The death of Doctor Who (hopefully an exaggeration)

Urgh, I’ve already had to live through two eras of “They aren’t going to be making Doctor Who anymore” and it looks like we are just about to enter a third, with the announcement today that there won’t be a…

One-line gig reviews for May 2026

In this month’s round-up: Why sitting in the front row for Milton Jones is a high-risk health hazard, the unexpected joy of reconnecting with Super Furry Animals in a brutally sweltering O2 Academy Brixton, and how a post-pub wait for…

One-line spoiler-free movie reviews for May 2026

This month featuring: the perfect folk horror, a Brazilian mistake, Stevie Wonder stealing John Lennon’s show and road-trip horror going off the rails (plus why the “big light” ruins David Lynch). Power to the People: John & Yoko Live in…

[Martin Belam with a beer, as ever]

After a very enjoyable six months as one of the main writers for First Edition at the Guardian, I am heading off to pastures new as Libby Brooks and Hettie O’Brien become the permanent dream team there. From today I…

Friday Reading S14E19

A weekly round-up of what I’ve read and enjoyed from around the web. I’m interested in journalism, media, technology, and nerdy things found down the back of the world wide web’s sofa. Most weeks I publish a handful of things…

Friday Reading S14E18

A weekly round-up of what I’ve read and enjoyed from around the web. I’m interested in journalism, media, technology, and nerdy things found down the back of the world wide web’s sofa. Most weeks I publish a handful of things…

Oh Vienna! My first Eurovision adventure

My view from Vienna of Eurovision 2026 – where technical brilliance and a beautiful city met the ugly reality of 21st-century geopolitics. I’ve spent the last few days in Vienna where I was attending the Grand Final of the Eurovision…

Friday Reading S14E17 – Vienna calling edition

A weekly round-up of what I’ve read and enjoyed from around the web. I’m interested in journalism, media, technology, and nerdy things found down the back of the world wide web’s sofa. Most weeks I publish a handful of things…

Friday Reading S14E16

A weekly round-up of what I’ve read and enjoyed from around the web. I’m interested in journalism, media, technology and nerdy things found down the back of the World Wide Web’s sofa. Most weeks I publish a handful of things…

One-line gig reviews for (mostly) April 2026

This month featuring: a wodge of 80s nostalgia, a trip to Manchester to see one of my very favourites, and a last minute chance to see one of the rarest shows in town. Princess Julia, Electric Ballroom, Camden, 7 Apr – It…