The Third Act

Hosted by journalist Catherine Fairweather, this episode features the celebrated British photographer Martin Parr. Together, they explore the quirks, curiosities and creative obsessions that have defined his career, and his unique way of looking at the world.

Recorded at the Martin Parr Foundation, Catherine goes behind the scenes to reveal stories that go far beyond the lens. Parr’s attention to detail and his wry lens reshape our perspective on the British, while his observations on how we see beauty and seek pleasure resonate deeply with the concept of later living at Auriens, proud sponsors of this podcast.

In this episode, Harry Enfield joins Catherine Fairweather to reflect on the joy and legacy of his career. With his trademark mischievous wit and incisive humour, he has helped define British comedy. Together, they explore how humour shapes the way we connect and navigate life’s chapters while also revealing a few guilty pleasures and secret talents along the way.

Penelope Tree is as engaging a podcast guest as she is a debut novelist, captivating listeners with her intelligent candour and timeless elegance. Her reflections on her teenage and young adult years, filled with both glamour and grit, serve as the foundation for Piece of Your Heart—a novel that vividly captures the soaring highs and the frankly hellish lows of the 1960s fashion world. To pen such an accomplished debut novel in her 70s is not only an incredible achievement but also a source of inspiration. It’s a reminder that creativity knows no age and that it’s never too late to embrace new ambitions and share your story. It’s a novel and a story, that makes you feel there’s hope for us all.

Over drinks and the sound of clinking ice at Auriens, host Catherine Fairweather meets Bruce en route to his first major retrospective in Prague. He reflects on shaping the zeitgeist of the eighties and nineties with his sometimes provocative yet always glamorous campaigns for Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Bruce muses on a show that celebrates the unique relationships he forged with his subjects, from the late Stella Tennant, whom he deeply admired, to Kate Moss and countless others. We discuss how fortunate we were to experience the glory days of print journalism—and the unfortunate ways in which 9/11 truly marked the end of an era. Stay tuned for his favourite poem to live by at the end.

In this episode of The Third Act, Catherine Fairweather sits down over tea at Auriens Chelsea with British film and style icon, Bill Nighy. Together, they dive into his upcoming role in Joy, in which he portrays pioneering IVF surgeon Patrick Steptoe. Nighy also reflects on the highs and lows of life on stage, sharing candid stories about stage fright and the pressures of live performance. Join us for a droll conversation with 'a national treasure', whose dry and, sometimes, irreverent wit; and whose immaculate sense of timing has engaged audiences for decades.

At 91, Dame Sheila Hancock reflects on a life rich in experiences which have sometimes tested, sometimes burnished her resilient and independent spirit. Known for her dynamic career on stage and screen— Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas—Dame Sheila has spent the more recent decades captivating a new audience of readers with her writing and sharp wit, the most recent being the captivating memoir of a long life well lived in  Old Rage. Yet her drive extends well beyond the arts; Sheila is something of an activist and campaigner, whose life is as powered by compassion and espousing causes as it is a restless thirst for knowledge. This episode offers an inspiring glimpse into the wisdom, humour, and tenacity of one of the UK’s most talented Dames.

Host, Catherine Fairweather, is joined by the wonderful Pattie Boyd in warm confessional mode. In this episode, she’s honest about the flip side of celebrity, the sense of feeling invisible as a model in an era when you were judged purely on how you looked, and the highs and lows of being married to famous rockstars George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Motherhood is elusive but we explore how Pattie Boyd finds purpose and direction, particularly in her later years, with photography and travelling.

Explorer and environmentalist Robin Hanbury-Tenison recounts his life journey with host Catherine Fairweather, from early adventures in the far reaches to a near-death experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss his transformative coma visions, dedication to Indigenous rights and the environment with Survival International, and his transition from explorer to advocate for preserving natural and cultural heritage. Robin reflects on the evolution of exploration with modern technology and muses on the importance, psychologically, of getting lost.

In this episode of The Third Act, host Catherine Fairweather reconnects with Susannah Constantine, the famed TV presenter and fashion guru, after nearly three decades. Susannah opens up about her struggle with alcoholism, her path to sobriety, and the profound influence of her family history on her personal battles. She also shares humorous and poignant anecdotes about her experiences within royal circles and the evolution of her career.

Catherine Fairweather sits down with Bill Wyman, the iconic ex-Rolling Stones bassist, for an intimate conversation at Auriens Chelsa.

Bill Wyman is the most unlikely rockstar, a man given to quieter pursuits such as metal-detecting, archiving, photography and writing - the latest memoir being Billy in the Wars which they discuss here over a glass of wine at Auriens. Catherine also talks to the legendary bassist about why he left The Rolling Stones at the height of its fame, how we can learn from our mistakes and bad, and the dual sense of loneliness and community in his wartime London childhood.

Tune in to hear Catherine and Bill discuss gifts of later life and the legacy of love bestowed by his adored grandmother.