Liam O’Dell (He/Him)

Fears broadcasters and streamers may take ‘easiest route’ for BSL quotas sparks campaign LumoTV, which commissions and platforms programmes presented in British Sign Language (BSL), has called on broadcasters, commissioners and production companies to increase the amount of sign-presented content – as part of a new campaign called ‘The 91% Mandate’.

LumoTV, which commissions and platforms programmes presented in British Sign Language (BSL), has called on broadcasters, commissioners and production companies to increase the amount of sign-presented content – as part of a new campaign called ‘The 91% Mandate’.

‘The Mesmerist’ review – Rufus Hound’s comic conjuring comes undone Comedian Rufus Hound shares the magical story of his late grandfather in a production at Watford Palace Theatre.

Comedian Rufus Hound shares the magical story of his late grandfather in a production at Watford Palace Theatre.

‘Age Is A Feeling’ review – It’s hard to feel something during this dreary mortality play Haley McGee’s Olivier Award-nominated play has four performances at Soho Theatre Walthamstow following runs in Edinburgh, London and Toronto.

Haley McGee’s Olivier Award-nominated play has four performances at Soho Theatre Walthamstow following runs in Edinburgh, London and Toronto.

Keir Starmer hosts first BSL-interpreted press conference in five months Sir Keir Starmer’s press conference on the ongoing situation in Iran was livestreamed with on-screen British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation on Thursday, making it the first speech from the Prime Minister since September to be made accessible to deaf signers.

Sir Keir Starmer’s press conference on the ongoing situation in Iran was livestreamed with on-screen BSL interpretation on Thursday, making it the first speech from the Prime Minister since September to be made accessible to deaf signers.

Olivier Awards 2026 predictions: Paddington will do beary well indeed Liam O'Dell predicts the winners in this year's Olivier Awards, after the full list of nominations was revealed on Thursday.

I've predicted the winners in this year's Olivier Awards, after the full list of nominees was revealed earlier today.

‘While They Were Waiting’ review – Gary Wilmot’s Godot-like debut is tiring and uninspired Legendary entertainer Gary Wilmot makes his London playwriting debut with a production playing Upstairs at The Gatehouse.

Legendary entertainer Gary Wilmot makes his London playwriting debut with a production playing Upstairs at The Gatehouse.

‘Ukraine Unbroken’ review – Quintet of war plays struggle to connect Five playwrights pen pieces on the Ukraine war in a new Arcola Theatre production.

Five playwrights pen pieces on the Ukraine war in a new Arcola Theatre production.

Hearing aid users featured in new photo collection to replace ‘stereotypical imagery’ 50 new photographs of hearing aid users aged between 20 and 60 have been made available to the public for free, with the aim of sharing a "more contemporary and positive representation" of the devices and those who wear them.

50 new photographs of hearing aid users aged between 20 and 60 have been made available to the public for free, with the aim of sharing a "more contemporary and positive representation" of the devices and those who wear them.

British Deaf Association defends BSL translation of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ amid community criticism The British Deaf Association (BDA) has defended the British Sign Language (BSL) translation of Liverpool slogan ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, after deaf community members criticised one of the four signs for being “dangerous” and “threatening”.

The British Deaf Association (BDA) has defended the British Sign Language (BSL) translation of Liverpool slogan ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, after deaf community members criticised one of the four signs for being “dangerous” and “threatening”.

‘This is the beginning’: Deaf charity hopes more football clubs become accessible after Liverpool campaign The British Deaf Association has told Liam O’Dell that translating Liverpool’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” into British Sign Language is “the first step”, as it hopes other football clubs will become more accessible to their deaf fans.

The British Deaf Association has told me that translating Liverpool’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” into British Sign Language is “the first step”, as it hopes other football clubs will become more accessible to their deaf fans.

Starmer acknowledges ‘deep concern’ of Brits over Iran strikes, in statement inaccessible to thousands UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he knows British people and communities will be “deeply concerned” about strikes carried out by Iran on Saturday, in a recorded statement shared the same day without British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he knows British people and communities will be “deeply concerned” about strikes carried out by Iran on Saturday, in a recorded statement shared the same day without British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation.

Liverpool fans sign ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in BSL as part of new deaf ‘movement’ Liverpool Football Club supporters signed the team’s iconic anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in British Sign Language (BSL) on Saturday, ahead of the club’s game against West Ham at their Anfield stadium.

Liverpool Football Club supporters signed the team’s iconic anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in British Sign Language (BSL) on Saturday, ahead of the club’s game against West Ham at their Anfield stadium.

‘The S***heads’ review – Calamitous caveman play Jack Nicholls’ debut play about cavemen premieres at the Royal Court.

Jack Nicholls’ debut play about cavemen premieres at the Royal Court.

‘Evening All Afternoon’ review – Motherhood play materialises too late ‘Photograph 51’ playwright Anna Ziegler’s latest play has its world premiere at London’s Donmar Warehouse.

‘Photograph 51’ playwright Anna Ziegler’s latest play has its world premiere at London’s Donmar Warehouse.

‘B**** Boxer’ review – Charlie Josephine’s debut still packs a punch The ‘I, Joan’ and ‘Cowbois’ playwright’s first play returns to London with a staging at the Arcola Theatre.

The ‘I, Joan’ and ‘Cowbois’ playwright’s first play returns to London with a staging at the Arcola Theatre.

Netflix and ITVX among streamers set to face new access quotas, government confirms Video-on-demand (VoD) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ will be included in new accessibility requirements under the Media Act, the government has announced, with key regulations set to be laid before Parliament next month.

