Combining a mix of society's last word and both wit and wisdom, The Steeple Times covers food, drink and fine dining as well as luxury, travel, the arts, individuals of influence and current affairs in the United Kingdom, America and elsewhere. We are best described as being akin to "a cross between The Huffington Post and Private Eye".
The magazine's following is affluent, engaged and international. With 41% of readers coming from the UK and 38% from America, The Steeple Times also has strong presence within Canadian, Italian, German and Australian territories.
October 20, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
Beth Rigby makes herself a national heroine by referencing the word “shitshow” live on Sky News Kay Burley is famous for making Peter Andre cry on Sky News. Martin Brunt is famous for making Brenda Leyland kill herself as the result of door-stepping her for Sky News. Now, Beth Rigby has ‘bigged-up’ the situation … Continue reading “Welcome To The Shitshow”
March 4, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples suggests ‘Lady’ Karren Brady of Knightsbridge has shown herself to be nothing but a muckspreader in her latest pathetic opinion piece for ‘The Sun’ The Steeple Times delighted in exposing the former Member of Parliament for Kensington, Lady Borwick, as #LazyBorwick during the 2017 General Election campaign and now, it seems, we … Continue reading “#LazyBrady”
November 21, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times examines Archilochus’ concept of ‘foxes’ and ‘hedgehogs and applies such to modern day personalities According to the Greek poet Archilochus: “The fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing.” Isaiah Berlin explored this premise in greater detail in his 1953 essay The Hedgehog and the Fox and identified ‘hedgehogs’ … Continue reading “Modern Day Foxes and Hedgehogs”
June 13, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Scumbag paedophile Max Clifford bankrupts himself leaving his victims without compensation Since being jailed, paedophile Max Clifford has shown absolutely no contrition and utterly no remorse. He’s sued newspapers, let his equally arrogant daughter, Louise, buy the “goodwill” – if such bizarrely even exists – of his former PR firm and tried to sell … Continue reading “Maxed Out”
April 6, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Historic Battersea mansion for sale for the same sum it was marketed for in 2011; it has been mostly empty throughout the intervening period and was renovated by the late billionaire Malcolm Forbes Billionaire publisher Malcolm Forbes was a man who liked to live large. He had a huge yacht named The Highlander, threw … Continue reading “Billionaire Battersea”
February 6, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Belvedere, CA home of late tech billionaire and author of ‘Sex and the Single Zillionaire’ Thomas Perkins for sale; he entertained amongst others Sophia Loren and Rupert Murdoch there Thomas Perkins (1932 – 2016) had it all. Born in New York, this Harvard University and MIT graduate made his fortune in Silicon Valley, California … Continue reading “Sex and the Single Zillionaire”
February 13, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
‘The Independent’s’ closure signals the beginning of a trend
August 10, 2015
by General
Listed as the 99th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, Washington based news anchor and commentator Greta van Susteren is married to a self-described “ambulance chaser” and is a member of the Church of Scientology.
May 7, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
‘The Steeple Times’ reimagines ‘The Sun’s’ 1992 election winning front page and urges readers to vote Conservative
October 25, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Rebekah Brooks looks set to return to the fold Few expected Rebekah Brooks and her husband to be acquitted in June but now it looks set to be the couple who have the last laugh. News that Mrs Brooks has spent the week at the headquarters of News Corp in New York this week … Continue reading “Brooks is back”
September 14, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
The Queen breaks her silence on Scotland’s future Can the Queen succeed where the hapless ‘Better Together’ campaign has failed? Today, as she left church in Scotland the monarch reportedly told a member of the public: “I hope people will think very carefully about the future” according to Sky News.
September 10, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Has Rupert Murdoch lost the plot? Rupert Murdoch has done a lot of strange things lately: This octogenarian met with Nigel Farage last week, is allegedly going to have his papers back Scottish independence and might also get rid of ‘Page 3 Girls’ at The Sun.
