In Conversation Radio

Ava Astaire is the daughter of major Hollywood legend Fred Astaire. He made 31 musicals, was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of Old Hollywood, and introduced numerous standards to the Great American Songbook like Top Hat, Cheek to Cheek and Puttin on the Ritz to name a few.

Christopher Biggins is best known for his work as a presenter for shows like On Safari and Surprise Surprise with Cilla Black. He's gone from being voted 'the most hated man on TV' to winning I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

After a long career in politics, these days Jeffrey Archer is best known for his work as an author. His books have sold over 300 million copies worldwide, he's published in more than 30 languages and almost 100 countries. At 74 he's working harder than ever and shows no signs of slowing down.

Hannah Waddingham has been nominated for three Olivier Wards, wowed the critics in Spamalot, A Little Night Music, Benidorm, and recently The Game of Thrones. One critic said she has “slender legs, perfect pitch and a full-pearled smile”.

Jay Rayner is an award-winning writer, journalist and broadcaster. He writes about crime, politics, the arts and fashion but he first love is food and fortunately for him he's the restaurant critic for The Observer. 

Clive Thomas is an expert in making people happy. He's worked with people like Rick Stein, Murray Walker and Ian Botham and has shown his clients everything from big cats in Kenya to classic cars in Monte Carlo.

Bobby Crush made it big in 1972 when he won six appearances on the ITV talent show, Opportunity Knocks. He won the Variety Club's award for 'Best New Artist' and starred at the London Palladium alongside Jack Jones, Vic Damone and Julie Andrews.

Jonathan Nickoll went from busking on street-corners to being the youngest ever resident musician at The Savoy Hotel. He's performed for President Bill Clinton, hung out with Sex Pistols, sung with Paul McCartney and has been pelted with peanuts by the Royal Family.

Ray Jones is often described by colleagues and friends as “Mr London”. After starting as Head Concierge in several top London hotels he's now Business Development Director at Time Out, the worlds leading brand in the provision of trusted lifestyle advice.

David Knight is a hypnotist with over twenty-five years experience and five-thousand shows to his credit. He's worked in forty-eight Countries around the world and has hypnotised over 50,000 volunteers and counting.

Simon Lasky is a classically trained pianist, conductor and composer. His work has been performed in some of our most prestigious halls including the Barbican and The Southbank Centre. He's recently released a new CD described by LA Jazz Scene as “atmospheric, melodic, and thoughtful”. 

This year the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street celebrates its 40th anniversary. Over the years it's presented so many incredible names like Amy Winehouse, Jamie Cullum, Van Morrison and  George Shearing and the man in charge of finding all that talent is booker, Ross Dines.

Originally from Sheffield, Paul trained at the renowned Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts before embarking on a successful West End career. Since then he's appeared in numerous show like Grand Hotel,  The Rat Pack, Ain’t Misbehavin, Five Guys Named Moe and The Lion King.

Matt Ford is an award-winning vocalist performing for big bands and orchestras like the Halle, the Philharmonia, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and John Wilson's fabulous orchestra as seen at The Proms.

As an actor Karl Lornie has appeared in Boys from the Blackstuff, Brookside and Strike It Rich. His theatre roles go from Snow White to Rock and Roll Heaven but it's as Paul McCartney, singing and playing his way through 1000s of Beatles Celebration shows that's he's best known.

Anna Jane Casey is as much a fixture in London's West End as The Groucho Club and the Angus Steakhouse. She made her West End debut at just 16 years old as Rumpleteazer in Cats and since then she's performed in dozens of shows from Grease to Chicago.

Glenn Macnamara has been described "An amazing talent" by The Guardian. He has performed at The London Hippodrome, The Pizza Express Jazz Club, the world famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and Hampton Court Palace for The Duke and Duchess of Wessex.

Broadcaster Anthony Davis tells me about learning to dance alongside Denise Van Outen before spending two years in the cast of Grange Hill. By the time he'd left school at 16 he'd spent most of his life on TV sets.

