27 October 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
"It’s 90 years since Hammer Films began their series of gothic horror and fantasy films. In time for Hallowe’en Robert JE Simpson explores its iconic role in the horror film genre."
A pre-recorded piece with Steven, exploring 90 years of Hammer films. The finished piece focusses its attention entirely on the horror output.
The segment has been clipped on BBC Sounds and is available to listen to here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0k0gxlr

13 October 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
"Pop culture guru Robert JE Simpson celebrates the life of American filmmaker and pulp artist Ed Wood who was once awarded the title of worst director of all time."
I was live in studio to mark the centenary of Edward D Wood Jr and his unique brand of filmmaking.

25 August 2024
Summer Meltdown Episode 8: There is a Light That Never Goes Out. BBC Radio Ulster
"Ghosts, gravestones, and the demise of a Transformer - Steven Rainey explores death and legacy.
What happens after we die? Pop culture historian Robert J.E. Simpson takes a stroll with Steven in Dundonald Cemetery to look at how we memorialise ourselves.
Broadcaster John Suchet tells Steven about the death of his wife Bonnie, and how he found love in one of the darkest moments of his life.
Steven explores the world of the supernatural with his wife, Zoe, and recounts how he was traumatised by the death of Optimus Prime, and how he once went viral with a novelty t-shirt."

The theme of this episode came from one of my suggestions, with Steven and myself recording material on death and legacies on location. 

16 June 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
Marking 60 years since the release of the apocalytic comedy, Stanley Kubrick's Dr Strangelove, Robert was in studio to talk about its enduring legacy and relevance to the current global crisis. Also featured in the segment:  Alex Kane and Linzi Conway.

12 May 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
On the occasion of the centenary of Tony Hancock's birth, Robert was in studio with Steven to talk about the legendary BBC Radio star and his lasting comic legacy.
Also briefly, Robert touched on the passing of iconic filmmaker Roger Corman. 

14 April 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was in studio with Steven to chat about the legacy of the Pink Panther franchise, 60 years on from the first film.

10 March 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
"On the day of the Oscars resident pop culture guru Robert J E Simpson dives into the world of famous and infamous cameo performances".

18 February 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
With Monty Python back in the news this week as Eric Idle and John Cleese took to Twitter to air grievances about the troupe's finances and management, Robert was in studio to discuss the tumultuous relationship of the comedy legends and other comic partnerships.

9 February 2024
Talkback. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was in studio with William Crawley to discuss tv shows and their musical adaptations, as a Stranger Things stage show played in NI. Also featured in the segment were Conor Grimes and Naomi Clarke.

7 January 2024
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was in studio with Steven to talk about the complext situation regarding Mickey Mouse, copyright and public domain works. He also chatted about the late David Soul's impact. Also featured were panelists Lata Sharma and Alexa Moore.

17 December 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was back in studio to chat about the various screen adaptations of Charles Dickens' festive class A Christmas Carol. Making up the panel were Stephen Waker and Rosamond Bennett.

19 November 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was in studio with Steven to celebrate 60 years of Doctor Who.

10 November 2023
Talkback. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was live in studio with William Crawley to talk about Doctor Who fandom ahead of its 60th anniversary. Also on the segment were  Katherine Wheeler, Josh Carr and & Martin Montageue.

3 September 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert and Steven chatted about the perils of casting Hollywood remakes.

4 June 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show via a phone link-up to talk about one of his favourite BBC actors - legendary Belfast man Derek Thompson - following the announcement that he was retiring from the role of Charlie on Casualty after 34 years.

30 April 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was back in studio with Steven to talk about the legacy of cult film The Wicker Man, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

9 April 2023
What's the Score? Episode 5. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert guested on this series about films and film scores, presented by Tim Burden, to talk about the history of the Avenue Cinema site in Belfast and the development of Belfast's relationship with talking pictures.
Robert's contributions were recorded on location in Belfast city centre. The series is produced by Ralph McLean

12 March 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
With the Oscars just hours away, Robert shares his recommendations from this year's contendors and made his predictions for the winners and losers with Steven. 

