Journalist/lapsed mackem | Features/reviews/investigations. Mostly on culture. Currently reporter @theobserveruk.bsky.social (plus bits in @theguardian.com) | British Journalism Awards winner 2023 https://www.theguardian.com/profile/rachael-healyhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3m46vg5sao22vThanks to @pressgazette.co.uk and the British Journalism Awards judges for shortlisting me for the Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award, and congratulations to everyone who made the lists [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Oct 2025 17:01 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m46vg5sao22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3m2euxnok4k2oDelighted to be shortlisted for best news story in the @freelancingfor.bsky.social Freelance Journalism Awards 2025, for a story about the treatment of workers on Strictly Come Dancing, commissioned when I was freelancing for @theobserveruk.bsky.social last year. Congrats to all on the shortlist!04 Oct 2025 15:18 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2euxnok4k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3m273tq22cc26On today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social Sensemaker: Self-declared free speech comics like Jimmy Carr are at the first Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. Critics say they’re laundering the reputation of a state that brutally restricts its own citizens’ free speech https://observer.co.uk/listen/daily-sensemaker/laugh-washing-in-saudi02 Oct 2025 08:05 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m273tq22cc26https://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lyrryouxgc2qWhat links Tommy Robinson, Charlie Kirk and a host of extremely online conspiracy theorists? Money from a so-called “counter-jihad” US billionaire. My colleague @thejohnsimpson.bsky.social maps the connections https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/us-cash-turned-tommy-robinson-into-the-poster-boy-of-uk-far-right14 Sep 2025 07:39 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyrryouxgc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lxum6uohxs2aAnd now you can listen to the podcast version 👂📻 https://observer.co.uk/listen/daily-sensemaker/how-taskmaster-conquered-the-world [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Sep 2025 17:08 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxum6uohxs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lxd32pq2ms2lAs @taskmaster.tv gets ready to celebrate its 20th series, 10 years on TV, and 15 years since the original live Fringe show, I went behind the scenes to find the secrets of its success. Read all about it in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/this-is-what-weve-learned-today-how-to-make-a-long-running-comedy-gameshow-watched-by-millions26 Aug 2025 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxd32pq2ms2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lxd32pq2ms2lAs @taskmaster.tv gets ready to celebrate its 20th series, 10 years on TV, and 15 years since the original live Fringe show, I went behind the scenes to find the secrets of its success. Read all about it in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/this-is-what-weve-learned-today-how-to-make-a-long-running-comedy-gameshow-watched-by-millions26 Aug 2025 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxd32pq2ms2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lvkxfpl3ls2bAs the Fringe enters its first full week, I spoke to a few artists about the endurance test of the festival and pushing their physical and psychological boundaries with daring shows https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/onstage-orgasms-live-tattooing-embracing-our-mucky-parts-edinburgh-fringe-artists-take-it-to-the-limit04 Aug 2025 10:12 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvkxfpl3ls2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lvkxfpl3ls2bAs the Fringe enters its first full week, I spoke to a few artists about the endurance test of the festival and pushing their physical and psychological boundaries with daring shows https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/onstage-orgasms-live-tattooing-embracing-our-mucky-parts-edinburgh-fringe-artists-take-it-to-the-limit04 Aug 2025 10:12 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvkxfpl3ls2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lrb4adiq5c2hUnbound authors and former staff members who want to talk, including anonymously, get in touch at rachael.healy@observer.co.uk [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jun 2025 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrb4adiq5c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lqzcd36wxs2521Soho was meant to breathe life into London’s stand-up scene. Yet dozens of artists and former staff members paint a portrait of a company in chaos. My @londonermag.bsky.social debut today with a story about the artists bearing the brunt of business failure https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/no-laughing-matter-why-didnt-a-top-soho-comedy-club-pay-its-performers/07 Jun 2025 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqzcd36wxs25https://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lqzcd36wxs2521Soho was meant to breathe life into London’s stand-up scene. Yet dozens of artists and former staff members paint a portrait of a company in chaos. My @londonermag.bsky.social debut today with a story about the artists bearing the brunt of business failure https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/no-laughing-matter-why-didnt-a-top-soho-comedy-club-pay-its-performers/07 Jun 2025 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqzcd36wxs25https://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lqcoacnxbs25You can listen to my first Observer podcast, out today. It’s all about the international nursing staff working in the UK and whether Starmer’s harsh immigration plans will drive them to leave https://observer.co.uk/listen/daily-sensemaker/could-the-governments-immigration-reforms-lead-to-an-exodus-of-international-nurses29 May 2025 12:00 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqcoacnxbs25https://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lolex7nxkc23You can now reach me at rachael.healy@observer.co.uk Send me your tips! [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 May 2025 12:18 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lolex7nxkc23https://bsky.app/profile/rachaelhealy.bsky.social/post/3lnkjebdnkc2tLittle work update: on 7 May I'll be joining the Observer team for six months as a full-time reporter. Get in touch with tips on anything you think I should be digging into. I'll be covering my usual arts and culture patch, but also other topics.24 Apr 2025 10:39 +0000at://did:plc:w4yuymogjl2g2nocqqe7jwfc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnkjebdnkc2t