Tag Archives: London

Two Gentlemen Sharing: Swinging London’s “race” picture

Posted on September 2, 2018 by Samira Ahmed

The films of Swinging London have been pored over and cherished ever since the 1960s. Which made Saturday’s rare BFI Southbank screening for Two Gentlemen Sharing with a Q&A with director and the two leading ladies all the more intriguing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Film, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Filth, fury and the funny way Britain feels about Joe Orton

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Samira Ahmed

You never forget your first time. I was 19 years old. I descended into a dark, cramped basement where student actors brought to life a weird, twisted sexual triangle. Going to student drama productions in odd spaces around the University … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Crime and Justice, Culture, Film, Media, Radio, Theatre, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When Cathy met Ken: Revisiting Cathy Come Home in Brexit Britain

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

The other night I watched Ken Loach meet Cathy – or rather the young actress Elle Payne, playing Cathy in a Cardboard Citizens’ staging of his 1966 landmark TV play Cathy Come Home. The production featured many actors with experience of homelessness. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, journalism, Media, Politics, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Up the Wellington Arch with Beatrice the Angel of Peace

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

English Heritage are doing a cleanup on the largest bronze sculpture in Europe – the quadriga of the Angel of Peace by Adrian Jones. Note the war booty in that chariot and the mixed message of the olive branch in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Design, History, Radio, War | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Dressed Ziggy Stardust – revisited

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Samira Ahmed

I Dressed Ziggy Stardust is getting a re-broadcast on Radio 4 on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a bit about why: When I pitched I Dressed Ziggy Stardust to Radio 4 back in 2012 there was nothing more to it than a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Music, Radio, Science Fiction/Fantasy, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Leaving home: The 60s and getting out

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Samira Ahmed

The roots of this Sunday’s Something Understood for Radio 4 are in one song – The Beatles’ She’s Leaving Home and one time: the 1960s. Over the course of the decade young people found greater opportunity through a huge growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Film, Music, Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The curious idea of museums

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

This article originally appeared in The Big Issue magazine. Journalism worth paying for. What are museums for these days? Are collections passé? Northampton City Council’s decision to sell off an ancient Egyptian statue to fund a museum extension, after striking … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Design, Education, History, Politics, Uncategorized, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Arnold Bennett: Edwardian Superstar

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

All photos (except film still) copyright Samira Ahmed. No re-use without permission These are photos taken on location for Arnold of the Five Towns, my Radio 4 documentary about why this hugely popular and successful writer has fallen from fashion … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, History, Radio | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

God, & grubby hacks: The view from Fleet Street’s Church

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

All photographs copyright Samira Ahmed. No reuse without permission Step off Fleet Street, opposite the silver and chrome glory of the old Express building and the leaning wooden frame of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub and you’re back several hunderd … Continue reading →

Posted in journalism, Media, Radio, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mr Selfridge & the book bound in human skin

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Samira Ahmed

Selfridge’s window display 1920s (www.shopdisplays.net) Writer Arnold Bennett was a well known celebrity in London by the 1920s and often recorded his encounters with the rich and powerful in his journals. This one has stuck in my mind. Not sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Business/Economics, History, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments