Alexandra Topping

So damn proud of my bestie @helenpidd.bsky.social for being nominated for best host in her *first* (1st) year of being the host of Today In Focus. What a badass 👑 💪 👑

Oh my god we’ve done it. Thank GOD for a single rubbish, but not quite so rubbish, penalty

👀 you’re lucky it went in Davies

‘We got upset, then we got angry’: the couple who took on one of the UK’s biggest cold-call scams When clients started getting random calls about making personal injury claims, Jan and Michael Reed set out to discover who was stealing data from their family-run garage

Hate cold callers? You’ll enjoy this story about Jan and Michael, garage owners who took down the largest nuisance call network in the UK. I loved writing it >> www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

The law change that could transform toxic workplaces – podcast Zelda Perkins was Harvey Weinstein’s PA – and has spent the last eight years campaigning against the non-disclosure agreements used to silence abused employees. Now she has won a major victory. Alexan...

I'm on Today in Focus this morning, talking over-excitedly about one of my niche Mastermind subjects (NDAs). It's worth a listen because of the brilliant Zelda Perkins ‪@cbmsuk.bsky.social‬ also features www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

‘Nowhere for them to hide any more’: Zelda Perkins’ fight against NDAs after Harvey Weinstein After eight-year campaign by Perkins, a former PA for Weinstein, UK ministers have announced plans to stop bosses using NDAs to silence abused workers

Zelda Perkins, a total badass >> www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘It’s not happy-clappy’: the extraordinary story of Speedo Mick As a musical about him opens at Liverpool’s Royal Court, Michael Cullen tells of hope, heart – and hitting rock bottom

It was a pure joy to speak to Michael Cullen, aka Speedo Mick about his journey through addition to heroism - but also hear him talk so openly about what those massive charity walks in sub zero temperatures dressed only in Speedos cost him. I loved doing this one: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Never change Guardian, never change

Death threats and slashed tyres as Brighton’s battle of the bins turns toxic Decades-long dispute between council and GMB union resurfaces after report shows 140% rise in missed collections

I’ve been obsessed with Brighton’s bin wars for a while. The council say managers in their depot have had death threats and car tyres slashed. I spoke to former workers who say they still have pstd from their experience. My report here >> www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

The boy who came back: the near-death, and changed life, of my son Max It was, we were told, a case of sudden infant death syndrome interrupted. What followed would transform my understanding of parenting, disability and the breadth of what makes a meaningful life

If you read nothing else this weekend, or frankly this year, you must read this astonishingly beautiful piece by my lovely colleague @archiebland.bsky.social about his son Max, the boy who came back. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Partic thanks to @mrjamieyates.bsky.social, the most thoughtful, kind and knowledgeable Blue you could ever hope to meet 💙

‘Goodison Park has been part of saving my life’: Everton fans mourn club’s Mersey move The departure of the men’s team from the ground marks the end of an era for many. Will new hosts Everton Women continue its legacy?

What happens to an area when a premier league club leaves its home of 133 years? Tears are shed, plan Bs are set in action, bank balances are scrutinised anxiously. Going to L4 to write this was such a privilege, huge thanks to everyone who spoke to me www.theguardian.com/football/202...

History, memory, grief and belonging: my bittersweet Goodison farewell Evertonian Alexandra Topping – knowing that the famous old ground’s time was running out – made a final pilgrimage with her nine-year-old son

Special day for many Blues today, as the men’s team play their final game at Goodison Park. I made my final pilgrimage with my son earlier in the season, so glad I can now look forward to watching the women play there too 💙 www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Everton fans on the end of a Goodison era: ‘I’ll be thinking about my dad, my brothers, my son’ As ‘The Grand Old Lady’ prepares to host its last men’s match, Everton fans reveal what the ground means to them

This is so beautiful from my pal Tom Jenkins. His dedication to story telling and authenticity come through so clearly. I 💙 it. So happy to have shared a few of these moments with you @tomjenkinspix.bsky.social !! www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Riots, royals and legends: Goodison Park firsts and memorable moments Everton won the first Merseyside derby they hosted, Dixie Dean set his goals record and Pelé made World Cup history

And if, you know, your history 💙 … love this from our Andy Hunter >> www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Goodison Park saved from bulldozers with it set to become home of Everton Women Exclusive: US owners confirm it will become the country’s first major stadium dedicated to a women’s team next season

Goodison Park has been saved from demolition and will be dedicated solely to the Everton Women’s team next season.