12 February 2023
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was in studio with Steven to talk about the much-anticipated revival of John Cleese's sitcom Fawlty Towers, and the perils of revisiting old franchises, and navigating changing political correctness.

18 December 2022
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
The annual Christmas movie conversation with Steven Rainey (plus guests Prof. Victoria Simms and Peter Cardwell) saw Robert back in studio. We chatted nostalgia, dark Christmas films, and other festive offerings. Robert also stayed for a second conversation around Christmas songs - though perhaps wisely held back on sharing some of his favourites in light of the lunchtime audience.

16 October 2022
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert  was in studio talking with Steven Rainey and Mark Davenport about the Belfast connections of actress Dame Angela Lansbury, just a few days after her death (on what would have been her 97th birthday). Also under discussion was the death this week of Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane. 

4 September 2022
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was back in studio with Steven, this time to talk about films that Hollywood buried - following on from the recent decision by Warner Bros to cancel nearly completed films about Batgirl and Scooby Doo.
They also talked about the potential demise of cinema and CineWorld's  rumoured bankruptcy.

13 August 2022
The Culture Cafe: Hitchcock at 123. BBC Radio Ulster
Robert joined host Steven Rainey live in studio to discuss the career and legacy of legendary filmmaker Sir Alfred Hitchcock on the occasion of the 123rd anniversary of Hitch's birth. 

26 June 2022
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Marking 70 years since comedy legends Laurel and Hardy's only visit to Belfast, Robert was talking to Steven about the trip, the duo's comic legacy and other Belfast links.

10 April 2022
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
On the 110th anniversary of the Titanic beginning its ill-fated voyage from Southampton, Robert was on the show talking to Claire Graham (standing in for Steven) about the legacy of the Titanic, Dark Tourism and artefacts, Victorian prophecies, and his own connections to the ship.
Listen to the segment here. 

27 March 2022
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show, talking to Claire Graham (standing in for Steven) about his predictions for the 94th Academy Awards and the hopes of Oscars glory for Kenneth Branagh's Belfast.

19 December 2021
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
- Robert was on the show to discuss Christmas movies.

31 October 2021
Sunday with Steven Rainey, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on to talk about, what else on Halloween, but horror films, along with filmmaker Aislinn Clarke.

28 October 2021
Movie Magic with Tim Burden, Belfast 247
Robert was on the show to talk about some of his favourite horror film scores. Also on the programme were Fright Club NI and director Joe Dante.

5 September 2021
Sunday with Steven Rainey, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was back on Steven's show, this time to talk about the centenary of Hollywood actress Virginia Rappe's death, the trial of Fatty Arbuckle, and its legacy in the MeToo generation.

31 July 2021
Mollie Green, BBC WM
Robert was on air with Molly to talk about the 50th anniversary of The Exorcist, and horror films generally.

6 June 2021
Sunday with Steven Rainey, BBC Radio Ulster.
Ahead of the release to the US Congress of a report on UFO's, Robert joined Steven to chat about UFOs, aliens, and their impact in popular culture.

8 May 2021
Sunday with Steven Rainey, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show chatting to stand-in host Anna Curran to talk about tv show finales including LOST, M.A.S.H, The Prisoner, and Line of Duty. 

5 May 2021
Talkback, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was invited on the show to chat with host William Crawley about Belfast statues, and a long-mooted suggestion to erect one of actress and Rocky Horror Show legend, Patricia Quinn, in her home city. 

22 November 2020
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was chatting with Steven about radio comedy and the brilliance that is I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

25 October 2020
Sunday with Steven Rainey. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on talking about big screen adaptations of literary horror. 

17 September 2020.
The Conor Philips Show. BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was talking with Conor about bad movie sequels. 

