Phil
@vmphil.bsky.social
Posts mainly about TV, media, technology and miscellaneous topics. Merseyside, UK.
Very sad to hear. The presenting trio of Clarkson, Needell and Wilson in the mid-90s were great fun and a forerunner of what was to come.
Quentin Wilson, former Top Gear and 5th Gear presenter turned motoring and EV campaigner, has died aged 68 after a short illness.
November 8, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Very sad to hear. The presenting trio of Clarkson, Needell and Wilson in the mid-90s were great fun and a forerunner of what was to come.
Is it possible for me to admit that I have serious nostalgia for this era of ITV, despite knowing the idents (and the generic Leeds continuity announcements for viewers in the north) were poor as anything?
#OnThisDay 1999: ITV introduced its “Hearts” ident package at 9:25am, following GMTV. However, Carlton, Scottish, Grampian, and UTV chose not to adopt the new branding. Channel Television used the same visuals but replaced the standard jingle with its own version.
November 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Is it possible for me to admit that I have serious nostalgia for this era of ITV, despite knowing the idents (and the generic Leeds continuity announcements for viewers in the north) were poor as anything?
Reposted by Phil
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Is it just me or are iOS updates getting obscenely large, file size wise? 12 GB for a .1 update?
November 5, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Is it just me or are iOS updates getting obscenely large, file size wise? 12 GB for a .1 update?
Reposted by Phil
The recent news on the closure of Pop and Tiny Pop (as linear channels) has brought me again to this TV Live Forum post by @vmphil.bsky.social about the former channel's launch in 2003 as Toons n Tunes, and it's funny to think how cheaply run it was then compared to now
November 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The recent news on the closure of Pop and Tiny Pop (as linear channels) has brought me again to this TV Live Forum post by @vmphil.bsky.social about the former channel's launch in 2003 as Toons n Tunes, and it's funny to think how cheaply run it was then compared to now
Reposted by Phil
So many artistic treasures in the Louvre, but none as priceless as this
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
So many artistic treasures in the Louvre, but none as priceless as this
Reposted by Phil
In a whole ad break on C4 only 1 of the commercials filled the screen. Pretend 4:3 (it's retro!) seems to be particularly 'creative' right now, but there's still a lot of crap ads in deep letterbox from people who think they're making movies.
I'd guess none of them watch television.
I'd guess none of them watch television.
November 2, 2025 at 9:42 PM
In a whole ad break on C4 only 1 of the commercials filled the screen. Pretend 4:3 (it's retro!) seems to be particularly 'creative' right now, but there's still a lot of crap ads in deep letterbox from people who think they're making movies.
I'd guess none of them watch television.
I'd guess none of them watch television.
Whoever designed the new Office, sorry, Microsoft 365 icons didn't think about what they'd look like as a desktop shortcut.
October 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Whoever designed the new Office, sorry, Microsoft 365 icons didn't think about what they'd look like as a desktop shortcut.
Reposted by Phil
This is one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen.
October 19, 2025 at 11:37 AM
This is one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen.
I looked up a video of this and I so wish this was still a thing. youtu.be/aFsOhJgCSpw?...
October 14, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I looked up a video of this and I so wish this was still a thing. youtu.be/aFsOhJgCSpw?...
Reposted by Phil
I would say so; it's already by far the superior song.
So do all these frog costumes being worn in Portland mean that We All Stand Together is now a more relevant peace anthem than Imagine?
October 14, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I would say so; it's already by far the superior song.
Reposted by Phil
Extremely difficult for me to see “Tron: Ares” and not read it as “Tron: Arse”.
October 13, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Extremely difficult for me to see “Tron: Ares” and not read it as “Tron: Arse”.
Happy 28th. Long gone, never forgotten. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAk9...
BBC1 idents 1997-2000
YouTube video by Des and Mick - TV & Radio
www.youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Happy 28th. Long gone, never forgotten. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAk9...
