movie’ of the graphic novel KINGDOM COME by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. This production gave me the chance to return after three decades to both Metropolis *and* Gotham City. Here's what the author says about our new version: 1/14
November 18, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I've known Dirk since I was a student back in the early 80s. It is brilliant to see that he's still creating epic audio magic, and I absolutely recommend that you hear this...
Top 5 movie genres:
*Okay, dammit, I'll do the right thing, if I MUST...
*Flawed protagonist solves crime
*Ragtag ensemble pulls off heist (or doesn't), 1950 - 2000
*Paranoid spy/detective thriller 1965 - 1980
*Jean-Pierre Melville
*Okay, dammit, I'll do the right thing, if I MUST...
*Flawed protagonist solves crime
*Ragtag ensemble pulls off heist (or doesn't), 1950 - 2000
*Paranoid spy/detective thriller 1965 - 1980
*Jean-Pierre Melville
Top 5 movie genres:
- Does this robot / monster have a soul? (Yes it does)
- Sassy New York newspaper gal does not need love but finds it anyway
- I travelled in time or space. It was a mistake.
- You’re supposed to be the victim of my crime but I love you
- Being a detective is miserable but hot
- Does this robot / monster have a soul? (Yes it does)
- Sassy New York newspaper gal does not need love but finds it anyway
- I travelled in time or space. It was a mistake.
- You’re supposed to be the victim of my crime but I love you
- Being a detective is miserable but hot
What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are:
- mystery on a train
- I've committed the perfect murder, "oh for fucks sake"
- European road movie
- ennui in Hong Kong
- I've tried nothing to improve my life and crime is the only thing left
- mystery on a train
- I've committed the perfect murder, "oh for fucks sake"
- European road movie
- ennui in Hong Kong
- I've tried nothing to improve my life and crime is the only thing left
November 16, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Top 5 movie genres:
*Okay, dammit, I'll do the right thing, if I MUST...
*Flawed protagonist solves crime
*Ragtag ensemble pulls off heist (or doesn't), 1950 - 2000
*Paranoid spy/detective thriller 1965 - 1980
*Jean-Pierre Melville
*Okay, dammit, I'll do the right thing, if I MUST...
*Flawed protagonist solves crime
*Ragtag ensemble pulls off heist (or doesn't), 1950 - 2000
*Paranoid spy/detective thriller 1965 - 1980
*Jean-Pierre Melville
Death In Paradise Postponed #TWOSHOWSINONE
DOCTOR WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
#TWOSHOWSINONE
#TWOSHOWSINONE
November 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Death In Paradise Postponed #TWOSHOWSINONE
Love Dougray Scott on the One Show taking time to credit the writers (script and original novel)
November 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Love Dougray Scott on the One Show taking time to credit the writers (script and original novel)
Farewell to the great Gilson Lavis, drummer for Squeeze (and so much more). Here's a fine example of exactly what he did:
youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?...
youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?...
Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by SqueezeVEVO
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Farewell to the great Gilson Lavis, drummer for Squeeze (and so much more). Here's a fine example of exactly what he did:
youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?...
youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?...
This was my home for nearly forty years (the city, not the cathedral, obviously) - and these are some gorgeous photos...
Winchester went and got itself a cathedral too didn't it
October 30, 2025 at 5:09 PM
This was my home for nearly forty years (the city, not the cathedral, obviously) - and these are some gorgeous photos...
Back in the late 80s, I came fourth in the Radio Times Comedy Writing competition. I got a cheque for £150 and some kind words from Prunella Scales (one of the judges that year).
I know which I valued more...
I know which I valued more...
October 28, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Back in the late 80s, I came fourth in the Radio Times Comedy Writing competition. I got a cheque for £150 and some kind words from Prunella Scales (one of the judges that year).
I know which I valued more...
I know which I valued more...
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Beaky, Mick, and Titch
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Cally and Gan.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Dandy and a Clown.
October 23, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Beaky, Mick, and Titch
Ah, automated switchboard for my broadband provider, my mother has only ever had one maiden name, but because it has a silent letter, you will never ever recognise it when I say it out loud. Put me through to a human being...
October 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Ah, automated switchboard for my broadband provider, my mother has only ever had one maiden name, but because it has a silent letter, you will never ever recognise it when I say it out loud. Put me through to a human being...
Coming soon, based on the show that's entirely responsible for the way I say the word 'tablet'...
✈️CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF!️✈️
Here’s your first chance to listen to a song from #TheHighLife: The Musical, with Air Stewards Steve and Sebastian reunited in the sound booth and hitting those high notes🎶
Here’s your first chance to listen to a song from #TheHighLife: The Musical, with Air Stewards Steve and Sebastian reunited in the sound booth and hitting those high notes🎶
September 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Coming soon, based on the show that's entirely responsible for the way I say the word 'tablet'...
Share your favourite black & white film (apart from all the others...)
September 25, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Share your favourite black & white film (apart from all the others...)
@eggsbened.bsky.social David, quick question if I may: are you aware of any good articles on the set design for the new Godot, and how they got it past the notoriously fastidious Beckett estate?
No worries if not, but please and thank you if there's anything out there.
No worries if not, but please and thank you if there's anything out there.
September 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM
@eggsbened.bsky.social David, quick question if I may: are you aware of any good articles on the set design for the new Godot, and how they got it past the notoriously fastidious Beckett estate?
No worries if not, but please and thank you if there's anything out there.
No worries if not, but please and thank you if there's anything out there.