Loose Ends

Jason Donovan won the hearts of millions alongside Kylie Minogue in the Australian soap Neighbours; then his debut album was the biggest seller of 1989 and he topped the UK singles chart 4 times. In the 1990s he reinvented himself in musical theatre with acclaimed roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and now he's playing Frank-n-furter in the Rocky Horror Show tour. Its safe to say he knows a thing or two about eye catching costumes, as does Great British Sewing Bee judge and designer to the stars Patrick Grant. His book - Less - is a plea to us to stop buying so much rubbish, buy better, mend more and think about wearing woollen knit swimming costumes or at least cotton running gear. The comedian Sophie McCartney is best known for poking fun at parenting and her viral mum-parody to the tune of Ed Sheeran. But she likes a costume too - thigh high silver boots and leather shorts for her latest show One Foot In the Rave, full of advice on how best to turn 40, how to parent questioning teenagers and say a loud "no thanks" to a midlife crisis. With music from BBC Folk Award winners The Young'Uns and indie-soul singer Mychelle who's supporting Jorja Smith on tour. Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy

Clive Anderson brings us Loose Ends from the Hay Festival. Joining Clive in front of a Hay audience are singer Paloma Faith who last year released her most personal album 'The Glorification of Sadness'. She also published her first book 'MILF' (no, not that one), a rousing call to arms for women to take up space, based on her experiences in the music industry, and as a mother. Welsh comedian Mike Bubbins is the star of the sitcom 'Mammoth', in which he plays Tony Mammoth, a PE teacher from the 70's who finds himself in 2024. Writer Frank Cottrell Boyce has an impressively diverse CV, having written films such as 24 Hour Party People, Hilary & Jackie, Code 46 as well as the 2012 London Olympics Ceremony. He's the author of many beloved children's books including Millions, and his latest 'The Blockbusters'. Historian Helen Carr is the author of the best-selling 'The Red Prince: The Life of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster and her new book 'Sceptred Isle: A new history of the fourteenth century'And there's music from Euros Childs and Kizzy CrawfodPresenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

The comedian and podcaster Stevie Martin is currently battling it out in the latest series of Channel 4's award winning show Taskmaster - you might have enjoyed her "most snooty possession" which was a portrait of her pet tortoise in military uniform. She'll be here to tell us all about getting "the call" and her favourite games...sorry... tasks. Its also tricky-book-titles week on Loose Ends. The award winning novelist and screenwriter Emma Jane Unsworth likes a one word name for her books - the best selling Adults and Animals, which went on to become a feature film starring Holliday Grainger, and scooped Emma a British Independent Film Award - for the script. Her new book is called Slags, Stuart'll be finding out why. And travel writer Ben Aitken went to twelve of the least popular spots in the UK and Ireland for his book - Sh**ty Breaks. He'll be explaining the joys of travelling in the opposite direction to everybody else and still managing to get a great instagram photo. Music will be from the Jess Gillam Trio and former Welsh Music Prize winner Georgia Ruth. Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced by Olive Clancy

Joining Stuart Maconie in the Salford studio are the actress Phina Oruche who began her career modelling in America. She's best known for playing Liberty Baker in Footballers Wives. Phina is currently on stage at the Liverpool Everyman in Nathan Powell's new play 'Takeaway', where she stars as Carol, the matriach behind Hyltons Caribbean takeaway. Kate Mossman is facinated by 'Men of A Certain Age'. so she's written a book to try to get to the bottom of why she's so enthralled by a certain kind of wrinkly rock star. Drag Race star Divina De Campo has been touring her solo show, a mix of comedy, song and storytelling, and Joe Kent-Walters won best newcomer at this year's Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his show in the guise of Frankie Monroe, the owner of Rotherham's finest working men's club 'The Misty Moon'.And there's music from Gruff Rhys, who has just released a remastered version of his 2014 album 'American Interior'Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Taskmaster star, comic and sitcom actor Alex Horne joins Clive Anderson to talk about season two of his sitcom, to introduce his comedic band The Horne Section and tell us why he's never running out of taskmaster tasks. The lexicographer and broadcaster Susie Dent is now a mystery thriller writer too, she'll be with us to talk about twisty word clues and her all-encompassing love of the English language. Star of Its A Sin, Callum Scott-Howells is currently appearing on stage in Ibsen's Ghosts - he'll tell Clive why this 19th century play still has plenty to tell us today. The historian Kate Williams is often found on our TV screens telling us what's going on during coronations and royal weddings. But she's here to talk about her less sober side hustle - a podcast dishing the gossip from royal history. With music from Anoushka Shankar's latest album, the concluding part of a trilogy which has been orchestrated and will be part of this years' BBC Proms programme.Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Olive Clancy

Rachel Joyce's debut novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was a bestseller in 30 languages, became a much-loved film with Jim Broadbent and is about to become a stage musical. She's also got a new novel, a sun-soaked family drama called The Homemade God which has already been hailed by one critic as "the perfect holiday read". Levison Wood has travelled to 150 countries but holiday reading probably isn't top of his priorities as an explorer, documentary maker and photographer. He'll join us to talk about a career that's seen him serve in the army in Afghanistan, walk the full length of the Nile, make documentaries about endangered animals and circumnavigate the Arabian Peninsula. The actor and comedian Kiell Smith Bynoe starred in Ghosts and Stath Lets Flats and presented the Great British Sewing Bee but is about to go on tour with the aim of making improv cool again. Kool Story Bro sees him and a cast of comedians and actors pick up stories from audiences and make them into a show. What can he improv from this week's Loose Ends? Plus music from a contrasting pair of singer-songwriters - indie folk from Matilda Mann and jazz inflected from Maya Delilah.Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy

