Sam
@samkarlharrison.bsky.social
Sporadic writer & editor at Lion & Unicorn
https://thelionandunicorn.com/
https://thelionandunicorn.com/
Pinned
Now we are ten
We’re celebrating the tenth anniversary of Lion & Unicorn. Come and join us…
thelionandunicorn.com
"We don’t write to order – just stuff that interests us. And when we get bored, we stop. The internet was made for man, not man for the internet"
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
Actress Voliet Carson, who most famously played Ena Sharples in Coronation Street, died #OTD in 1983.
Here's our @finlay24.bsky.social on the very first episode of Corrie, in which "The height of drama comes when Ena storms in to complain about a bad egg".
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
Here's our @finlay24.bsky.social on the very first episode of Corrie, in which "The height of drama comes when Ena storms in to complain about a bad egg".
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
Last night on YouTube: Coronation Street
FINLAY McLAREN meets the neighbours…
thelionandunicorn.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Actress Voliet Carson, who most famously played Ena Sharples in Coronation Street, died #OTD in 1983.
Here's our @finlay24.bsky.social on the very first episode of Corrie, in which "The height of drama comes when Ena storms in to complain about a bad egg".
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
Here's our @finlay24.bsky.social on the very first episode of Corrie, in which "The height of drama comes when Ena storms in to complain about a bad egg".
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
Reposted by Sam
"If the Daleks are derived from the Nazis, then Mavic Chen is clearly modelled on Stalin, his first appearance including a reference to a Non-Aggression Pact, which can hardly fail to bring to mind the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact"
From @alwynturner.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
From @alwynturner.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
thelionandunicorn.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"If the Daleks are derived from the Nazis, then Mavic Chen is clearly modelled on Stalin, his first appearance including a reference to a Non-Aggression Pact, which can hardly fail to bring to mind the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact"
From @alwynturner.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
From @alwynturner.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
Reposted by Sam
"The boiling fat warmth of Parker’s chip shop spilled into the streets. Glowing shop-front tellies were tuned to the wrestling, and outside the Salford Hippodrome a sign announced, ‘Strip, strip, hooray — we’ve nothing on tonight’"
From @finlay24.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
From @finlay24.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
thelionandunicorn.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"The boiling fat warmth of Parker’s chip shop spilled into the streets. Glowing shop-front tellies were tuned to the wrestling, and outside the Salford Hippodrome a sign announced, ‘Strip, strip, hooray — we’ve nothing on tonight’"
From @finlay24.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
From @finlay24.bsky.social👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
"Its drama came from small domestic tensions & minor community frictions. A love triangle between a schoolteacher, a shop assistant & a factory owner. Three old dears supping milk stout. A widow crying over an old pair of glasses"
@finlay24.bsky.social on Corrie
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
@finlay24.bsky.social on Corrie
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
Last night on YouTube: Coronation Street
FINLAY McLAREN meets the neighbours…
thelionandunicorn.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:23 AM
"Its drama came from small domestic tensions & minor community frictions. A love triangle between a schoolteacher, a shop assistant & a factory owner. Three old dears supping milk stout. A widow crying over an old pair of glasses"
@finlay24.bsky.social on Corrie
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
@finlay24.bsky.social on Corrie
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/26/l...
The AMANDALAND Christmas special is a cracker. Everything a first-season Christmas offering should be: 30 minutes.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC One - Amandaland, Christmas Special
Amanda and family head to Aunt Joan’s for Christmas, picking up Anne and Mal on the way.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The AMANDALAND Christmas special is a cracker. Everything a first-season Christmas offering should be: 30 minutes.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Temporary Yuletide profile pic
December 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Temporary Yuletide profile pic
Reposted by Sam
"Incidentally a happy Christmas to all of you at home."
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
The Daleks’ Master Plan
ALWYN TURNER hides behind the sofa as the Daleks unveil their Master Plan.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
"Incidentally a happy Christmas to all of you at home."
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
Reposted by Sam
"We don’t write to order – just stuff that interests us. And when we get bored, we stop. The internet was made for man, not man for the internet"
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
Now we are ten
We’re celebrating the tenth anniversary of Lion & Unicorn. Come and join us…
thelionandunicorn.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"We don’t write to order – just stuff that interests us. And when we get bored, we stop. The internet was made for man, not man for the internet"
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
To mark Lion & Unicorn's ✨️10th anniversary✨️, a celebration of our wonderful writers (& of Britain).👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/08/02/n...
Reposted by Sam
"‘If I was a producer on a show like that,’ Terry Nation reflected later, ‘I don’t think I would ever commit myself to a three-month Dalek story without a lot of other stuff in it as well.’"
Our @alwynturner.bsky.social's Christmas present for Dalek fans👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
Our @alwynturner.bsky.social's Christmas present for Dalek fans👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
The Daleks’ Master Plan
ALWYN TURNER hides behind the sofa as the Daleks unveil their Master Plan.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 25, 2025 at 9:16 AM
"‘If I was a producer on a show like that,’ Terry Nation reflected later, ‘I don’t think I would ever commit myself to a three-month Dalek story without a lot of other stuff in it as well.’"
Our @alwynturner.bsky.social's Christmas present for Dalek fans👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
Our @alwynturner.bsky.social's Christmas present for Dalek fans👇
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/25/t...
Reposted by Sam
"Detective Sergeant Pierce has a Victorian-type dislike for drug dealers, and taps up rock musician Charley Small, who fingers an Indian guru, travelling to and from the Battersea Heliport as the likely source."
It's the death of the Swinging 60s.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/21/f...
It's the death of the Swinging 60s.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/21/f...
