Liam O’Dell (He/Him)

It certainly is popular around the world! Glad you enjoyed the version you saw.

Correction: I forgot to amend the social media copy above before it was sent out. The gender of the narrator isn’t actually specified in the script; my mind went to ‘man’ as Henry was the one performing but of course, Minnie Driver, Ambika Mod and Sue Perkins will soon be taking on the role, too!

‘Good Night, Oscar’ review – Do your homework before watching Sean Hayes’ incredible performance If you really want to see and appreciate this Tony award-winning performance from Hayes, then I’m afraid some pre-show revision is necessary.

If you really want to see and appreciate this Tony award-winning performance from Hayes, then I’m afraid some pre-show revision is necessary.

‘Every Brilliant Thing’ review – Lenny Henry is mostly good-natured, but hardly moving Duncan Macmillan's play about a man writing a list of a million brilliant things about the world has its West End premiere, with Sir Lenny Henry being the first of five actors to perform the piece in rotation.

Duncan Macmillan's play about a man writing a list of a million brilliant things about the world has its West End premiere, with Sir Lenny Henry being the first of five actors to perform the piece in rotation.

‘Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore’ (2025) review – Awe-inspiring account from a deaf trailblazer Not Alone Anymore is a comprehensive look at the building blocks of a respected figure in the deaf community.

Not Alone Anymore is a comprehensive look at the building blocks of a respected figure in the deaf community.

Very much is a welcome intervention!

Ah, I thought that was what you meant, though was a bit confused at first as to why I was being congratulated for their response! It’s good to see an organisation of Equity’s visibility calling this out.

What for?

Equity stresses importance of casting disabled actors in disabled roles amid Hunchback controversy The acting union Equity has said the casting of non-disabled actors in disabled roles “should only be considered as a last resort”, after a concert production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame cast an actor without a visible difference as Quasimodo.

The acting union Equity has said the casting of non-disabled actors in disabled roles “should only be considered as a last resort”, after a concert production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame cast an actor without a visible difference as Quasimodo.

‘Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical’ review – Secret Cinema’s film and theatre combo doesn’t go together Secret Cinema kick off the first of three successive, immersive screen-theatre productions in Battersea, London with their take on Grease

Sadly I don’t think this summer night was that remarkable.

‘Inter Alia’ review – Rosamund Pike is devastating in powerful Prima Facie follow-up Suzie Miller and Justin Martin’s partnership continues to bring about exciting and unmissable theatre.

Suzie Miller and Justin Martin’s partnership continues to bring about exciting and unmissable theatre.

‘Kenrex’ review – Jack Holden is unreal in this badass shot of true crime adrenaline Jack Holden of Cruise returns in a gritty true crime tale which is easily one of the best shows of the year.

Absolutely ecstatic at the news that ‘Kenrex’ is returning later this year. It’s my favourite show of 2025 so far and my 5⭐️ review explains why (with no spoilers).

It’s on from 3 December through to 1 February 2026 at @theotherpalace.bsky.social.

Do. Not. Miss. This.

Treasury misses own deadline to publish sign language plan The Treasury is yet to publish its five-year plan to improve its use of British Sign Language (BSL) - more than two weeks after the release of the government’s third BSL report.

The Treasury is yet to publish its five-year plan to improve its use of British Sign Language (BSL) - more than two weeks after the release of the government’s third BSL report.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame concert sparks backlash over Quasimodo casting A concert production of the Disney animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame has been criticised by disability advocates, after an actor without a visible difference was cast in the role of Quasimodo.

A concert production of the Disney animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame has been criticised by disability advocates, after an actor without a visible difference was cast in the role of Quasimodo.

‘A Role to Die For’ review – Bond casting comedy is chaotic and confusing This comedy about the casting of the next James Bond doesn’t know which part of the discourse it wants to dismantle.

This comedy about the casting of the next James Bond doesn’t know which part of the discourse it wants to dismantle.

European Union of the Deaf publishes ‘ethical framework’ on use of sign language in AI The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) has said artificial intelligence (AI) should ‘complement rather than replace’ sign languages, in a new “ethical framework” on the technology published on Thursday.

The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) has said artificial intelligence (AI) should ‘complement rather than replace’ sign languages, in a new “ethical framework” on the technology published on Thursday.