Story: @lexytopping.bsky.social

Goodison Park saved from bulldozers with it set to become home of Everton Women Exclusive: US owners confirm it will become the country’s first major stadium dedicated to a women’s team next season

Exclusive: Everton Women will move into Goodison Park next season, saving the ground from demolition www.theguardian.com/football/202...

I love this and Barry Horne. Thank you @davidsquires.bsky.social 💙

💙

Heard quite a few people suggest this. Would help with travel chaos too

Fellow Blues - writing about what will happen to the businesses around Goodison when it closes its gates for the final time. Ideas and contacts welcome! #Everton #EFC #Goodison

Inside the dirtiest race in Olympic history: ‘It wasn’t fair. I wasn’t on a level playing field’ How did the women’s 1500m in the 2012 London Olympics get its unenviable reputation? Athletes who were cheated out of medals talk about what happened that day – and how the results have slowly unravel...

If you missed it yesterday @estheraddley.bsky.social Guardian magazine piece about the dirtiest race in Olympic history is utterly fascinating. Just a brilliant read >> www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Gordon Brown makes criminal complaint against Rupert Murdoch’s media empire Exclusive: Former British PM urges police to reopen inquiry – and claims media executive Will Lewis attempted to incriminate him

Brilliant work by @michaelsavage.bsky.social this. Exclusive: Former British PM urges police to reopen inquiry – and claims media executive Will Lewis attempted to incriminate him >> www.theguardian.com/media/2025/a...

The strange case of the writer landing A-lister interviews for local magazines From Johnny Depp in Somerset Life to Barack Obama in Dogs Today, Bernard Bale’s litany of starry interviews offers a rare insight into the engine room of celebrity journalism, and is every bit as intr...

I've been down the rabbit hole with this story for a long time, good to see it become the first Guardian Sunday Read >> From Johnny Depp in Somerset Life to Barack Obama in Dogs Today, the mystery behind a little-known freelancer's long litany of starry interviews www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...

How a rip-off of Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk are climbing Russia’s pyramid In war-torn occupied territories, fake teams are being deployed as a tool to normalise a violent denial of the past

An imitation of Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk has just started up in the Russian pyramid. It's not the first example of teams from sovereign Ukrainian territory appearing in Russia, and may not be the last. Football is being used to normalise violent denial of the past. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘This was for her’: how boxing brought a mother and son back from the brink Reese and Desiree Mistretta are the first mother-son duo to win New York’s prestigious Golden Gloves, but their deeper bond is how boxing helped them survive life’s hardest hits

This wonderful piece by @BryanAGraham about Reese and Desiree Mistretta, the first mother-son pair to win New York’s Golden Gloves, is everything you could want in a sports story and more. Loved it >> www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

‘We can’t pit boys against girls’: headlines overshadow struggles of a generation of girls Growing crisis among boys dominates the narrative but girls in England also face unprecedented mental health challenges and systemic pressures

The discourse around boys at the moment is much needed, but it can’t be either/or. Girls are not the winners in a zero sum game>> www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Healthy but lonely gen Zers drive UK gym membership to record high More health-conscious young people take total to 11.5m memberships, report finds, as experts cite social aspect alongside fitness

Gen z are super healthy! They love going to the gym! Also: They can't afford to do anything else, they are super anxious, they have massively negative body images injected into their eyeballs every waking hour of the day, they wfh and never see anyone www.theguardian.com/society/2025....

Thank you! That's v kind to say

Keir Starmer’s ‘voice coach’ says press coverage of her work was misogynistic Exclusive: Leonie Mellinger believes media storm minimised her role as key part of Labour leader’s team

Leonie Mellinger was happy to talk about about her work with Keir Starmer. But the “misogynistic” backlash to it left her shocked and angry. I spoke to her about the experience www.theguardian.com/politics/202...