Podcast appearances and mentions of Alison Steadman

Live from the Hay Festival, Alison Steadman talks to Samira about her career, from Abigail's Party to Gavin and Stacey. Laura Bates and Gwyneth Lewis discuss Arthurian Legends and The Mabinogion. Hisham Matar champions the Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. And transatlantic husband and wife country duo Outpost Drive perform on stage. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Oliver Jones

Better Man is a 2024 musical biopic depicting the life of English singer-songwriter and former Take That member Robbie Williams. It was written, directed, and produced by Michael Gracey (On the heels of his success with noted piece of treacly crap The Greatest Showman), and features the central conceit of replacing the film version of Robbie with that of an anthromorphic CGI chimpanzee. Robbie Williams himself stars as the narrator and singing voice of the film version of Williams, portrayed via motion capture and acted by stage actor Jonno Davies. Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, Alison Steadman, and Damon Herriman also star, and the soundtrack features a collection of Robbie Williams hits set to theatrical set pieces.On a new (Wait, really?!) episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott take in a viewing of Better Man, and literally record the episode immediately after the screening from a car in the parking lot of a Showcase Cinemas. Join them as they cast a hypothetical Pearl Jam biopic, enjoy a delicious meal of spaghetti flingers and NASCAR fries, are thoroughly bewildered by the sight of a giant ape-man doing cocaine and other ilicit deeds....with Lilz and Scott!

"Gavin and Stacey" is a British sitcom that first aired in 2007. Created by James Corden and Ruth Jones, the show revolves around the long-distance relationship between Gavin, who lives in Essex, England, and Stacey, who resides in Barry, Wales. Their budding romance brings together their families and friends, leading to a series of comedic events. The show was praised for its witty writing, relatable characters, and the chemistry between the cast members. Critics appreciated the unique blend of humor and heart, as well as the authentic portrayal of everyday life and relationships. Viewers fell in love with the characters and their stories. Will the S1E1 boys share that love? Listen as they deep dive the show's first episode, "Episode 1". Starring: Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Ruth Jones, James Corden, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb, Melanie Walters, & Steffan Rhodri www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

On the 430th episode of Piecing It Together, film critic Courtney Howard joins me to talk about Better Man. If you don't know it by name, this is the Robbie Williams biopic where he's digitally replaced by a CGI Chimp. It's WILD. Puzzle pieces include All That Jazz, Rocketman, Babylon and of course, Planet of the Apes.As always, SPOILER ALERT for Better Man and the movies we discuss!Written by Michael Gracey, Simon Gleeson, Oliver ColeDirected by Michael GraceyStarring Robbie Williams, Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, Alison Steadman, Jake SimmanceParamounthttps://www.bettermanmovie.com/Courtney Howard is a film critic whose work can be seen in Variety, AV Club and moreCheck out her Variety author page at https://variety.com/author/courtney-howard/Find her on Twitter @lulumaybelleMy latest David Rosen album MISSING PIECES: 2018-2024 is a compilation album that fills in the gaps in unreleased music made during the sessions for 2018's A Different Kind Of Dream, 2020's David Rosen, 2022's MORE CONTENT and 2025's upcoming And Other Unexplained Phenomena. Find it on Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify and everywhere else you can find music.You can also find more about all of my music on my website https://www.bydavidrosen.comMy latest music video is “Begin Again" which you can watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkb2VsJlH6sThe song at the end of the episode is "So Predictable" from The Pup Pups' latest album A Boy and His Dog and Three Cats and A Bear.Make sure to “Like” Piecing It Together on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PiecingPodAnd “Follow” us on Twitter @PiecingPodAnd Join the Conversation in our Facebook Group, Piecing It Together – A Movie Discussion Group.And check out https://www.piecingpod.com for more about our show!And if you want to SUPPORT THE SHOW, you can now sign up for our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosenYou can also support the show by checking out our TeePublic store to buy shirts and more featuring Piecing It Together logos, movie designs, and artwork for my various music projects at https://www.teepublic.com/stores/piecing-it-togetherShare the episode, comment and give us feedback! And of course, SUBSCRIBE!And of course, don't forget to leave us a 5 star review on Goodpods,

B etter Man is a 2024 biographical musical film co-written, produced and directed by Michael Gracey about the life of British pop singer Robbie Williams. Williams is portrayed as an anthropomorphic chimpanzee with CGI, performed by Jonno Davies using motion capture, and voiced by both Williams and Davies. Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, Alison Steadman, and Damon Herriman also star. Better Man premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024. It was released in the United States on 25 December 2024, and in Australia and the United Kingdom on 26 December. The film received positive reviews from critics but was a box office bomb.

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Ema Sasic, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Will Mavity & Tom O'Brien to review and discuss the latest film from Michael Gracey, "Better Man" starring Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Alison Steadman & Kate Mulvany. A musical biopic about English poster Robbie Williams, the audacious, R-rated film portrays him on screen through its entire runtime as a CGI monkey with many musical numbers incorporating Robbie's most famous songs. What did we think of the story, the visual effects, the musical sequences, and the motion-capture performance of Davies combined with Williams's voiceover? Tune in as we discuss these topics, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoff Thompson is an BAFTA award-winning writer, screenwriter, and martial artist, who has authored more than forty books. Once a bouncer in Coventry, Geoff turned his life around by making a hierarchy of ”fears“ and directly confronting them, one by one. In this conversation, we explore: — Geoff's life-changing encounter with his former abuser in a Coventry Cafe — Geoff's thoughts on finding your true self and becoming unified as a person. — How limiting beliefs shape our lives and what it takes to overcome them. — The role of truth in Geoff's journey and how it informs his writing. And more. You can keep up to date with Geoff's work on Instagram at: geoff_thompson_official. --- Geoff Thompson is 63 years old. He lives in Stratford Upon Avon. He has published close to fifty books. Some of his work in the self-help genre has been translated into dozens of languages including Russian, Chinese, Japanese, German, and Spanish. His first book, Watch My Back, detailing his experiences working as a nightclub bouncer in Coventry, hit the Sunday Times bestsellers list, was made into a stage play, adapted into to a BAFTA nominated short film starring Ray Winstone, and a BIFA nominated motion picture for cinema. He has also written articles for national magazines and broadsheets, including The Times, Men's Fitness (former columnist), GQ and FHM. Geoff's work as a playwright started when he was invited to join The Royal Court Young Writers Group in London. He has gone onto write many successful plays that have toured nationally and internationally. His stage musical We'll Live and Die in These Towns was produced and performed to great acclaim at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, in 2018, and is in the process of being adapted to film. He is also a BAFTA winning screenwriter, penning multi-award-winning films for luminaries such as Ray Winstone, Paddy Considine, Orlando Bloom, Maxine Peake, Anne Reid, Alison Steadman, Christopher Eccleston and James Cosmo. His most recent feature film, Retaliation starring Orlando Bloom, received great acclaim in the US: it is a muscular biopic about the metaphysical power of forgiveness. Geoff Thompson is one of the world's highest ranking (8thdan) martial arts teachers. The prestigious Black Belt Magazine USA polled him as the number 1 self-defense author in the world. Geoff's new book 99 Reasons to Forgive And Revenge Ain't One is published with O Books. You can keep up to date with Geoff's work on Instagram at: geoff_thompson_official. --- Interview Links: — Geoff's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/geoff_thompson_official

Dr Hilary Cass, now Baroness Cass, led a four year review into children's gender identity services in England.  Her final report concluded that children had been let down by a lack of research and "remarkably weak" evidence on medical interventions, and called for gender services for young people to match the standards of other NHS care.  In an exclusive interview Nuala McGovern gets Dr Hilary Cass's reflections six months on from releasing her landmark report.Alison Steadman is one of our best loved actors.  Candice Marie in Nuts in May, Beverly in Abigail's Party, Mrs Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Pamela in Gavin & Stacey, just some of the iconic characters Alison has brought to life.  She's also won an Olivier Award for The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and a National Society of Film Critic Award.  She is also a keen birdwatcher.  She joins Nuala to talk about her memoir, Out of Character. The second phase of a campaign aimed at finding the names of unidentified women who were murdered or killed in suspicious circumstances is being launched. Operation Identify Me is highlighting another 46 cold cases that European police are seeking to solve. BBC coverage of last year's appeal helped to identify a British woman, Rita Roberts, some 30 years after her murder. Nuala is joined by BBC Correspondent Anna Holligan. The Northumbrian electro-folk musician Frankie Archer has performed at Glastonbury and The BBC Proms, been featured on ‘Later... With Jools Holland',and named as One To Watch! She has released a new EP 'Pressure and Persuasion', through which she tells the stories of four women and girls from centuries past who navigate the same expectations that are put on women today.  She joins Nuala to talk about womanhood, tradfolk and her current UK tour, and to perform her current single, Elsie Marley.Presented by Nuala McGovern Producer: Louise Corley

