About W Stephen Gilbert
Based: UKAcross four decades, W Stephen Gilbert has been variously a writer of books, plays, magazine and newspaper reviews, articles and reportage on both sides of the Atlantic; a producer of drama and documentary for the BBC, C4 and ITV; a reader of scripts for the stage and screen; and an inveterate sender of letters to The Guardian. He has served on numerous industry committees, boards and juries, pitched projects in Hollywood and for several years posted blog pieces and book-length work on the internet. But like the Sondheim character, he never does anything twice.
Articles Written
A Word in Your Shell-like
by W Stephen Gilbert
Thu 19th Jul 2012In his latest article, resident philosopher Stephen Gilbert bemoans the lack of confidence in our society.... [read more]
Bad Sight of the Week
by W Stephen Gilbert
Thu 28th Jun 2012At the weekend, I sent a letter to The Observer via email. So sure am I that the paper will not run it this coming Sunday that I breathe life into it by reproducing it here below... [read more]
Paternal Vigilance
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 18th Jun 2012The LPJ's resident philosopher and arts correspondent muses on David Cameron's parenting skills, VIP security and the conclusions of some of our favourite television series.... [read more]
Camping Needs Solid Ground
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 11th Jun 2012LPJ's arts correspondent and resident philosopher, Stephen Gilbert, comments that an emphasis on celebrity is the prevailing television flavour of the age, infecting every genre of programming, whether appropriate or not... [read more]
Longing to Reign Over Us
by W Stephen Gilbert
Fri 8th Jun 2012As is my wont, I found plenty to occupy me over the extended half-week holiday and never felt sufficiently at a loose end to find myself tuning in to any of the blowsy and noisy shenanigans somebody thought might be welcome to Her Majesty the Queen to mark the 60th anniversary of her accession, writes W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
The Politics of Truth
by W Stephen Gilbert
Fri 1st Jun 2012Politicians are easy targets and scoring points off aunt sallies is a national sport. Stephen Gilbert discusses the chasm between the accountability of political columnists and that of MPs... [read more]
Senior Moment
by W Stephen Gilbert
Fri 18th May 2012This month, I turn 65. If you know your musicals, my naming Eliza Doolittle Day as the date in question will give you the day that this event takes place. If indeed it is An Event, says W. Stephen Gilbert (photo courtesy of Barbra Flinder).... [read more]
DEREK, or LITTLE by LITTLE
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 30th Apr 2012By common consent (at least among those like me who lived through it), the ‘golden age’ of broadcasting – at the BBC especially – was that which spanned the 1960s, writes W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
Spying an opportunity
by W Stephen Gilbert
Wed 11th Apr 2012Stephen Gilbert argues that surveillance over the whole population involves an erosion of our basic liberties. We give away our rights at our own peril.
... [read more]
Noncommittal for kindle or less than kind?
by W Stephen Gilbert
Sun 1st Apr 2012The Kindle - an infinity of reading or a bibliophile's nightmare? Stephen Gilbert shares his thoughts on the matter.... [read more]
Straight to the heart
by W Stephen Gilbert
Thu 22nd Mar 2012Gay marriage: 'oh dear, oh lor’, how did this become the issue of the hour? The world appears to have divided itself into two camps and I find myself in neither'- journalist and writer W Steven Gilbert shares his thoughts... [read more]
The Elephant is Still in the Room
by W Stephen Gilbert
Wed 14th Mar 2012The Republicans have no one to blame but themselves if they appear to be careering to electoral defeat, writes W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
Sixty years of philatelic pleasure, and now?
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 5th Mar 2012For the five or six generations of solitary, sedentary boys in the middle of which fell my vintage (the baby boomers), the hobby par excellence was collecting stamps, recalls W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
Don’t Quota Me
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 20th Feb 2012Is there a single reputable argument in favour of positive discrimination? The fact that so many of our institutions are unrepresentative of the make-up of society is of course deplorable, but manipulating recruitment in order to create an artificial balance is no way to put this right, writes W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
Lies, Damned Lies and Opinion Polls
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 30th Jan 2012Stephen Gilbert challenges the so called 'accuracy' of ICM opinion polls and shows how Labour continues to miss classic opportunities to rebut Conservative policy. ... [read more]
A Ghost Story Retailed (part three)
by W Stephen Gilbert
Mon 16th Jan 2012W Stephen Gilbert delivers an up-to-date, state and fate of the retail trade in Britain, it is partly personal and anecdotal, and partly a critical overview: part three.... [read more]
A Ghost Story Retailed (part two)
by W Stephen Gilbert
Thu 5th Jan 2012W Stephen Gilbert delivers an up-to-date, state and fate of the retail trade in Britain, it is partly warmingly, personal and anecdotal, and partly a critical overview: part two...... [read more]
A Ghost Story Retailed
by W Stephen Gilbert
Sat 31st Dec 2011W Stephen Gilbert delivers an up-to-date, state and fate of the retail trade in Britain, it is partly warmingly, personal and anecdotal, and partly a critical overview: part one... [read more]
Once in Unreal David's (Big) Society
by W Stephen Gilbert
Fri 23rd Dec 2011Stephen Gilbert asks whether Britain is a Christian country and whether Cameron's coalition government lives up to the Christian values he professes... [read more]
Poor's show
by W Stephen Gilbert
Sun 11th Dec 2011Ever since the decline of European Socialism in the 1980s and the collapse of the Soviet Union in the ’90s, capitalism has considered itself king of the world and has behaved accordingly, says W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
Transcendental argument
by W Stephen Gilbert
Sat 3rd Dec 2011Through a mist of tears, I caught up with the conclusion of 'My Transsexual Summer', Channel 4’s four-part fly-on-the-wall series, says W Stephen Gilbert.... [read more]
Obit: Never a Soft or quiet Russell
by W Stephen Gilbert
Wed 30th Nov 2011W Stephen Gilbert pays tribute to Ken Russell, the enigmatic, eccentric film director who died on Sunday. ... [read more]
Boom at the top
by W Stephen Gilbert
Tue 29th Nov 2011At a time when the poorest are being hit hardest, W Stephen Gilbert comments on the obsence bonuses enjoyed by those at the top echelons of the financial sector and puts paid to the reasons most commonly used to justify such unfair practice.... [read more]
Wearing Your Heart on Your Lapel
by W Stephen Gilbert
Fri 11th Nov 2011W Stephen Gilbert reflects on the politics of poppy wearing, its dissociation in popular society from what it actually represents and its hijacking by politicians. ... [read more]
The Incontinent of Europe
by W Stephen Gilbert
Wed 9th Nov 2011W Stephen Gilbert analyses recent events in Europe and makes the case for Britain to remain part of the EU... [read more]