13 April 2020
Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to give a brief tribute to comic writer and actor, ex-Goodie Tim Brooke-Taylor, following his death. 

2 April 2020
Lynette Faye, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show chatting to stand-in host Nuala McKeever about CinePunked's forthcoming How to Survive the Outbreak show.

12 February 2020
Matt Faulkner, BBC Radio Somerset.
Robert was a guest on Matt's show to talk about the CinePunked podcast and our related activities. We were given a substantial chunk of the show for the chat, and it included various extracts from our podcast episodes. 

22 January 2020
Matt Faulkner, BBC Radio Somerset
Phil Upton, BBC Coventry
The Paul Franks Show, BBC WM
Newsdrive, BBC Radio Scotland
Andrew Easton, BBC Hereford and Worcester
Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
In a very busy day of broadcasting, Robert appeared on each of the above programmes to pay tribute to actor, director and Monty Python member, Terry Jones, whose death was announced earlier in the day. Most of the shows went out live, with one pre-record. 

31 December 2019
Good Morning Ulster, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was on to pay tribute to singer/songwriter Neil Innes, who died during the week and who Robert had finally had the pleasure of meeting at a Rutles gig in Edinburgh a few months before. 

6 November 2019
The Lynette Fay Show, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert appeared along with friends Tony Slattery and Robert Ross to promote their live shows at Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. Nuala McKeever was standing in as host. 

4 October 2019
Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was on the show to talk about the 50th anniversary of Monty Python. 

9 September 2019
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert guested along with Orlaith McAllister to talk about celibacy and wedding shaming.
You can watch the segments back via Facebook here: Pt 1, Pt 2. 

22 June 2019
The Gerry Kelly Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to talk all things CinePunked and film. 

3 May 2019
The Nolan Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was talking to Stephen Nolan about the notion of Belfast having a porn cinema, and CinePunked's experience of dealing with the local licensing restrictions.
The segment can be listened back to here. 

27 March 2019
The Listening Project, BBC Radio 4.
"Robert and Niall: The Godfather" is an extract from a conversation between me and my best friend, Niall. Recorded for The Listening Project by Steven Rainey in Belfast, and presented by  Fi Glover, the broadcast can be heard here. The unexpurgated conversation (some 2 hours of it rather than the five minutes that makes it to air) is to be transferred to the British Library's sound archive for posterity.

25 March 2019
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert guested on the show along with Adrianne Peltz, talking with Vinny about grieving for pets, and nudist beaches in Northern Ireland. You can watch the show back via Facebook here.

10 December 2018
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio UIster.
Robert and Cathy Quinn were chatting with Vinny about dating disasters and etiquette, and open relationships.
You can watch the show back via Facebook here: Pt 1. Pt 2.

27 November 2018
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on air to talk about the cinema of director Nicolas Roeg. 

12 October 2018
Good Morning Ulster, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to talk about the 50th anniversary of the iconic Pearl & Dean theme music (so beloved of generations of cinema goers). 

16 April 2018
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert and Liz Kennedy were on the show to talk death, life partners and peacocking.
You can watch back part of the show here. The video for the podcast edition is here.

19 February 2018
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was a guest on the show to talk about the sex-lives of the over-60s. 

2 February 2018
Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show talking about Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner following the latest developments on the case surrounding Wood's death in 1981.

18 January 2018
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to chat with Ralph McLean and host Marie-Louise Muir about actor Peter Wyngarde's screen career, following the announcement of his death, and the notions of masculinity that characters like Jason King provoke. 

8 February 2017
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert guested on The Arts Show this evening, talking briefly to Marie-Louise Muir about the late great Alan Simpson, of Galton and Simpson, who has died age 87.

30 January 2017
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert guested on VHS to talk body modifications, tattoos and piercings. Also on the programme, mental health, and Allo Allo!