Clive Anderson will be joined by comedian and star of Two Doors Down Kieran Hodgson ahead of his upcoming show Voice Of America.Chef Julie Lin's cookery book Sama Sama celebrates all parts of her Malaysian, Chinese and Scottish identity and mixes tradition with innovation. Lewis Gribben stars in the new series of Charlie Brooker's multi award-winning dystopian drama Black Mirror. Selali Fiamanya's debut novel Before We Hit the Ground is set between Ghana and Glasgow and explores love, grief, family and belonging. With music from Skerryvore and Mike McKenzie.

Stuart Maconie will be joined by comedian Karen Dunbar, star of sketch comedy show Chewin' The Fat, ahead of her nationwide tour. Restless Natives: The Musical is the new stage adaptation of the Scottish cult classic. Actor Kirsty MacLaren stars in the show which brings some of Big Country's greatest hits to life. Rosco McClelland celebrates his recent win, having taken home the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at Glasgow International Comedy Festival. World-record breaking adventurer Mollie Hughes became the youngest woman to climb both sides of Mount Everest, and the youngest woman to ski solo to the South Pole. Her latest book is called Breathe.With music from NATI. and Lewis McLaughlin.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Caitlin Sneddon

Joining Clive Anderson in the Loose Ends studio are the Emmy award-winning actor Billy Porter, currently hanging out in the Kit-Kat club where he is starring as Emcee. Comedian and 'Guilty Feminist' podcaster Deborah Frances White has just published a new book 'Six Conversations We're Scared to Have', about how to ask difficult questions and change minds - including our own.Anna Chancellor stars in April De Angelis's 'Playhouse Creatures', about the first women of theatre at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, London.Music from Lapsley, one of the BBC Radio 1 Sound of... artists in 2025, she is about to release her fourth album 'I'm a Hurricane I'm a Woman in Love', the first on her own record label 'Her Own Recordings', and from poet and musician Anthony Joseph's new album 'Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back' Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

Loose Ends this week is all about finding the light. Poet, performer and broadcaster Michael Rosen is touring a one man show making sense of some of the darker moments of his life. Dylan Jones was the editor of era-defining magazines like i-D, Arena and British GQ in the 1990s and noughties. Now his memoir, These Foolish Things - tells how he left behind a difficult childhood to embrace a career that encompasses hobnobbing with celebrities from Elton John to Tracey Emin, taking phone calls from David Bowie and recommending a tailor to Gordon Brown. There's dark themes too to the Texan comedian Kemah Bob's new show Miss Fortunate which tells the story of a disastrous solo trip to Thailand. It was hailed as "chest-achingly funny" and "charismatic" by the critics and won her a Best Newcomer nomination at Edinburgh Festival Last year. The actress Barbara Flynn knows how to pick her projects, appearing in Cracker, Cranford and now the BBC's hit drama Beyond Paradise where cosy crime meets health concerns, heated relationships and family niggles. With music by the winner of Channel 4's talent show The Piano Brad Kella, who is about to tour with Take That's Gary Barlow and the folk singer and protest song writer Grace Petrie.Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy

Clive Anderson's guests in Salford include Bridget Christie who returns with series two of The Change. Gardener's World expert Adam Frost who is on the road with his 'Lessons from the Garden' tour and up and coming stand up Louise Young. Music is from Richard Dawson who has just released a new album 'End of the Middle' and cellist and singer Abel Selaocoe performs from his new album 'Hymns of Bantu'Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

Stuart Maconie and guests come together with mighty laughs, big stories, and altogether good craic from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Declan Lawn is a screenwriter of multiple TV series alongside his creative partner Adam Patterson, including the successful Blue Lights as well as the BBC miniseries The Salisbury Poisonings. Series three of Blue Lights is currently being filmed in Belfast, and he is currently writing series four. Comedian John Meagher is currently touring his stand-up show Big Year across the UK and Ireland. He chats about his big years in mixed martial arts prior to kicking off a career on the comedy circuit, as well as his Radio 4 documentary The Divil's Own. Writer Naoise Dolan has travelled the world after success with her bestsellers Exciting Times and The Happy Couple, but is returning back to Dublin as she spends this year as the inaugural IPUT Writer-In-Residence. County Tyrone comedian Emer Maguire is bringing her biggest gig yet - Notions - to the Grand Opera House later this year, exploring her experiences of growing up with autism and finding the funny in the most unexpected of places.After a year of accolades and success within the Irish music industry, Corkonian musician Chubby Cat performs a track from her latest EP THE FINE ART OF DISASSOCIATION accompanied on guitar by Ben Murray. Portaferry born singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan performs a track from his upcoming EP In This Room, before beginning his UK and Ireland tour in April. Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Anthony McKee A BBC Audio Northern Ireland production for BBC Radio 4.

