Whistledown

"The world is your lobster," says Carly Daniels, Britain's leading expert on the snap-happy crustacean.  Photo: Johnny Fenn.

P.J.Harvey has recorded two new songs, together with the music for a new stage version of the classic movie All About Eve. John Wilson has been granted special back stage access for "Behind the Scenes" - and it's a Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4. Tx 4pm on Monday 11th Feb 2019.

Barry’s Lunch Club is the new radio comedy show from Whistledown. Staring Alex Lowe as the 82 year old Barry from Watford, it is a talking shop for the retired people of Britain. Here, Barry is on Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the afternoon talking about holidays, his wife Margaret and the new show.

We’re saddened hear of the death of historian and biographer Lisa Jardine. Here she is in one of her last interviews, talking about the scientist Leo Szilard, a friend of her father’s for a Whistledown documentary on the origins of the H-Bomb. The programme, "HG and the H Bomb" was presented by Samira Ahmed and broadcast on Radio 3 earlier this year.

As Government papers are released, Radio 4's Cold War Confidential, produced by Whistledown, reveals how the British spy network failed to spot the traitors in their midst.

In 1927 - or thereabouts, a car pulled up outside a hotel in central Chicago. The pianist Fats Waller was bundled in the back ... or was he? Kurt Elling investigates one of the strangest footnotes in jazz in this extract from the forthcoming Radio 2 documentary. #FatsWaller #AlCapone #Mob #chicago #KurtElling #Radio2

Sue MacGregor reunites cast and creatives to recall how director Peter Brook's revolutionary production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, set inside a brilliantly-lit white box, changed theatre and Shakespeare forever. Sue MacGregor is joined by Peter Brook, designer Sally Jacobs and actors Sir Ben Kingsley (Demetrius), Sara Kestelman (Titania/Hippolyta), Frances de la Tour (Helena) and Barry Stanton (Snug). (An extract from Radio 4's 'The Reunion: Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Originally broadcast on 08/05/15)

The fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 led to the surrender of 67,000 British servicemen, the single largest capitulation in British military history. While many were sent to forced labour projects such as the Thailand-Burma railway, many more were sent on "hell ships" across South-East Asia. In this short extract, Bob Morrell remembers his "coffin duty" on the island of Ambon. (This is an extract from Radio 4's 'The Reunion: Far East Prisoners of War', originally broadcast on 01/05/15.)

Former senior police detective Jackie Malton - the inspiration for Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the TV series Prime Suspect – talks to retired and serving officers to explore whether the laddish canteen-culture and sexist attitudes among male police officers has really changed since the 70s and 80s, and whether the force has genuinely created a safe and equal environment for men and women to work in. (An extract from 'Women in Blue', originally broadcast 20/04/15. This extract contains strong language.)

Radio Today's Trevor Dann speaks to managing director of Whistledown, David Prest about the new RIGTrain scheme which aims to offer the skills required to expand the independent radio production sector, and to support the freelancers working in the industry.

It's 20 years since a precocious trader brought Britain's oldest merchant bank to its knees. In this edition of The Reunion, Sue MacGregor brought together Nick Leeson and his former boss Peter Norris for the first time since the bank's spectacular demise in 1995. (An extract from 'The Reunion', first broadcast on 12/08/11)

Radio 4's long-running programme 'Face The Facts' is coming to an end. Its presenter John Waite, the doyenne of dogged investigative journalism, was never afraid to confront less than salubrious characters face-to-face, an attitude that placed him in a particularly memorable radio encounter with a Mr Sage... (An extract from Radio 4's 'Feedback', aired on 27/02/15)

In post-Ferguson USA and on the 50th anniversary of his assassination, four unique voices from America consider the legacy of Malcolm X amidst the protests referred to as a “new Civil Rights Movement”. With Malcom X’s name and quotes used on placards and in chants, this programme explores the newly framed race problem in the States. (An extract from ‘Malcom X and the ‘American Nightmare’’, originally broadcast on Radio 4, 16/02/15)

UK debt currently stands at over one trillion pounds. But while that sum may seem vast beyond comprehension, Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, uses the historical numbers behind UK debt to suggest that we may not be in such a bad state after all. (An extract from BBC Radio 4's 'A History of Britain in Numbers: Debt', 24/02/15)

“She was sweet man…” She’s credited with nurturing the talents of many of the key players in Jamaican Reggae when the industry took off in the 1960′s. Jonathan Charles tells the story of Sister Mary Ignatius Davies in this extract from The Nun Who Nurtured Reggae.