Video-on-demand (VoD) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ will be included in new accessibility requirements found in the Media Act, the government has announced, with key regulations set to be laid before Parliament next month.

Graeae artistic director ‘broken’ as Access to Work support cut by half Jenny Sealey, the artistic director of the disabled-led theatre company Graeae, has revealed her support under the government's Access to Work scheme has been cut by half, criticising the "punitive" decision as an "infringement of human rights".

Jenny Sealey, the artistic director of the disabled-led theatre company Graeae, has revealed her support under the government's Access to Work scheme has been cut by half, criticising the "punitive" decision as an "infringement of human rights".

‘Blink’ review – Problematic parasocial rom-com Abigail Thorn and Joe Pitts star in a revival of Phil Porter’s parasocial rom-com at the King’s Head Theatre.

Abigail Thorn and Joe Pitts star in a revival of Phil Porter’s parasocial rom-com at the King’s Head Theatre.

SEND reforms must deliver more Teachers of the Deaf, charity says UK Government plans to bring more professionals such as speech and language therapists into mainstream education could make a “real difference” for deaf children, but only if such reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision produce a “significant increase” in teachers of the deaf, the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has said.

UK Government plans to bring more professionals such as speech and language therapists into mainstream education could make a “real difference” for deaf children, but only if such reforms to SEND provision produce a “significant increase” in teachers of the deaf, the National Deaf Children’s…

‘Deep Azure’ review – Pockets of the profound in Chadwick Boseman’s poetic play ‘For Black Boys…’ director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu makes his Globe debut directing the late Black Panther star’s 2005 play.

‘For Black Boys…’ director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu makes his Globe debut directing late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman’s 2005 play.

Yentl co-writer Elise Esther Hearst on the ‘otherworldly’ play’s London transfer Ahead of its international premiere at Marylebone Theatre next month, writer Elise Esther Hearst discusses the contemporary questions of gender and identity within Yentl, a new stage adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story of the same name.

Ahead of its international premiere at Marylebone Theatre next month, writer Elise Esther Hearst discusses the contemporary questions of gender and identity within Yentl, a new stage adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story of the same name.

National Theatre pilots Auracast in Dorfman venue ahead of public launch ‘later this year’ The National Theatre has confirmed it is trialling Bluetooth's assistive listening technology Auracast in its Dorfman Theatre, ahead of it being made publicly available in the space "later this year".

The National Theatre has confirmed it is trialling Bluetooth's assistive listening technology Auracast in its Dorfman Theatre, ahead of it being made publicly available in the space "later this year".

Why Cynthia Erivo in Dracula is an astonishing anthesis to Dorian Gray With Cynthia Erivo’s Dracula now open at the Noël Coward Theatre in London, Liam O’Dell explains why there’s intrigue to be found in contrasting the play with Kip Williams’ staging of The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Sarah Snook.

With Cynthia Erivo’s Dracula now open at the Noël Coward Theatre in London, I explain why there’s intrigue to be found in contrasting the play with Kip Williams’ staging of The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Sarah Snook.

UN lacks ‘dedicated funding’ to provide national sign language for disability committee The UN has said it does not have the “dedicated funding” to provide national sign language interpretation for meetings of its CRPD committee, despite calls from the World Federation of the Deaf to provide such access for a deaf committee member.

The UN has said it does not have the funding or “technical capacity” to provide national sign language interpretation for meetings of its CRPD committee, despite calls from the WFD to provide such access for a deaf committee member.

Heineken rebrand allowed to exceed 48-hour renaming limit for accessibility, TfL confirms The temporary rebranding of 10 Bakerloo line tube stations in January, for a promotional campaign with drinks brand Heineken, was allowed to last for three weeks, despite Transport for London's own 'master equality impact assessment' on renaming stations suggesting a 48-hour time limit.

The temporary rebranding of 10 Bakerloo line tube stations in January, for a promotional campaign with drinks brand Heineken, was allowed to last for three weeks, despite Transport for London's own 'master equality impact assessment' on renaming stations suggesting a 48-hour time limit.

‘Man and Boy’ review – Terence Rattigan revival brings tension with tables Anthony Lau revives Terence Rattigan’s play in his National Theatre directorial debut, starring Ben Daniels and Laurie Kynaston.

Anthony Lau revives Terence Rattigan’s play in his National Theatre directorial debut, starring Ben Daniels and Laurie Kynaston.

‘The Tempest’ review – Tim Crouch explores theatre etiquette in this trippy take Tim Crouch directs and stars in a fresh staging of the bard's play at Shakespeare's Globe.

Tim Crouch directs and stars in a fresh staging of the bard's play at Shakespeare's Globe.

‘It Walks Around the House At Night’ review – Tiptoes the line between horror and comedy The ThickSkin production played a one-night-only show at Watford Palace Theatre as part of its ongoing UK tour.

The ThickSkin production played a one-night-only show at Watford Palace Theatre as part of its ongoing UK tour.

‘In situ’ BSL for Downing Street press conferences ‘not being taken forward’, document reveals In-person BSL interpretation for major government speeches and press conferences is “not being taken forward” by the Labour government, but the policy has “not been completely closed out for future consideration”, Liam O’Dell can exclusively reveal.

BREAKING: In-person BSL interpretation for major government speeches and press conferences is “not being taken forward” by the Labour government, but the policy has “not been completely closed out for future consideration”.

‘Here There Are Blueberries’ review – Auschwitz album inquiry is insightful but indecipherable Tectonic Theatre Company’s production, a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, plays London’s Stratford East theatre.

Tectonic Theatre Company’s production, a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, plays London’s Stratford East theatre.