Welcome back to Morgan Hasn't Seen with Jeannine Brice & Morgan Robinson!! A series of self-fulfilment, new paths and finding yourself begins on this week's show as Jeannine has curated a series for Morgan centred around BRAVE NEW WOMEN, starting with a delightfully dry and creatively fourth-wall breaking British gem, and 2x Oscar nominee, in which a bored housewife takes a much needed holiday to Greece. They start with SHIRLEY VALENTINE (1989) starring Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Alison Steadman & Bernard Hill! Our YouTube Channel for Monday Madness on video, Watchalongs, Live Discussions & more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvACMX8jX1qQ5ClrGW53vow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ItsAWonderful1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ItsAWonderful1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IT'S A WONDERFUL PODCAST STORE:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://its-a-wonderful-podcast.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sub to the feed and download now on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Amazon Music & more and be sure to rate, review and SHARE AROUND!! Keep up with us on Twitter: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ItsAWonderful1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Morgan: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Th3PurpleDon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jeannine: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/JeannineDaBean_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Keep being wonderful!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/itsawonderfulpodcast/support

It's a special afternoon in the Oliver household, as Actress Alison Steadman joins Andi and Miquita for an afternoon gimlet, and three types of fish - red mullet, sea bream and mackerel, finished with tamarind butter and wild garlic oil. She brings her husband, Actor Michael Elwyn. High on the agenda is the business of acting - as you'd expect with two incredible thespians in attendance! Navigating self doubt and rejection, self taped auditions, acting as a couple during lockdown, the luxury of being able to pick and choose roles, the harsh reality of getting older as an actress ( and why it can get easier for Michael as a man), the joy of improv, and Alison's iconic roles that span three generations of audience, with roles in Abigail's Party, Shirley Valentine, Nuts In May, Gavin & Stacey are all discussed. Miquita also successfully manages to steer the conversation onto the joys of bird watching, to the 'delight' of Andi!An Offscript Production, and YaYa Production. Produced by Tayo Popoola Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Philae Obelisk at Kingston Lacy in Dorset is an ancient reminder of a very different world. Learn about its origins, why it came to be in England and how its hand-carved inscriptions were key to unlocking the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Listen to this classic episode from our series 125 Treasures, presented by Alison Steadman. [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust Discover more Watch BBC Two's Hidden Treasures of the National Trust: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lttx Read about the Philae Obelisk and other treasures at Kingston Lacy: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy/the-treasures-at-kingston-lacy Find out more about Kingston Lacy: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy This mini series shares it's name with a National Trust book. Find out more and browse other reads in our collection: shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-125-treasures.html Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Listen to the full story on BBC Sounds:PART 1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yxg8PART 2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yxkxONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE 8th, 2024On this episode, we're previewing the first three minutes of a brand new story from the director of The Truth.Jonathan Mitchell directed, sound designed, and composed the original score for a brand new audio drama on BBC Radio 4 called “The Missed Lives of Max and Judy." It's in two parts, each part is 44 minutes long, and you can hear it free online for the next 30 days at the links above. Part 1 is available starting May 8, and part 2 starting May 9th.After 30 days, they will be gone, possibly forever, so listen right away!The Missed Lives of Max and Judy is a mind-bending time-warping romantic comedy by Janina Mattheson, who also created the Within the Wires podcast, and it stars Danusia Samal, Carl Prekopp, and Alison Steadman. It was Produced by Emma Hearn, and Executive Produced by John Dryden of Goldhawk Productions.

What are we watching? Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things telly.This week they have a good old chat about Celebrity Big Brother re-launching on ITV after a five year hiatus, plus Nat's experience of being on the show back in the day. They also discuss how Alice & Jack absolutely destroyed them and why they love Alison Steadman in Here We Go.In Off the Telly, Natalie and Jo talk about what they can't stop watching, what they definitely aren't going to bother with, and what you're all watching at home. From new shows to comfort telly to guilty pleasures, there's no judgement here. What's kept us all glued to our screens this week?Self-confessed TV addicts and stars of two of the biggest shows on our screens, EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, Natalie and Joanna are the perfect companions to your weekly viewing habits.Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Unit Manager: Lucy Bannister Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

review A News Huddlines reunion celebrating the life and comedy of Roy Hudd OBE. The Roy Huddlines was staged on Sunday 14th May 2023 at the Sondheim Theatre in London's West End. The cast, writers and producers of BBC Radio's longest-running audience comedy programme, The News Huddlines, gathered to celebrate the life, love and laughter of Roy Hudd OBE. Roy had a profound effect on all who worked with him - he was a unique combination of comedy genius, wise mentor and cheeky uncle. The cast reunited here for one joyous hurrah in his honour are Huddlines originals Chris Emmett, Alison Steadman, Nichola McAuliffe and announcer Richard Clegg, plus Kate Harbour and the brilliant Jon Culshaw who took Roy's centre microphone with the blessing of Roy's widow, Debbie Hudd. Also assembled for this gala event were the writers who cut their comedy teeth working on The News Huddlines and went on to create some of the finest British comedy from the 1980s to the present day. Not the Nine O'Clock News, Spitting Image, Drop the Dead Donkey and One Foot in the Grave were all created by Huddlines alumni, and the legacy continues.   Written by                    Starring 

Writer and resident Gilbert & Sullivan expert Julia Sirmons joins to discuss Mike Leigh's 'Topsy-Turvy', a story of the aforementioned musical duo and the production of one of their most popular shows, 'The Mikado'. It's a film that feels at once like an outliler in Leigh's career up to that point (his first film not set in contemporary working-class London) and a pitch-perfect culmination of many of his career-long explorations. We begin with a discussion about the legacy of director Mike Leigh, his unusual method for drawing brilliant performances from his ensemble of some of the very best British actors, and his trademark style and narrative construction. Then, we unpack the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, exploring Topsy-Turvy's commitment to authenticity in its recreation of 19th century English theater culture, and the wise decision to focus the film on a particularly unstable moment in the long collaboration between the wordsmith and composer. Finally, we discuss the film's evocation of art and its production process, emphasizing the granular repetition of the work as well as the undergirding capitalist mechanics that necessitated performers assume a strong identity as a collective labor force. Follow Julia Sirmons on Twitter.Read Julia's recent piece on Sally Potter's 'The Tango Lesson' at Wig-Wag.Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish. 

Stewart Thorndike made a splash with LYLE in 2014, establishing her as an exciting new voice in horror. Her latest film. BAD THINGS, further solidifies this, with its focus squarely on (queer) female characters who aren't afraid to be messy. In Mike Leigh's play ABIGAIL'S PARTY, filmed for television in 1977, Beverly Moss is the life of the party...whether the party wants her to be or not!Then, Jordan has one quick thing about THEATER CAMP.BAD THINGS is out on Shudder and MGM+ on August  18, 2023.***With Jordan Crucchiola and Stewart Thorndike

Iconic actor Alison Steadman and bestselling author Jonathan Franzen talk about how a love of birds inspires creativity.Meanwhile host Kwesia aka City Girl In Nature delivers some nature-inspired spoken word poetry.Get Birding believes that access to nature is a universal right, not a privilege. Series 3 of the podcast is a Peanut & Crumb production, proudly supported by Canada Water.Fly over to Twitter & Instagram for more updates & photos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revisit a favourite episode from our mini series 125 Treasures. Join actor Alison Steadman and explore the story behind Hambletonian, Rubbing Down, a painting by George Stubbs at Mount Stewart in County Down.  Delve into the world of horse racing and uncover the hidden criticisms of this treasure's past owner. This mini series shares it's name with a National Trust book, to find out more and to browse other reads in our collection please visit: https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-125-treasures.html To find out more about Mount Stewart please visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