The Arctic town of Longyearbyen in the remote Svalbard archipelago is the basis for the TV series “Fortitude”. One of the town’s best loved characters is Kazem Ariaiwand, owner of the Red Polar bear, the most northerly kebab van in the world. In 2010, Whistledown’s Nick Maes tracked him down...

From politics to music, religion to transport, the defiant UK city of Manchester has always been a cutting edge driving force for change in the country's history. Author Jeanette Winterson ("Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit") takes us on a personal tour around the history of her home town, in this episode (third in a series of five) focusing on radical politics from the 1800's.

National treasures Wallace and Gromit are the multi-Oscar, multi-BAFTA winning plasticine pair who swept to fame in the the 1980's, putting Bristol's Aardman animation company on the comedy world map. Sue MacGregor brings the creative geniuses behind this quintessentially British comedy duo together to talk all things Wensleydale, from Wigan to Hollywood's Dreamworks, in this Christmas edition of The Reunion.

Mipsterz, or Muslim hipsters, are confronting cultural stereotypes and society expectations head on - in a hijab. How do they combine their glowing grades, Hijabi swagger and high aspirations with their beliefs and cultural expectations? #mipstersisters

It had to happen .. the team from Radio 4's Deadringers have finally done their take on The Reunion, as Sue MacGregor re-unites the Apostles!

Pulp's keyboard player Candida Doyle confesses all - erect nipples, performance anxiety, and being a woman at the centre of Britpop's best-loved band. Produced by Emma Jarvis.

The recent D-Day anniversary reminds us of the story of how Robert Capa took the image which defined the day, recalled here in this 2013 Radio 3 essay by Hilary Roberts of the Imperial War Museum, produced by Brian McCluskey for Whistledown.

Sir David Attenborough and his cameraman Martin Saunders recall their encounter with the gorillas of Rwanda while filming the 1979 BBC TV series Life on Earth. As recalled in The Reunion on BBC Radio 4.

Mehmet Ergen is best known to UK theatre audiences as Artistic Director of London's Arcola Theatre, but his pioneering work in Hackney is only half the story. We follow him to Istanbul, post Gezi Park and post Arab Spring, caught between the Syrian conflict and EU aspirations; an emerging economy with freedom of speech still in jeopardy. Kirsty McQuire produces for Whistledown. The programme aired on Radio 4 on April 3rd 2013.

Twenty years on, Andie MacDowell remembers the making of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” for Radio 4’s The Reunion. In this extended extract from the programme, she talks about Richard Curtis’ script, her co-star Hugh Grant, and that last cheesy scene in the rain.

In this extract from BBC Radio 4's Something Understood, Samira Ahmed explores the role of transience in our lives. Anthony Denselow is the producer for Whistledown.

Ex-miners meet a former police officer and a Government Minister in this sparky edition of Radio 4's The Reunion, produced by Jerome Lyte for Whistledown.

Whistledown producer Deborah Dudgeon talks to Irish broadcaster Sean Moncrieff about the making of her programme "My War, My Playlist".

The ipod is the No 1 bit of kit to ease the boredom in Afghanistan. Coincidentally it was launched by Apple in the same month as the start of the war in 2001. Whistledown's Deborah Dudgeon has made a really insightful programme for the BBC World Service called "My War, My Playlist". She's spoken to those who have served about the music that keeps them going on their tours of duty. Jo Fidgen is the narrator.

Never mind the anatomy of a car crash.. Iggy Pop introduces BBC Radio 4 listeners to his hero William Burroughs in this Whistledown special feature. Colin McNulty produced this one, which meant spending time in Mr Pop's holiday cottage in Miami. The long version is on the Radio 4 website for a limited period.

Robin Lustig investigates the claims of corruption and kickbacks that have dogged Sochi's Winter Olympic journey. Hear more in "The Road to Sochi" on Radio 4 this Friday at 11am, or on BBC World Service on Saturday.

