Thank you so much! 😊

As I prepare to bring TWO HALVES OF GUINNESS to London’s Park Theatre next week, I thought Sir Alec deserved a spruce up — thanks to my local fine art framer, Frame London.

PARK THEATRE, London • 20 April - 2 May
🎟️ parktheatre.co.uk/events/two-h...

A BIG exciting adventure for 2026

Info: twohalvesofguinness.com

The last ice cream of summer? Certainly not for my mother and her daily cornet. Mr Lamarti’s van arrived punctually this morning, just as we finished our walk on #Lowestoft beach with Oscar the dog.

University's first Chancellor to step down after seven years After seven years as the first Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, writer, academic and women’s rights activist Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE is to step down from the ceremonial role.

Honoured to take the Chancellor baton from Dr Helen Pankhurst and see the University of Suffolk into its second decade. Exciting times ahead. Read more: www.uos.ac.uk/about/news/u...

A shame we missed on another. Isn’t it a wonderful venue.

A broadcasters’ breakfast. I adore @petroc.bsky.social (I know I’m not alone, sharing him with several million others). A catch-up over coffee and Austrian eggs was a great start to the day. Contrary to the sign, we were not obliged to be joined by a member of staff.

Mum’s daily ice cream taken at Lowestoft’s #FirstLightFestival — a spectacular celebration of the UK’s sunrise town on the longest weekend of the year. 🍦☀️

I’m being joined by a new recruit in the @classicfm.com studio this evening. Meet Edward, a kind gift from the BRILLIANT ESO Youth Orchestra after our concert at this year’s @elgarfestival.bsky.social ❤️ He’s getting the hang of the bear essentials of broadcasting.

Join me for a summer afternoon performance of BETJEMAN'S BANANA BLUSH on Sat 14th June, 2.30pm at the historic City of London church of St James Garlickhythe — a rare chance to hear this delightful cult classic performed live. TICKETS: www.ticketsource.co.uk/zeb-soanes/b...

A Sunday morning peregrination around Clerkenwell: taking in The Charterhouse, paying respects to Daniel Defoe at Bunhill Fields and making use of the finest lavatories in East London at Wesley’s Chapel.

One of the many advantages of arriving at London City Airport is the view as you come in to land, flying directly over The Shard — Join me tonight from 7pm on @classicfm.com 📻

Mother Soanes, absolutely delighted that her ‘small 99’ from Mr. Lamarti is bigger than usual. It’s the simple pleasures. Happy Saturday everyone! 🍦 #Lowestoft

A wonderful evening as guest of the Suffolk Book League at the @ipswichinstitute.bsky.social — and my favourite thing: the ‘Conversation Room,’ where talk is permitted. Rather like the ‘Policy Room’ I once found at the BBC, where decisions were made 😂

Join me tonight at 9pm on @classicfm.com for a Celebration of Mother’s Day featuring sublime music from St Martin’s Voices and poems, including one beautifully read by my own mother, Jeanette Soanes ❤️

Join me at the recording of a @classicfm.com CELEBRATION OF MOTHER’S DAY next Tuesday, 25th March at 1pm — St Martin-in-the-Fields, London | TICKETS: stmartinsvoices.com/classicfm

A happy afternoon celebrating the blooming of the magnolia trees at St Mary le Strand. Peter, the priest gave me a tour of the crypt where the boiler dates from the Great Exhibition and is still going strong — wish mine was as reliable!

Audiobook cover of What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife by Robert Garland, read by Zeb Soanes

Available April 8, Robert Garland's What to Expect When You're Dead takes an entertaining and enlightening look at how ancient peoples dealt with death—and what we might learn from them.

🎧 Pre-order the #audiobook, read by @zebsoanes.com: press.princeton.edu/books/audio/...

This was me telling the local foxes last night that I would be visiting @stedwardsfirst.bsky.social for #WorldBookDay today. Looking forward!

A flâneur sort of a morning in Paris. Now on the Eurostar back for tonight’s show on @classicfm.com 📻 Join me from 7pm. Merci 🇫🇷

A brief trip to Paris and lucky enough to get into Notre Dame after queuing for only 10 mins AND witness the veneration of the crown of thorns. Not a bad Friday!

Join me for a very special concert from 9pm this evening on @classicfm.com — NOTES FROM DOWNING STREET: An evening with @welshnatopera.bsky.social featuring the fabulous soprano Natalya Romaniw

Was just passing …

Brian Cox & Nicole Ansari on Bach play 'The Score' | Classic FM YouTube video by Classic FM

What a huge pleasure to talk to Brian Cox and Nicole Ansari for @classicfm about their roles as J.S. Bach and Anna Magdalena in Oliver Cotton's play, THE SCORE, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn - opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 20th Feb. Grab a ticket while you can.

youtu.be/V4zxMcbTIcw?...

Lunch with the DELIGHTFUL Barry Wordsworth (returning one of his scores we performed together two years ago — sorry Barry!) 🎶

We sent young Ben off to foundry today, where he will achieve further immortality in bronze. Such an exciting moment in this four year journey to honour Benjamin Britten in his (and my) hometown of #Lowestoft. When attached to the plinth (see 2nd photo) he’ll sit an impressive 12ft high.

A huge pleasure to chat to Brian Cox and Nicole Ansari for @classicfm.com about THE SCORE — revealing an explosive encounter and musical conundrum between JS Bach and Frederick II, coming to Theatre Royal Haymarket from February 20th — look out for our conversation, coming soon on @globalplayer.com

Waving at trains:
Am on a train from Blackpool to Preston and a couple of ramblers waved at the train. Several of us in the carriage spontaneously waved back and I suddenly felt like I was in an Ealing Film :-) Lovely how some very old traditions haven’t disappeared.

London is a big city, so those little bright moments of ‘community’ are all the more precious. I was given a belated Christmas gift by my local coffee house as a thank you for being a regular. Shop local! ❤️ 🙏

#community #london #coffeeshops

Coming to NORWICH this March — GASPARD’S FOXTROT! Celebrating the centenary of Norfolk County Music Festival | Sat 22nd March, 2.30/4.30pm | TICKETS from £5 👇🏻gaspardthefox.com/events