Paul Hayes
@paul-hayes.bsky.social
Writer and BBC radio producer.
Author of Doctor Who: Star Flight, coming in 2026 from BBC Audiobooks:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/471521/doctor-who-star-flight
Author of Doctor Who: Star Flight, coming in 2026 from BBC Audiobooks:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/471521/doctor-who-star-flight
A pleasant surprise awaiting me when I got home this evening!
November 12, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A pleasant surprise awaiting me when I got home this evening!
Crikey, you can tell Reith had gone by this point from those pin-ups!
#OTD - 11 November 1938 - #TheWhiteChateau was televised.
Starring: #AntoinetteCellier, #MaryHinton, #ErikChitty, #AndrewOsborn, #JoanKempWelch.
A location in Belgium that was known as the "White Chateau" by British soldiers and was the site of intense fighting.
Starring: #AntoinetteCellier, #MaryHinton, #ErikChitty, #AndrewOsborn, #JoanKempWelch.
A location in Belgium that was known as the "White Chateau" by British soldiers and was the site of intense fighting.
November 11, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Crikey, you can tell Reith had gone by this point from those pin-ups!
Six-and-a-half years ago, I came across a fact in the files at Caversham which I thought was quite interesting. Today I was finally able to turn it into a nice little radio piece and a News Online story.
Here is the story of that story...
Here is the story of that story...
A Saturday in November 1950
The blog of writer and radio producer Paul Hayes.
notanovelistyet.blogspot.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Six-and-a-half years ago, I came across a fact in the files at Caversham which I thought was quite interesting. Today I was finally able to turn it into a nice little radio piece and a News Online story.
Here is the story of that story...
Here is the story of that story...
Six-and-a-half years ago, while researching something else at Caversham, I happened across a little fact and thought, "Oh, that's interesting, I must do something with that some day..."
Today is that day!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today is that day!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Great Yarmouth Town's 'amazing' place in TV football history
How a small, non-league team became the first football club from Norfolk ever to appear in a live TV game.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Six-and-a-half years ago, while researching something else at Caversham, I happened across a little fact and thought, "Oh, that's interesting, I must do something with that some day..."
Today is that day!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today is that day!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Paul Hayes
I’m very excited to be reading this wonderful new Doctor Who audiobook by Paul Hayes, which takes us right back to the early days…
A new little blog entry celebrating the unveiling of Lee Johnson's cover for my forthcoming BBC Audiobook Star Flight, along with the news that @chrisnaylor.bsky.social will be reading it: notanovelistyet.blogspot.com/2025/11/flig...
Flight Cover
The blog of writer and radio producer Paul Hayes.
notanovelistyet.blogspot.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I’m very excited to be reading this wonderful new Doctor Who audiobook by Paul Hayes, which takes us right back to the early days…
A new little blog entry celebrating the unveiling of Lee Johnson's cover for my forthcoming BBC Audiobook Star Flight, along with the news that @chrisnaylor.bsky.social will be reading it: notanovelistyet.blogspot.com/2025/11/flig...
Flight Cover
The blog of writer and radio producer Paul Hayes.
notanovelistyet.blogspot.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A new little blog entry celebrating the unveiling of Lee Johnson's cover for my forthcoming BBC Audiobook Star Flight, along with the news that @chrisnaylor.bsky.social will be reading it: notanovelistyet.blogspot.com/2025/11/flig...
Reposted by Paul Hayes
I once found this very touching inscription in a book:
“This book belongs to Gillian Love, aged 7
8
10
12
60”
“This book belongs to Gillian Love, aged 7
8
10
12
60”
November 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I once found this very touching inscription in a book:
“This book belongs to Gillian Love, aged 7
8
10
12
60”
“This book belongs to Gillian Love, aged 7
8
10
12
60”
Back in Waterstones, which is exciting - as it suggests they did indeed sell it before, rather than taking if off the shelves in despair!
November 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Back in Waterstones, which is exciting - as it suggests they did indeed sell it before, rather than taking if off the shelves in despair!
Reposted by Paul Hayes
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)
I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
Reposted by Paul Hayes
Huge thanks to @paul-hayes.bsky.social, whose ridiculous good Pull to Open book was the most useful interview prep imaginable, and to @davidbrunt.bsky.social, whose Doctor Who Production Diary: The Hartnell Years is an invaluable resource on this era. I recommend both very, very highly.
“Go back, Grandfather!” In the new Doctor Who Magazine, on sale TODAY, you can read my epic 27-page interview with CAROLE ANN FORD – now 85 and still defiantly, magnificently Susan! Also, I take a look at the near-Susans lost to the show’s turbulent pre-history.
🧵 Quotes to follow…
🧵 Quotes to follow…
November 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Huge thanks to @paul-hayes.bsky.social, whose ridiculous good Pull to Open book was the most useful interview prep imaginable, and to @davidbrunt.bsky.social, whose Doctor Who Production Diary: The Hartnell Years is an invaluable resource on this era. I recommend both very, very highly.
Reposted by Paul Hayes
A week or so ago.
Wife: what was that package you got delivered?
Me: just some history books I wanted to read.
Wife: what are they about?
Me: oh, general stuff… what shall we have for dinner?
The history books:
Wife: what was that package you got delivered?
Me: just some history books I wanted to read.
Wife: what are they about?
Me: oh, general stuff… what shall we have for dinner?
The history books:
October 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
A week or so ago.
Wife: what was that package you got delivered?
Me: just some history books I wanted to read.