Clive hosts Loose Ends with an audience in London this week with a set of guests with a serious work ethic and willingness to try new things in the name of entertainment. The chart topping superstar and award winning actor Michael Ball is now also a best selling novelist. Can life backstage really be as chaotic as this page-turner set in theatreland suggests? Hollie McNish is that rare thing, a best-selling poet who also likes to make people laugh. Fresh from entertaining Swiss school children with her work, she'll be discussing her latest collection Lobster (and other things I'm learning to Love), the follow up to Slug (and other things I've been told to hate). And Dr Who and Ballet Shoes actress Pearl Mackie on her new venture - a true crime podcast called Theatre of Crime, investigating famous murder mysteries with a touch of audio drama. Comedian Pierre Novellie also co-hosts podcasts, alongside names like Frank Skinner and Phil Wang. But he's going it alone in a new show - Must We? - a sell out Edinburgh Festival hit that makes comedy out of Cargo Cults, neurodiversity and quirky obsessions. Plus, music from the English folk star Sam Lee, who is Artist-in-residence for a year of environment-themed events - Earth Unwrapped - at Kings Place in London. Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Olive Clancy

Stuart Maconie is looking on the bright side this week with Dave Gorman who thinks that 'Modern Life is Goodish'. In the latest installment of his TV series, Dave Gorman is back with his trusty powerpoint as he falls down rabbit holes but always with a smile on his face -ish. And just to balance out all that positivity we've got natural worrier Angela Barnes whose new stand up tour is called 'Angst', a very funny catalogue of her failures.And if you are anxiously watching the green shoots emerge awaiting the end of winter, nature writer Simon Barnes is the ideal guide with his new book 'Spring is the Only Season'And there's music from the Hastings band HotWax who are just about to release their debut album Hot Shock and neo-soul vocalist Ni MaxinePresenter: Stuart Maconie Prodcuer: Jessica Treen

Stuart Maconie is joined by the 41st best stand up ever to talk about his new tour 'Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf', and by Philippa Dunne who plays Anne in the school gates sitcom 'Motherland'. Anne is back in the spinoff series 'Amandaland', focusing on Anne's glamorous best friend Amanda. Aysha Kala tells us how she nailed the accent to play Saima in the new Bradford set crime thriller Virdee.Music from song intrepeter Barb Jungr whose new album 'Hallelujah on Desolation Row' sees her back in the company of two songwriters whose music she has spent a lifetime alongside, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen as well as Irish singer and rapper Biig Piig who has just released her debut album '11:11'.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Jack Docherty has entertained audiences in eight series of BBC Scotland's mockumentary police show Scot Squad, as Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson. He returns to our screens in new spin-off The Chief. Writer Kirsty Logan has written on witches, mermaids, and motherhood. Her latest collection of dark tales of love and desire is No & Other Love Stories.Comedian Larry Dean is bringing his acclaimed stand up show Dodger on tour. It explores identity, his grandmother's dementia diagnosis, and a love of Elvis Presley.After big 40th anniversary celebrations last year, Pat and Greg Kane - AKA pop duo Hue and Cry - are set for a year of touring. They share a song fit for Valentine's Day weekend. Cellist Su-a Lee performs a track from her solo album Dialogues which celebrates decades of folk music friendships. She's joined by composer and pianist James Ross.

Kevin Clifton entertained the nation for years on Strictly, now he can often be found treading the boards instead – and is currently starring in Chicago as it tours the country. Poet and former Scots Makar Liz Lochhead talks about her collection of poems A Handsel ahead of her appearance at the Winter Words Festival in Pitlochry. Coinneach MacLeod, best known as The Hebridean Baker, has found a global audience for his Scottish recipes. His latest release is The Hebridean Baker: The Scottish Cookbook. Olivier Award-nominated Dawn Sievewright's next project is Wild Rose, a stage musical adaptation of the 2018 film. She shares a track from the show ahead of it's premiere in March. Jazz/soul ensemble Mama Terra perform from their new album Chameleons: Live Interpretations of Herbie Hancock.

Natural history presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan's new book In The Hide is a look back at some of his greatest adventures across the world, from Mumbai to Mongolia. In 2015 Mhairi Black became the youngest MP elected to the House of Commons since the 1800s. After stepping down at the 2024 General Election, she turned her mind to her tell-all comedy show Politics Isn't For Me which took last year's Fringe by storm. She's now taking it on tour. Cal MacAninch is well known for roles in Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge, Vigil and Wild At Heart amongst much else. He plays Banquo in a production of Macbeth that has wowed audiences at the Donmar Warehouse and the West End and can be seen in cinemas in February. Edinburgh's Makar Michael Pedersen writes about friendship, grief and pretending to be a cat. The newest addition to his expanding body of works is his debut novel, Muckle Flugga.Tunisian singer-songwriter EMEL has performed across the world, and rose to fame with her protest song Kelmti Horra which became an anthem for revolution. She performs from her latest album is MRA. Irish-Scottish contemporary folk duo LÉDA share a new track ahead of their debut album launch later this year.

Clive Anderson celebrates Scotland's Bard with a special Loose Ends Burns Supper.Comedian Susie McCabe is back with her new show Best Behaviour. The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award-winner and host of the smash-hit podcast Here Comes The Guillotine is headed for Glasgow Comedy Festival.Meredith Brook stars in new BBC ALBA drama An t-Eilean (The Island), the UK's first high-end Gaelic drama series which is set on the Isle of Harris. Franco-Scot poet Paul Malgrati's book Robert Burns and Scottish Cultural Politics – The Bard of Contention (1914-2014) explores Rabbie's influences around the world. He shares why the poet still means so much to modern audiences across the world, and what it was like learning Scots as a French-speaker.Carina Contini discusses cooking up the perfect Burns Supper and her showcase of the rich variety of Italian recipes The Contini Cookbook.Plus Isle of Lewis trio Peat and Diesel bring a bit of island spirit to Glasgow.