Reposted by Phil
WEBSITE UPDATE: On this day in 1997, the balloon idents launched, on which the BBC showed off its new corporate logo. To celebrate, here's the balloon-era clock from Northern Ireland re-created. Thanks to @nmsni.co.uk for the background image. 625.uk.com/tv_logos/svg...
BBC1 Northern Ireland Balloon Clock
The BBC1 Northern Ireland clock, based on the network clock introduced in October 1997, reproduced in SVG format for viewing on phones and tablets.
625.uk.com
October 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
WEBSITE UPDATE: On this day in 1997, the balloon idents launched, on which the BBC showed off its new corporate logo. To celebrate, here's the balloon-era clock from Northern Ireland re-created. Thanks to @nmsni.co.uk for the background image. 625.uk.com/tv_logos/svg...
They definitely had fun with this BBC2 slide design where the photo could bleed into the “sidebar”
Coming up next on TV in the past - Number 60
BBC2 - Today's The Day
BBC2 - Today's The Day
September 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
They definitely had fun with this BBC2 slide design where the photo could bleed into the “sidebar”
Reposted by Phil
points for honesty i guess, because (for some reason) i asked alexa+ if it's true that some amazon workers once had to pee in bottles and it basically said "oh yeah that is absolutely true"
the conversation only got more surreal from there, just listen to this
the conversation only got more surreal from there, just listen to this
September 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
points for honesty i guess, because (for some reason) i asked alexa+ if it's true that some amazon workers once had to pee in bottles and it basically said "oh yeah that is absolutely true"
the conversation only got more surreal from there, just listen to this
the conversation only got more surreal from there, just listen to this
64 EXPLODING bits of RAW power!!
September 29, 2025 at 7:08 AM
64 EXPLODING bits of RAW power!!
I appreciate the Beautiful South making a song about inane Magic Radio style songs that was able to get onto the playlist of Magic Radio.
September 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I appreciate the Beautiful South making a song about inane Magic Radio style songs that was able to get onto the playlist of Magic Radio.
Gordon Ramsay doing radio ads for Burger King. Not got enough money Gordon?
September 26, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Gordon Ramsay doing radio ads for Burger King. Not got enough money Gordon?
Anyone fancy a Rediffusion heater? www.diy.com/departments/...
Rediffusion 2000W Convector Heater
Introducing our 2000W Convector Heater, designed to provide optimal warmth and comfort in any space. With variable heat settings catering to individual preferences and an adjustable thermostat for pre...
www.diy.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Anyone fancy a Rediffusion heater? www.diy.com/departments/...
It’s that time of year when I ponder why BBC One is showing repeats of Escape to the Country and Garden Rescue when they could be showing live coverage of Radio 2 in the Park.
September 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
It’s that time of year when I ponder why BBC One is showing repeats of Escape to the Country and Garden Rescue when they could be showing live coverage of Radio 2 in the Park.
Reposted by Phil
On the same day in the Telegraph:
![The Telegraph
Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement
Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty
Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence
[Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday]
Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent
29 August 2025 8:57am BST](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreihe5mm7nwmwvzhtgadmsafyvsaxhrufuai2d2j2rju5zt6g2lytea@jpeg)
![The Telegraph
Money > Property > Second homes
How to avoid tax on your second home
From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net
[Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto]
Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer
29 August 2025 1:21pm BST](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreieuwgc2vsmyfcctmf4cnpcqckij2pqdk2gmzajpnihrsqyqmzyr5e@jpeg)
September 5, 2025 at 7:55 AM
On the same day in the Telegraph:
I’ve been waiting all year for a 30th anniversary issue of this, one of my favourite albums, and they go and put this horrible new cover on it. Oh well, that’s 35 quid saved.
#Blur's fourth album, 1995's 'The Great Escape' is reissued as an expanded 2LP set with new artwork! More > bit.ly/3VuYxnq
September 2, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I’ve been waiting all year for a 30th anniversary issue of this, one of my favourite albums, and they go and put this horrible new cover on it. Oh well, that’s 35 quid saved.