Half of Gen Z have experienced hearing problems from loud music, survey finds More than 50 per cent of those aged 18 to 28 have experienced hearing loss, tinnitus or both following exposure to loud music, according to a survey commissioned by the Royal National Institute for…

"earplugs ranked fifth in terms of the most essential festival item, behind a waterproof jacket, sunscreen and a portable charger in first, second and third place respectively." 😢 liamodell.com/2025/08/01/g... @liamodell.com #loveyourears #genz #keeplistening

Half of Gen Z have experienced hearing problems from loud music, survey finds More than 50 per cent of those aged 18 to 28 have experienced hearing loss, tinnitus or both following exposure to loud music, according to a survey commissioned by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID).

More than 50 per cent of those aged 18 to 28 have experienced hearing loss, tinnitus or both following exposure to loud music, according to a survey commissioned by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID).

Bristol Temple Meads installs ‘innovative’ Auracast technology to support deaf passengers Deaf passengers at Bristol Temple Meads station will now be able to connect to live audio broadcasts of station announcements using Auracast technology, after the hearing loop company Ampetronic finished installing its Auri transmitters at the location.

Deaf passengers at Bristol Temple Meads station will now be able to connect to live audio broadcasts of station announcements using Auracast technology, after the hearing loop company Ampetronic finished installing its Auri transmitters at the location.

Downing Street refuses to clarify BSL stance amid inaccessible briefings No 10 has failed to say whether it has changed its policy on British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation of government press conferences, a day after Keir Starmer issued a second inaccessible statement in the space of a week.

No 10 has failed to say whether it has changed its policy on British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation of government press conferences, a day after Keir Starmer issued a second inaccessible statement in the space of a week.

Keir Starmer shares another statement on Palestine without BSL, days after government says accessible messaging is ‘crucial’ The Prime Minister told reporters at a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday that the UK would recognise the state of Palestine in September if Israel does not end the "appalling situation" in the enclave, in his second inaccessible statement on Gaza in days.

The Prime Minister told reporters at a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday that the UK would recognise the state of Palestine in September if Israel does not end the "appalling situation" in the enclave, in his second inaccessible statement on Gaza in days.

‘Brixton Calling’ – Brazen and biblical staging of Academy’s origin story The story of how one man established the iconic Brixton Academy - after buying it for just one pound - is told in an energetic and ethereal play at the Southwark Playhouse.

The story of how one man established the iconic Brixton Academy - after buying it for just one pound - is told in an energetic and ethereal play at the Southwark Playhouse.

Bloody hell, after all that, I need a bank holiday.

CHLOE KELLY! 🏆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

No 10 shares Starmer’s Palestine statement without BSL or captions Sir Keir Starmer’s latest statement on Gaza has been uploaded to the 10 Downing Street YouTube channel without captions or British Sign Language (BSL), in the same week the Cabinet Office said everyone “should have access to important information from the government”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s latest statement on Gaza has been uploaded to the 10 Downing Street YouTube channel without captions or British Sign Language (BSL), in the same week the Cabinet Office said everyone “should have access to important information from the government”.

Emergency alert test information made accessible in first ‘national’ BSL video The Cabinet Office has released the first “national” British Sign Language (BSL) video explaining a second nationwide test of its emergency alert system, set to take place on 7 September.

The Cabinet Office has released the first “national” British Sign Language (BSL) video explaining a second nationwide test of its emergency alert system, set to take place on 7 September.

Treasury yet to publish five-year BSL improvement plan Plans by His Majesty’s Treasury to improve its communications in British Sign Language (BSL) are yet to be released online - more than 24 hours after the UK Government published its third BSL report on Monday.

Plans by His Majesty’s Treasury to improve its communications in British Sign Language (BSL) are yet to be released online - more than 24 hours after the UK Government published its third BSL report on Monday.

‘The Estate’ review – Adeel Akhtar stars in cluttered exploration of family and party politics The Estate is written like a precarious political drama, but directed as if it’s an insincere comedy.

The Estate is written like a precarious political drama, but directed as if it’s an insincere comedy.

#CaptionTheNews: ITV News has an accessibility problem They failed to provide live British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation during last year's general election coverage, and now they're refusing to add captions to their social media content. It's time to address the elephant in the room: ITV News has an accessibility problem.

After failing to provide live BSL interpretation during last year's general election to a lack of captions on their social media content, it's time to discuss ITV News having an accessibility problem. @liamodell.com explains all in his latest blog: zurl.co/36nWf

#CaptionTheNews #Accessibility #Deaf

UK Government marks publication of third BSL report with another inaccessible press conference The Cabinet Office has hailed a “new era for British Sign Language” with its latest BSL report, published on the same day that the government held another press conference without sign language interpretation.

The Cabinet Office has hailed a “new era for British Sign Language” with its latest BSL report, published on the same day that the government held another press conference without sign language interpretation.