This year the Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue celebrates 40 years together. Not only is the band going strong – so is the marriage bringing together its lead vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh. They both join Nihal Arthanayake to reflect on four decades of music-making.Paul McKenna's career has taken him from radio DJ to stage hypnotist to self-help book author. His latest offering – Power Manifesting – explores how he's used manifesting to achieve his goals. He looks at how super-achievers praise this technique and explains how he uses the toolkit in day to day life.Julie Wilson Nimmo is a star of Scottish TV classics like Balamory, Chewin' The Fat and Scot Squad. Her current role is slightly different as she and fellow actor and comedian husband Greg Hemphill set off to the Scottish islands to dip in their beautiful seas. Jules and Greg's Wild Swim sees the couple enjoy the invigoration of cold water swimming, along with chats about mental health, the menopause and much more.Indie-folk pop singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni shares music from her latest release – no way blues. And singer-songwriter Jon Muq who was born in Uganda and has forged a career in Austin, Texas. He performs from his album Flying Away.

Loose Ends is in Hebden Bridge this week, a town made famous by the BBC drama Happy Valley, but you might also recognise the place and its glorious scenery from Last Tango in Halifax, Gentleman Jack or The Gallow's Pole. Clive will talk to local resident and bestselling novelist Joanne Harris, maybe best known for Chocolat which was adapted into an Oscar nominated film of the same name. Her latest book The Moonlight Garden is a fantasy set in a "long ago and far away" version of London and fits right into the wildly popular "romantasy" genre - a good fit for a town renowned for its quirky ways and alternative lifestyles. Also in the show, the acclaimed comedian and actor Richard Blackwood, best known for roles in Hollyoaks and EastEnders as well as on stage, is out on the road and passing through town on a stand up tour promising heavyweight laughs and no messing. TV presenter, GP and host of Europe's most popular wellness podcast Dr Ranjan Chatterjee will be easing us all into the New Year, just about the time when we all begin to fall off the New Year resolutions wagon and we'll be hearing about what happened to his own long held ambition to be Jon Bon Jovi. And award wining stand-up comedian and Hebden resident Nina Gilligan will explain why her new show is called Goldfish. Music from former I am Kloot frontman John Bramwell and band The Full Harmonic Convergence and also from all female Indie-folk band The Deep Blue. Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Olive Clancy

Loose Ends is kicking off the year with a special recording at the Salford Lad's Club. If your New Year's resolution is to listen to music we've got you covered as Stuart Maconie will be joined by Stockport's finest, Blossoms, performing songs from their fourth UK number one album 'Gary'. We also have the powerhouse vocals of Rowetta, who will also talk about her time with the Happy Mondays and we have Graham Fellows, who celebrates 40 years as John Shuttleworth. Journalist Miranda Sawyer is the author of 'Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in Twenty songs'. She tells us about her 90's, and perhaps finally get to the the bottom of who came up with the term 'britpop'.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Wayne Sleep, Ben Miller, Rosalind Eleazar and Lou Conran join Stuart Maconie for this week's Loose Ends, with music from The Lottery Winners.Dance icon Wayne Sleep waltzes in to tell us stories of his life - all detailed in his new autobiography, Just Different. Tales of his friendships with Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, David Hockney and fellow ballet legend Rudolph Nureyev intermingle with insights into his working-class upbringing and the difficulties of trying to make it as the shortest principal dancer ever to get into the Royal Ballet. Told he would always have to spin twice as fast and jump twice as high to succeed, Stuart hears all about the trials, tribulations and backstage gossip that make up Wayne's world. With notable appearances in Slow Horses, Howards End, Rellik and the Personal History Of David Copperfield, as well as striding such prestigious stages as the Royal Court and the National Theatre, Rosalind Eleazar is set to return to the small screen this New Year. Starring in the Netflix production of Harlan Coben's Missing You, filmed across the north west of England, she's here to tell us all about her new role as Detective Kat Donovan. Award-winning comedian and writer Lou Conran has been storming stages up and down the country since 2005 with her innate brand of sharp wit and honest and open humour. 2025 will see her twenty year anniversary as a performer and off the back of a sold out UK tour, she's about to embark on a tour of New Zealand, and joins Stuart to tell us about the year ahead. The actor and comedian Ben Miller is of course known for The Armstrong & Miller Show, the Johnny English and Paddington films, Death in Paradise, Bridgerton - but over recent years has turned his hand to writing children's books. From his Elf series to the recent The Night I Met Father Christmas, he joins Stuart to talk about his new character – Robin Hood…aged 10¾. And we'll hear all about his new TV series Austin which will be on our screens in 2025. Robbie Williams, Noel Gallagher, Boy George, Shaun Ryder and Frank Turner are just some of the huge names The Lottery Winners have in their phonebook. Formed in the mining town of Leigh 15 years ago, The Lottery Winners set out to work the UK gig circuit and perfect their now acclaimed stagecraft. And it all paid off when their last album went to No.1 in the UK. Their fourth original album KOKO is due out in February with a tour closely following…and another one with Robbie Williams following that! They join Loose Ends to play two songs - Superpower and Worry. Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Elizabeth Foster Production Co-ordinator: Lydia Depledge-Miller