June 27, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Two works from American galleries on display at Masterpiece Business on the opening day at Masterpiece 2014 was brisk with one dealership, Symbolic & Chase, selling a 1912 Cartier corsage for in excess of $20 million (£11.75 million). Our friends at Apter-Fredericks, equally, were delighted to sell an important mirror in the first hour … Continue reading “American masters”
June 24, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Charlie and Rebekah Brooks cleared of all charges Two years ago, in the bar of a Chelsea restaurant, Charlie Brooks told me that the charges against him and his wife would go away and today he’s been proven right
April 24, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Whining “victims” of News Corporation should accept that they are not the voice of the British public In a letter to Rupert Murdoch, the self-proclaimed “victims” of what they call “unlawful actions of… papers published by a News Corporation company” attack his decision to sign up News UK titles to the Independent Press Standards … Continue reading “Hack off”
March 20, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
World’s richest man Bill Gates pledges not to spoil his children Bill Gates is a man who found it hard to fit in. The geeks he grew up with came to resent him for betraying them but as he was elevated to the position of topping any list of ultra high net worths, he … Continue reading “Billing the kids”
February 21, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Rebekah Brooks sees off the first of five charges I am by no means an apologist for Rebekah Brooks but, equally, I have repeatedly argued that she ought not to be the sole scapegoat for phone hacking. Yesterday, after the first of five charges in her trial was dismissed, a milestone was reached and … Continue reading “Ban the bashing of Brooks”
February 14, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Piers Morgan questioned over phone hacking For too long Operation Weeting has focused on Rebekah Brooks. Now, with the revelation that Piers Morgan has been questioned under caution over alleged phone hacking, Scotland Yard are finally starting to wake up and smell the coffee.
December 17, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The mess that is the phone hacking trial The public have tired of the phone hacking trial and despite Stuart Kuttner, the News of the World’s former managing editor, being placed in the dock today and the paper’s former news editor being declared “currently unfit” to face trial, there is now very little coverage … Continue reading “Burying the phone hacking trial”
September 14, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
We’d rather not ‘Meet The Russians’ Whilst Made in Chelsea is harmless nonsense and The Only Way Is Essex car crash viewing, the plethora of similar shows that have followed are surely just indicative of the new lows British television has arrived at.
September 2, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Sarah Tucker recounts an interview with Sir David Frost I was once lucky enough to interview Sir David Frost. He was one of my interviewees for a show I devised for Sky called Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed? Others in the series included Lord Menuhin and Anita Roddick.
August 19, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Rupert Murdoch invests $70 million into Vice Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. has just taken a slice of Vice. No, the billionaire’s not put his money into prostitution but instead – for those who haven’t heard of it – he’s invested in a local magazine business that has grown into an alternative media … Continue reading “Murdoch takes a slice of Vice”
July 28, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
This twice married, self-made billionaire publisher and philanthropist is a polarising force. Desmond’s portfolio has at various times included titles as diverse as the Daily Express, OK!, Asian Babes and Penthouse and this is used against him by enemies like Tom Bower who have also claimed that he’s “violent and dishonest”. Though some might loathe … Continue reading “Richard Desmond (nicknamed “Mr Badger”)”
July 9, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Parliament’s decision to recall Rupert Murdoch is just ludicrous Parliament’s culture select committee has decided to recall Rupert Murdoch after revelations that he regretted co-operating in the inquiry into phone hacking. Frankly, this is just ludicrous and yet another fine example of pandering to the populist.
July 4, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Rupert Murdoch’s comments on the police investigation into phone hacking have a degree of logic to them In stating that the covertly recorded remarks made by Rupert Murdoch and broadcast on Channel 4 yesterday do actually have a degree of logic to them, some will suggest that we’re supporting an arrogant Citizen Kane like … Continue reading “Something and nothing”
June 4, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The worrying similarities in developments in the cases of Oscar Pistorious and Rebekah Brooks could be very bad for justice Two cases. Two countries. Two worrying trends. The cases against Oscar Pistorious and Rebekah Brooks might at first glance appear to have little in common but in reality they’re developing a lot of similarities. … Continue reading “Connecting justice”
May 20, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Could the failure of the makeover of Merida be a positive sign for Rebekah Brooks? Merida, Disney Pixar’s heroine in Brave, has had a makeover. Notwithstanding the new look, however, she still looks like Rebekah Brooks.
March 17, 2013
by General
Her Evening Standard editor father was known as “Chilly Charlie” and she’s become “Nuclear Wintour”. This New York based Brit states that she’s “lost count” of the number of times she’s been attacked by activists and once retaliated by sending anti-fur campaigners a plate of roast beef when they picketed her Condé Nast offices. In … Continue reading “Anna Wintour OBE”
December 14, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Our thoughts on the £10.8 million payout to Rebekah Brooks Rebekah Brooks is a lady who is variously described as looking like Lady Macbeth and Merida, the animated hero of Pixar’s Brave. Brooks is of working class extraction but rose to find herself in the company of the likes of Gordon Brown, Tony … Continue reading “The brilliance of Brooks”
December 1, 2012
by steepleadmin
Sarah Tucker shares her experiences on a panel discussing the outcomes of Leveson Journalist and author Sarah Tucker was one of the panelists at a talk at the Richmond Literary Festival on Thursday evening. By chance, since it coincided with the publication of the Leveson Report, the panel’s discussion naturally focused on that. Here … Continue reading “The Media: Friend or foe?”
