Clive Anderson and Bidisha are joined by Sara Pascoe, Benedict MacDonald, Dreda Say Mitchell and Elf Lyons for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy.  With music from Alina Bzhezhinska & HipHarpCollective and George Riley.

Sara Pascoe, Benedict MacDonald, Dreda Say Mitchell, Elf Lyons, HipHarpCollective, George Riley, Bidisha, Clive Anderson

An eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Joining Stuart Maconie in our Salford studio are the comedians Frank Skinner and Rachael Fairburn. In Frank's latest stand up show '30 years of Dirt' he has his comedic eye firmly on the dirty joke, while Rachel Fairburn's showgirl finds her moving away from boozing and towards crystals - will it last? Maxine Peake stars in Robin/Red/Breast at Manchester's Factory International. Based on John Bowen's cult TV play Robin Redbreast, Maxine plays Norah, a woman who has escaped the city for village life. But it is not exactly the idyll she dreamed off... The movement director is Imogen Knight, the writer is Daisy Johnson, and it is directed by Sarah Frankcom and features music from Gazelle Twin.  In her latest book the biographer and historian Kathryn Hughes tells the story of how we fell in love with cats, and illuminates the life of the man who did so much to change their image, the artist Louis Wain. Music is from Willy Vlautin, novelist, songwriter and musician who was the lead singer in Richmond Fontaine. Willy also chats about his new novel 'The Horse', his most personal book yet, it examines the trials of a life on the road. And we also hear from BBC Introducing Rising Star Phoebe Green. Presenter: Stuart Maconie
Producer: Jessica Treen

Frank Skinner, Maxine Peake, Kathryn Hughes, Rachel Fairburn join Stuart Maconie with music by Willy Vlautin and Phoebe Green

Stuart Maconie is joined by Sacha Lord who offers some Tales from the Dancefloor, Julie Hesmondhalgh talks about the impact of a single punch which is considered in a new play by James Graham at the Nottingham Playhouse. 
Dr Benji Waterhouse, a frontline NHS psychiatrist, discusses his new book You Don't Have to be Mad to Work Here and there's music and chat from Fairground Attraction and Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sacha Lord, Eddi Reader, Benji Waterhouse, Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, Fairground Attraction

The comedian Rhod Gilbert gave up touring and TV appearances last year when he got cancer. Now he's back - a newly focussed man - with a show called 'Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit',  all about the big bitter diagnosis he had to swallow; the best-selling novelist Kathy Lette's latest book is called The Revenge Club and is based on a real life career setback - we want to hear all; Poet and stand up comic Luke Wright on managing to combine humour and pathos on the page and on the stage and 25 years on from her breakout role in Queer as Folk, the actor Carla Henry tells Stuart about her latest role in the gritty and prescient drama Sweat. Plus music from The Zutons and Bryony Jarman Pinto.

The Zutons play for Stuart Maconie with Rhod Gilbert, Kathy Lette, Carla Henry, Luke Wright and Bryony Jarman Pinto

Stuart is joined by multi instrumentalist and singer of hits like Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant; comic-turned-author Natalie Haynes on putting the feminisim into Greek mythology; actress Adelayo Adedayo on her upcoming second series playing the rookie cop in the hit BBC police drama The Responder and Comedian Richard Herring on finding the humour in his testicular cancer diagnosis. Plus performance from the only band fronted by the poet laureate Simon Armitage - LYR and the soul singer Nectar Woode. Presenter: Stuart Maconie
Producer: Olive Clancy

Stuart Maconie with Richard Herring, Adelayo Adedayo, Natalie Haynes, Nectar Woode

The astronaut Tim Peake joins Clive to talk about life on and off Earth, and he's joined by the acclaimed guitarist Phil Manzanera who tells us about the astonishing life he led en route to joining Roxy Music. Helen Lederer discusses her new memoir and recalls formative days in The Comedy Store and Jess Fostekew talks footie in her new podcast. We've music from Michele Stodart and Geejay. Presented by Clive Anderson
Produced by Kevin Core

Sara Pascoe, Benedict MacDonald, Dreda Say Mitchell, Elf Lyons, HipHarpCollective, George Riley, Bidisha, Clive Anderson

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