It's a glorious fusion of nostalgia, tinsel and song this week in a show recorded with an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre. Clive talks to punk princess Toyah Willcox about her Xmas Party tour with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and a blistering year that's seen her perform at Glastonbury, take part in Strictly Come Dancing and join the cast of Now That's What I Call a Musical. To celebrate 30 years since boyband East 17 scaled the charts with Stay Another Day - songwriter Tony Mortimer performs the song with Edele Lynch of B*Witched for a boy and girl band treat. Find out the true origin of the song and why it almost wasn't released. There's bromance, baubles and banter with a pair of Edinburgh Comedy Award winners - Adam Riches and John Kearns - who this year are collaborating on a "once in a lifetime, yuletide extravaganza" show at the Soho Theatre.And the columnist, broadcaster and newly-announced MasterChef host Grace Dent - who knows a thing or two about comfort eating having written a book about it - on creating Christmas food memories, including loading up on yellow-stickered trophies at the supermarket late on Christmas Eve. Plus in this 40th anniversary year since the release of Wham's Last Christmas we have a gorgeous soulful version from singer and former UK Jazz Act Of The Year - Georgia Cecile. Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Olive Clancy

Stuart Maconie is joined in the Salford studio by Sheffield's finest, Richard Hawley, playing tracks from his latest album 'In This City They Call You Love', and by comedian and podcaster Cariad Lloyd on her Christmas book for children, The Christmas Wish-tastrophe. Seema Pankhania is on a quest to cook the national dish from every country around the world and she's documenting her journey on her popular Youtube and TikTok channels. She's just pusblished her first cookbook 'Cravable: All I want to eat, big flavours for every mood. Tim Clare takes gaming very seriously in his book 'The Game Changers' - a history of tabletop game playing, and Katy Stephens stars as The White Witch in a new version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Leeds Playhouse. Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Loose Ends this week is a masterclass in the many ways human beings find to laugh: the writer and comic Jenny Eclair started her career as a punk performance poet, who created her stage name to chime with the band she joined - Cathy le Creme and the Rumbabas. But as we learn in her new memoir, she knew as a small child called Jenny Hargreaves that she had the "funny bones" required to make her a comedy star. There is little about Ferdia Lennon's debut novel Glorious Exploits that might suggest comedy - its set in 412 BC Sicily, in the years after Athens' failed invasion and tells the story of two locals who get Athenian prisoners of war to stage a production of the play Medea. Yet this book's just won an award for comic writing. Nikki Amuka-Bird is a Bafta-winning actor and her new movie Rumours features a constellation of Hollywood stars. But this comedy-horror-satire features her alongside Cate Blanchett and Charles Dance prat-falling as world leaders at a summit. And stand-up Lou Sanders is about to go on the road with a show called No Kissing In The Bingo Hall, but she's taken diversions via Dancing on Ice and Taskmaster and will be trying not to laugh in series one of Last One Laughing UK next year. With music by Roddy Woomble of Idlewild.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Olive Clancy

Author and historian Charles Spencer has written many books including The White Ship, To Catch A King and A Very Private School, and now finds himself down a Rabbit Hole – along with his fellow trivia hunters Cat Jarman and Richard Coles - in their podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives. Digging into the past and uncovering weird and wonderful stories, every week the trio discuss the whos, whats, whens and whys and have now turned all this into a book… aptly titled The Rabbit Hole Book. Charles joins us to dig a little deeper… Romy Gill is a celebrated chef and food writer whose many TV appearances include Ready Steady Cook, Morning Live, Countryfile and Celebrity Masterchef, as well as being a regular voice on Radio 4 on The Food Programme. Her food is inspired by both her West Bengal and Punjab roots, and she tells us all about her new book in which she collects many recipes of home, Romy Gill's India. Former EastEnder turned X Man Ben Hardy has left both Albert Square and his superhero wings behind to take on the role of Luke, a single father and a seemingly straight, white, car mechanic, who meets and forms a deep relationship with a south Asian, queer, club dancer called Ayesha in the film Unicorns. Ben joins Clive to talk about the challenges of the role and his leap from the small to the big screen. Comedian, writer and campaigner Sarah Mills was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018, or, as she puts it, “my bum tried to kill me”. Since then, she has tried to shine a light on hidden disability and has been breaking taboos in conversations around what would normally be seen as embarrassing bodily functions. She tells us all about her new Radio 4 series Sarah Mills' Bad Bod Squad, and all things leaky, squeaky, lumpy and wonky. There's music from New Starts who bring their style of new wave and angular guitar rock with two songs - Don't Need Persuading and Let Me Start Again.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Elizabeth Foster Production Co-ordinator: Lydia Depledge-Miller

Loose Ends embraces the great outdoors this week at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Stuart talks to festival patron and bestselling writer Robert Macfarlane about his "mountain DNA" and unusual walking snack. Broadcaster and writer Louise Minchin loves a mountain too. Having put aside the extreme working practice of rising at 3am for Breakfast TV she now loves a triathlon, a free-dive at night under ice or the extreme experience that is learning to cook a soufflé from an online video for Celebrity Masterchef. Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock - who is such a star there is even a Barbie doll in her image - on being inspired by the night sky, be that incredible telescope images or The Clangers as she was as a child. And for a counterpoint approach we have a relative newcomer to the country, the comedian Chris Cantrill who describes himself as a "rural imposter" and hosts a podcast about adapting to the northern wilds by competitive leek growing and donning a cape. Plus music from Lake District singer songwriter Olivia Fern and Cumbrian-born indie artist Melanie Baker, who loves mountains so much she once filmed a music video at the top of one. Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Olive Clancy

