I used to think the BBC was a pretty good network, too. I’m still right about Robin, but I’m proven mistaken about the BBC — they pressured Robin Ince to resign because he was outspoken about trans rights and neurodiversity. So, fuck the BBC.
Rebecca Watson was curious why Ince’s popular co-host, Brian Cox, had said nothing about this. She dug a bit into that, and has discovered that Brian Cox’s wife, Gia Millinovich, is neck-deep in the British anti-trans movement. I guess that mystery is tentatively solved.
If you aren’t familiar with Robin Ince, my sympathies, you can check out Ince’s and Cox’s Infinite Monkey Cage, which is still lurking within the BBC Earth Science channel on YouTube. Or you can check out the Cosmic Shambles substack.
Easiest place to find Monkey Cage is via BBC Sounds. I can’t recall if it’s still available free worldwide, but VPNs are a thing…
Robin Ince used to close the Cheltenham Science Festival each year (well, maybe he still does but I haven’t been for the last few years) and his was always the regular event I looked forward to the most. One year he picked up a bunch of shoddy horror novels from the 1970s, ones which had been my guilty pleasure when I was a kid, and ripped the absolute shit out of them. That was by far and away the funniest comedy gig I have ever attended.
Brian cox? well, shit.
fuck him now. science communicator or not.
I saw that at the time.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/dec/13/comedian-robin-ince-quits-as-host-of-bbcs-infinite-monkey-cage
The ex-footballer Gary Lineker also ran afoul of the BBC. While employed by BBC as a football commentator, he used some of his not-BBC time to point out the UK media bias against Palestinians. Ironically, he was accused of violating the BBC’s ‘impartiality’ rules or some such nonsense.
#2: I have a copy of Robin Ince’s Bad Book Club book, which reviews many bad books, including a section of horror. Now I may pick it up and give it a re-read.
OT Crossposted. More footage from Minneapolis taken by the ooter.
.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/09/ice-agent-minneapolis-bodycam-footage
Not listened to Monkey Cage in a very long time. A memory lingers of pondering “When is a strawberry dead?”
@3. Robbo :“Brian Cox? Well, shit. fuck him now. Science communicator or not.”
In fairness, Robin Ince said that Brian Cox is stilla friend and it’s Coxés wife who is the transphobe not him. Which is disappointing and I’m saddened by it but he is in an incredibly awkward situation given y’know his wife. Again, not him.
StevoR, I recall you adducing ‘the standard you walk past’ thingy. Rememer?
@ ^ John Morales : Yes but she’s his wife.. & he hasn’t as far as I know said anything that indicates he actually agrees with her or anything that is transphobic himself.
Re: StevoR @11:
David Morrison’s anti-misogyny speech: “If you become aware of any individual degrading another, then show moral courage and take a stand against it […] The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. That goes for all of us, but especially those who […] have a leadership role.”
“Yes but she’s his wife.” — That is of the form ‘yes, but X‘ where X is some proposition that vitiates claims to moral integrity.
(Contingent standards is oxymoronic)
@11– I accept that his spouse having toxic views would put him in a difficult position, but it is also true that he is the second most influential science communicator in the UK (behind only Attenborough I would think) and he stood by while his friend and co-presenter was pushed out by anti-science, anti-trans, Trump-sopping BBC executives.
Chris Lawson @14 – exactly, and the Infinite Monkey Cage is to continue. Don’t suppose they’ll be looking at human gender in the near future.
Far as I am concerned, Brian Cox is similar to Michio Kaku, Paul Davies, Lawrence Krauss, and Max Tegmark; basically now making a living out of celebrity and cosmic pap.
Not quite there, but the trajectory is clear to me.
Example per Wikipedia: “Despite lacking a belief in deities, Cox has rejected the label “atheist” and has instead preferred to describe himself as having “no personal faith”.[94]”
Pabulum.
John: So that means he can join Patheos
AtheistNonreligious?Patheos is pathetic.
FWIW, the immediate next bit after what I quoted is:
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_(physicist)#Personal_life)
So, like I said, trajectory.