Very classy.

S Sebag Montefiore Dimitar Bechev It wasn't always this way on the other side of the Atlantic

Nandy wasn’t supposed to head up culture, but could her level-headed approach be just the ticket? theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Keir Starmer commits to keeping BBC licence fee after years of Tory hostility theguardian.com/media/article/…

Britain behind Europe in arts funding and education, ‘crisis’ report shows theguardian.com/culture/articl…

👀 deadline.com/2024/07/sag-af…

What a truly revolting thing to say…..

Sign the petition to save Bethnal Greens Working Men's Club! With just days until the planned closure we have to act fast megaphone.org.uk/petitions/save… via @megaphoneuk

Am loving so much about this. Not just the passion, artistry and sound - but the age range, diversity and sheer mass of participants! Everything about this makes my heart sing and gets me tingly all over! #wonderful #powerful #impactful #art #music #expression

THREAD: 1. PERSONAL NEWS: Today BBC News has announced plans to close BBC HARDtalk after 3 decades holding the world’s politicians and powerbrokers to account. This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it’s depressing news for the BBC🧵

2. and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous deeply-researched journalism. At a time when disinformation and media manipulation are poisoning public discourse HARDtalk is unique - a long-form interview show with only one mission:

3. to hold to account those who all too often avoid accountability in their own countries. Anyone who has seen our interviews with Hugo Chavez, Sergei Lavrov, Meles Zenawi, Lula, Nancy Pelosi, Recep Tayep Erdogan, Emmanuel Macron, Imran Khan, Olusegan Abasanjo, & countless others

4. over the years will know HARDtalk was never just another news show. A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC DG Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British Govt that the journalism of the BBC World Service

5. is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it. Whatever the outcome of that, it seems it will be too late to save HARDtalk - for so long a pillar of the World Service schedule.

6. As for me, from foreign correspondent to HARDtalk inquisitor, I’ve been enormously fortunate to pursue my journalism within the BBC. I know how much HARDtalk has been valued by viewers and listeners all over the world. It’s been my privilege to be a small part of their lives.

7. Next year I’ll be looking to stretch my legs and embrace new opportunities. My commitment to rigorous exploration of world affairs won’t change. I hope the BBC’s doesn’t either.

Bonkers decision. Needed more than ever before

Don’t use Headout to book museum tickets in Madrid. They’re not the official site and cost more.

YES!YES!YES! This. Is. The. Issue.

Labour should ‘invest big’ in arts and culture projects, says top economist theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/o…