Clive Anderson is joined by actor Shazad Latif, who stars as Nemo in 'Nautilus', a new ten part TV series based on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Latif's TV credits include Spooks, The Pursuit of Love and Toast of London, where he played the fan favourite Clem Fandango. And he's also joined by Michael Cumming, who directed Latif in three series of Toast of London. He is currently touring his documentary film 'Oxide Ghosts', a collection of outtakes and behind the scenes footage from the cult series 'Brass Eye' only ever shown at special live screenings.Laurie Anderson is one of the world's most pioneering creative artists. Her documentary film 'Heart of a Dog' was nominated for an Oscar, and she had a surprise hit in 1981 with her song 'O Superman', which reached number two in the UK singles chart. Her new Multimedia show ARK: United States V has just opened at Manchester's Factory International. Comedian Sooz Kempner's most recent stand up show is 'Class of 2000'. It takes her back to sitting her GCSE's in a state school in the year 2000 while being preoccupied with horses, EastEnders and the millenium bug. It's also about the architectural wonder of the Viennetta. Sooz is also one of the hosts of The Queen Podcast. Music is from Trust Fund, the musical project of Ellis Jones. After taking a break from music Jones is back with a new album 'Has it been a while?' And we also have a performance from Manchester based soul-pop artist Ellen Beth Abdi.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

The comedian and actor John Bishop is about to head off on a tour celebrating 25 years in stand up - a quarter century since he took to the stage on a whim and ended up one of the UK's favourite stars. The explorer Lucy Shepherd is more likely to be found fighting off venomous spiders than hecklers. For her latest TV series she's embarked on a never before completed journey across Guyana. How did she cope with the threat of trench foot, zero daylight and the ominous warnings from the locals - "don't go, you might not get back"? The Comic and podcaster Grace Campbell is also one for exploration but hers involve the world of dating and parties in her tour - On Heat. She'll be competing on tall tales and ominous warnings, no doubt. And broadcaster and columnist Adrian Chiles will cast a cool eye on proceedings as he does in his much-shared newspaper articles on chewy topics such as home urinals, favourite spoons and the biggie - we can go to the moon, so why can't we stop my glasses sliding down my nose? With music by "the songwriter's songwriter" Ron Sexsmith and "Hendrix of the kora" Seckou Keita. Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced by Olive Clancy

Monty Python star and king of the travel documentary Michael Palin has just published the fourth volume of his best-selling diaries. In 'There and Back' he covers the years 1999-2009. He joins Clive to talk about how the 21st Century has treated him.The actor and Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine is soon to return to our screens in the second series of 'The Devil's Hour' where she plays Lucy Chambers, the insomniac social worker who wakes every night at 3.33am.Susan Wokoma has just finished playing Charlotte in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing at the Old Vic and she will soon be back as Fola in the BBC drama Cheaters, which starts its second series later this month.The WAEVE are a collaboration between Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and singer-songwriter Rose Elinor Dougall. They perform a track from their new album City Lights.And there's more music from the London based Jazz musican Ashley Henry who has just released his sophmore album 'Who We Are'Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

Loose Ends is at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and Stuart Maconie is joined by Harriet Walter, who has played many roles at the RSC in Stratford and has just published 'She Speaks!', a book imagining what Shakespeare's women might have said if they'd been given half a chance. John Douglas Thompson is one of America's finest classical actors, now playing his first role on the main stage at the RSC. He is returning to the role of Othello, 16 years after first taking it on. Comedian and writer Robert Popper created the beloved sitcom Friday Night Dinner and has been the scourge of many with his 'Time Waster Letters'. He's back writing letters again, this time as Elsie Drake (104 years old). Jessica Hepburn is an 'arts adventurer', and the only woman to have swum the English Channel, run the London marathon and summitted Everest. She might also be the only person in the world to have listened to every available episode of Desert Island Discs...And there's music from Emily Burns and Wes FinchPresenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Stuart is joined in the Loose Ends Salford Studio by comedian, musican, actor and Strictly winner Bill Bailey. His new book is 'My Animals, and Other Animals: A memoir of sorts'. It's the story of his life through the creatures who have meant something to him, and a celebration of how animals bring us joy. The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, talks about her latest Channel 4 series - Our Farm Next Door - where she and her large family adapt a ruined farm for a show described as Grand Designs meets Our Yorkshire Farm. In 2022 the comedian and podcast host Kiri Pritchard-McLean hosted a Radio 4 programme Egg-sistential Crisis, exploring her decision not to have children. In her new stand up tour, Peacock, she continues her story now that she and her partner have become foster carers. Maya Sondhi played the hapless PC Maneet Bandra in Line of Duty and Shazia Khan in Citizen Khan. But she is also the writer and creator of ITV's police thriller DI Ray starring Parminder Nagra who describes her role as “a female Columbo in a green coat”. And there's music from the acclaimed folk singer Katherine Priddy, who released her second album 'The Pendulum Swing' earlier this year. She also performs a duet with Grammy nominated songwriter Richard WaltersPresenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Olive Clancy

