The Convex Conversation

Helen meets refugee Eid Aljazairli & hears about his extraordinary escape from war torn Syria at the hands of smugglers & the moment he feared he would drown at sea when the small wooden boat he was in collapsed.

Despite being a non-swimmer when he left his family in Damascus, Eid is now training for Tokyo 2021 where he hopes to compete as a swimmer for the Olympic Refugee Team & is a financial intern at Convex.

One of Britain’s favourite actors Amanda Redman chats to Helen about how the devastating burns accident she had as a child inspired her to come up with a new plotline for ITV drama The Good Karma Hospital; reminisces about happy times on the set of New Tricks with Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong & James Bolam & shares her passion for her drama school. 

Gyles shares with Helen everything from his friendships with Dame Judi Dench and Mrs Thatcher to his relationship with the Royal family.

He keeps his synapses supple by reciting poetry & talks about the podcast series he does with Countdown’s etymologist Susie Dent on their shared passion for words.

Barnardo’s CEO Javed Khan talks about the devastating effect COVID has had on Britain’s vulnerable youngsters & the crippling drop in funds now faced by Britain’s leading children’s charity as a result of lockdown.

He warns the current children’s mental health crisis could become a catastrophe; shares his thoughts on #BlackLivesMatter & his personal experiences of racism growing up in the seventies in inner city Birmingham. He speaks about the privilege of leading Barnardo's & how his job as CEO doesn’t feel like work.

C4 Countdown’s Susie Dent reveals how a shy lexicologist from Oxford first ended up on our screens more than 25 years ago.

She confesses to a fascination for the hot topic of swearing, shares her favourite & least favourite words and reveals the fun behind Eight of Ten Cats & recording her new podcast, Something Rhymes with Purple, with Gyles Brandreth in her kitchen.

Sir Chris Bonington has lived life on the edge. In The Convex Conversation, he talks to Helen Fospero about the draw of the beauty of the mountains, his desire to push himself to the limit on expeditions and the attraction to the risks involved. 

Chris describes his emotional ascent to the summit of Everest; takes us on a journey to the north face of the Eiger and gives an insight into the shy young boy from Hampstead whose life became defined by his passion for climbing. 

© Chris Bonington Picture Library

Photo by Jim Fotheringham © Chris Bonington Picture Library

Chris & Pertemba after summiting Everest 1985  © Chris Bonington Picture Library

Chris & mum  © Chris Bonington Picture Library

Chris & Wendy's wedding day 1962   © Chris Bonington Picture Library

Chris & Loreto by Paul Ross © Chris Bonington Picture Library

Chris & Ang Lhakpa on the summit of Everest 1985  © Chris Bonington Picture Library

Entrepreneur Anna Jones tells us why she quit her job as CEO of a top publishing house to set up a members’ club aimed at championing women in business, networking and developing their careers.

A chance meeting at a party led to the formation of AllBright in the UK and in the States. 

The name was inspired by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who famously said: “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”

Music legend Bob Harris joins us from his studio ‘Under The Apple Tree’.

He reminisces about happy times with John Lennon in New York, being on tour with Queen in Vegas, and friendships with Robert Plant, Marc Bolan, Sir Elton John & Sir Alex Ferguson. 

He also reveals how doctors saved his distinctive voice, loved by millions, during life-saving treatment for an aortic tear.

And Whispering Bob shares favourite tracks from The Shires and Elles Bailey. 

Blind entrepreneur and TV presenter Amar Latif talks about his life and how blindness has helped him see the world. 

Amar’s passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries. He’s clocked up half a million miles including trekking through inhospitable jungles & shark infested waters in Nicaragua, and reaching the summit of North Africa’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal. 

He set up the world’s first tour operator for blind and sighted travellers.