Latest news with #AdrianChiles
The Guardian
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Taking pride in a life well spent as a sparkie
Thank you, Adrian Chiles. You genuinely made me feel proud, reading your words (Kids, don't look to me for career inspiration. Look to your electrician instead, 16 July). For 47 years I've been honing my skills as an electrician, the vast majority of that time on a self-employed basis, with the added pressure that can impose. Work security is a real worry, especially during recession periods. So is chasing payments, the endless paperwork and the added burden and expense of Part P building regulations, which are constantly evolving with updates, new books to buy and exams to sit, plus one day a year spent with an assessor scrutinising your work. The body takes a battering, which becomes obvious as you approach retirement, and the goalposts on that look set to be moved yet again by those who have no idea what putting in a good shift means, with more years likely to be added to the state pension age. It's been great fun and absolutely fulfilling, though, learning how tools can simply and effortlessly be an extension of my hands. Thanks again for the recognition. Mark AbleyWing, Buckinghamshire Adrian Chiles should do a day of work experience with an electrician. If he has to chase out a cable run in a wall or scramble around a filthy, crowded loft swimming in glass fibre, he would find out what it really is like. I have a degree in chemical engineering; I left a career in that after four years to go into data processing and loved it, retraining on the go. Approaching 50, I had to retrain again, and I was a qualified sparkie for 15 years. It was bloody hard work, finishing the paperwork as late as 10pm. I did it because I had to. Some jobs were fun, but many were a grind. I'd happily have had a desk job on regular pay instead. Mike Joseph Chipperfield, Hertfordshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Nikki Bedi presents her final Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4
Nikki Bedi has presented her final episode of Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4. Guests on her last programme included TV writer, author, comedian, and former doctor Adam Kay; Kevin Rowland - front man of Dexy's Midnight Runners, and Anna Whitwam who found an outlet for grief in boxing. Adrian Chiles will begin presenting Saturday Live for the next series when it returns on 6 September and will be the sole host. He remains presenting on BBC Radio 5 Live. Nikki will continue to host The Arts Hour on the BBC World Service and The Arts Hour On Tour, a show which travels to different cities in the world bringing that country's biggest and brightest creatives in their fields, together, for a spirited debate before a live audience. Previous episodes have recorded in Bangkok, Bucharest and St Louis in the USA. She has also hosted a range of cultural programmes across BBC News including Discovering the World's Culture and Encounter Culture. Nikki Bedi says: 'I have loved presenting Saturday Live for the past 5 years. Thank you for having me in your ears. It's been both a joy and a privilege to hear and be a conduit for so many extraordinary guests' stories. Thank you to the wonderful Cardiff team who work so hard every week to put the show together. I look forward to new adventures on Radio 4.' Adrian Chiles says: 'I've always enjoyed Saturday Live, both as a listener and occasional guest. And it was great to co-present alongside Nikki earlier this year. I know what a great relationship she's had with the Saturday Live audience, and I hope to bring the same warmth, interest and sense of fun to Saturday mornings on Radio 4.' Mohit Bakaya, BBC Director of Speech and Controller of Radio 4 says: 'I want to thank Nikki for her excellent stewardship of Saturday Live over the past five years, with its eclectic mix of insightful and lively conversations each week. I'm delighted to welcome Adrian to Radio 4 and look forward to his distinctive blend of curiosity, humour and intelligence on Saturday mornings from September." Saturday Live moved to Wales two years ago as part of the BBC's Across the UK commitment to broadcasting more content outside of London. Adrian will continue to present the programme from Cardiff. PS Follow For More
The Guardian
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Young nature writers appeal to all ages
I agree with Simon Barley that the Other lives obituaries lift our spirits (Letters, 24 June). So too does the monthly Young country diary. It's so good to know there are such enthusiastic and observant naturalists – and excellent writers – in the generations to SabbaghDefford, Worcestershire In Dining across the divide (22 June), Julian, 57, finds himself moving 'right' as he gets older and pays more taxes. There is no inevitability about this: I am 64 and the more taxes I pay, the more I'm aware of inequality, and move TaylorYork 'The 50 hottest books to read now', ran the web headline on your summer reading roundup (21 June). Wouldn't the 50 coolest books be more appropriate?James NyeEast Cowes, Isle of Wight Having your nose in a book is not always a good idea, Adrian Chiles (25 June). In 2002 in a Barcelona station, my husband left me to look for the left-luggage. When he came back, he asked where his rucksack was. It was a very good EvansRuthin, Denbighshire The welfare bill was opposed by many voters: listening to MPs and making changes isn't a major 'U-turn' (Report, 26 June), it is democracy at KarlsenWhitstable, Kent Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Kudos to Royal Mail for a special delivery
Following my letter being published on 13 June, I received a letter on 20 June from a reader, addressed to me as below, with no house number, street or postcode. It was posted second class on 17 June. Royal Mail often gets bad press, but kudos for getting the letter to me so promptly with minimal WardQuorn, Leicestershire More worrying, surely, than the incident by Palestine Action is the appalling lack of security at RAF Brize Norton (Report, 20 June). Michael FullerBedford All your tips on keeping cool in hot weather involve buying things (The Filter, 19 June). If we weren't so keen on buying new stuff, the world wouldn't be heating up quite as it DunnettGuildford, Surrey When my husband shaved off his beard of many years, our nextdoor neighbour remarked: 'Oh, you've grown a moustache' (Adrian Chiles, 18 June).Gwyneth WagstaffGwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Carmarthenshire I see that Kneecap and Wet Leg are appearing at Glastonbury. My wife and I are looking forward to Hip Replacement on the NHS LovelockBristol 'Pre-order' agitates my inner pedant nearly as much as 'going forward' (Letters, 22 June).Cassy FirthMorley, West Yorkshire And while we are at it, 'Forward planning'.Richard BullWoodbridge, Suffolk Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- The Guardian
Why MI6 chief is C and uses green ink
Your report (Blaise Metreweli named as first woman to lead UK intelligence service MI6, 15 June) said 'the head of MI6 is known internally as C – short for chief'. C is not short for chief. The first head of MI6 was Sir Mansfield Cumming, who always signed his letters 'C' in green ink. It has been a tradition since to call the head of service C and for them to use green HollesLeeds One Christmas our son bought my husband a Donald Trump lavatory brush. Although it's not official merchandise (Why is there a Maga-branded Instant Pot? Because capitalism never sleeps, 18 June), over the years it has given us immense satisfaction plunging the orange head into the depths in order to Make the Bowl Great EdwardsGrange-over-Sands, Cumbria When our children were young and their dad had decided to shave off his moustache (Adrian Chiles, 18 June), he'd shave off half and see how long it took them to EvansRuthin, Denbighshire Gifting gifts (Letters, 16 June) becomes less of a problem and more worthy of thought if you recall that Gift is the German word for SmithBerlin, Germany I've always been given GodaLiverpool 'Swap in/swap out' rather than 'swap'. 'Hacks' in place of 'tips'. And radio interviewees starting with: 'Thank you for having me.'Janet FraserTwickenham, London Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
