When he’s not working on his own gin brand, or his latest book, or guest editing the Today programme former petrol head James May is perhaps best known as the thinking man’s car guy from Top Gear and Grand Tour.  His trademark wry humour and self-deprecation make him an interesting TV presenter, no matter what he turns his attention to and he’s an excellent travel guide on the various James May Our Man In... series.  Born in Bristol, one of four children, he spent his teenage years in South Yorkshire and as someone who studied music at university and who’s apparently a rather accomplished musician.   We asked James what his Inheritance Tracks might be. Inherited:  Dream Darling Dream by McGuinness Flint 
Passed On:  Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Producer: Ribika Moktan

James May

Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.

Music

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
Passing on: MMMBop by Hanson Producers: Ribika Moktan and Ben Mitchell

Jamie Laing

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
Passing on: You Got The Love by Candi Staton Producer: Ben Mitchell

Vernon Kay

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: 
Marcus - A Forrest by The Cure 
Rachel - Building Steam with a Grain of Salt by DJ Shadow
Passed on:
Together - Buona Sera by Louis Prima Producer: Eirian Jones and Ben Mitchell

Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris

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
Passed on: Nessun Dorma by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Luciano Pavarotti Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell

Angela Hartnett

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
Passed on: The Wild Kindness (feat. Cassie Berman) by Bill Callahan & Bonnie "Prince" Billy Producer: Ben Mitchell

James May

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