We interrupt this broadcaster: why did Winston Churchill try to seize the BBC?

In 1926, with the General Strike looming and the right warning of a Bolshevik revolution, the BBC found itself in a dreadful dilemma. Writer Jack Thorne on why he turned this into ‘a love letter to people in authority’Jack Thorne is a furiously busy scriptwriter and, although he’s celebrated for bringing Harry Potter to the stage and His Dark Materials to the screen, he loves a chewy subject. In recent years, he’s tackled child abuse, the plight of care homes in the pandemic, and a Grenfell-like catastrophe that devastates a community. At the moment, his play The Motive and the Cue, about the famously rocky process of putting together John Gielgud’s production of Hamlet starring Richard Burton, is at the National Theatre in London.He will soon have another play on in the city. When we meet, Thorne – tall, gangly, scrappily bearded, wearing a T-shirt with a printed design that instantly calls to mind the armoured bear in His Dark Materials – is on a break from watching a run-through of his newest work, When Winston Went to War With the Wireless. It stages an early crisis for the BBC that shaped its future and set the tone for the way it handles political pressure to this day. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-06-05 07:00:22 UTC ]

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J.K. Rowling apologizes on the Battle of Hogwarts anniversary

As the fictional anniversary of a 'Harry Potter' battle was celebrated, Rowling took to social media to apologize to fans for killing off a beloved character. More may be coming. 'I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary,' the author wrote. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We always knew it – 'Harry Potter' books really do cast spells

British scientists say their research confirms that emotion-charged passages in 'Harry Potter' books have significant impact on the brains of readers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling: why failure is essential to success

'You will fail,' says 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling, talking about her new book 'Very Good Lives.' 'That's inevitable. It's what you do with it.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling stays positive in her Twitter discussion with a fan

When a fan questioned Rowling's statement that she envisioned 'Harry Potter' character Dumbledore as gay, the author replied that 'gay people just look like ... people.' 'Amazing answer,' the fan replied. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Love letter to YA book bloggers

Andy Robb founded the UKYA Blogger Awards to salute all the teen and YA book bloggers who work so hard, for nothing but free books and the odd signature, to tell the world about the books they love, here’s whyOur guide to becoming a book bloggerTop 10 teen/YA book bloggers by... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'J.K. Rowling Bibliography' reveals behind-the-scenes 'Harry Potter' stories

'Bibliography,' which will be released in the US in April, includes details about alternate titles considered and also tells readers which 'Harry Potter' book Rowling got 'sick' of reading after many edits. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Panel Mania: Fashion Forward with ‘Girl in Dior’

A love letter to fashion, Paris, and the House of Dior, 'Girl in Dior' ('Jeune fille en Dior') brings French superstar Annie Goetzinger to the US, and gorgeous clothes to the comics page. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harry Potter 'chocolate frog' competition for schools

Bloomsbury has launched a competition for schools to win a workshop with Harry Potter jacket illustrator Jonny Duddle as part of Harry Potter Book Night, which will take place on the 5th February.   To win the workshop, pupils must design a new "chocolate frog" card. The cards, which feature... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Harry Potter' comes to Oyster's all-you-can-read book service

If you're the sort of Harry Potter fan who can't help but read the series again and again, Oyster has a treat in store. The all-you-can-read subscription service has teamed up with Pottermore to carry all of the Harry Potter books, including the Hogw... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here's a preview of the upcoming illustrated version of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'

Artist Jim Kay is doing the artwork for the new version of the first book of the 'Harry Potter' series, which will be released this October. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harry Potter's World Like You've Never Seen It Before: Illustrated

Publishers Scholastic and Bloomsbury are re-releasing the series with full-color illustrations.Between author J.K. Rowling's fan hub experience Pottermore and a slew of fans bringing elements of Harry Potter's world to life (Marauder's Map, a seven-book saga in one), the boy who lived lives on,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling unnerved by girls who fall for Malfoy

Girls are quick to romanticise anti-heroes, says Harry Potter author, as she shares her vision for the future of the boy wizard’s school enemyJK Rowling says that “girls are very apt to romanticise” the antihero, and reveals that she had been forced to pour “cold common sense” on the startling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling: Who is the one 'Harry Potter' character she feels guilty about killing off?

The character 'is the only one I feel guilty about,' the author recently wrote in an essay detailing how she plotted her seven-part series and how a story change made this character's death necessary. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling celebrates 12 Days of Christmas with 12 new 'Harry Potter' stories (+video)

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, Rowling is posting 12 new stories set in the 'Potter' universe on the website Pottermore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling celebrates 12 Days of Christmas with 12 new 'Harry Potter' stories

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, Rowling is posting 12 new stories set in the 'Potter' universe on the website Pottermore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Polish event brings 'Harry Potter' castle Hogwarts to life

'Harry Potter' fans came together at a castle in Poland to act out the world of J.K. Rowling's books.  More events are planned for April. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rowling pens Pottermore stories for Christmas

Pottermore is set to post a surprise each day between the 12th and the 23rd December, including new writing from J K Rowling. In a newsletter sent to Harry Potter fans, Pottermore said Rowling will write about Draco Malfoy, a pupil at Hogwarts and one of Harry Potter’s nemeses, as well as... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Im hooked on ebook highlighting what we underline is so revealing

Ebook readers reveal the most highlighted passages in Harry Potter, the Bible, Lord of the Rings and many more Its an odd sensation to be reading an ebook and to suddenly notice that thanks to the providers data-tracking software youre on a passage that other people have already highlighted. I... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling reveals past, 'source of inspiration' for 'Harry Potter' character Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Umbridge is a sadistic teacher whom Harry encounters. Rowling posted a piece on the website Pottermore with new information about the character's past and revealed how she was inspired to give the cruel teacher a love of bows and kittens. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Umbridge was based on a real person, says Rowling

J K Rowling has revealed that Dolores Umbridge, a Hogwarts professor and enemy of Harry Potter, was based on a real person.   In any essay posted on the Pottermore website, Rowling said she “disliked intensely on sight” the person she based Umbridge on, who was a teacher “in a certain skill or... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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