This week on Drama School Dropout I am joined by the amazing, Vicki Pepperdine. We chat about our new panto, working with Channing Tatum, studying art history, going to Drama School at 28 years old, terrible impressions of Alison Steadman, shopping for wedding dresses, doing a TV show with Don Draper and Harry Potter, working on Magic Mike and the Bad Education reboot, working on The Windsors, Scottish Independence and the stories we like to tell.  Submit your story for Stage Right or Stage Shite: https://forms.gle/1p296t4Uu1F1XVvN9 Host: Ingram Noble Guest: Vicki Pepperdine Producers: Heather Spiden & Ingram Noble Links: Ingram's Instagram & Twitter: @ingramnoble Vicki's Twitter: @vickipepperdine Patreon: www.patreon.com/dramaschooldropout

By Katie Redford Joe and Fran, two primary school teachers, watch the nativity play from the wings. The kiss they shared at the Christmas party the night before is all they can think about. But between the nativity and the ever over-enthusiastic Miss Pear, any more moments alone will be gold dust. Joe ..... Nikesh Patel Fran ..... Fiona Button Miss Pear ..... Joanna Monro Directed by Tracey Neale It's December 22nd and the day of the school Nativity. Joe Needson is preparing his pupils for their “Christmas Extravaganza” with some strong words of encouragement. He tucks himself away in the wings, ready for the show to begin. However, sitting in the wings is his fellow teacher, Fran Rayner. She desperately needs a minute to escape and by being in the company of Mr Needson she finds 44 of them. The night before was the staff Christmas party and due to cheap wine and cocktails and not enough Pringles to line their stomachs they shared a stolen kiss which neither of them can get out of their heads. When we meet them, it's the first time they've spoken to one another since the night before. It's clear they have chemistry and as their conversation continues, we realise that both have troubles they are trying to cope with. Just when we think they might address the elephant in the room - that stolen kiss - Miss Pear, overly enthusiastic at the best of times, keeps interrupting at various moments throughout their heart to heart. The ringing bells on her Christmas wings giving advance warning. During the nativity, we hear the gentle, heart-warming sounds of the children's nativity as a backdrop for various revelations from both a woman who feels trapped and a man whose loneliness is palpable. But the expectation of Christmas is that we should all be happy. We cover up the dark days and nights with tinsel and fairy lights. But Christmas is also a magical time and will Joe and Fran address what happened at the staff party, or will Miss Pear put a stop to that? The Writer: Katie is a writer and actor from Nottingham. She is a BAFTA Rocliffe TV Comedy winner and was also part of the BBC Comedy Writersroom. Her short film ‘Ghosted' starring Alison Steadman, which she wrote and produced, received the BFI Network award in association with Film Hub Midlands. She has various scripts in commissioned development for TV and is currently listed on the BBC New Talent Hot List. Yellow Lips, nominated for the Richard Imison Award at this year's Audio Drama Awards, was her debut drama for Radio 4. Cast: Nikesh Patel, The Devil's Hour (Amazon) and Starstruck (BBC/HBO) and has just completed filming on The Critic. Fiona Button, Trying (Apple TV/BBC Studios) and Out of her Mind (BBC2) and The Split (BBC1) Joanna Monro, Rosie in Mamma Mia (West End & International Tour) and Home Front (BBC Radio 4) Production Team: Tracey Neale (Producer & Director) Ben Hollands (Production Co-Ordinator) and Cal Knightley, Peter Ringrose and Jenni Burnett (Technical Team) This drama was originally broadcast on Radio 4.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Tony Grounds (@tony.grounds) Tony Grounds (born in East London) is a British playwright and screenwriter, who has worked extensively in television. Described by The Independent as "the best TV writer of his generation", Grounds has written for all four of Britain's main channels. He started writing for the theatre, winning the Verity Bargate Award for Made in Spain. There then followed stints on EastEnders and The Bill before he penned episodes of 'Chancer', which starred Clive Owen. Grounds created and wrote Gone to the Dogs starring Jim Broadbent, Alison Steadman, Warren Clarke and Harry Enfield. It was nominated for a Writers Guild Award. He wrote Gone to Seed, in which Peter Cook made his final dramatic appearance. The single film Our Boy with Ray Winstone and Pauline Quirke won Tony International Acclaim winning the Munich International Drama Award. He wrote Sex and Chocolate for Dawn French before writing the award-winning and BAFTA nominated Births Marriages & Deaths, once again starring Ray Winstone. Grounds wrote a one-off episode for BBC Drama, Our Girl, starring Michelle Keegan. Following its success, the BBC commissioned 5 further episodes. Apart from writing the series, Grounds was also executive producer of the series together with Caroline Skinner. Grounds is special advisor for Save the Children and ran the London Marathon with Lee Evans in 2010. He is also a supporter of West Ham United F.C. and often refers to the East London club in his plays and works. To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.orgEmail: ministryofartsorg@gmail.comSocial Media: @ministryofartsorg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lizzie Roper is an British actress who has appeared in 100 episodes of Hollyoaks as Sam Lomax, the sitcom The Worst Week of My Life with Ben Miller, Sarah Alexander, Alison Steadman and Geoffrey Whitehead, she played Roxanne in Family affairs, was in the film Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, as well as the TV series Being Human, Him & Her, New Tricks, Waterloo Road, This is Jinsy, Shameless, Silent Witness, Call the Midwife, Dead Boss and Boy Meets Girl. In the West End she appeared with Christian Slater in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and is currently a presenter for BBC Channel Islands. Lizzie Roper is guest number 238 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things she'd like to put in a time capsule; four she'd like to preserve and one she'd like to bury and never have to think about again .Follow Lizzie Roper on Twitter @lizzieroper and Instagram @lizargh .Follow My Time Capsule on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter: @fentonstevens and Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Drama School Dropout I am joined by the amazing Natalie Gavin. We chat about Natalie's first ever job on Shameless, how even when Ingram is trying to avoid talking about Shameless it still comes up in conversation, head butting Gerard Kearns and busting his lip, her four bus commute to uni, learning to own her voice, playing tough roles with tough dialogue, Ackley Bridge, self tape classes, stealing from set and sharing glasses of wine with Alison Steadman. Submit your story for Stage Right or Stage Shite: https://forms.gle/1p296t4Uu1F1XVvN9 Host: Ingram Noble Guest: Natalie Gavin Producers: Heather Spiden & Ingram Noble Links: Ingram's Instagram & Twitter: @ingramnoble Natalie Instagram: @natgav004 Get This Is Where We Get Off Tickets: https://webstersglasgow.com/whats-on/event/this-is-where-we-get-off/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/dramaschooldropout

Andy and Martin return for another series of an A to Z of UK television drama and in time-honoured fashion are keeping it alphabetical. First up is the iconic Mike Leigh Play for Today: Abigail's Party. Devised for the stage, and performed over a 100 times before it was recorded for television, Leigh's kitsch classic sees the monstrous Beverley (a tour-de-force of a performance from Alison Steadman) preside over an evening soiree which she, her neighbours, and the viewing audience at home would never forget. Grab your cheese and pineapple on a cocktail stick, get the Beaujolais in the fridge and fire up Demis Roussos on your record player and strap in for this glorious window into the conventions and aspirations of 1976. Another gin and tonic? Sue? Ange? Tony? Okay?

Clive Anderson and Scottee are joined by Alison Steadman, Ardal O'Hanlon, Cherrelle Skeete and Holly Walsh for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Kurt Vile and Honeyglaze.