Final cut: The Strange Affair (1968)
SIMON MATTHEWS watches the evaporation of optimism in the Swinging Sixties.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:40 PM
"Detective Sergeant Pierce has a Victorian-type dislike for drug dealers, and taps up rock musician Charley Small, who fingers an Indian guru, travelling to and from the Battersea Heliport as the likely source."
It's the death of the Swinging 60s.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/21/f...
It's the death of the Swinging 60s.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/21/f...
Reposted by Sam
"If I ever make a Christmas album, shoot me," said Eliza Carthy in 2021, just two years before she released the album "Glad Christmas Comes".
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Top 10: Yuletide
BEN FINLAY has some music to set the festive mood.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:34 AM
"If I ever make a Christmas album, shoot me," said Eliza Carthy in 2021, just two years before she released the album "Glad Christmas Comes".
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Reposted by Sam
Steeleye Span's "Gaudete" is one of only two top-twenty British hits to be sung fully in Latin...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Top 10: Yuletide
BEN FINLAY has some music to set the festive mood.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Steeleye Span's "Gaudete" is one of only two top-twenty British hits to be sung fully in Latin...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Reposted by Sam
The Lion & Unicorn editorial board has convened to decide this year's festive Dalek special...
December 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The Lion & Unicorn editorial board has convened to decide this year's festive Dalek special...
I love Steven Moffat's 'timey wimey' take on Dickens's ghosts, the magical direction – and the flying shark!
But it's the unabashed sentimentalism about childhood, age & regret that makes 'A Christmas Carol' my favourite of all the DOCTOR WHO Christmas specials.
But it's the unabashed sentimentalism about childhood, age & regret that makes 'A Christmas Carol' my favourite of all the DOCTOR WHO Christmas specials.
December 23, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I love Steven Moffat's 'timey wimey' take on Dickens's ghosts, the magical direction – and the flying shark!
But it's the unabashed sentimentalism about childhood, age & regret that makes 'A Christmas Carol' my favourite of all the DOCTOR WHO Christmas specials.
But it's the unabashed sentimentalism about childhood, age & regret that makes 'A Christmas Carol' my favourite of all the DOCTOR WHO Christmas specials.
Reposted by Sam
Fifty years ago today, Leo McKern made his first appearance as defence barrister Horace Rumpole in an episode of Play for Today by John Mortimer.
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
December 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Fifty years ago today, Leo McKern made his first appearance as defence barrister Horace Rumpole in an episode of Play for Today by John Mortimer.
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
Here's something I wrote about the resulting Rumpole series Rumpole of the Bailey.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/13/l...
Reposted by Sam
"The creeping cold has fingers
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Top 10: Yuletide
BEN FINLAY has some music to set the festive mood.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
"The creeping cold has fingers
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops
Only aggravate the condition."
Some festive listening as recommended by @benfinlay74.bsky.social.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Tonight on Dailymotion, BBC ghost story for Christmas 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972).
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS (1972) V.O.S.T.Fr.
Dailymotion video by holas reuil
www.dailymotion.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Tonight on Dailymotion, BBC ghost story for Christmas 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972).
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
@finlay24.bsky.social and I are agreed: Clive Swift is Britain's Paul Giamatti.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7cl5bv
Reposted by Sam
What to buy for the dad who "doesn't want anything"? The Sunday Times has a suggestion.
December 14, 2025 at 11:30 AM
What to buy for the dad who "doesn't want anything"? The Sunday Times has a suggestion.
Reposted by Sam
'Tis the season to be jolly, and maybe to indulge in a little nostalgia, and certainly to gather round the hearth.
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Top 10: Yuletide
BEN FINLAY has some music to set the festive mood.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
'Tis the season to be jolly, and maybe to indulge in a little nostalgia, and certainly to gather round the hearth.
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
@benfinlay74.bsky.social selects some music for the occasion.
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/12/13/t...
Reposted by Sam
Seventy years ago today, Hugh Gaitskell was elected Labour leader.
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
Labour leadership elections: Part 1
ALWYN TURNER’s history of the post-war Labour Party, seen through the ghosts of leadership elections past 1955-63.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Seventy years ago today, Hugh Gaitskell was elected Labour leader.
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
"Last night the Labour Party was reborn," said the Daily Mirror.
thelionandunicorn.com/2016/08/01/l...
DIVORCE. Homecoming gig, Rock City, Nottingham. Brilliant and lovely. (I once chatted with Tiger about pork scratchings in the Newshouse.)
December 13, 2025 at 9:20 PM
DIVORCE. Homecoming gig, Rock City, Nottingham. Brilliant and lovely. (I once chatted with Tiger about pork scratchings in the Newshouse.)
Reposted by Sam
"He knew, of course. He had always known..."
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
Rear-view review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
DAN ATKINSON revisits ‘the most brilliant spy novel of our time’.
thelionandunicorn.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:36 AM
"He knew, of course. He had always known..."
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
John le Carré died five years ago today.
thelionandunicorn.com/2019/07/06/r...
Our The Larry Sanders Show (not posted in jest)
December 12, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Our The Larry Sanders Show (not posted in jest)
Tonight on BBC iPlayer, DOCTOR WHO 'The Husbands of River Song' (2015).
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), The Husbands of River Song
The Doctor finds himself recruited by River Song and hurled into a chase across the galaxy
www.bbc.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Tonight on BBC iPlayer, DOCTOR WHO 'The Husbands of River Song' (2015).
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Probably the programme's second best Christmas Special.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
The final night of Beer & Carols at the Malt Cross — one of Britain's few standing music halls — in Nottingham. Posted in excelsis.
December 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The final night of Beer & Carols at the Malt Cross — one of Britain's few standing music halls — in Nottingham. Posted in excelsis.