In this episode, former Bloomsbury editor-in-chief Alexandra Pringle shares her journey from a Chelsea girl to a leading figure in the literary world. With host, Catherine Fairweather she reminisces about her colourful Chelsea childhood, the romantic and challenging life on a houseboat, and her recent pivot to hosting writing masterclasses in Marrakesh. Alexandra opens up about her adventurous spirit, the significance of finding joy with her "Fun Squad," and her passion for storytelling, both in helping others and potentially exploring her own family history. She also touches on her views on financial independence, freedom of speech, and the importance of embracing risks and living fully at any age. Join us for an inspiring conversation that weaves together personal anecdotes, professional triumphs, and a zest for life.

Welcome to the third series of sparkling conversations with vintage minds. We're honoured to be speaking to Sir Michael Palin – a cultural icon, national treasure, and knighted in 2019 for his contributions to culture and travel. Known for his journeys on the BBC and Channel 5’s “Palin’s Travels,” he embodies courteous curiosity and quintessential English charm. Yet, his observations often come from left field, reflecting the anarchy of his Monty Python days with unforgettable sketches and groundbreaking films like "Monty Python's Life of Brian."

He sat down with Catherine Fairweather at Auriens to reflect on the anarchy of his Monty Python days, his journeys covering 99 countries over three decades and to discuss his own Third Act.

Listen to the trailer for the much-anticipated third series of our podcast, The Third Act. Writer and journalist Catherine Fairweather chats with some of the world's most experienced artists, adventurers, actors, and entrepreneurs – hearing tales of triumphs and setbacks, exploring the intimate secrets of a life well-lived, and unpacking tricks for ageing gracefully (or otherwise).

Featuring legendary travel documentarian Michael Palin, renowned publisher Alexandra Pringle, rock icon Bill Wyman, and the indomitable Lady Glenconnor, who penned her first bestseller at 87. Warm, witty, and invariably wise, this series will leave you with the strong belief that the best is yet to come.

Tina Brown is the trailblazing dynamo and former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and famous for bringing the heady mix of the high low to magazine content. Her latest book on the Royals, the Palace Papers was revelatory and brilliantly researched but even she couldn't predict the seismic changes in the past year, the death of the Queen, the coronation and fresh mudslinging from some familiar members of the family. On the eve of her launch of the Truth Tellers Summit in Investigative Journalism, Tina joins host Catherine Fairweather to muse over the trajectory of a stellar career that isn’t over yet.

This week we welcome actor, writer and all-round cultural powerhouse, Simon Callow to the Third Act podcast. It was his part as Mozart in Amadeus that made him a star in the world of theatre, while Four Weddings and a Funeral made him a household name. As well as penning biographies on a variety of geniuses from Vagner to Dickens, Callow has proved that he can also turn his talents to song and dance as a director and opera producer.

With host Catherine Fairweather, this prolific storyteller muses over the unexpected joys of growing older and also recalls the many performers, writers, performances and events that have left an indelible mark on his life.

We are thrilled to welcome Paulene Stone, the face of the sixties and Auriens' latest advertising campaign, to the ninth episode of the podcast. David Bailey's iconic photograph of Paulene kneeling down to kiss a squirrel in the park, which helped launch both their careers hangs in her new bathroom at Auriens Chelsea. Married four times, widowed twice, a single mother at 23 years old and the tragic loss of two of her three adult children, her life is the stuff of novels. With host Catherine Fairweather, Paulene muses over the perils of leaving school without a vocation, finding her feet as a supermodel and the joys of finding new friends at Auriens.

The renowned photographer Steve McCurry's most famous image, Afghan Girl with the green eyes, is just a snapshot of a searing portfolio of work conjuring vanishing cultures and ancient traditions. Throughout his 40-year career which has taken him through some of the world’s most dangerous war zones, McCurry has demonstrated a unique ability to transcend boundaries of culture and language to discover and document the human experience.

In our eighth episode, he takes time out of his global wanderings to discuss settling down, the intersection of art and reportage, as well as the challenges of this magnum photographer's life in the next act with host Catherine Fairweather.

Rosie Boycott, now Baroness Boycott, reaches the parts that other peers can't reach. She is guaranteed to hold strong views on a variety of subjects from food waste to feminism, from obesity to domesticity, to motherhood and marriage, to the environment and the legalisation of drugs. A true opinion former, she cut her editorial teeth as co-founder and editor of Spare Rib magazine before moving on to becoming editor of Esquire, The Independent and The Daily Express.

A self-confessed recovering alcoholic, a smallholder, a literary guru and a committed traveller, Rosie discusses her passions and reinventions with host Catherine Fairweather in our seventh episode of The Third Act.

Theo Fennell is best known as a leading British jeweller and silverware designer who has specialised in original, handmade jewellery for over 40 years. He has also recently penned a self-deprecating yet heart-warming memoir “I Fear For This Boy” at the age of 70, which depicts his journey from financial despair to the glittering celebrity world of the rich and famous.

With host Catherine Fairweather in our sixth episode of The Third Act podcast, he muses over sobriety, the consequences of his ill-judged outfit on the first day of art school and the perils of taking one's self too seriously.