Anyone who's been lucky enough to receive the Freedom of the City of London is, to a Freeman or Free Sister, asked if that means they are going to drive their sheep over London Bridge. This ancient medieval right was long abandoned but has made a cunning reappearance in recent years. Alan Titchmarsh has done it. It's annoying because he pops up doing just about everything that I might have fancied doing, (except the gardening – that's me not him). Sheep driving is a charitable event these days and that's how Alan got the gig. No better photo opportunity than Alan in a three piece herding thirty sheep over the bridge. The Clerk to the Court of the City of London warned me that Freeman and Free Sisters who whose sheep wander down Borough High Street without prior arrangement, may find themselves subject to the long arm of the law. I'm not a Free Radical, and since I know for certain that they don't serve loose leaf Earl Grey tea in any Metropolitan Police custody suite, I'm reluctant to take the risk and surrender my freedom to drink the tea of my choice. However strong my desire to become a sheep herder, I'll have to wait for a charitable opportunity. Since my cause is #Vision Foundation, I doubt that anyone will be fighting for me to lead the charge let alone bring up the rear of a flock of sheep. There is not a lot of call for sheep herders who may not be able to tell an ewe from a mini metro, let alone a ram. I fear I have missed the little Bo Peep boat. Only my imagination can propel me over that bridge. In it, I'm looking more like Alison Steadman's portrayal of Mrs. Bennet than Tess of the D'Urbervilles, which would have been my preference. Come to think of it, had Tess survived the tragedies of her love life, she might have ended up looking like Mrs. Bennet. I shouldn't want to be seen as a bleater, and setting aside the limitations of my imagination for a moment, a good cause could yet prove the opportunity I've been waiting for. I might have to take it, not in crinoline or cheesecloth, which does rather dash the swirl of romanticism I have about all those sheep. I'd have to opt for #gortex, a sensible pair of shoes and a tweed hat. I may be entering Brenda Blethyn territory now. Should anything go wrong, should one of those sheep push another of those sheep off the bridge and into the murky depths of the Thames, I will be well placed to get to the bottom of it. Not the river itself. I'm not planning on jumping in after the stricken mutton. No. like Brenda's portrayal of DCI Vera Cleves, I will not be making an actual leap, but a leap of faith, in order to solve the riddle of the lost sheep. Sheep herding may not have quite the level of romanticism others look for in a day out, but I might start a bucket list. Considering the amount of nerves that any sheep imported for a trot over London bridge may feel, I'd need a bucket. I'll add a shovel while I'm at it. That will be something for my charitable support team to do as they clear the path ahead of me, less sheep nerves get the better of me and I'm involved in a fatal accident.

Today, we have a special edition of EFTV because, we welcome back, the highly talented, super engaging, Jennifer Sheridan!!! Who has an incredible new limited series hitting BBC One & BBC iPlayer, Tuesday 11th January 2022 at 21:00. In October 2020, we had the pleasure of checking out 'Rose: A Love Story', Jens directorial feature debut, which premiered at the '64th BFI London Film Festival'. So now, Jens talents are showcased again, with 'Rules Of The Game'. Rules of the Game Watch Review: Here. https://youtu.be/eZyCnvz7X88 Watch Conversation: Here. https://youtu.be/2yQnwHqU6UI Digital Release Date: 11th January 2022 Director: Jennifer Sheridan Writer: Ruth Fowler Cast: Maxine Peake, Rakhee Thakrar, Susan Wokoma, Alison Steadman, Ben Batt, Kieran Bew, Zoe Tapper Credit: BBC One, The Forge Genre: Drama, Thriller Running Time: 59 min (episode) Cert: 15 Trailer: Here. https://youtu.be/4iSU3lDDKFo Website: Here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b8zwdm ------------------------------- *(Music) 'Sacrilege' By Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 2013 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/eftv/message

This week on Drama School Dropout I am joined by one of my favourite actors, Jack Deam. We chat about Alison Steadman playing his mum, being terrified of cameras, his not normal experience of getting a role on Shameless, I carry on my Shameless USA hate campaign, the generation of actors that won't know what it's like to do an in person audition, UCAS fees, bad auditions, travelling back and forward to London for auditions. Host: Ingram Noble Guest: Jack Deam Producers: Heather Spiden & Ingram Noble Links: Ingram's Instagram & Twitter: @ingramnoble Official Podcast Website: www.dramaschooldropout.com This Is Where We Get Off Tickets: www.hiproductions.co.uk

Dave Johns is a British comedian and actor best known for his starring role in Ken Loach's seminal film I, Daniel Blake. Since then he has appeared in Fishermen's Friends and its sequel as well as continued his comedy career, including new one-man shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. His latest film is 23 Walks, in which he co-stars with Alison Steadman. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Deezer Social: @EndeavoursRadio --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dan-mcpeake/message

"This is not a battle of the sexes in finance. It is a matter of finding a joint way in order to create a more prosperous future for all of us.” - Olga Miler In today's new podcast episode I am delighted to welcome Olga Miler! Olga is the co-founder of a company called Smart Purse and is a global innovation expert specialising in women and finance.  She's been broadly recognised for her transformational achievements to change the financial services industry for women and gender equality, with features in the global press such as Sky News, BBC News, CNBC, The Financial Times, Bloomberg and The Guardian. She's won numerous awards including Inspirational Woman of the Year by City Wealth magazine and a place on the Senior Leaders in FinTech Power List by Innovate Finance. On this podcast you're going to hear about her career at UBS and how she went on to co-found her own start-up - Smart Purse. Smart Purse offer courses and events to companies and individuals, which we discuss in this episode, and it's very exciting for those of you who work in the financial services industry, as they're improving the sector behind the scenes for women. “There are so many other women like me out there in the shadows - well suited, well educated, brilliant women. But when it comes to the subject of money each and every one of them carries their own money story. There has to be something that I can do about this!” Olga Miler So listen in to this eye-opening episode and don't forget to subscribe for more ground-breaking and much-needed conversations coming up in future episodes. The Mortgage Mum Podcast is available to listen to on all major podcast directories including Apple and Spotify. And to enter our giveaway: Smart Purse and Olga have kindly gifted The Mortgage Mum some COMPLIMENTARY tickets to their "Money Rally Event" on 16th October 2021. This is Smart Purse's signature event, returning for the 3rd time, and has past speakers including Charlotte Church, Ruby Wax and Alison Steadman. The event is centred around increasing financial understanding and confidence through expert led workshops and you can get your hands on those free tickets by putting your name down on the list. Our first 10 listeners to apply will receive a FREE ticket! Please email lauren@themortgagemum.co.uk if you'd like to be one of those lucky 10 and we look forward to seeing some of you there!

Liverpool has a proud theatre history dating back over 150 years.  The Playhouse is the oldest repertory theatre in England while the Everyman has a huge history helping launch the careers of the likes of Julie Walters, Jonathan Pryce, Pete Postlethwaite and Alison Steadman through to the likes of Bill Nighy, Alan Bleasdale, Willy Russell, David Morrissey and Stephen Graham. The city is also home to other much loved venues ranging from the Royal Court through to the Empire and the Unity.  For this edition of Merseywaves, we brought together actress Josie Lawrence - who is currently in the city playing the role of Sylvie in ‘Our Lady of Blundellsands' at the Everyman, and Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet member for culture at Liverpool City Council to discuss why theatres are so important to the lifeblood of the city and the fabric of the nation.   Guests: Josie Lawrence and Cllr Harry Doyle Presenter: Paul Johnston Producer: Niall Walsh Location: Zoom

Aric and Marisa travel across the pond to explore the films of the United Kingdom, specifically during the '60s and with a little detour into the '90s. They look at how the perspectives of these films are shaped by the social and economical circumstances of everyday people, and how these perspectives have much to illuminate about today's prevalent issues.The six films this episode highlights are a mix of heavy hitters and tender stories of identity: SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING (1960), a Karel Reisz picture studying the attitude of a man who plays by the rules during the week, then lets loose on the weekends, VICTIM (1961), the suspenseful story of a man blackmailed by his homosexuality and his fight to be himself against the law, THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER (1962), a character study about a talented young runner who questions discipline and the authority behind it, THIS SPORTING LIFE (1963), a story of a man who wins everything except his unrequited love, THE LEATHER BOYS (1964), a film about a newlywed couple in crisis when the husband develops feelings for a member of a rival biker gang, and LIFE IS SWEET (1990), a Mike Leigh film about a working class family enduring the mundanities of life while hanging onto their personal dreams. Please consider supporting this show through our Patreon!Keep up with us on Instagram and Twitter: @filmchatterpod.Check out the films mentioned in this episode on our Letterboxd.Thanks for tuning in!Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Writer/director Paul Morrison joins host Robin Milling for 23 Walks. Morrison explores an older couple as they develop a romance while taking their dogs on their daily walks. Morrison tells Robin what inspired this lovely tale, and what it was like working with his canine stars - known in the film as Henry the terrier and Tilly the German Shepherd - who also forge a friendship as well as with their humans played by Alison Steadman and Dave Johns. We also talk about his memories of the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film nomination for Solomon and Gaenor, and working with Robert Pattinson as Salvador Dali in Little Ashes. In the works, Morrison says he hopes to make The Leningrad Gig based on a student trip he took to the USSR circa 1964 where he and his mates performed several songs on guitar. Stay tuned for that...

