Inheritance Tracks

Danny Robins has created all kinds of shows for TV and radio – often embracing the spookier side of life and death.

Inherited: Ride On by Christy Moore

Producer: Ben Mitchell

10 years ago Marlon James published 'A Brief History of Seven Killings' his bestselling novel which would go onto be awarded the Booker Prize.

Born in Jamaica in 1970 his parents shared with him their passion for poetry and Shakespeare – but Marlon preferred to be in his room reading comics like X-Men...the mutant group who went onto inspire him to write his 'Black Leopard, Red Wolf' trilogy.

For those who haven’t already read it, A Brief History of Seven Killings' is broken up into 5 sections, each named after a different piece of music, and music continues to play a prominent role in his writing life.

In his acceptance speech for the Booker Prize back in 2015 he heralded the likes of Bob Marley for championing Carribean voices saying he was: “The first to recognise that the voice coming out our mouths was a legitimate voice for fiction and for poetry”.

With all that in mind we were fascinated to know what Marlon James’s Inheritance Tracks would be.

Inherited: 54/46 Was My Number by Toots and the Maytals

Producer: Ben Mitchell

Actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe is perhaps best known for playing the non-clairvoyant husband Mike in the BBC One series, Ghosts.

Kiell grew up in East London and his future as a thespian was set in stone when at the age of five he began acting in nativity plays.

He studied acting at East 15 Acting School, and he honed his skills by making musical skits in the early years of YouTube, and can now be seen on stage in 'The Government Inspector' and on our screens as the new host of The Great British Sewing Bee.

Thankfully, his career in acting worked out, as in his own words, “My plan B was to be a grime MC”.

So with that in mind we asked Kiell to share his Inheritance Track with us.

Inherited: Never Too Much by Luther Vandros

Producers: Eirian Jones and Ben Mitchell

Reece Shearsmith rose to fame with the darkly comic League of Gentleman.

Since then his fascination with the macabre has led to starring roles on TV and stage, as well as to an enduring writing and acting partnership with Steve Pemberton.

He is currently on our screens with his latest and last series of the genius Inside No9 - and these are his Inheritance tracks.

Inherited: White Christmas by Darlene Love

Producers: Catherine Powell and Ben Mitchell

Hilary and Michael are an entertainment power-couple.

Having worked as a leading theatrical agent and producer for many years, with clients including Nigel Havers, Judi Dench and Colin Firth – it was at a glitzy party that Michael first set his eyes on the then actress Hilary Gish

Hilary says of that night...“I was looking for an agent, he was looking for a wife.”

They’ve gone on to have three children together, including the actor and comedian Jack Whitehall, and in recent years they’ve turned their family life into an entertainment empire.

As well as starring in their own Netflix series, hosted TV and theatre chat shows, and co-authored books...their podcast, The Wittering Whitehalls, has added yet another string to the brand Whitehall bow.

So, we invited Michael and Hilary to share their Inheritance Tracks with us...

Michael Inherited: Symphony No.3, the 2nd movement, composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Producer: Ben Mitchell

Jamie Laing found fame in the second series of Made in Chelsea in 2011, and has gone on to rebrand himself several times.

First as a veritable Willy Wonka, as the great great grandson of biscuit mogul Sir Alexander Grant, it is perhaps no surprise that he has created his own line of incredibly successful sweets.

These days he is just as at home in the audio studio as he is on the factory floor, having just been named the new co-host of BBC Radio 1’s Going Home programme, and has been a mainstay in the podcast charts for many years; from NewlyWeds, alongside his wife, to his new interview show Great Company.

What then will he choose as his Inheritance Tracks...

Inherited: Man! I Feel Like A Woman! by Shania Twain

Producers: Ribika Moktan and Ben Mitchell

Star of TV and radio, Vernon Kay comes from a Northern working-class family. His first job, at 14, was putting stickers on boxes of bananas at a ripening factory…and he also worked as caretaker, deep cleaning schools before his break came as a model.

TV came next with stints on T4 and All-Star Family Fortunes and has recently taken over the mid-morning show on Radio 2.

Last November Vernon ran an Ultra Marathon for Radio 2’s BBC Children in Need fundraiser, 115 miles in just four days, and he raised over £6 million!!!

Married to fellow presenter Tess Daly, they have two daughters...so what’s the music he’ll choose to pass on to them?

Inherited: Allentown by Billy Joel

Producer: Ben Mitchell

Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris are a funny couple. Quite literally!

The comedians have been regulars on comedy quiz panels, with Parris one of the hosts on the Mash Report, and Brigstocke appearing on many programmes here on Radio 4, including the popular I’ve Never Seen Star Wars amongst countless other shows.

They're new podcast ‘How was it for you?’, offers a peek into the joyful mess that ensues when two comedians live together.

So we were fascinated to see what there joint inheritance tracks would be.

Inherited:

Producer: Eirian Jones and Ben Mitchell

The Michelin starred chef and restaurateur Angela Hartnett likes crisps, prefers cheese to dessert, and her favourite pasta is spaghetti in a tomato sauce. Simple tastes for someone who’s famous for giving people fine dining experiences.

A protegee of Gordon Ramsay, Angela cheffed in some of the best restaurants in the world before opening her own Murano in Mayfair.

She’s famous and in demand for her TV appearances and hosts the excellent and entertaining podcast Dish along with Nick Grimshaw.

Whilst growing up, she inherited the values of wholesome food and the importance of the family meal from her Italian grandmother. So we askes her to share the music that she’s inherited with us.

Inherited: Simply the Best by Tina Turner

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell

The comedian, podcaster and self described Vibe-Magnet John Robins is an Edinburgh Comedy Award winner whose dry stand up has taken him on several sold out tours, a BBC 5 Live programme with Elis James, and the latest series of Taskmaster.

He openly talks about all aspects of his life, from the ridiculous to the sublime, and has been praised for the way he has discussed the way he has dealt with mental health and his sobriety.

A lover of games and music - what then will he chose for his Inheritance Tracks.

Inherited: Enlightenment by Van Morrison

Producer: Ben Mitchell