The poet Pam Ayres, author of Oh, I wish I'd looked after Me Teeth - which was voted one of the UK's top ten comic verses - joins Clive to discuss almost half a century of writing and a new volume of her collected works - Doggedly Onwards. Dawn O'Porter was once the journalist behind documentaries on topics from extreme dieting to poligamy and even the movie Dirty Dancing. Now she's a bestselling novelist and her latest work Honeybee is the taboo-tackling tale of twentysomething friends Renee and Flo who grew up, like Dawn herself, on Guernsey and seem to be failing at life. The comedian Ahir Shah went to Edinburgh festival last year with a work-in-progress show about family, immigration, Rishi Sunak and baked beans. He came home with the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Award. Now that show is on Netflix and he's taking off on a UK tour. And Poppy O'Toole, a Michelin-trained chef who's become a TikTok sensation with the moniker "The Potato Queen" on gadgets and keeping eating interesting. Plus music from soul singer Dee C Lee, who worked with Wham! and The Style Council but is now back with a new album and touring for the first time in 25 years. Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Olive Clancy

Stuart Maconie presents Loose Ends from the North Cornwall Book Festival in St Endellion. He is joined by Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle and Tim Smit, and there's music from the multi-instrumentalist Angeline Morrison.Patrick Gale is the author of the Emmy award-winning BBC drama Man in an Orange Shirt and novels including A Place Called Winter, A Perfectly Good Man and Notes From An Exhibition. He's been the Artistic Director of the North Cornwall Book Festival since it began in 2012. He joins Loose Ends to tell us all about his final year in the role. Born in Scotland and armed only with an English degree, Tom Allan turned his back on his desk-based city job and headed west, where a life out in the open air beckoned. Now a full-time thatcher and writer, Tom's book On The Roof tells tales of craftmanship from around the world and he joins Stuart to talk nitches, yealms and exactly what to do with a biddle. Anna Keirle is stand-up, writer and actor who has been working the comedy circuit for over 20 years performing from Cornwall to Edinburgh and beyond. She co-wrote and starred in Radio 4's Wosson Cornwall alongside Dawn French, and faced Anne Robinson when she took on - and won - The Weakest Link. Former archaeologist-come-songwriter-come-producer-come-entrepreneur Sir Tim Smit KBE once sheltered from the Cornish rain in an estate agents while on holiday - and ended up buying a house. After relocating to Cornwall, he came across someone who needed a little archaeology expertise for some overgrown and neglected land... and the Lost Gardens of Heligan were reborn. Spotting a disused pit a little further up the road, and - one night in the local pub later - plans for the Eden Project were formed. Opening in 2001, the Project has contributed over £1.9 billion to the Cornish economy. And there's music from Angeline Morrison, who joins us to play Fair Maid In Bedlam and the haunting Unknown African Boy. Angeline has been unearthing the voices of black ancestors whose footprint has been missing from the collected British folk history. Affectionately referred to as 're-storying', the result of her work - 2022's The Sorrow Songs - drew acclaim across the board, praising her “courage in reconstructing folk repertoire” as “truly revolutionary”. Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Elizabeth Foster Production Co-ordinator: Lydia Depledge-MillerPhoto: Drew Shearwood

Nihal Arthanayake presents Loose Ends from the third annual Morecambe Poetry Festival. He's joined by Henry Normal. Henry is a writer, poet, TV and film producer who has been involved with many of our most loved comedies, such as The Mrs Merton Show, The Royal Family, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge. He's a prolific poet, and his latest collection is 'A Moonless Night'. He also presents the occasional 'A Normal...; series for Radio 4 combining stand-up, poetry and stories about his life and family. Henry explains how, prematurely old at 23 he turned his back on a traditional career path and entered the worlrd of comedy and performance. Donna Ashworth's lockdown poetry went viral in 2020 and her popularity has been credited with 2023 being the best year for poetry sales in Britain since records began. Her new collection is 'Growing Brave'. She tells us about her days as a Butlin's red coat, celebrating overlooked kinds of bravery, and her dogs Dave and Brian. Mike Harding is a stand-up comic, musician and poet. He's been performing since the 1970's, and has released over a hundred books and recordings. He presented the Folk show on Radio 2 for 15 years. He's performing alongside Henry Normal at the Morecambe Poetry Festival. His latest poetry collection is 'The Lonely Zoroastrian', and he also tells us about the luck involved in his hit single, 'The Rochdale Cowboy'. Lisa Goodwin-Allen is Morecambe born and bred. She's the executive chef at the nearby Northcote and appears frequently on TV including on The Great British Menu and James Martin's Saturday Kitchen. Lisa's ingredients for success in the kitchen include imagination, being an adreneline junkie and a passion for seasonal and local produce. And we have music from the Lancaster based musical duo The Lovely Eggs, from their seventh album. 'Eggsistentialism'. The album is personal, inspired by their lives, particulary their struggle to save the Lancaster Music Co-op.The Lovely Eggs are Holly Ross and David Blackwell and the show is dedicated to David's mum, Anne Blackwell, who died shortly before this programme was broadcast. A former acress and headteacher, Anne was a was known Morecambe character. A keen member of Morecambe Speaker's Club, she lived and breathed theatre and performing and was much loved within the community. Presenter: Nihal Arthanayake Producer: Jessica Treen

