Thanks for coming through to my site. Welcome.
There is no single strand to this blog. It is not News – there are others far better placed to do that – and it is not monetised.
It is not focussed on a single aspect of my life whether that be cricket, sport, family history, state of the nation. Instead, it shamelessly bounces around depending on what moves the muse within. I hope you find a yarn that intrigues you.
I have enjoyed almost forty years as a journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker, and currently work for the Paris-based news agency Agence France Presse while commentating French Top 14 rugby (in English) for Canal +.
After 38 years away, I returned in 2026 to the stage as an actor in a play about commentating cricket in French.
Having lived and worked in Ireland, South Africa, UK, Greece and now France, and travelled to plenty of other countries, I have encountered some interesting people and enjoyed some memorable experiences.
So some of the items on the blog are quite personal – apologies in advance for the weight of Spender family tales – while others are more subjective. There are accounts of meetings with some of the remarkable people I have been fortunate enough to have bumped into such as Pele, Seamus Heaney, David Bowie, Sophie Kinsella and Ex-King Constantine of Greece.
All, I hope, will provoke the occasional chuckle and offer a sliver of new insight into the subject. At the very least, I hope they make a decent tale.
As with all blogs I would love to hear your feedback. If you like the general tone of the blog then please sign up for the alert and, it goes without saying but I will say it anyhow, feel free to share the articles with your friends, rabbits and relations.
JOURNALISM / WRITING
I am still a professional working journalist and available for hire. I am also open to longer form writing so if you have a life story that you want to get out then let’s talk ghosts.
FILM-MAKING
Once upon a time, I made a documentary called The Road to Sparta, about the epic Spartathlon ultra-marathon between Athens and Sparta. It won a few awards and will be available to stream online from the end of October 2026. My production company Ragged Rock Films is currently working on new ideas: our ears always open to work with others.
ACTING
After nearly 40 years away, I was back on stage in 2026 with a one-man play called Vive le Cricket! which I co-wrote with my old friend NG Bristow. We plan to bring VLC back to France and the UK in the spring/summer of 2027 so if you run a cricket club and fancy an evening where you will learn how the French invented cricket, then give us a shout and let’s talk bookings. Talking of books, ‘Vive le Cricket! A (very) brief history of French cricket’ is due for publication in April 2027. More information on ‘Vive le Cricket! here. I am also available for film and theatre projects.
TEACHING
I have previously lectured at France’s top journalism colleges CFPJ (Centre de Formation et de Perfectionnement des Journalistes) and the Institut Europeen de Journalism (IEJ), and have also run a Radio France International course in radio presenting at GIPA in Tblisi.
CONTACT
I am to be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. You can contact me via email at jbspender@gmail.com
Many thanks
Barney