This week its time for another obscure or lesser known film - and we thought we would change the pace a little and instead of going for a completely random or even awful movie like we have in the past, we felt that this lesser known gem of a movie would be ideal viewing. The hilarious and cringeworthy Nuts In May (1976) first screened on the BBC in the 70's as a part of their play for the day series and follows anally retentive control freak Keith Pratt (Sloman) and his timid wife Candice-Marie (Steadman) as they take a relaxing camping holiday in Dorset. But soon Keith's sanity is put to teh test by his fellow campers.One of the early films from British filmmaker Mike Leigh, director of Secrets and Lies, Happy Go Lucky and Vera Drake, this has always stood out as a favourite in our household. Watch Nuts in May for yourself here - https://amzn.to/3DY2TtzSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wnmovietalk)

Geoff Thompson is a BAFTA winning screenwriter:Author of fifty books, he has appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list several times. His first book, Watch My Back, became a stage play, a BAFTA nominated film starring Ray Winston, and a BIFA nominated feature film. Geoff has penned multi-award winning films for luminaries such as Ray Winston, Paddy Considine, Orlando Bloom, Maxine Peake, Anne Reid, Alison Steadman and James Cosmo.He is also one of the world's highest ranking (8th dan) martial artists. Black Belt Magazine USA named him: “The most influential martial artist in the world since Bruce Lee”. In this conversation Geoff talks about how if you are open to receive information and wisdom from a higher source, abundance will come through you. If you get too caught up with ‘what's in it for me' you block that flow, break the ‘link' - see yourself as a postman delivering messages from a higher source. He says – ‘Get yourself out of the way and be a conduit for all the insights and wisdom you that come through you to share. Make yourself small – it's not about YOU!' Books The Divine CEO - http://bit.ly/Thedivineceo Notes From The Factory Floor - http://bit.ly/notesfromfactory*                             *                                  *                                  *Sylvia Baldock has been transforming lives from the tender age of 13 when she ran a youth group for deprived teenagers in Glasgow, Scotland.Throughout her varied career from Theatre Sister in Open heart Surgery to a Masterclass Facilitator, Speaker, Business Mentor/Coach and Author, Sylvia has inspired and motivated thousands of people to recognise the unique value they bring to the workplace and to live a life of purpose and impact by Becoming More Significant.Sylvia works with Leaders, Aspiring Leaders, Teams and Individuals who want to increase visibility, confidence, focus, clarity, communication, collaboration, motivation, productivity and growth.If you would like to know how you can Become More Significant right now, book a 20 minute free coaching call by emailing  sylvia@sylviabaldock.com CONNECT WITH SYLVIA BOOK A FREE 15 MINUTE CALL.https://calendly.com/sylviabaldock/15min

The Duratus Mind - A podcast exploring all things mindset and motivation. Gaz, a former Special Forces Sergeant Major but now performance consultant, opens up his network to try and understand what motivates some to risk so much, why some are so driven, and what it really takes to achieve success in any sector. Today's episode is Geoff Thompson, a BAFTA winning screenwriter: Author of fifty books, he has appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list several times. His first book, Watch My Back, became a stage play, a BAFTA nominated film starring Ray Winstone, and a BIFA nominated featurefilm. Geoff has penned multi-award winning films for luminaries such as Ray Winstone, Paddy Considine, Orlando Bloom, Maxine Peake, Anne Reid, Alison Steadman and James Cosmo.He is also one of the world’s highest ranking (8th dan) martial artists. Black Belt Magazine USA named him: “the most influential martial artist in the world since Bruce Lee”. Instagram: @geoff_thompson_officialNotes from a factory floor: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Factory-Floor-there-here-ebook/dp/B084VPPXLFThe Divine CEO: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1789044243/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_imm_t1_HkRcGbBM76KA2 Watch my back: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watch-My-Back-Geoff-Thompson/dp/1840241896 Contact details:Instagram Management @resight_films Email: gabriela@resightfilms.com

Every year, Booklist editors pull together the most noteworthy books of the year for the Editors’ Choice, and every year, Susan Maguire chases them down to talk about those books. This year was both no different and completely different, as each of our fine editors sent in a voice note featuring favorites from the list, books that deserve an additional shout out, hot trends, etc. Please enjoy these bookish testimonials. Wow! Find the full show notes on www.booklistonline.com/shelf-care. Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots. By Morgan Jerkins. These Ghosts Are Family. By Maisy Card. Year of the Rabbit. Written and illustrated by Tian Veasna. Translated by Helge Dascher. Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Shortlist Frida in America: The Creative Awakening of a Great Artist. By Celia Stahr. Recollections of My Nonexistence. By Rebecca Solnit. African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song. Edited by Kevin Young. The Night Watchman. By Louise Erdrich. The Magic Fish. Written and illustrated by Trung Le Nguyen. Dungeon Critters. Written and illustrated by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter. Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story). By Daniel Nayeri. Before the Ever After. By Jacqueline Woodson. Read by Guy Lockard. I Killed Zoe Spanos. By Kit Frick. Read by a full cast. This Is Your Time. by Ruby Bridges. Read by the author. My Mother’s House. By Francesca Momplaisir. Read by a full cast. The Switch. By Beth O’Leary. Read by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Tokyo Ueno Station. By Yu Miri. Read by Johnny Heller. Clap When You Land. By Elizabeth Acevedo. Read by the author and Melania-Luisa Marte. Girl with the Louding Voice. By Abi Daré. Read by Adjoa Andoh. Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story). By Daniel Nayeri. Black Is a Rainbow Color. By Angela Joy. Illustrated by Ekua Holmes. Upright Women Wanted. By Sarah Gailey. When No One Is Watching. By Alyssa Cole. Skunk and Badger. By Amy Timberlake. Illustrated by Jon Klassen. Fly on the Wall. Written and illustrated by Remy Lai. Girl on a Motorcycle. By Amy Novesky. Illustrated by Julie Morstad. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking. By Samin Nosrat. The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained. By Nik Sharma. The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. By Marcus Samuelsson, Osayi Endolyn, and Yewande Komolafe. Parakeet. By Marie-Helene Bertino. The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh. By Candace Fleming. Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera. By Candace Fleming. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. By Christina Soontornvat. A Wish in the Dark. By Christina Soontorvat. King and the Dragonflies. By Kacen Callender. Felix Ever After. By Kacen Callender. Legendborn. By Tracy Deonn. The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice. By Lisa DeSelm. Given. By Nandi Taylor. Gimme Everything You Got. By Iva-Marie Palmer. Jane against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights. By Karen Blumenthal.

Adrian meets Geoff Thompson and Debbie Anzalone, writer and director respectively of Three Sacks Full Of Hats, a short movie with a powerful message about love, loss, regret - and alcohol. The film stars Alison Steadman and Warren Brown. You can watch it here omeleto.com/254587/

Jeremy is joined again by writer and podcaster Paul Morris to discuss the 1992 crime farce Blame It on the Bellboy, starring Dudley Moore, Richard Griffiths, Penelope Wilton, Alison Steadman, Patsy Kensit and Bryan Brown, with a conversation that takes in the logistics of Venice, the evil of Tom Good, the British cinema brain drain and the mathematics of comedy.

This week mum has seen Sofia Coppola direct "The Ghostbuster from the 80s" (Bill Murray) in On the Rocks. She also reviews gentle romcom for the over 60s, 23 Walks, starring Alison Steadman and some bloke who definitely isn't real.

