Paul English

The first reviews of #ToBeHereSomeday, the new book I’ve written with ⁦@deaconbluemusic⁩, are in. (From ⁦@reallorraine⁩, another real (gone) Lorraine and ⁦@rickyaross⁩).

Listen to these people, out on the street, singing a song about hope and still having time, in echo of the man who gave them it and whose loss yesterday would give anyone cause to question either. If anyone knows the power of song abd music in shock and grief it’s Dubliners.

Shocking, sad news about Glen Hansard’s death. His music, songwriting and live performances were absolutely amazing.

Rest in peace, Glen Hansard🤍⁣ Remembering the Oscar-winning musician with a rendition "The Foggy Dew"

Watch it, be inspired by it, play it. Bowls. ✨ Johnny Vegas tells us about his love for Bowls, from playing on the green as a kid to starring in a feature film all about the sport! #Glasgow2026

In today’s @Sunday_Mail, I’m speaking to @eddireader and husband @jrdouglasesq on their first album and tours as a duo. (Plus some chat with John about the new @TheTrashcans album!). #buyapaper

What a ride that was.

I was chuffed to be at the @scotrefcouncil Council media awards ceremony last night in Glasgow, and thrilled to be recognised for my coverage of Ukrainian teenager Illia Snaksarov, who fled war and made it to a junior Wimbledon final.l having been found playing tennis against the wall of a hotel in Glasgow. It was heartening to see so many examples on the shortlists of the important work being done by a lot of great journalists, carrying the voices of refugees in Scotland. Thanks to judge Alison Phipps, Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies at University of Glasgow and @UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Education, Languages and the Arts. The SRC handed out some info detailing useful explanations of asylum seekers and refugees. Feel free to copy, screen grab, whatever. Or just read and tell folk who don’t know. Photos: Polina Perfilieva.

James Miller Prime - One Year On 💙

How a little boat launched in Port Glasgow changed the world, and why the townsfolk are glad to see it back on their shores. My story about the return of Henry Bell’s PS Comet to Port Glasgow. sundaypost.com/fp/comet-port-…

@JasonLeonardCo1 @Sunday_Post I did!

@PaulEnglishhack @Sunday_Post Pop into the Comet Bar (cash only)

In today’s @Sunday_Post, I’m in Port Glasgow to find out about the return of The Comet, the revolutionary little paddle steamer which changed the world, and put a Clydeside town on the maritime history map. #buyapaper

Scottish film company @BlazingGriffin have unveiled a post production suite aimed at bringing more film industry jobs to Scotland as an alternative to London. I wrote about it in the @heraldtweets’ Business HQ. heraldscotland.com/news/26187180.…

@madebyfrankie Aye. Italy, Denmark, Cameroon, Poland and Ireland all sitting at home this morning: ‘thank god we didn’t qualify for the World Cup and win our first game, sitting at the top of our group, wouldn’t want to be feeling as frustrated as Scotland are.’

The real beamer is the acceptance from many of being plucky wee Scotland as if we should just be happy to take part. For the best chance of progressing we needed to really go for it last night and we scraped a 1-0 win with a poor performance. It's fine to be frustrated about it.

Scotland winning their first game in a World Cup for 36 years, at the first World Cup Scotland qualify for in 28 years being greeted by a round of ‘aye but we were absolutely shite’ from pundits and analysts talking about what Scotland need to do to be better against two teams who are much better than Scotland is buttoned-up-the-back. Overhead kicks and 50 yard goals lost to the memory. Midfield rotten. Defence abysmal. Possession terrible. XG rank. Steve Clark got it wrong. Again. Chain up the swings. Hair shirts for all. They know the script when they get nothing, go nowhere, but the Tartan Army play keepy uppy with a cop or go down a chute in a kilt playing bagpipes. It’s an affliction to be better at moaning than winning. And it’s a total beamer.

From concept to curtain-up, Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit In, which I conceived for @NTSonline and @TronTheatre with playwright Frances Poet, has been an epic experience in all senses of the word. Carrying the story of these Inverclyde women (and men) who successfully took on ‘The Man’ onto the national stage, touring the country, has been a long road, and one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been part of. I first met these women over a decade ago for an interview in the @Daily_Record, and took their story to NTS with an idea for a play. We didn’t need to look far for role models when it came to keeping the end of a long haul in sight. Working with writer Frances and director @jemimalevick, as well as the most talented cast of actors you could dream of to carry such an important story, has been an unforgettable experience. This week’s finale, at Beacon Arts Centre, was performed to several full houses, featuring many of the women from the factory. The atmosphere was hard to describe - having toured around the country, this emotional story of determination, loss, empowerment and community came home to the most unique vibe I’ve ever known in a theatre. The multi-talented cast, Aron Dochard, Chara Sparkes, Jo Freer, Maddie Grieve, Shonagh Murray and Hannah Jarret-Scott played, sang and delivered every moment brilliantly, ‘Greenock’s no bad fae up here.’ They’re all Inverclyders, now. Takes one to know one. #standanddeliver #theleejeanssitin

In today’s @Daily_Record my story about comedy stars Sanjeev Kohli @govindajeggy and Tom Urie on their Scottish World Cup song…

Seeing the story of the Lee Jeans sit-in touring the country has been brilliant, especially seeing audiences’ reactions to the incredible story of Helen Monaghan, Maggie Wallace and the hundreds of workers who fought The Man for their jobs in 1981. The play, which I conceived with writer Frances Poet, directed by Jemima Levick, is heading home for a grand finale in Greenock this week at @thebeaconarts. In today’s @Sunday_Mail, I speak to the cast, as well as Helen and Maggie, about taking one of the most important stories of Clydeside industry back to where it all began. #standanddeliver #leejeans @NTSonline @TronTheatre