The Canadian born actor Charles Collingwood has, since 1975, been defined by his role as Brian Aldridge, the upper-class charmer in The Archers.

Over the last fifty years…Brian’s had affairs, illegitimate children and ventures into the sausage business. But in real life Charles is very happily married to Judy Bennett, who played Shula in the show.

Away from Ambridge he's appeared on TV in Morse and Midsomer Murders, Roger Roger and Noel Edmunds’ Telly Addicts...but will always be Brian to me.

We asked Charles, with that resonant, slightly gravelly and textured voice of his, to share his Inheritance Tracks with us...

Inherited: My Blue Heaven by Fran Sinatra / and sung by Peter Skellern

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Anna Bailey

Dame Penelope Wilton is an actress whose versatility has shone across stage, screen and television.

Penelope won the Olivier Award for her role in Taken at Midnight, on TV she's played the witty Ann in Ever Decreasing Circles, Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey, and another Ann in Ricky Gervais' After Life.

On film she has appeared in the historic Shaun of the Dead, Pride and Prejudice and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Penelope shares her very lovely Inheritance Tracks.

Inherited: Que reste-t-il de nos amours? - Charles Trenet

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies & Lowri Morgan

The stand-up comedian and writer Sophie Duker has appeared in venues around the UK and she’s also been seen on TV, popping up on the likes of 'Taskmaster', ‘Live at the Apollo’ and 'Celebrity Mastermind'.

She has also hosted programmes for BBC Sounds including the ‘Obsessed’ strands – which accompany hit television shows – ‘I May Destroy You’ and ‘Everything I Know About Love.’

And there’s still a chance to see Sophie on her current stand up tour “But Daddy I Love Her” - including a date at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre in May 2025.

Born in London, her foray in comedy began during her time as an undergraduate studying French and English at university. Following her love of language and laughter – we wondered what her musical inspirations would be in this week’s Inheritance Tracks?

Inherited: Nelson Mandela by The Specials

Producers: Ribika Moktan and Gareth Nelson-Davies

The BAFTA award winning actor Gina McKee, in a career spanning over three decades, has showcased her range in dramas, comedies and thrillers.

Born in Durham, she grew up the daughter of a coal miner, but has gone onto become perhaps best known for her work in The Lost Prince, Our Friends in the North, Brass Eye and Notting Hill.

Gina focuses on the craft rather than the fame and that’s so evident in her body of stage work…most recently in The Children’s Hour, Dear England and The Years.

Inherited: I’ll Be There by The Four Tops

Rachel Burden is a familiar voice on the BBC airwaves, she’s been a regular on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast programme, regularly brings us the news on the television, and hosts Cafe Hope - Radio 4’s virtual coffee shop where guests pop in for a brew and a chat to tell us what they're doing to make the world a better place.

Born in Buckinghamshire, she graduated from Trinity College Dublin and studied broadcast journalism at Cardiff University.

One of five children and a mother of four herself, music has always been something they’ve shared, what then has she chosen for her Inheritance Tracks...

Inherited: "Overture" from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Producers: Catherine Powell and Ben Mitchell

Time for some radio gold...or silver?

Christina Trevanion is an internationally-recognised jewellery expert whose work as an auctioneer has led her to a sparkling role presenting TV antiques shows like Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt and Flog It.

After studying Fine Art at University, Christina worked at Christies in London before setting up her own auction house in her home county of Shropshire.

So, let’s see what musical treasures she can offer us in today’s Inheritance Tracks...

Carrie Hope Fletcher is a true triple threat: a powerhouse performer, a bestselling writer and an inspiring voice off stage too.

She’s been in the spotlight since she was seven years old and has made her name as a West End star playing iconic roles…Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables, Veronica Sawyer in the original West End production of Heathers: The Musical, and she originated the role of Cinderella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella.

Beyond the theatre, Carrie’s a big social media personality and has a massive YouTube following and she’s also a bestselling author.

Her older brother Tom Fletcher is lead vocalist and guitarist of the band McFly but will any of their hits make it into her Inheritance Tracks?

Inherited: Sophia by Nerina Pallo

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Ribika Moktan

From playing Lane Price in Mad Men to King George VI in the Crown, and now Claudius in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet, performing is in Jared Harris' blood.

His earliest memory is being in Hawaii while his late father – the actor Richard Harris – was filming a movie with Julie Andrews.

But as a child, he wanted to be an astronaut...which might explain his Inheritance Tracks.

Inherited: Fly Me to the Moon by Tony Bennett

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Jack Lee

The journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern is one of the most recognisable faces and voices and is currently on the run from Bear Grylls in new Netflix show Celebrity Bear Hunt.

She grew up in Middlesbrough and went to a truly egalitarian school which believed that all children have skills, whatever their family’s background. A classic swot but also the class clown, she just wanted people to like her; ‘standard TV presenter syndrome’ - her words, not ours!

Steph began her career as an engineer before moving into financial journalism, becoming a business correspondent for BBC News, and has always been discreet about her private life...but we do know that she’s a former champion Irish dancer and still keeps her foot in.

Will there be a flavour of that dance heritage in her Inheritance Tracks?

Inherited: Starman by David Bowie

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Anna Bailey

Musician Olly Alexander was born in Harrogate, and discovered a love of acting at school, where tread the boards in Guys and Dolls and the bug had bitten.

His role as Ritchie in Russel T Davies' acclaimed Channel 4 drama It's a Sin, bringing to life the horrors of HIV/Aids in the Gay community in the 1980's, brought him serious attention and plaudits, earning him a Bafta TV nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category amongst others.

But it was as a musician where he originally made his mark as the vocalist for the band Years and Years, reaching number one in the UK album charts twice, and releasing a series of super catchy singles that made series dents in the mainstream charts.

He went solo in 2024 in a big way by representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest last year and his debut solo album is Polari, recently released to rave reviews.

Inherited: Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell