The Oscars has a new category for casting directors in 2026
I spoke to Kahleen Crawford, Orla O’Connor and Simone Pereira Hind for @thelistuk.bsky.social about the crucial, albeit often invisible role that ‘CDs’ play in diversity, inclusivity and beauty standards

list.co.uk/news/casting...

Thanks to bakery babe and beautiful food writer Flora Shedden for a hyggetastic chat at @portybooks.bsky.social last night, celebrating her new cookbook Winter in the Highlands 🕯️ 🌲 🍊

She sent me home with the best snacks too -👇including this honey and almond shortbread, so buttery and crunchy 💋👌

Blessed be the fruit: it’s @msclairebiddles.bsky.social X @coseyfannitutti.bsky.social!🌹🍎(with added Jarman)

A big thrill to talk music and synaesthesia and mentoring with electronic artist @kaitlynaurelia.bsky.social for the cover of @festmag.bsky.social

festmag.com/2025/08/13/i...

She will be performing at Edinburgh International Festival, Sat 16 Aug 10pm

I spoke to Karine Polwart for @thelistuk.bsky.social about her show Windblown, about a 200 yr-old-tree in the Botanic Gardens
"Being in the glasshouse with the palm was like being on a boat when a whale comes up. Losing the palm came with profound sadness and nowhere to put that" shorturl.at/NnFgc

Sometimes when I’m interviewing someone for work I can immediately guess what will get picked as the pull quote - yup, this was one of those moments

Read my interview with clown Damien Warren-Smith aka @garrythestarr.bsky.social for @thelistuk.bsky.social 🐧

list.co.uk/news/damien-...

Harlem-raised stand up comedian Zainab Johnson calls herself ‘the diversity trifecta; black, Muslim and a woman’. She’s got an Amazon Prime comedy special ‘Hijabs Off’ or you can catch her at the Fringe for the first time this year with her show ‘Toxically Optimistic’.

list.co.uk/news/zainab-...

Here’s artist Jonathan Baldock talking in @thelistuk.bsky.social
about his handcrafted animal menagerie, WYRD.
We spoke about the sinister insinuation that being gay is “unnatural” and learning to crochet with his nan.
(Warm Inside: on til 27 Jul, WYRD: on til 28 Sep)
list.co.uk/news/jonatha...

The @sadlerswells.bsky.social’s mod ballet remake of The Who’s Quadrophenia opens tomorrow in Edinburgh 🌊
I spoke with director Rob Ashford & dancers Serena McCall & Euan Garrett about male existential crisis, teen rebellion & queer confusion 🛵

Sigh. A dreamy first look at rehearsals for the Mod ballet version of Quadrophenia by @sadlerswells.bsky.social in their brand new Sadlers Wells East building 🌊 🛵

Great timing to be reminded of the teaches of Peaches 🍑
I reviewed Marie Losier’s documentary on queer feminist icon Peaches for @thewiremagazine.bsky.social.
I enjoyed seeing the smoothie drinking, ping pong playing, menopausal woman under the vulva headdress 🍌💪🏓

My @thetimes.com
review of new boutique hotel Seaton House in St Andrews

We ate crispy buffalo oysters, room service kindly brought me Calpol (not margaritas) + West Sands Beach (from Chariots of Fire) looked amazing. Zero golf played. Maximal relaxation achieved.

www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...

I reviewed Deep Time for @thewiremagazine.bsky.social, a festival marking 40 yrs since Jean-Michel Basquiat & John Cage showed work at @fruitmarket.bsky.social. Curated by Elaine Mitchener w/ @niknakdjmusic.bsky.social Brìghde Chaimbeul @simoneseales.bsky.social @cathecticpetals.bsky.social & more💥

I last saw Dawn Sievewright playing a radge on TV show Shetland. I was impressed by Nicole Taylor’s writing on Three Girls. They’ve joined up for Wild Rose, the musical. We geeked out about country music bangers for @thelistuk.bsky.social ahead of @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social’s premiere next week 🌹