He's recognised as one of the UK's finest trumpet players and has worked with such varied names as Wham, Erasure, Kajagoogoo, Sammy Davis, Liza Minelli, Gill Evans, Clare Teal, Quincy Jones, George Benson and Oscar Peterson.

Michael Feinstein is an author, archivist, singer and conductor. Since his close working relationship with Ira Gershwin he's become well established as the world's ambassador for the Great American Songbook. His albums have gone platinum and he's been nominated for five Grammy Awards.

Katie McHardy comes from a theatrical background, having trained at ArtsEd, London. She has sung as a soloist in concerts in the UK and further afield, as well as performing her cabaret and jazz sets at venues including The Pheasantry, The Bedford and L’Escargot. Katie’s first solo show.

Lorna Dallas has performed for every member of the British Royal Family. She's worked with The Metropolitan Opera, Bob Hope and Barry Manilow for which she was nominated for an Emmy. 

Chris Dean began his career as a boy soldier in the Household Cavalry. His first job as a freelance musician was playing lead trombone at the London Palladium so after he joined the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and he's been running the band for the last twenty years. 

Award-winning comic bombshell Sally Riceman switched directions after her career as a presenter for the shopping channel QVC. Now she's swapped the television studio for the cabaret stage with her acclaimed one woman show. 

Brian Clivaz is as much a part of London's hospitality scene as The Savoy and Simpson's-in-the-Strand. He's rubbed shoulders with the great and the good from Elizabeth Taylor to Princess Margaret, Liza Minelli and Her Majesty the Queen.

Claiming to be a strange love child of Boy George and Joan Rivers, Jamie Anderson is a soulful singer with a filthy mouth and a naughty attitude.With irreverent humour and wit, Jamie has charmed audiences across the U.K. and Europe as a singer, host and comedian. 

Andrew Pern is a largely self-taught chef whose hearty northern dishes have been influenced by Paul Heathcote, Raymond Blanc and Marco Pierre White. People come from far and wide to eat at his Michelin starred restaurant The Star Inn at Harome.

Birgitta Kenyon originally trained as a classical musician at the Royal Academy, studying conducting and accompaniment. She's a prolific composer, choral mentor and musical director and has worked extensively as a live presenter, including two Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Andrew Wyke has created and produced concerts all over the world working with people like Elton John, Tom Jones, Jessie J, Paul Weller, Jools Holland and Katherine Jenkins. He's also worked with Disney, the BBC and the Sydney Opera House.

The Three Little Maids are Kate, Alex and Jen, three well-bred fillies who, along with dashing pianist Leo, create their own curious brand of cabaret. With their maverick wit, devilish charm and with harmonies as tight as Leo’s gluteus muscles, you’re in for a light-headed, light-hearted episode of In Conversation.

As the Artistic Director for Belinda King Productions, she's responsible for the whole process of creating shows from beginning to end. You can see her handy work in numerous casinos and theatres and on many of the world's luxury cruise lines like Cunard, Seabourn and Holland America.

After a brief stint as an investment banker in New York Harold Sandetin found his love in the theatre producing plays. Eventually he became a performer himself and found his home in cabaret. He has since performed his one man shows all over the world.

Judy Carmichael is a Grammy nominated American jazz pianist who hosts her own nationally syndicated radio show in the States. She's become something of an expert at stride piano so much so that the London Times called her “a player of extraordinary accomplishment".

Richard Shelton is an actor and singer probably best known for playing the charmingly murderous role of Dr Adam Forsythe in Emmerdale. He also won 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' for his portrayal of Frank Sinatra the West End show Rat Pack Confidential.

Mike Vernon is a legendary name in British blues. He produced John Mayall's groundbreaking 'Beano' album 'Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton', Albatross with Peter Green and very early Fleetwood Mac. He later diversified with names like Level 42, David Bowie, Focus and Olli Brown.