A lovely interview with Pete Seeger who will be much missed. This taken from the Radio 4 series "Old Stubborn Guts", presented by Studs Terkel and produced by David Prest in 1998.

An extract from Radio 4's UK Confidential, produced by Whistledown, in which Margaret Thatcher meets Mikhail Gorbachev for the very first time. The 1984 papers reveal what really went on. Presenter Martha Kearney, Producer Deborah Dudgeon. Taking part: Lords Kinnock, Lawson and Armstrong. Originally broadcast 03.01.14

A fast show taster of Radio 4's The Reunion. We gather Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and Simon Day. Catch the complete programme on Christmas Day at 10pm.

Radio historian and lecturer Tim Crook reveals some of the gems from his collection of WW1 propaganda phonograph cylinders.

Whistledown's Patrick Sykes has produced this lovely sound portrait of this year's Durham Miner's Gala.

Andrew Dilnot's 10 part Whistledown series looks at The History of Britain in Numbers. Here's a preview on The Today programme.

Sad to hear about the death of former BBC Political Editor John Cole. Here's one of his sterling performances, holding his own with Tony Benn and Shirley Williams in an episode of The Reunion recalling Harold Wilson's brave decision to hold a European referendum in 1975.

Reckon you can tell when a poem has been computer-generated? Have a go… (Answer in Radio 4's Something Understood on Radio 4, Nov 10th). http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03gtnng

It's Hank Marvin's birthday. So here from the Whistledown Archives is a gem of an interview with a 2013 re-edit and re-mix. Hank talks about his love for the Fender Stratocaster that became his trademark with The Shadows. Bend that Tremelo arm Hank.

The wonderful David Graham - the voice of Parker from Thunderbirds dropped into the Whistledown studios a few days ago. We asked him about the time Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson took him for lunch....

Series Producer David Prest talks to Chris Stone of Radio Jersey about recording The Reunion on the German occupation of the island during World War II.

Former Dallas homicide detective James Leavelle recalls the shocking moment when Lee Harvey Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby, just two days after the assassination of JFK in November 1963. James, now 93, was the man in the white hat handcuffed to Oswald as he was taken to the County Jail. He's amongst the people taking part in the special 100th edition of The Reunion recorded in Dallas. BBC Radio 4, Sunday September 1st.

Roger Bolton and some of the best bits of Feedback from the recent past. A new series starts on June 14th.

It's very nice to be quoted: A couple of recent mentions for The Reunion. Stephen Woolley on Loose Ends talking about being inspired by hearing the girl strikers from Dagenham, and Naomi Alderman on our recent Hutton gathering.

Ten years on, Greg Dyke and Andrew Gilligan of the BBC lock horns with Defence Minister Geoff Hoon and No 10 spokesman Tom Kelly over the Government's 2003 decision to go to war with Iraq. It's an explosive edition of Radio 4's The Reunion.

And now - something from our hippy archives. Here's Kevin Ayres of Soft Machine talking about living in Deya, Majorca in a programme for Radio 4 in 1992. Sad to hear that Kevin died this week. Simon Parkes, the interviewer, is alive and well. The producer was David Prest

The legendary film director and bon viveur Michael Winner was a regular contributor to many Whistledown programmes over the years. There've been plenty of tributes in recent days - but here he is reminiscing about his love of film trailers in a 2009 programme for Radio 4 called, "Never Before in the History of Motion Pictures". Patrick Humphries is the presenter, and Katrina Fallon the producer.

Who knew that talking into space could be such fun? A lovely extract from Rose de Larrabeiti's stunning radio piece "Space Ham" a Between the Ears feature for BBC Radio 3. Sound Design by Caroline Devine.

The world of cricket has lost two of its most respected figures in the last week. Commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins and the former England captain Tony Greig. Here they are in 2009 on Radio 4's The Reunion recalling the impact of Aussie media tycoon Kerry Packer on the game in the 1970's.

A few years ago - we made an 80th birthday tribute to Ravi Shankar for Radio 4. Terence Stamp was the presenter. Here's a short extract.