Loose Ends

Stuart Maconie is joined by performer, panto star and all round beam of joy Su Pollard, who has summed up her varied career in a memoir, 'Fully Charged'. Lloyd Griffith is a comedian, presenter and choirister, but today he's here as one of the stars of 'Return To Paradise. Naomi Katiyo stars as Sylvia Pankhurst in 'Sylvia: A Musical Revolution'. Actor, writer and theatre maker Emily Woof's latest novel 'Ecstatic' is inspired by the practise of Ecstatic dance and there's music from The Mary Wallopers, who are touring their new album 'Paddywhackery'.

Presenter: Stuart Maconie

Clive Anderson is joined by writer Alexander McCall Smith whose latest novel The Isle of Good Karma takes us on a life-changing trip from the Isle of Lewis to the Himalayas.

Comedian Marc Jennings is on tour with If & When, diving in to some of the headlines that have kept us busy over the last year.

A new production of Scottish classic The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is bringing the drama of Marcia Blaine School for Girls to audiences across Scotland - director Vicky Featherstone sheds a light on the production.

Plus music from Big Country Redux and Zoe Graham.

Presenter: Clive Anderson

Craig Revel Horwood on how his Strictly baddie persona earned him his pantomime villain break as well as being rammed by a trolley at the supermarket.

Presenter Stuart Maconie

Clive Anderson is joined by 'Modern Family' star Jesse Tyler Ferguson who is taking on the role of Truman Capote in Tru by Jay Presson Allen at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Tim Minchin on the 15th anniversary of the hit musical Matilda, novelist Kate Mosse on her new book celebrating the wonders of Autumn and comedian Harriet Kemsley who is currently on tour with her stand-up show Floozy. There's also music from cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson's new album 'New Roots'

Presenter: Clive Anderson

Stuart Maconie and guests are at the BBC's Contains Strong Language Festival in Salford.

Baudelaire of the bus stop, local man made poetic, John Cooper Clarke reveals where he goes for inspiration.

Multi-award winning poet and novelist Jackie Kay who began writing as a pre-teen and hasn't stopped since.

Hannah Maxwell's acclaimed Edinburgh show is called Turn Your F**king Phones Off, but she's having to tone it down for her forthcoming tour.

And music and poetry from the "alt-pop poet" Antony Szmierek's new album Decoding Birdsong - the musician who went from playing at Glastonbury to his day-job as a teacher.

Presented by Stuart Maconie

Stuart Maconie is joined by comedian Simon Brodkin, known for his character Lee Nelson and his stunts, slipping past security to prank the likes of Donald Trump, Seb Blatter and Theresa May. He's out on tour with a new show, Unleashed. Ahir Shah won the Edinburgh Comedy award in 2023 for his show Ends. His new show, Golden is inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche and Gerald Manley Hopkins. Best Selling Crime Author Elly Griffith's The Killing Time is the second in her new Ali Dawson series.

And there's music from Cara Dillon and Truthpaste.

Presester: Stuart Maconie

Stuart Maconie is joined in the Salford studio by the food critic and broadcaster Jay Rayner, who tells us about the worst thing he's ever done for money. Helen Rebanks, author of the best-selling book The Farmer's Wife, on not discussing bluetongue and Herdwicks with Whoopi Goldberg, and comedian Sindhu Vee on the perils of a four-a-day mango habit.

There's music from Portland-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs and Falkirk's own Arab Strap.

Presenter: Stuart Maconie

Clive Anderson's guests include the broadcaster and journalist Janet Street-Porter who is celebrating her 80th birthday by hitting the road. In 'Janet Street Porter is Still of The Leash at 80', Street-Porter is revisiting the highs and lows of her long and unusual life and career, settling scores and telling truths.

Comedian writer and actress Isy Suttie is the latest to take on the Taskmaster. As she tells Clive, she's no stranger to a dare - was this good training for the TV show?

Christopher Chung is best known for playing the deluded MI5 tech specialist Roddy Ho in Slow Horses. As the acclaimed spy drama returns for a sixth series, Chung is also starring as the romantic lead Roddy Ho wishes he was in a new adaptation of Miles Franklin's 'My Brilliant Career'

And music is from Altered Images who are on tour playing their hit 1981 debut album 'Happy Birthday'. Clare Grogan tells us why now is the right time to look back. Looking forward is Jordan Rakei, whose new album 'A Safe Place to Be Wild' is out in October. He joins us in the studio to perform a track.

Presenter: Clive Anderson

Join Clive Anderson for a party at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Taskmaster winner Sophie Duker spins great comedy from terrible encounters in her latest show Hot Beef Injection.

Comedian John Kearns brings Tilting at Windmills to the Fringe - monk cap, false teeth and all.

One of India's biggest stand-ups Kanan Gill will be chatting about how his show Not This Again changes during worldwide tours.

Writer and poet Jenni Fagan makes satire out of life after death in her book The Delusions.

Plus music from poet Len Pennie and composer Paul Leonard-Morgan who've collaborated on an album called Delusions, and the cast of The Real Kyle McCarren.

Presenter: Clive Anderson

Join Clive Anderson for a party at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Rosie Jones will be chatting about some of her favourite things (like gravy) and her least favourite things (like internet trolls called Darren) in I Can't Tell What She's Saying.

Garry Starr: Classic Penguins sees clown Damien Warren-Smith attempt to bring every single book in the collection to life like never before.

And comedian Kirsty Mann shares how buying a derelict house changed everything she believes in, in her very own real-life ghost story Corpse.

Plus music from One Man Musical which turns the spotlight on a musical theatre icon, and Legendary which explores Chinese mythology and queer legacy.

Presenter: Clive Anderson