Category Archives: Media

Inside the world of Angels: the secret history of film & TV costumes

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

The chill hits me and a slight tang of…meat. I’ve entered the Fur store room at Angels Costumiers. We stand in silence. There are racks of fur coats – like a multiverse of Narnia entry points. Fox stoles are piled … Continue reading →

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Not about “Us”: What the Oscars whitewash reveals about some viewers

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

This column first appeared in the Big Issue magazine – Journalism worth paying for It was one of the most exciting and original nights out I’ve had at the theatre in years – Moliere’s 17th century French satire, Tartuffe, about … Continue reading →

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Newswatch class notes

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

Some further reading and viewing for Kingston University students at Tuesday’s class. Newswatch website ( 1 year archive) The origins of Newswatch and its mission (2004) BBC launch on website Hutton Inquiry history (wikipedia) BBC Trending website – Blog and … Continue reading →

Posted in journalism, Kingston University class notes, Media, Politics, TV | 3 Comments

The Danish Girl & the trouble with “real” women

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

This article first appeared in The Big Issue Magazine – journalism worth paying for. And here’s a link to Tom Hooper’s Front Row interview with me, revealing the extent of his research and discussion with transgender women in preparation for making … Continue reading →

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Is there a transphobic equivalent to blacking up?

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

I wrote a piece for the BBC News website today, originally commissioned about the idea of white actors playing black roles, but I wanted to explore further issues Juliet Jacques had touched on when she came on Front Row recently … Continue reading →

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The search for TV’s first interracial kiss and why it matters

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

This is the story behind the BFI’s news today that it may have found the earliest TV interracial kiss. Though in response there are already suggestions that it may not be the first. A few months ago the team behind It … Continue reading →

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The Teen Within…

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

This week’s Something Understood gives voice to people who I reckon are rarely heard on radio. Teenagers. The readings are all done by young actors and much of the music and poetry you’ll hear was written by them, or about … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Culture, France, Germany, History, Media, Music, Radio, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A brief history of the News At Ten: one of the biggest mistakes in the British TV News business

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

The Culture Secretary’s  speech to the Royal Television Society conference in Cambridge last night included an observation about whether the BBC should be presenting its flagship evening bulletin at 10 pm – the same time as its main commercial rival … Continue reading →

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What should we read into bookshelf wallpaper?

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

This article first appeared in The Big Issue Magazine in August 2015 I went to a fancy middle class holiday camp the other week. You know the ones. It was fabulous. We did fencing, crossbows, rode Segways and swam every … Continue reading →

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Celebrity Masterchef: Its part in my downfall

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

All photos copyright Samira Ahmed. No re-use permitted More in The Big Issue magazine. So I was in heat 4 of Celebrity Masterchef 2015. As the hack in the pack alongside actual showbiz celebrities (Dancer Natalie Lowe, presenter Keith Chegwin, … Continue reading →

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