Listen in Liverpool

Boys from the Blackstuff is back on stage in Liverpool this year at the Royal Court from 19 April – 11 May followed by a run at the National Theatre.

Following its acclaimed run at Liverpool’s Royal Court last year, James Graham’s powerful new adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s seminal TV show Boys from the Blackstuff is back for 2024.


The show, which wowed audiences and critics alike, will return to Liverpool’s Royal Court for three weeks, before transferring to the National Theatre for a two week run.

Liverpool acting legend Phil Whitchurch has joined the cast to play George for the Liverpool and London run.

Jay Hynd spoke to Phil about what it was like to receive that call, how rehearsals are going and why everybody in the city should see this production. 

We met Lady Ann Dodd at Museum of Liverpool for a very special tour of the Happiness exhibition. She guides us through the exhibition with some never-before-heard stories about her late husband Ken.

ACC Liverpool which includes M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the BT Convention Centre is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
We spoke to Chief Exec Fay Dyer about the venue's highlights over the past 15 years and we also asked what the future holds.

We are counting down to the contest once again and this time we are at ACC Liverpool as the city comes together to showcase what local businesses are doing across the city during Eurovision. 

Martin Green is Managing Director of Eurovision tells us how plans are going and gives us that all important information as to how you find out about tickets.

We are also joined by Culture Liverpool Director Claire McColgan who tells us more about Euro Fest which will see a host of cultural commissions celebrate Eurovision across Liverpool and Mayor Joanne Anderson tells us why the city is embracing the countdown so much. 

The Eurovision countdown is officially on and we have all the build rounded up in another ten minute feature. 

Every week we will be bringing you regular updates from the host city on plans and prep for Liverpool's biggest ever party which takes place at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 13 May.

This time we're chatting to Ngunan Adamu, one of the hosts of the BBC Eurovision cast podcast. We take a look at the Eurovision stage at M&S Bank Arena, discuss who could potentially host the big final and talk about some of Ngunan's favourite entries. 

Also Gretta from Camp and Furnace lifts the lid on who is performing during the officially EuroClub after party.

Eurovision lands in Liverpool in just 15 weeks so it's time for us to Countdown to the Contest. 

We'll be bringing you regular updates from the host city on plans and prep for Liverpool's biggest ever party which takes place at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 13 May.

This time we're chatting to arena boss Faye Dyer about staging, tickets and more plus Jonny Bongo gives us the heads up on how Bongo's Bingo will celebrate and we find out about a hilarious new show at the Royal Court, A Thong for Europe.

Lightning Seeds are all set to play a hometown show at Liverpool’s Eventim Olympia on Saturday 12 November. Front man Ian Broudie spoke with Jay Hynd about his incredible career to date, a new album and the Scouse crowd. 
 
Lightning Seeds are the brainchild of writer, singer, guitarist and producer Ian Broudie. Ian originally emerged from the post punk Liverpool music scene of the late seventies playing in the band “Big in Japan” which in turn led to him producing several bands starting with Echo & The Bunnymen. In 1989 Ian as Lightning Seeds released debut album ‘Cloudcukooland’ featuring the hit single ‘Pure’. Second album ‘Sense’ followed before the release of the seminal album ‘Jollification’ in 1994 which has so far sold nearly 1 million copies.
 
In 1996 the iconic single ‘3 Lions’ for the England football team topped the charts many times over. That same year ‘Dizzy Heights’ and 1999’s ‘Tilt’ were released to critical acclaim before Ian returned to his producer roots. Ian soon began to develop hit albums for the likes of The Coral, The Zutons and many more. 

The Rocky Horror Show is back at the Liverpool Empire from Monday 16th May, 2022 to Saturday 21st May, 2022. The show stars Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba as Brad and is a guaranteed party and features timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting, show-stopping Time Warp. 

Claire Simmo spoke to Ore about the iconic show that has gained a cult following around the world.

Dr Alex McKenzie is an expert in International Politics and a lecturer at the University of Liverpool. He joins us each week to give us the latest from Ukraine. This week he talks about the war crimes being committed in terms of bombing civilian areas like hospitals, also tells us about the impact on international companies leaving Russia, and explains how people can support from home. 

Struggling to understand what's actually happening with Russia and Ukraine right now? We spoke to Dr Alex Mackenzie who is a lecturer of International Politics at the University of Liverpool to get his take on the ongoing crisis.