Mersey Waves

When you think about Liverpool, something cultural will surely come to mind – music, football, events, shopping... So, it’s not surprising to find out that the leisure, creative and cultural sector makes up 38% of the city’s economy and brings in around a massive £270 million to the council which is then invested in core services such as social care, health and education.

He may not be a household name but local lad John Murphy is a major player in the Hollywood film world. After beginning his career playing guitar in local bands John moved into making music for film and is now amongst the most respected film composers in the world.

In this fascinating podcast Kevin McManus (Culture Liverpool) and Olly Cooke (Liverpool Film Office) catch up with John in his LA studio to talk about his Liverpool roots, his path to Hollywood, and his work on blockbuster films like Suicide Squad.

Liverpool has a proud theatre history dating back over 150 years.

The Playhouse is the oldest repertory theatre in England while the Everyman has a huge history helping launch the careers of the likes of Julie Walters, Jonathan Pryce, Pete Postlethwaite and Alison Steadman through to the likes of Bill Nighy, Alan Bleasdale, Willy Russell, David Morrissey and Stephen Graham. The city is also home to other much loved venues ranging from the Royal Court through to the Empire and the Unity.

For this edition of Merseywaves, we brought together actress Josie Lawrence - who is currently in the city playing the role of Sylvie in ‘Our Lady of Blundellsands’ at the Everyman, and Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet member for culture at Liverpool City Council to discuss why theatres are so important to the lifeblood of the city and the fabric of the nation.

Guests: Josie Lawrence and Cllr Harry Doyle

Presenter: Paul Johnston

Producer: Niall Walsh

Location: Zoom

Liverpool is to headquarter the Pandemic Institute, committed to helping the world prevent, prepare, and respond more effectively to pandemics.

A draft recommendation has been made to UNESCO’s annual World Heritage committee to delete Liverpool of its World Heritage status.

The committee will make its decision next month in mid-July, with the focus on proposed plans around the £5bn Liverpool Waters scheme.

Listen to this podcast where Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Development; Ian Wray, vice chair of World Heritage UK; and Pete Swift, co-founder of place-making consultancy firm Planit-IE, which advises on the masterplan for Liverpool Waters, talk about the journey Liverpool has been on since it achieved the status in 2004.

The trio also discuss the merits of Liverpool Waters, the value of World Heritage status and what steps could be taken to retain it.

We sat down with legendary award-winning TV writer Jimmy McGovern who talked openly about what inspired him to write his latest drama, Time, and what fuels his creative process. With Tom Sherry producer of the show.

Liverpool is no stranger to being the star of major motion pictures and television shows; Netflix’s THE IRREGULARS is the latest production that was made in Liverpool. The show follows a gang of troubled street teens, solving crimes for the sinister Doctor Watson and his mysterious business partner.

We sat down with the shows creator and writer Tom Bidwell to discuss making the series and why they chose to film in Liverpool.

Scott Beeland, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, was recently reconnected with Graham Smith, a patient he helped save from Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic and a member of our Liverpool Street Scene Services team. Graham surprised Scott when he gave him an army medal for services in Bosnia to say thank you.

Liverpool played a key role in the trials of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca jab through the city’s world-famous School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).

In our latest episode, we talk to Ashleigh about her teenage battle with anorexia and body dysmorphia, and how she overcame her issues and is strong enough now to help others.