The award-winning actor Alison Steadman joins Jenni to discuss her latest projects. ’23 Walks’ is a film telling a love story in later life, and ‘Life’ is a new BBC1 drama set in Manchester, and follows the stories of the residents of a large house divided into four flats. It explores love, loss, birth, death, the ordinary, the extraordinary and everything in between. Mary McAleese was President of Ireland twice. When she finished her second term, she turned her sights on the global Catholic Church, and having the credibility of a doctorate in Canon Law behind her, she spoke out against what she saw as the misogyny within it. She did it despite having a deep personal faith that goes back to her childhood. Mary was born in Belfast in the 1950s; witnessed the Troubles as they started and how they went onto to wreak havoc and pain on both sides. She became a barrister even though it wasn’t expected of a woman: especially a woman from a working class background. She’s brought out her autobiography - Here’s The Story. The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is all about ‘Our Planet’ - and the search is on for 30 women based in the UK who are making a significant positive contribution to the environment. This could be through working in conservation or running a local anti-plastic campaign – but there are also less obvious sectors in which women are making a huge difference. Emma Howard Boyd, the chair of the Environment Agency, and Flo Headlam, a horticulturalist and garden designer talk to Jenni about their less conventional journeys into green careers – and highlight the lesser known areas where women are driving change. With Autumn setting in, it’s chutney and pickle season and a great opportunity to use up your remaining fruit and veg. Food historian Lizzie Collingham explains the history behind these tasty relishes. Presented by Jenni Murray Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

I, Daniel Blake star Dave Johns can be seen in later-life romcom 23 Walks, opposite Alison Steadman and some cute dogs. He tells me about his life in comedy, from running clubs in Newcastle to winning at Cannes, his first sex scenes and singing with fishermen in Cornwall.Actor Parker Sawyers, who played Barack Obama in Southside With You, now stars in Vietnam-set drama Monsoon. He joins me to run through his influences - and impressions - from Eddie Murphy to Amadeus and Kanye.Dave Johns:The Social Dilemma (12.03)Control (12.37)Parker Sawyers:Challenger: The Final Flight (26.35)Amadeus (28.54)Dissect Podcast (33.23)Music by Lee Rosevere See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Born on this Day: is a daily podcast hosted by Bil Antoniou, Amanda Barker & Marco Timpano. Celebrating the famous and sometimes infamous born on this day. Check out their other podcasts: Bad Gay Movies, Bitchy Gay Men Eat & Drink Every Place is the Same My Criterions The Insomnia Project Marco's book: 25 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Podcast Celebrating their birthdays today: Chris Pine, Melissa McCarthy, Mike Colter, Dylan O'Brien, Macaulay Culkin, Keke Palmer , Brett Cullen, Michael Jeter, Annette Badland, Alison Steadman, Wanda De Jesus, Andres Muschietti, Shirley Manson, Chris Burke, Barbet Schroeder, Patrick Kennedy, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mother Mary Teresa, Saint Teresa of Calcutta --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/born-on-this-day-podcast/message

Geoff Thompson has written over forty books and has appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list, on several occasions. His first book, Watch My Back, was made into a stage play, adapted to a British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominated short film starring Ray Winstone, and a British Independent Film Award nominated motion picture for cinema. A BAFTA winning screenwriter, Geoff has penned multi-award winning films for luminaries such as Ray Winstone, Paddy Considine, Orlando Bloom, Maxine Peake, Anne Reid, Alison Steadman and James Cosmo. He is also one of the world’s highest ranking (8th dan) martial arts teachers. The prestigious Black Belt Magazine USA polled him as the most influential martial artist in the world since Bruce Lee. Check out Geoff's book on Amazon.   ------------------------------------------------- Check out our new podcast Mind Benders!   mindbenderspodcast.com Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts Submit your mind bending story by emailing mindbenders@path11productions.com or by calling 1-323-713-1113 -------------------- The 2020 Virtual Afterlife Conference has ended, but you can still watch the replays at our website. Over 17 hours of video will be available until September 30, 2020. -------------------- Dr. Eric Pearl and Jillian Fleer https://www.thereconnection.com Be sure to use coupon code PATH2PORTAL on checkout, to take 25% of your purchase of the portal. 

Dennis Potter's Karaoke was the first of two linked dramas written as he was dying and produced posthumously after his death. Starring Albert Finney as dying writer Daniel Feeld, the series is a kind of Dennis Potter's greatest hits with references aplenty to his previous works and a self-aware storyline that reflects on the blurring of lines between reality and fiction when people starting behaving like Feeld's characters and speaking the lines he has written. A stellar guest cast includes Hywel Bennett, Richard E. Grant, Alison Steadman, Roy Hudd, Liz Smith, Saffron Burrows and Keeley Hawes. Martin also watched and reflects upon its sequel Cold Lazarus and its links with Karaoke. Is this Dennis Potter at its finest or simply one of his last works? Join Andy and Martin as they go back to examine a TV series that had been long-awaited when it debuted in 1996. Next Time: London's Burning (the Jack Rosenthal pilot not the more run-of-the-mill TV series that followed it!)

Earlier this week, NGOs, charities and celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Alison Steadman and Dame Judi Dench signed a letter with World Animal Protection for the G20 summit to address the exotic animal trade.They are calling for an end to the barbaric business.Evanna has been vocal in her fight for animal rights, and with her company Kinder Beauty, she is trying to make beauty more cruelty free. She calls it Attractivism- making the beauty industry more sustainable.Here we caught up and discussed the letter and much more!You can sign the petition here: https://bit.ly/31KytKr See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zoe is joined by Ruth Jones, James Corden, Rob Brydon, Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb to chat about revisiting their characters after nine years for their Christmas Day special on BBC One.

Actress Alison Steadman sits down with Marie Curie bereavement expert Jason Davidson to explore her experiences of death and grief.On the Marie Curie Couch is a podcast that aims to open up conversations about death, break down the taboo and encourage people to share their end-of-life plans.This podcast is made by Marie Curie – the UK’s leading charity providing care for people at the end of their lives. For more interesting perspectives on dying and death, head to mariecurie.org.uk/talkabout. You'll also find resources and support to help you start the conversation with your family and friends.On the Marie Curie Couch is produced and edited by Marie Curie, with support from Ultimate Sound and Vision. The music featured is Time Lapse by PanOceanic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Christopher Marlow's Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare's Globe in London stars Jocelyn Jee Esian as Faustus and Pauline McLynn as Mephistopheles and is directed by Paulette Randall. Jean Luc Godard's The Image Book is described as an avant-garde horror movie, a vast mosaic of image and sound exploring the modern Arabic world. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Although it did not win the official prize, the jury awarded it the first "Special Palme d'Or" in the festival's history Sheridan Smith, Alison Steadman and Sinead Keenan star in Care, a new 90-minute drama on BBC One, by Jimmy McGovern, co-written with Gillian Juckes whose real life experiences of how the NHS responds to patients with dementia formed the inspiration for the story. Joyce Carol Oates’s Hazards of Time Travel is her 46th novel and its published alongside a reissue of her bestselling novel Blonde, a fictionalised account of Marilyn Munro’s life. At 80 Oates is a five times Pullitzer prize finalist. Hazards of Time Travel is a dystopian narrative sets 20 years from now in a totalitarian North American States, or NAS where the punishment for speaking out is "deletion." Darren Almond's new work includes Time Will Tell and 9 x 9 x 9 at White Cube Bermondsey and focuses on the idea of time and how it is articulated through the language of numbers. Tom Sutcliffe's guests are David Benedict, Helen Lewis and Meg Rosoff. The producer is Hilary Dunn Podcast Extra: Helen Lewis's choice - Normal People by Sally Rooney Meg Rosoff's choice - Fiddler On The Roof at the Menier Chocolate Factory David Benedict's choice - Radio 3's Remembering World War 1: Vaughan WIlliams and Beyond including Cheryl Frances-Hoad's new work Last Man Standing

Screenwriter Jimmy McGovern talks about his new BBC One drama Care, starring Sheridan Smith, Alison Steadman and Sinead Keenan, which looks at the personal challenges of caring for a parent with dementia and the struggle to find good and affordable care.Cuban performance artist Tania Bruguera talks to us from her home in Havana and explains why she is continuing to protest over Decree 349, a new law that will require artists to obtain a government licence, despite Bruguera being arrested twice this week by the authorities. BBC Correspondent in Havana, Will Grant, explains the context and implications of the new law. How can the arts help people with insomnia? We speak to two artists making work to fall asleep to – Richard Talbot of band Marconi Union, who worked with a sound therapist to write the soporific track Weightless, and Phoebe Smith, Sleep Storyteller-in-Residence for the sleep app Calm.Presenter John Wilson Producer Edwina Pitman