30 August 2016
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to pay tribute to actor Gene Wilder. 

23 October 2015
Andrew Peach, BBC Radio Berkshire.
Robert was live on the breakfast show to talk about the possible redevelopment of Bray Film Studios, and his involvement in the Save Bray Studios campaign. 

11 September 2015
Good Morning Ulster, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was on air early this morning for GMU with Conor Bradford and Karen Patterson to talk about Laurel and Hardy ahead of the upcoming auction of Stan Laurel letters in the UK.

27 July 2015
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
I've been getting square eyes previewing this week's telly for your delectation including Ripper Street, Partners in Crime and BBC: The Secret Files. 

20 July 2015
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to provide a preview of the week's upcoming television programmes.

9 July 2015
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert appeared on the show to talk about the proposed reboot of Sapphire and Steel (with a little Star Wars chat thrown in too). 

11 June 2015
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert appeared on the show live via phone from Paris to talk to host Steven Rainey about the death of Sir Christopher Lee (appropriately enough, while Robert was attending a conference on Hammer Films).

13 April 2015
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on air to preview the week's upcoming television shows.

19 February 2015
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to review the latest movies. Featured were Cake, Coherence, and Project Almanac.

4 February 2015
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert appeared briefly on the programme to talk about Sherlock Holmes.

27 December 2014
The Vinny Hurrell Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to talk about the new remake of Annie, and his recommendations for classic films on television. 

2 December 2014
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on the show to review new book Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now: Conversations with Malka Marom.

27 October 2014
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was chatting to Vinny Hurrell (standing in for Keri) about his tv boxset recommendations. 

21 October 2014
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on to review the new book from screen icon Roger Moore - Last Man Standing. 

4 September 2014
Kerry McLean, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert reviewed the latest DVD releases on the show. 

2 August 2014
Revolutions Per Minute, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert guested on the show along with Willie Drennan and Bap Kennedy about some of their favourite LPs. Robert chatted with host Steven Rainey about his love of The Doors' Strange Days. 

15 July 2014
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was on air to talk about the death of actor Ray Lonnen, and seminal tv show Harry's Game. 

15 November 2013
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was chatting to host Kim Lenaghan about the Belfast Film Festival's upcoming series of screenings for the BFI Gothic season. 

24 October 2013
Arena with Sean Rocks, RTE Radio 1.
Robert was on the Irish radio show along with author Darren Shan, to talk about Bram Stoker, and in particular Dracula, ahead of the Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin. 

21 March 2013
The Arts Show, BBC Radio Ulster.
Robert was talking with host Marie-Louise Muir about the death of horror writer James Herbert.

5 March 2012
Ben Jackson, BBC Radio Leicester.
Robert was interviewed by phone about the acquisition by De Montfort University's CATH centre of the Hammer Films script archive.

24 November 2010
Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert appeared on the show to pay tribute to two alumni of Hammer Films who had just passed, director Roy Ward Baker, and actress Ingrid Pitt. 

21 July 2010
Andrew Peach, BBC Radio Berkshire
Robert was one of several people interviewed (including with actor Francis Matthews) about plans to redevelop the historic Bray Studios near Windsor. 

6 July 2010
Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert reviewed new film Tetro on the show. Marie-Louise Muir was host.

23 June 2010
Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert reviewed Woody Allen's film Whatever Works on the show.
A recording is available here.

7 April 2009
Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert was on to talk about Dracula and the 'One City One Book' festival in Dublin which was focussing on the novel this month.

31 October 2008
Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert guested on the show to talk about horror films for Halloween, and Hammer's production of Wake Wood, which was filming in Dublin that very week.

25 September 2008
The Movie Café, BBC Radio Scotland
Robert guested on the The Movie Café to talk to host Janice Forsyth about the revival of Hammer films and their new production Wake Wood.

7 May 2008
Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
Robert's first ever piece of live radio. He was on the show to discuss a course he had devised and was now teaching on Hammer Horror.