Today's guest is the shape-shifting man behind the singing sensation known as Miss Hope Springs – Ty Jeffries.

The son of actor, director and screenwriter Lionel Jeffries, Ty was drawn to show business from an early age.

A singer-songwriter who describes himself as very shy, he created Hope as a character to present his songs on his behalf.

His heroes, heroines and influences include Jim Bailey, David Bowie, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo.

Miss Hope Springs will be performing at Polari in Heaven on Feb 22. Use promo code 'WCBH' for £3 off ticket price.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

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Today's guest is HIV/AIDS educator, activist, actor and king of the gym selfie Matthew Hodson.

Matthew is Executive Director of the international HIV information charity aidsmap and former Chief Executive of the activist charity Gay Men Fighting AIDS.

Matthew's heroes include Jodie Foster, Toyah Wilcox, Derek Jarman and Peter Tatchell.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

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Today's guest is author, artist and artist's muse Sue Tilley.

Sometimes known as Big Sue, she was close friends with Leigh Bowery and wrote the official biography of the designer and performer, who died in 1994.

She also famously posed for Lucian Freud. The portrait, Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, became the most expensive painting by a living artist.

Now based in St Leonards, Sue continues to paint, run art classes, produce T shirts and help keep Leigh's legacy alive.

Sue's heroes include Bowery, actor Drew Barrymore, filmmaker Baillie Walsh and fellow artist Rui Miguel Leitao Ferriera.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

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Today's guest is award-winning writer, performer and theatre maker Travis Alabanza.

Alabanza's poetry was first published in 2015, in the anthology Black and Gay in the UK.

As a performer, their work has been featured at Duckie, Bar Wotever, Late at Tate, the V&A and many other venues.

Their shows include Burgerz and Overflow. They also starred in a stage adaptation of Derek Jarman’s Jubilee.

Their book None of the Above describes their personal journey as a black queer person living beyond the gender binary.

Alabanza's heroes include performance artist David Hoyle, actor and activist Laverne Cox and writer James Baldwin.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

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Today’s guest is author Kerry Hudson.

I first met Kerry shortly after the publication of her debut novel, Tony Hogan Bought Me An Ice Cream Float Before He Stole My Ma.

She read at Polari at the Southbank Centre and was later shortlisted for The Polari First Book Prize.

Since then, she's published a second novel, Thirst, and an award-winning memoir, Lowborn, about the realities of being poor in the UK today.

Kerry's 'sheroes' include writers Andrea Dunbar and Bernardine Evaristo and her own best friend, who is head teacher at a South London school.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

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Today’s guest is author, director, performer and playwright Neil Bartlett.

I first came across Bartlett in the late '80s with his landmark play, A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep – which began as a one-man performance piece and was later developed into a full scale production.

Since then, he's produced an extraordinary body of work, including several prize-winning and shortlisted books. His latest, Address Book, is shortlisted for The Polari Prize 2022

Neil's heroes and heroines include Bette Bourne, Bette Midler, Juan Goytisolo, Rose Marie and Siouxsie Sioux.

In a sometimes emotional conversation, we also discuss our mutual friend Derek Jarman, the late drag legend Regina Fong and contemporary performance artist David Hoyle.

Neil Bartlett's latest work for the theatre includes new adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde and Virginia Woolf's Orlando.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

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Today’s guest is someone I’ve known personally for over 30 years – singer, actress and one third of award-winning cabaret trio Fascinating Aida, Adele Anderson. 

Adele's heroes and heroines include a famous jazz musician, an inspirational trans icon and two women close to her heart, personally and professionally.

In a characteristically candid conversation, Adele also talks about cancel culture, radical drag, her personal journey as a trans woman and surviving cancer – and writing and performing songs about both.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

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This week's guest is the best-selling author Louisa Young, whose books include the memoir You Left Early: A True Story of Love and Alcohol and her latest novel Twelve Months And A Day.

A former journalist, a singer-songwriter and creative writing tutor, her heroes include Johnny Cash, James Baldwin, Dolly Parton and her late boyfriend, composer Robert Lockhart.

She also talks about the impact of addiction, everyday acts of heroism and the importance of helping others.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published by Little A and is available to preorder now.

Image by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

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Today's guest is the artist formerly known as Dusty O, otherwise known as David Hodge.

For many years, David presented as Dusty – drag DJ and club promoter extraordinaire, self-proclaimed queen of Soho.

As Dusty, he met everyone from childhood heroes Boy George and Pete Burns to Madonna. But the lifestyle took its toll.

A few years ago, David stepped away from the gay scene and began painting. He was the first out gay artist to exhibit his work at the Houses of Parliament.

Now he's written a memoir, The Boy Who Sat By The Window, which charts his life from bullied schoolboy in Walsall to queen of Soho and beyond.

David's heroes include Boy George, Vivienne Westwood and Molly Parkin.

We also discuss how he went from painting his face to making paintings and publishing his memoir.

To find out more about David and his artwork, please visit Instagram

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published in June 2023 and is available to pre-order now from Amazon and other bookshops.

Artwork by Mark Wardel aka Trademark.

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is Booker Prize winning author and diversity champion Bernardine Evaristo.

Bernie won the Booker for her eighth novel Girl, Woman, Other. Her memoir, Manifesto is a testament to her determination to succeed.

She is Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University London and President of the Royal Society of Literature.

Bernie's heroes and heroines include Viola Davis, Oprah Winfrey and Edward Enninful.

She also discusses the heroism of people like Quentin Crisp and those who forge their own path, despite the "curtain twitchers of suburbia".

To find out more about Bernardine and her work, please visit her website.

Paul Burston's memoir We Can Be Heroes will be published in June 2023 and is available to pre-order now.

Artwork by Mark Wardel aka Trademark

If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast, you might enjoy the Paul Burston newsletter, where you'll find the latest updates on my books, offers and competitions. Sign up here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.