THE STUDIO IS ABSOLUTELY PACKED! We are joined by voice actor (and voice of Scooby Doo!) Marc Silk, who gives us a fascinating insight into the world of voice acting, based on his experience with major Hollywood movies, computer games and TV. You will not want to miss this. Marc also brings his greatest TRAILER VOICE to the trailer for new supernatural short Off Grid, which stars Alison Steadman and James Cosmo. The director, Carl Timms talks about making the thriller, working with acting royalty and his plans for the future

Tara Ward takes us through her picks for this week's viewing:The Cry: a new four-part British psychological drama starring Victoria’s Jenna Coleman as a new mother who faces the glare of public scrutiny after her son is abducted in Australia (TVNZ1, from Sunday 8:30pm)Hold the Sunset: John Cleese joins Alison Steadman in this gentle BBC comedy about a pair of retirees whose dreams of a peaceful life together are shattered when their son moves back home and tries to recapture his childhood happiness (UKTV, from Monday 9:30pm)The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: forget everything you remember about 90s classic TV show Sabrina: the Teenage Witch, because the 2018 reboot is a dark and moody teenage drama (Netflix)

The Britbox original Hold The Sunset is the first sitcom for comedy icon John Cleese since Faulty Towers final episode aired in 1979. The new show drew amazing ratings when it debuted in February of this year on one BBC one the parent company of the U.S. streaming service of Britbox where we will see the show coming in September.  The comedy stars Alison Steadman as a retired woman (Edith) who accepts a marriage proposal from her neighbor and longtime boyfriend, Phil, played by Cleese. They plan is to sell their houses and start a new life in the sun when her 50-year-old son, Roger played by Jason Watkins throws a monkey wrench in the works, by quitting his job, divorcing his wife and moves home with mom.We welcome back one of our favorite sponsor’s to Stream On, our friends at the incredible Silver Legacy Resort in Reno, Nevada. Catch two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart and special guest Cyndi Lauper at the Reno Events Center on August 28th get your tickets at ticketmaster.com, or click here to get your seats for the big event.    Today, in part one of our look at the show we discuss the plot and the cast with Joanna Scanlan who plays Edith’s daughter Sandra.      

This week - Hold The Sunset Season 1 Episode 3.Hold The Sunset is a romantic comedy starring John Cleese and Alison Steadman as widow and her old flame, whose rekindled romance is disrupted when her 50-year-old son moves back in. He announces that he's left his wife, his kids and his good job at the bank, and come home in an attempt to find his lost happiness again. And in a blink, to Edith's dismay and Phil's fury, all dreams are on hold.Hold The Sunset is currently available on Google Play https://play.google.com/store/tv/show?id=aVbooccmMSNDaaKkU0vnIw&cdid=tvseason-yK9fYEvtQkI7MwzSMXYUYA&gdid=tvepisode-h2SaM277EbwComedy Slab is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio and Youtube.Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.We're @ComedySlab on Twitter.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. Reaching the the final verse of the song brings a requirement for twelve drummers drumming. As actress Alison Steadman recalls, is that the sound of drumming a distant drum-roll I can hear? Or maybe just a male snipe on an amorous fly by? Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Steve Waddingham.

Actress and bird enthusiast Alison Steadman introduces the second part of a festive-themed from Tweet of the Week. Photograph: Jamie Rix

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve days of Christmas. As the song hints at, no festive party for a true love would be complete without eleven massed pipers piping. And possibly the best pipers of the British bird world can be found down on the coast. For actress Alison Steadman two species which come to mind are the redshank and the oystercatcher. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Tim Marlow.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve Tweets of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman recounts, while the original song called for ten Lords a Leaping, in the bird world a there are a number of species which could be thought of as able to leaping about. Choosing which birds come to mind from that list brings to mind the pied wagtail and the common crane. Producer : Andrew Dawes. Photograph: Deanne Wildsmith.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman recounts, there are many birds who could be thought of as the best dancers, but for me I'm sure the nine ladies dancing (and gentlemen) in the song would relish a chance to relax for a while and watch the dancing display of the great crested grebe. A sure sign that winter is nearly over. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Tim Donovan.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman reveals during the cold mid-winter as they went about their business, those eight maids a milking were probably not thinking of a familiar bird which also produces milk. The domestic pigeon. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: David England.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. The big day has arrived and with it seven swans a swimming. Though wrapping these may have been an issue. As actress Alison Steadman discusses deeply embedded in the British culture the mute swan, which for many is the perfect bird for the seventh day in the song. Although in winter two other contenders arrive on our shores, the Bewick swan from Siberia and the slightly more vocal Whooper swan from Iceland. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Kevin Neal.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. As preparations for Christmas gather pace, what better for a true love than to supply a laying goose for the family table? Though six geese a-laying may be a gaggle too much in some households. As actress Alison Steadman discusses a strong contender for the goose-a-laying could well be the gregarious greylag goose, the wild ancestor of many a farmyard goose today. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: John Dixon.

Actress and bird enthusiast Alison Steadman introduces the first six stories of a festive offering from Tweet of the Week. Photograph: Jamie Rix

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman outlines the refrain Five Gold Rings in the song is a recent thing, having emerged as an Edwardian addition to the song when Frederic Austen composed the music we know and love today. Yet in the century before that, a small colourful bird captivated Victorian society like no other. The goldfinch. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Janet Sharp.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve Days of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman discusses, on the fourth day of the song, a true love is sent four calling birds. Given that most birds call, which quartet of birds could be calling? Possibly the four calling birds could refer back to colly, a derivative of the older col, roughly translated as coal. In other words, birds as black as coal. But which black bird would capture a wooing heart? Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: John Quine.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman discusses working out what the actual bird is on the third day of the song could prove a headache. The original three French hens mentioned in the song could be of course domestic chickens or hens in France, but not, I suggest, French Hens, a species which as far as we know doesn't exist. It's thought then our domestic chickens are descendants of junglefowl, forest dwelling members of the pheasant family from southern Asia. Of all the junglefowl, it is the red junglefowl that is believed to be the primary ancestral source of our humble hen. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Graham Ball.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas. As actress Alison Steadman discusses at the time of the song's creation, across England the soft call of the turtle dove would have sent amorous sounds to many a loved one, though not at Christmas of course. These days however the soft dove call that a true love would most likely hear is that of the collared dove. Producer: Andrew Dawes Photograph: Mediocreimage.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve Days of Christmas. On the first day of Christmas so the song goes, a true love sent a partridge in a pear tree. As actress Alison Steadman suggests as ground birds, partridges are not known for their amorous arboreal perching. Why a partridge in a tree could have many meanings, but given the song is of possible French origin, the French or red-legged partridge seems an ideal candidate as sitter in a pear tree. Producer : Andrew Dawes Photograph: Lynn Martin.

As Alison Steadman wins the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film at the British Independent Film Awards, and the BFI announces a season dedicated to her TV work in the New Year, we speak to the actress about her career.What links baroque bad-boy painter Caravaggio and a present-day retired docker from Merseyside? Compassion, according to Anders Lustgarten's new play The Seven Acts of Mercy. Kirsty talks to the playwright and political activist about his latest work for the Royal Shakespeare Company.After news in October that AQA, the last exam board in England offering History of Art A-level, was dropping the subject from 2018, the schools standards minister, Nick Gibb, has announced that a new A-level in art history is being developed by the Pearson exam board for teaching from September 2017. Artist Cornelia Parker and Griselda Pollock, Director of the Centre for Cultural Analysis, Theory & History at Leeds University, give their reaction. The Top 40 Singles chart this week includes The Weeknd's Starboy (featuring Daft Punk), Sia's The Greatest (featuring Kendrick Lamar) and Jonas Blue's By Your Side (featuring Raye). Music writer Ben Wardle has spent decades glued to the radio, and he's got a bit of an issue with this increasing use of the F-Word - 'Featuring'.Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Ella-mai Robey.

