Amabel
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amabelthornton.bsky.social
Amabel
@amabelthornton.bsky.social
23 followers 38 following 24 posts
Music and comedy fan. Avid reader of fantasy and sci-fi. Cat owner. She/her.
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amabelthornton.bsky.social
Just one more reason to adore Robin Ince. A gentleman who has decided that allyship is more important than career. I've been humming and hawing over buying Ice Cream For A Broken Tooth but will get off the fence this week and support an independent Edinburgh bookshop in the process.
robinince.bsky.social Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 12d
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Amabel
kathyodonnell.bsky.social
www.reddit.com/r/transgende...

Guess what?
The story about the trans M&S employee and the bra fitting is a pack of lies and distortions.
Want to know what really happened and how colleagues stood up for her?
Read her own account here.
From the transgenderUK community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the transgenderUK community
www.reddit.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Amabel
ofalafel.bsky.social
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Blindfolded archery
was a bad game.
April 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Amabel
andrewoneillcomedy.bsky.social
Still not able to get out and about just yet. So I'm doing another online show on Saturday! Please come!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1303313057...
March 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Amabel
justinleeanderson.com
Even this guy would be a better health secretary than RFK jr.
a cartoon character from the simpsons is holding a clipboard and says hi everybody .
Alt: Dr Nick from the Simpsons says “Hi, everybody!”
media.tenor.com
February 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
amabelthornton.bsky.social
The Eastgate Theatre in Peebles is facing the loss of its core funding from the council. Could you spare a moment to sign this petition to ask the council to reconsider this plan?
www.change.org/p/urge-scott...
Urge Scottish Borders Council to Retain Core Funding for Eastgate Theatre
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
www.change.org
February 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
amabelthornton.bsky.social
If Andrew is doing a show near you this month please go see them as they are excellent and (be honest) you probably need a good old laugh don't you?
February 6, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Amabel
andrewoneillcomedy.bsky.social
A cathartic show about fixing the world through a combination of direct action (rational) and ritual (irrational).

LEICESTER, SHEFFIELD AND HASTINGS THIS MONTH!

Come! andrewoneill.co.uk/shows
February 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
amabelthornton.bsky.social
An excellent show! Highly recommended!
alexanderybennett.bsky.social Alexander Bennett @alexanderybennett.bsky.social · Jan 23
Do you live in Bristol? Do you know people in Bristol? Bristol! Join me on the 31st at the Alma Tavern for my show Emotional Daredevil. It's very good.
www.tickettailor.com/events/almat...
January 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Amabel
andrewoneillcomedy.bsky.social
please come and see my tour show. It's very, very funny. andrewoneill.co.uk/shows
Tour poster with dates. Leicester 14/02, Sheffield 24/02, Hastings 28/02, Birmingham 06/04, Leeds 10/04, Bath 13/04, Stroud 02/05
January 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Amabel
justinleeanderson.com
Genius.
An image of Trump and Musk in the style of The Matrix with the tag: Tango and Fash.
January 22, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Amabel
veronicabane.bsky.social
Did your child lose their book collection in the Los Angeles fires? Are you a teacher at a school that lost its library or your classroom library? Whether you need one book or a whole library, we can replace your books. 📚

Everyone else, please boost this post so we can connect with those in need. 🙏
January 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Amabel
alexanderybennett.bsky.social
www.tickettailor.com/events/almat...
January 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
amabelthornton.bsky.social
Starting my year of at least one live comedy or live music show a month off this weekend with a trip to The Stand Edinburgh to see Tony Law
January 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Amabel
andrewoneillcomedy.bsky.social
Damned Andrew, the occult radio sitcom I made with Tom de Ville and narrated by Alan Moore is still up on BBC Sounds, if anyone fancies listening: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
January 8, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by Amabel
alexanderybennett.bsky.social
People of Bristol - I'm kicking off my tour at the Alma Theatre on the 31st - tell everyone you know! Get tickets here www.tickettailor.com/events/almat...
January 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM
amabelthornton.bsky.social
2024 was another successful year of making it out for at least one live music or live comedy gig a month.
January was comedy in the form of The Stand Edinburgh's Saturday night show with Jo Caulfield (I was meant to be going out for music on Jan 31st but Buckcherry cancelled due to illness).
January 2, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Amabel
number10cat.bsky.social
Confirmation that I am not going bald
November 27, 2024 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Amabel
justinleeanderson.com
Hey Bluesky, do me a favour would you? Share this article far and wide so everyone can find out how UK home builders get away with murder and why we need to do something about it.

news.stv.tv/east-central...
Dad found Costa coffee cup being used as vent on £250,000 new home
Justin Lee Anderson is calling for an independent regulator to hold house builders accountable.
news.stv.tv
November 27, 2024 at 11:21 PM
Reposted by Amabel
ofalafel.bsky.social
How does Mr Miyagi eat his Babybel?
Two mini Babybel, one with the wax on, one with the wax off
November 19, 2024 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Amabel
andrewoneillcomedy.bsky.social
New material, working towards my new solo show! andrewoneill.co.uk/shows
November 19, 2024 at 11:23 AM
amabelthornton.bsky.social
Here to avoid the other place. Maybe I'll manage to make some interesting posts. Mostly I'll probably just repost other people.
November 18, 2024 at 3:27 PM