Here's my personal tribute to veteran broadcaster, my pal, David Jacobs. Recorded during the making of a Friday Night is Music Night with contributions from his daughter Emma and singers Michael Ball, Hannah Waddingham and Rodney Earl Clark. 

In 2014 Jeremy King, was awarded an MBE and is quite rightly hailed as one of the country's most successful restaurateurs. With his business partner Chris Corbin he's been responsible for Le Caprice, the Ivy, Brasserie Zedel, and the Wolseley - officially the most successful restaurant London has ever seen.

Hilary O'Neil started out as a dancer for Ken Dodd, she was a founding member of the vocal harmony group The Stutz Bear Cats and she's brought her joyous personalty to West End shows like Shout, Animal Crackers and Acorn Antiques.

As a singer with his own band, Kevin Kennedy has toured all over the world, winning a gold disc along the way and a lot of fans, including Simon Cowell. But he is best known as an actor and for playing the role of Curly Watts in Coronation street for 20 years.

Widely recognized as the UK’s Premier Comedy Juggler, Pete Matthews' early career kick started in 1990 with TV appearances on “Barrymore” and “You Bet!”. He does it because he loves it, telling me, “No one becomes a juggler for money... ever, ever, ever”.

Bruce McGill is an actor who has appeared in Cliffhanger, Legally Blonde 2, Cinderella Man, Family Guy, Vantage Point, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and Law & Order. In this interview we discuss why he is happily child free, auditioning for Stephen Spielberg and what it's like to work on Family Guy with Seth McFarlaine. 

Michael Freedland is best known for his biographies of Hollywood and its stars including Jolson, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. On McCarthyism he told me, “It was as much anti-Semitic as it was anti-communist.” We discuss loosing his faith and why Gene Kelly was, "the most boring man I ever met". 

Kenny Kramer is an American stand-up comedian and the inspiration for the character of Cosmo Kramer from the television sitcom Seinfeld. As he told me, “This character based on me is the biggest thing in the history of next door neighbours on television.”

In this interview singer and trumpet player Georgina Jackson tells me about recording at Abbey Road, surviving cancer, and how one London jazz club offered her a gig on the condition she'd be "less northern".

Lorna Luft is an American television, stage, and film actress and singer. She is the daughter of Judy Garland and Sid Luft, and the half-sister of Liza Minnelli. She made her show business debut at age 11 singing on The Judy Garland Show. She shares stories about her friends Bobby Darrin, Barry Manilow and her godfather Frank Sinatra. “Happiness,” she told me, “is being here... being in the moment.”

Claudio Macor's work has been produced on both sides of the Atlantic – most notably with his play The Tailor-Made Man which was nominated Best New Play in 1995 and nominated writer of the year. He told me, "My experiences in apartheid South Africa have informed, influenced and shaped my entire writing career.”

Giles Terera is an award winning actor, composer and a musician. He's appeared in numerous West End productions, and performed all over the world from Caesars Palace to the Royal Albert Hall. He tells me about playing Sammy Davis Jr and how he can relate, “The idea of the colour of one's skin being something that people make judgements about it something I have to deal with every day.”

He was the first American actor to be presented with an Olivier Award for his performance in Rodgers and Hart’s On Your Toes. “Success," he told me, "is a sense of contentment and serenity in what I've achieved and ability to live in the moment.” 

Since being discovered on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks Elio Pace has become one of Britain's most prolific and respected musicians. He's a piano vocalist and a wonderful songwriter. He told me, “After Opportunity Knocks I was the golden boy of light entertainment," and he's remained so ever since.

Michael Parkinson described Elaine Delmar as "One of the ageless, evergreen singing stars that we have … as beautiful and talented as ever”. We talk about working with Michael Legard, working as a black artiste in 60s Britain and finding her cultural roots in Africa.

In this interview sax wizard Pete Long reveals his plan to save the lives of school children, why he almost became a professional steel drum player and his obsession with model aeroplanes.