Fortunately... with Fi and Jane

Fi and Jane welcome along the one and only Laura Kuenssberg, BBC Political Editor. Together they expose a celebrity chef’s toasties and reminisce about referendums past. Laura gives the lowdown from life on the road and Jane shares her story of an evening at Chequers. Plus Fi spots a pair of penny-farthings.

Fi has a special birthday this week and here for the celebrations is writer and journalist Bella Mackie. Bella’s book Jog On explores the benefits of running for mental health so Jane brings out some of her own exercise experiences, including pilates and fun runs gone by. Bella also explains Ultimate Fighting Championship and Fi grills Jane on her recent visit to the Grand Lodge.

Fi and Jane venture out to the BBC pizza this week and are joined by The World Tonight’s Ritula Shah. Aside from Ritula’s dulcet broadcasting tones, they discuss the joy of the night shift and the bizarre world of 80s local radio. Plus there’s an inside scoop from a Royal visit and the return of Sarah Montague. Again.

Inside Broadcasting House to avoid the wintery weather, Fi and Jane are joined by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, the creators of the phenomenally successful High Low podcast. They discuss the importance of female friendship, where to put nice emails and the perils of a degree in Drama.

Back at the BBC, writer and Everything But The Girl musician Tracey Thorn pays a visit to a star struck Fi and Jane. In honour of Tracy’s new teenage memoir, Jane has brought her own adolescent diaries for Fi to analyse. They also explore bread metaphors, Smash Hits questions and how to prepare for the apocalypse.

Somebody called a Doctor this week as Fi and Jane are joined by resident broadcasting physician Dr Sarah Jarvis. In addition to Fi and Jane’s list of ailments, Dr Sarah talks famous patients, historical period solutions and the surprises of reporting for The One Show.

The inimitable broadcaster and political commentator Iain Dale pays a visit to the BBC piazza this week, after Fi and Jane lift the lid on BBC Sounds with Launch Director Charlotte Lock. There’s also a surprise visitor all the way from Ambridge.

Fi and Jane offer a warm welcome to 2019 with the new host of Radio 2’s Drivetime show, Sara Cox. As well as brainstorming some feature ideas for Sara’s new gig, they discuss the risks of out of date food, the problems of having a soft ‘r’ and what it’s like to live a life in broadcasting.

There’s a chill in the pizza, but it can’t puncture Fi and Jane’s demob-happy season finale mood. They’re joined by Gideon Coe for chats about their glamourous past lives in local radio, favourite Christmas songs, and a tale of teen sexting gone wrong. Fortunately returns in January.

Fi and Jane head to The Grange pub in Cardiff for the first ever Fortunately recording in front of an audience. Things get seriously festive as they take questions from the audience about interviews gone wrong, imposter syndrome and advice on surviving this most wonderful time of the year.