November 29, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples responds to the recommendations of Leveson “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” was one of Edmund Burke’s most famous observations. Today, David Cameron’s former spin doctor Andy Coulson and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks were in court to face charges of … Continue reading “When good men should do nothing”
November 22, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Lancastrian Sky News anchor Kay Burley is the longest serving female newsreader on British television.
November 13, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The rise and fall of the “wealthiest divorcee in history” has been extraordinary. A former nude model for her first husband’s Knave magazine and star of adult films such as “The Nine Acres of Nakedness,” Patricia Kluge is the daughter of an Englishman and a Scots-Iraqi. She married her second husband, the late John Kluge, … Continue reading “Patricia Kluge (née Rose)”
September 26, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
He founded Odey Asset Management in 1991 and now manages some $6.2 billion of assets. This graduate of Christ Church, Oxford was first married to Rupert Murdoch’s daughter, Prudence, but after divorcing her Odey formed a union with a fellow financier, Nichola Pease. The couple, termed “The City’s Posh and Becks,” live between Chelsea and … Continue reading “Crispin Odey”
August 1, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Boris Johnson hosts Rupert Murdoch at the Olympics The Daily Mail and other titles are in uproar today. It has been revealed that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has invited Rupert Murdoch and his wife, Wendi Deng, to be his guests at the women’s 800m freestyle swimming finals of the Olympics this week. … Continue reading “Boris comes out kung-fu fighting”
June 10, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Has The Leveson Inquiry not gone on long enough? The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press commenced on the 28th July 2011 and has gone on and on. Lord Justice Leveson seems like a perfectly decent chap, but that every week more and more tittle-tattle is aired by a … Continue reading “Enough is enough”
May 25, 2012
by General
She called the Conservative Party the “Nasty Party” in a speech in 2002 and now Theresa May makes for a pretty nasty Prime Minister herself. Gaffe prone May failed to appeal to the police in May 2012 when they heckled her at the Police Federation conference and was too busy hosting a party with Lady … Continue reading “The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP”
May 13, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This newscaster and royal correspondent reports for the BBC daily. He’s lesser known these days for having sat on a lesbian protestor who invaded his studio in 1988 and for having written a book, The Loch Ness Story, in which he declares his belief in the existence of the creature to be “quite unshakeable.” There’s … Continue reading “Nicholas “Nick” Witchell”
May 11, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Considered by many as the pretender to the fortune of his father, Rupert, the phone hacking scandal may have put paid to that. He dropped out of Harvard to start a hip hop label named Rawkus and even gave an airing to a then little known Eminem. Here’s a rebel, complete with two tattoos, who, … Continue reading “James Murdoch”
May 7, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
There is barely anyone this contemporary portraist hasn’t painted. George W. Bush, David Cameron, Minnie Driver, Prince Philip, Paris Hilton and Rupert Murdoch all number amongst his subjects. The son of Conservative politician Tim Yeo, he’s now made it his mission to poke fun at the politicians and personalities he depicts and even went as … Continue reading “Jonathan Yeo”
April 28, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
“The Bouncing Czech” was variously an MP, a spy and a media mogul. Before his empire collapsed he stated: “You are as safe with me as you would be in the Bank of England.” He was a notoriously bad tempered beast of a man and in death he remains as large and as colourful as … Continue reading “Robert Maxwell (1923 – 1991)”
April 27, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The youngest editor of a British national newspaper and a former wife of Eastender Ross Kemp. Educated in Warrington but now more likely to be found enjoying a day trip on a private jet to Venice. A true survivor who should not yet be written off.
by Matthew Steeples
This Geordie Vegan campaigner got some £24 million in her divorce from Sir Paul McCartney. She’s continued to cause trouble ever since.
by Matthew Steeples
This father of six is a media mogul who doesn’t back down. Faced with being labeled the prime culprit in the phone hacking debacle, he battles on. His second wife Wendi packs a mean left hook.
March 13, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
My thoughts on the arrest of Charlie and Rebekah Brooks Whilst growing up, at home, when my family spoke of “hacking” we were talking about taking the horses out into the countryside. Now, sadly, this term has become more associated with Rupert Murdoch, News Corp and a bunch of bleating celebrities than with a … Continue reading “The horse has already bolted”