Michael Berkeley's guest this week is the filmmaker, writer and playwright Mike Leigh, who began his career in the theatre and with TV dramas such as 'Abigail's Party' and 'Nuts in May', and went to to produce a string of original, award-winning films including 'Life is Sweet', 'Career Girls', the Gilbert and Sullivan biopic 'Topsy Turvy', 'Naked', 'Secrets and Lies', 'Happy Go Lucky', 'Vera Drake', and most recently, 'Another Year'. Many of his films involve an element of improvisation, and Mike Leigh has launched the careers of an impressive array of distinguished British actors, including Alison Steadman. Brenda Blethyn, David Thewlis, Sally Hawkins, Liz Smith and Jane Horrocks. His play 'Ecstasy' is currently enjoying a West End revival. Mike Leigh's choices begin with two extracts by Gilbert and Sullivan. He starts with a comic duet from 'Ruddigore' (I once was a very abandoned person)l, and goes on to 'The World is but a broken toy' from 'Princess Ida', which he loves for its sentimental charm. Mike Leigh sees Mozart's 'Cosi fan tutte' as essentially a comic opera, and has selected the gorgeous trio 'Soave sia il vento' from Act I. Then comes another facet of comic opera - the Doll's Song from Act II of Offenbach's 'The Tales of Hoffmann', which he used as the background to the brothel scene in 'Topsy Turvy'. There's also the original 1928 recording of the Ballad of Mack the Knife from Weill/Brecht's 'Threepenny Opera', an extract from a film score by Shostakovich, Jeanne Moreau singing 'Le Tourbillon de la vie' from Truffaut's famous film 'Jules et Jim'; 'Blue in Green' from Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue', and finally the Rondo from Beethoven's Violin Concerto (Mike Leigh used Beethoven to great effect in 'Abigail's Party').

I loved Week Ending (1970-1998) on beloved Radio 4. The weekly satirical sketch show in which often promising young writers, like Harry Hill and David Baddiel, and great impressionists and actors like David Jason, Jon Glover, Sally Grace, Alison Steadman and Tracey Ullman came together with their humorous take on the week’s news. Maybe it’s rose coloured spectacles, but the early days were lucky to coincide with a colourful political backdrop, with rich pickings for a show like this. For me, the Healey and Thatcher days were summed up brilliantly by this unique show. Having launched as part of a tranche of Radio 4 changes as the 70s dawned, many would agree that this father of Spitting Image was right to end in 1998. Enjoy here an episode from 1990, despatched kindly to me, amongst many other editions by Griff Griffith, just after the shock resignation of Margaret Thatcher

I loved Week Ending on beloved Radio 4 (1970-1998). The weekly satirical sketch show in which often promising young writers, like Harry Hill and David Baddiel, and great impressionists and actors like David Jason, Jon Glover, Sally Grace, Alison Steadman and Tracey Ullman came together with their humorous take on the week’s news. Maybe it’s rose coloured spectacles, but the early days were lucky to coincide with a colourful political backdrop, with rich pickings for a show like this. For me, the Healey and Thatcher days were summed up brilliantly by this unique show. Having launched as part of a tranche of Radio 4 changes as the 70s dawned, many would agree that this father of Spitting Image was right to end in 1998.

Last year the Somerset levels were experiencing the worst floods in living memory - a year on how did the cranes, which are being reintroduced there, cope.  And what about the other wildlife? On this edition of Nature's Voice Jane Markham visits Damon Bridge manager of the Great Crane Project at the RSPB's West Sedgemoor reserve. Plus  the RSPB's conservation director Martin Harper looks ahead to an important year for climate change negotiations and we hear the voices of stars from Stephen Fry to Alison Steadman, Raymond Blanc to Meera Syal in their video contribution to the Climate Change Coalition. 

Ian McEwan's new novel The Children Act deals with a young man who is suffering from leukaemia and the conflict between his parent's wishes and the authority of the State in the form of a high court judge. Little Revolution is a play by Alecky Blythe concerning the London riots of 2011 using a script drawn from verbatim interviews Watermark is a film by photographer Edward Burtynsky about the world's most precious resource: H2O. There's a finite amount and it's getting more and more difficult to protect and access. Secrets, a new mini drama series on BBC1 begins with a play starring Olivia Colman and Alison Steadman about a mother who discovers she's dying of cancer and her relationship with her daughter. Bernd and Hilla Becher were a German husband and wife photographic duo who specialised in impartial pictures of industrial structures - conventionally unpretty but given a formalist beauty Tom Sutcliffe's guests are Mark Ravenhill, Liz Jensen and Kamila Shamsie. The producer is Oliver Jones.

With John Wilson. Smokey Robinson (Tracks of My Tears, Being With You, Tears of a Clown) was once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America's greatest living poet. Smokey talks to John about his new CD of duets with Elton John, Mary J Blige and Jessie J. Before I Go to Sleep was a huge bestseller as a novel in 2011. The film adaptation opens this week with Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Mark Strong. Sarah Dunant reviews. Lenny Henry talks about bringing Radio 4 sitcom Rudy's Rare Records to the stage in Birmingham, as well as discussing his career, music and father-son relationships. Plus, Boyd Hilton reviews The Secrets, BBC1's new series of stand-alone dramas by new writers starring Olivia Colman and Alison Steadman amongst others. Presenter : John Wilson Producer : Dymphna Flynn.

We review the new BBC One comedy series, Boomers. Set in Thurnemouth, 'Norfolk's only West facing resort', it follows the ups and downs of a group of baby boomers wrestling with the unique challenges of life in retirement, featuring an all-star cast including Alison Steadman, Stephanie Beacham, Russ Abbot and June Whitfield. Actor Ben Whishaw on his new film Lilting, in which he plays a grieving man who tries to befriend his late boyfriend's Chinese mother. Margaret Kennedy's 1924 novel, The Constant Nymph, was a sensational bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic and inspired a West End play and three films. Kennedy enjoyed success with her subsequent novels but today few recognise her name. With the reissue of her books, novelist Joanna Briscoe and Dr Anne Manuel discuss the qualities of this former literary lioness. And where art meets science: Front Row spoke to three chemists who work in art galleries, preserving, restoring and even discovering, paintings. Presenter: Damian Barr Producer: Nicola Holloway.

With Mark Lawson In the film Compliance, a police officer phones a fast food restaurant and tells the middle-aged manageress that a young employee is accused of stealing. He asks her to detain the girl until the police arrive. She complies. As the situation develops, in near real time, it becomes uncomfortable to remember that the film is based on real events. Jenny McCartney reviews. Writer and producer Kay Mellor discusses the return of her TV drama The Syndicate, which stars Alison Steadman and Jimi Mistry. This time it's the turn of five low-paid workers at a Bradford hospital to win the Euro millions jackpot. Kay Mellor discusses writing about the experience of gaining sudden wealth against a backdrop of economic austerity. A new version of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler tranports the play to Birmingham in the early 1960s, with the central character now called Heather Gardner. Similarly, Strindberg's Miss Julie has been reworked to become Mies Julie, set in the Karoo, South Africa. Writers Robin French and Yael Farber discuss their current productions, and Patrick Marber reflects on relocating Strindberg to Britain in 1945, in his play After Miss Julie. Producer: Olivia Skinner.

John McCarthy looks at natural navigation with Alison Steadman who has been learning from the adventurer Tristan Gooley how to find and follow directions using only the signs provided by the weather and the landscape. Leading guide Kevin Albin talks about snow shoeing in the Pyrenees and sun bears in Borneo and British Indian novelist Rana Dasgupta explains why he is fascinated by Bulgaria and post-colonial India. Producer: Harry Parker.

Richard Coles with actress Alison Steadman and poet Luke Wright.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the actress Alison Steadman. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her role as the monstrous Beverly in the BBC's production of Abigail's Party 18 years ago, as well as her talent for improvisation which she has perfected with her director husband, Mike Leigh. She'll also be discussing how daunting she found it recently to take on the role of Mrs Bennett in the BBC's Pride and Prejudice.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Tosca E Lucevan Le Stella by Giacomo Puccini Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Luxury: Hot lemon flannels (as provided in Chinese restaurants)

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the actress Alison Steadman. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her role as the monstrous Beverly in the BBC's production of Abigail's Party 18 years ago, as well as her talent for improvisation which she has perfected with her director husband, Mike Leigh. She'll also be discussing how daunting she found it recently to take on the role of Mrs Bennett in the BBC's Pride and Prejudice. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Tosca E Lucevan Le Stella by Giacomo Puccini Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Luxury: Hot lemon flannels (as provided in Chinese restaurants)