Wife: what are they about?
Me: oh, general stuff… what shall we have for dinner?
The history books:
Wife: what was that package you got delivered?
Me: just some history books I wanted to read.
Wife: what are they about?
Me: oh, general stuff… what shall we have for dinner?
The history books:
I'm glad BBC Archive have put this up - I used a bit of it in a piece earlier this year, and it's really nice.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uke3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uke3...
1969: The Vanishing Railway | Gone Tomorrow | Classic BBC Documentary | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I'm glad BBC Archive have put this up - I used a bit of it in a piece earlier this year, and it's really nice.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uke3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uke3...
Reposted by Paul Hayes
30 years ago, the Sunday Express paper which my mum read every week ran a #Beatles special of its ‘Classic’ supplement, with basically the entire thing given over to Beatles-related articles to tie-in with the launch of the Anthology... (1/8)
November 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
30 years ago, the Sunday Express paper which my mum read every week ran a #Beatles special of its ‘Classic’ supplement, with basically the entire thing given over to Beatles-related articles to tie-in with the launch of the Anthology... (1/8)
Reposted by Paul Hayes
We're counting down to the release of our new book Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television, Richard Marson's immersive 500-page history. Here's a first look at the full cover, illustrated by @gkw.bsky.social. Available in paperback and limited edition hardback from tenacrebooks.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:25 AM
We're counting down to the release of our new book Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television, Richard Marson's immersive 500-page history. Here's a first look at the full cover, illustrated by @gkw.bsky.social. Available in paperback and limited edition hardback from tenacrebooks.co.uk
I am intrigued by the perspective here. Are we to believe that Sir Andy is levitating above his pet? And yet the shadowing around his head suggests he is *also* flat against the same clay court surface. It's all very Escher!
November 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I am intrigued by the perspective here. Are we to believe that Sir Andy is levitating above his pet? And yet the shadowing around his head suggests he is *also* flat against the same clay court surface. It's all very Escher!
Seeing someone on Twitter moan about the use of the word "soccer", and knowing it used to be very common in the UK, I decided to do a quick search on Newspapers.com.
A weird late peak at 1994, then dies a death at 2000 - both later than I'd expect, but maybe more to do with what papers they have.
A weird late peak at 1994, then dies a death at 2000 - both later than I'd expect, but maybe more to do with what papers they have.
November 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Seeing someone on Twitter moan about the use of the word "soccer", and knowing it used to be very common in the UK, I decided to do a quick search on Newspapers.com.
A weird late peak at 1994, then dies a death at 2000 - both later than I'd expect, but maybe more to do with what papers they have.
A weird late peak at 1994, then dies a death at 2000 - both later than I'd expect, but maybe more to do with what papers they have.
30 years ago, the Sunday Express paper which my mum read every week ran a #Beatles special of its ‘Classic’ supplement, with basically the entire thing given over to Beatles-related articles to tie-in with the launch of the Anthology... (1/8)
November 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
30 years ago, the Sunday Express paper which my mum read every week ran a #Beatles special of its ‘Classic’ supplement, with basically the entire thing given over to Beatles-related articles to tie-in with the launch of the Anthology... (1/8)
Reposted by Paul Hayes
Why the BBC WAC should remain bigger on the inside. An absolutely boffo column from Doctor Who mensch @tobyhadoke.bsky.social about the very silly decision by the BBC to cut off independent and exploratory research at its Written Archives Centre. cstonline.net/defending-th...
Defending the WAC: ‘Bigger on the Inside’ Doctor Who Archives by Toby Hadoke
It’s always bloody Doctor Who isn’t it? The show about the police box that’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. There is so much in the rich history of BBC drama that requires scrutiny…
cstonline.net
October 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Why the BBC WAC should remain bigger on the inside. An absolutely boffo column from Doctor Who mensch @tobyhadoke.bsky.social about the very silly decision by the BBC to cut off independent and exploratory research at its Written Archives Centre. cstonline.net/defending-th...
I know being in colour makes a big difference, but you can't for a moment imagine BBC One showing a Hancock in 2009, or a Steptoe in 2014.
October 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I know being in colour makes a big difference, but you can't for a moment imagine BBC One showing a Hancock in 2009, or a Steptoe in 2014.
Reposted by Paul Hayes
Ladybird wisdom, part 47.
Artist: Frank Humphris
(A First ‘Do You Know’ Book, 1971)
Artist: Frank Humphris
(A First ‘Do You Know’ Book, 1971)
October 28, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Ladybird wisdom, part 47.
Artist: Frank Humphris
(A First ‘Do You Know’ Book, 1971)
Artist: Frank Humphris
(A First ‘Do You Know’ Book, 1971)
Reposted by Paul Hayes
My contribution to The Conversation about the changes at the BBC Written Archives Centre which now fundamentally restrict the possibilities for independent and exploratory research.
theconversation.com/changes-to-t...
theconversation.com/changes-to-t...
Changes to the BBC’s Written Archives Centre threaten open research – and might infringe on the broadcaster’s charter
The broadcasting history preserved by the WAC features innumerable strands of our social, political and cultural histories.
theconversation.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:20 AM
My contribution to The Conversation about the changes at the BBC Written Archives Centre which now fundamentally restrict the possibilities for independent and exploratory research.
theconversation.com/changes-to-t...
theconversation.com/changes-to-t...
Reposted by Paul Hayes
Ah the golden age of TV. Well done Ron.
October 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Ah the golden age of TV. Well done Ron.