The Convex Conversation

When Figen Murray’s 29-year-old son Martyn was murdered in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017, her family - and those of the 21 other victims - was torn apart. 

No longer able to function as a psychotherapist, Figen studied for a Masters in Counter Terrorism and has spent the last six and a half years lobbying Government and the Lords to create a new law to make venues safer and protect against terror attacks. 

Martyn's Law finally received Royal Assent last spring, after meetings with five prime ministers, five home secretaries, broken promises from Number 10 and endless delays. Figen has spoken to almost 35,000 school children about the dangers of radicalisation, warning against the tactics terrorist recruiters use online. 

Martyn with his beloved cat, Emily Bishop

Talks with then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Figen Murray at the end of her 200 mile protest walk from Manchester Arena to Downing Street on the 7th anniversary of the bombing 

Support from PM Keir Starmer 

Victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack 

Merseybeat poet Roger McGough on life as a poet, number one hits with sixties comedy band The Scaffold, hanging out with musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Keith Moon, growing up during the second world war in Liverpool and being part of the cultural movement.

Roger reads from his new book – The Collected Poems: 1959-2024 - which he featured recently in his tour Alive and Gigging, and says it's a myth that poetry is difficult. It's for everyone and good for our mental health. 

Roger presents Poetry Please on Radio 4; is President of the Poetry Society, and Ambassador for A Poet in Every Port – a new national project by the Southbank Centre involving a mobile library visiting 11 coastal towns across the UK and inspiring youngsters. 

The Princess of Wales braved blustery weather to get out in the Peak District with Mind Over Mountains, co-founded by adventurer Alex Staniforth.

Catherine discovered how Alex and the team use nature, the outdoors and expert coaches to help people open-up about their mental health. 

Plagued by adversity as a child – coping with epilepsy, bullying and a life-long stammer – Alex discovered the power of nature on his first hill walk at 14. He developed an extraordinary will to succeed which led him from his Cheshire home to face unprecedented dangers on Mount Everest as a teenager. Find out what adversity has taught him.

www.alexstaniforth.com

Elizabeth Emanuel designs for stars like Rita Ora, Courtney Love and Madonna but her name will forever be remembered for creating Diana, Princess of Wales’, fairytale wedding dress with her then partner David Emanuel.

From her London studio, Elizabeth shares stories behind the surreal royal experience which changed the young designers' lives forever. She recalls the extreme tactics used to conceal the iconic dress from the press; a rehearsal with Diana on a locked down floor at Buckingham Palace and smuggling the finished gown into Clarence House by lorry the night before the ceremony.

Almost 45 years on, Elizabeth is recreating Diana’s stunning veil, which has been lost over time, for a private US collection and she's currently working on a new children's line.

Elizabeth with one of her designs for Rita Ora

Diana's engagement day, wearing a blouse by the Emanuels

David and Elizabeth Emanuel

Renowned writer & TV producer Howard Sounes reveals fascinating stories behind his best-selling biographies on Bob Dylan, Sir Paul McCartney, Moors murderer Myra Hindley, serial killers Fred and Rose West, and more. 

His latest book is based on exclusive access to 100 hours of Fred West’s police interviews which he helped turn into Netflix documentary series ‘Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story’ - watched by more than 100 million people. 

Howard dreamt of becoming a writer from the age of seven, fascinated by the life of his hero Winston Churchill. After a stint as a newspaper reporter, working for Piers Morgan on the Sunday Mirror, he quit Fleet Street in a bold, impulsive moment and realised his dream.

Before Nahid de Belgeonne became ‘the nervous system whisperer’, she worked in high-growth fashion, tech, publishing and wellness start-ups, building her entire identity on composure, capability, and chronic motion.

After a near-death experience and the eventual realisation she was living in a state of high-functioning anxiety and collapse, Nahid began to restore herself and went on to create The Human Method and The Soothe Programme, detailed in her book Soothe. 

As a Somatic Movement Educator, Nahid works with stressed out CEOs, high achievers, elite athletes and ordinary people who want to break free from the pressures of modern living and reclaim their energy and joy. 

Investigative journalist Nick Stapleton - co-host of Scam Interceptors - talks about the worldwide fraud explosion, worth trillions, and how it’s getting even more sophisticated thanks to AI.

Nick reveals what it’s like confronting scammers through ethical hacking on the BBC show, and shares stories from his career as an undercover reporter.

He’s the son of TV legends John Stapleton and Lynn Faulds Wood who fought for consumer rights on programmes like BBC Watchdog. Nick has forged his own path as a scam expert, helping save people money and heartache, but says his values are in his DNA and from the work his mum and dad were famous for as journalists. 

On his final tour of Afghanistan in 2009, British Army Officer Lt Col Stewart Hill was blown up by a crude Taliban bomb as he led his troops on Operation Panther's Claw. He suffered a devastating, invisible brain injury which left him hanging between life and death.  

Tipped to become a fine general, Stewart was medically discharged from a world he loved. He’s spent years re-discovering his lost identity and re-learning the most basic of skills.

In an emotional interview, he shares the techniques he uses to work with his brain, talks about the importance of ‘daily diamonds’ and reveals how discovering painting as well as becoming an enduring performance speaker have helped him rebuild his life. 

Model maker Ethan Goodbody - founder of Mon Studios - takes us behind the scenes of the new BBC series The Marvellous Miniature Workshop, hosted by DJ and broadcaster Sara Cox.

Ethan is one of a team of miniaturists who recreate someone’s meaningful place or room, beautifully crafting it in tiny proportions and fine detail. 

From scaling down a 36-metre iconic mural to painting the spots on minute 3D dominoes with a needle, Ethan explains the techniques and skills he combines with incredible patience!

Picture courtesy of BBC

Picture courtesy of BBC

Sara Cox with jazz singer Julie from The Marvellous Miniature Workshop - image courtesy of BBC 

Nicholas Hopton – former UK Ambassador to Iran, Qatar, Yemen, and Libya – reveals how his diplomatic skills have come in handy as he’s breathed new life into a run-down olive farm in a little-known area of Tuscany. 

Encounters with wild boar, leaky pipes, colourful local characters, attempts at olive oil production and wading through Italian bureaucracy are all part of Nick’s beautifully written and witty memoir, Maremma Mia.

Nick talks about the privilege of serving as British Ambassador to Iran at a sensitive time, rebuilding trust on the back of the nuclear agreement, and living in numerous countries with his family, including France, Italy and Morocco, during his prestigious 35-year career at the Foreign Office.