The tenor Russell Watson's remarkable career took him from playing from working mens clubs in Salford to performing at the Vatican. But his life hasn't been completely charmed - he discusses the brain tumour that threatened his life as well as his voice and how he found his way back to centre stage.Jackie Kay is one of the UK's most lauded poets who turned to writing as a child as a sanctuary from the difficulties of life as an adopted, if much loved, half-Nigerian child in Scotland. A new BBC One documentary tells her story "In Her Own Words"; we'll be asking why she wanted to do that. Doctor-turned-comedian-turned-author Adam Kay's first book This Is Going To Hurt sold over 3 million copies and was adapted into a multi award-winning TV series. Now he's taken another career turn into children's fiction with a new character – Dexter Procter, the ten year old doctor. As an actress Deborah McAndrew played Angie Freeman on Coronation Street in the 1990s. She left the Rovers Return behind long ago for a career as a writer and her latest play tells the story of the night an Unidentified Flying Object landed near Stoke-on-Trent's Bentilee housing estate. The show draws on multiple eyewitness accounts from the time to create a warm and funny depiction of an extraordinary event happening to very ordinary people. Plus music from The Lemon Twigs's latest album A Dream Is All We Know. Presented by Nihal Arthanayake Produced by Olive Clancy

From Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. Richard Armitage's CV is already packed with roles, including a string of stellar acting credits in the likes of The Hobbit, North and South, Robin Hood, and Spooks. Now he's added author to the list with his debut novel Geneva. Ambrose Parry is not one writer but two – it's the penname of internationally bestselling and multi-award-winning Chris Brookmyre and consultant anaesthetist of twenty years' experience, Dr Marisa Haetzman. The married couple write books inspired by the gory details Marisa uncovered during her History of Medicine degree. One of the writers on this year's Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year shortlist is Suzy Aspley. She started her writing career at the festival when she won its Pitch Perfect competition, and released her spooky novel Crow Moon earlier this year. With music from Scottish singer-songwriter Rianne Downey, and Chloe Matharu who is both a Merchant Navy Navigational Officer and singer-songwriter and harpist.

Sir Ian Rankin's much-loved detective Rebus has had a big year, with a fresh BBC TV adaptation in the summer, and now a return to the stage. Clive Anderson hears about new play Rebus: A Game Called Malice which was written by Sir Ian and Simon Reade, it's touring the UK. Michelle McManus chats to poet and women's rights advocate Len Pennie who rose to fame on social media during the pandemic when she shared her Scots words of the day. Her first book Poyums is a collection of funny and fiercely feminist poems. Northern Irish comedian, actor and podcaster Shane Todd has a loyal fanbase as the host of the Tea with Me podcast and with sell out shows across the world, including opening for the likes of Kevin Hart. He's currently embarking on his eleventh solo show – Full House. With music from musician and singer Kim Carnie, whose newest project is documentary Kim Carnie Out Loud which explores her experience of hiding a six year same-sex relationship. She meets other LGBTQ+ folk and creates songs around their stories. Plus Bathgate singer and Scottish Music Awards Breakthrough-winner Luke La Volpe.

Elaine C. Smith has delighted audiences for decades, including work on TV shows like BBC Scotland's Two Doors Down. In her latest project she joins the touring cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and takes on a character that used to terrify her - The Childcatcher. Claire Love Wilson is a Scottish-Canadian theatre-maker, actor, and singer-songwriter whose semi-autobiographical show Morag, You're A Long Time Deid is inspired by the story of a grandmother she never met, and explores queer history from fragments of a recently forgotten past. Glaswegian stand-up Christopher Macarthur-Boyd had a total sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 and 2024, and is about to take his Scary Times show on tour across the UK and Ireland. With music from Irish country sensation Nathan Carter, and soul and pop singer Becky Sikasa.

Actress and singer Su Pollard's new tour Still Fully Charged celebrates her 50 years in showbiz – she catches up with Michelle McManus about what keeps her hooked, and being beaten by a dog in a talent competition. Clive Anderson chats to comedian and actor Chris Grace. He's returned to Edinburgh after his sold-out 2023 run, this time with a packed out performance schedule including his new show Sardines (A Comedy About Death). Award-winning non-fiction writer Sinéad Gleeson's debut novel Hagstone sees an artist discover a commune of women on a remote island – she discusses the inspirations behind it. With music from comedian and actor Catherine Cohen, and Irish singer and musician Camille O' Sullivan. Presented by Clive Anderson Co-host: Michelle McManus Produced by Caitlin Sneddon

Clive Anderson is joined by comedian Jason Byrne who returns to Edinburgh for his 28th consecutive Fringe with No Show, a performance that will be totally new each night. Playwright and actor David Ireland's award-winning plays Cyprus Avenue and Ulster American have had success across the world. His latest play The Fifth Step stars Jack Lowden and Sean Gilder as they navigate the road to recovery. Shetland comedian Marjolein Robertson's show titled O is full to the brim with blood as she explores her fascination with her own funeral and her near death experience. My English Persian Kitchen is the true story of losing a homeland, and building a new life and community around the tastes and aromas of an Iranian kitchen. Isabella Nefar chats about starring in the play, and cooking on stage. With music from Scottish violinist and composer Catriona Price and Two Hearts, AKA New Zealand's hottest comedy pop-music duo Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore. Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Caitlin Sneddon