Born and raised in south London, Cynthia Erivo made her name with musical theatre in London, starring in shows including The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg and Sister Act. In 2015 she became a Broadway star and won Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards for her role in The Color Purple, the musical adaptation of the Alice Walker novel which had transferred from London. Her screen acting credits include the title role in Harriet, about the 19th century abolitionist and campaigner Harriet Tubman, a film which earned her two Academy Award nominations, including for Best Actress. Oscar nominated again for her lead role in the musical film Wicked, she became the first black British woman to receive multiple Academy award nominations for acting. An acclaimed singer, she performed a solo show of songs made famous by female artists including Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Barbra Streisand at the 2022 BBC Proms.

Cynthia Erivo tells John Wilson about the influence of her Nigerian born mother, who raised her as a single mum. She remembers two mentors who encouraged her to perform at at young age; school music teacher Helen Rycroft, and Rae McKen who ran a local drama club. Cynthia recalls winning a place at the prestigious drama school RADA, and returning to become Vice President of the institution last year. She talks about the emotional pressures she underwent on playing Celie in The Color Purple, a story of abuse and survival, and how the themes of prejudice and acceptance explored in the musical Wicked, resonated so strongly with her. Cynthia also chooses the 2015 Alexander McQueen exhibition Savage Beauty at the V&A as a inspiring creative moment, and discusses her love of glamorous fashion.

Producer: Edwina Pitman

Kirsty Young asks podcaster Adam Buxton what advice he would give his younger self.

Buxton rose to prominence in partnership with Joe Cornish, first on TV with The Adam and Joe Show then as co-hosts of radio shows on XFM and BBC 6 Music. He has since struck out alone with his live show, Bug, and a hit interview podcast. He reflects on his time at art school, the split with Cornish, and the loss of both of his parents.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young asks Paralympic legend Tanni Grey-Thompson what advice she would give her younger self.

With 11 Paralympic gold medals and six London Marathon victories, Grey-Thompson reflects on a childhood in Wales, her extraordinary athletics career and her transition to becoming a campaigner and crossbench peer. She discusses the mindset of a champion, the importance of forward-looking goals, and her advocacy for disability rights.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young asks BAFTA-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor what advice he would give his younger self.

Known for his iconic performances in 12 Years a Slave and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ejiofor reflects on a tragedy that shaped his childhood, being cast by Steven Spielberg when he was just 19, and making the move into directing. He also discusses the inspiration he found in the works of Shakespeare and learning to stop being a perfectionist.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young asks the comedian Sara Pascoe what advice she would give her younger self.

Pascoe found fame soon after moving from acting to stand up comedy in 2007. She has since packed out national tours, starred panel shows and sitcoms, and written three books including her acclaimed recent novel, Weirdo. She discusses drinking on stage, declaring bankruptcy, her first gig in front of just 12 people, becoming a mum in her forties and her continuing passion for performing stand up.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young asks the rock star Pete Doherty what advice he would give his younger self.

Doherty became famous in the 2000s with The Libertines, the band he formed and fronted alongside fellow singer and guitarist Carl Barât. He became notorious as his own drug addictions led to break ups with the band and numerous arrests. He reflects on a childhood spent moving around the world following his father's postings in the British Army, the beginnings of The Libertines, the lows of addiction, and the family life he now lives in France.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young asks food writer Nigel Slater what advice he would give his younger self.

Nigel Slater began his career working in kitchens across the UK before becoming a food writer, initially for Marie Claire magazine. He has written a regular food column for The Observer newspaper for over three decades in which time he has also written numerous cookbooks. His 2003 autobiography, Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger, detailed a difficult childhood in the West Midlands during the 1960s and was later adapted into a film. He shares memories of Christmases past and last minute tips for making the perfect Christmas dinner in a special festive edition of Young Again.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young is back with more fascinating guests.

Kirsty Young asks the writer and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell what advice he would give his younger self.

Gladwell's writing, in books such as The Tipping Point and Outliers, successfully distil complex ideas for a mass audience, and he has worked as a staff writer for The New Yorker. His podcasts include Revisionist History, which reconsiders things both overlooked and misunderstood. Gladwell recalls his childhood in a largely Mennonite community in rural Canada, reflects on the shared culture of his English father and Jamaican mother, and shares his joy at becoming a parent later in life.

A BBC Studios Audio production.

Kirsty Young asks the author Irvine Welsh what advice he would give his younger self.

Welsh became a literary sensation when his first novel, Trainspotting, was published in 1993. The film adaptation that followed made him a star. But before that he'd gone from being a punk in London to a turn into administrative work for his local council, via a brush with heroin addiction. He looks back at his childhood in Edinburgh, his parents' romance and a first arrest at just eight years old.

A BBC Studios Audio production.