Podcast appearances and mentions of jane markham

“The thing that had to change most fundamentally [in The Grand Sophy] is that Sophy is simply untroubled…she always has the upper hand, she always has the answer and she's always outwitting everybody. For the film…if a character is completely unassailable, it becomes frustrating. You have to find the kryptonite, you have to find what would make her vulnerable, and what would make her unsure of herself. If she's being so bold and outrageous, what are the consequences?' – Olivia Hetreed on adapting The Grand Sophy into a film Welcome to our final episode in this season of Heyer Today, the podcast all about historical novelist, Georgette Heyer. Sara-Mae has now been working on this programme for years, over which time, the world has been reshaped by a pandemic, she's had a child and met a huge community of Heyer admirers and fans. It's been a tremendously rewarding process in which she's gotten to reread the books she's loved almost all her life and see them with fresh eyes, alongside our Heyer newbies. Since she began this project, looking for Heyer content that was thin on the ground, new podcasts have sprung up, academic essays and conferences exploring the world Heyer created, as well as TV shows adapting the work of similar authors. All of which has made us hopeful that at long last, Heyer will get the recognition she deserves from critics and movie makers.   In this final episode, we'll visit Heyer on her deathbed, with her best friend and husband Ronald at her side, as the magnificent Sarah Golding and Karim Kronfli give voice to her final moments in a tremendously touching scene. *Trigger warning, this scene may be difficult to listen to if you've lost someone from lung-related ailments. On top of that, we chat to screenwriter Olivia Hetreed, coming full circle on our journey to discover what happened to her and her husband, producer Andy Paterson's film version of The Grand Sophy. We'll also speak to Peter Buckman again, as he tells us all about his adaptation of TGS, born out of frustration in the film world. Plus, Jennifer Kloester, Heyer's biographer, will discuss the controversial side of Heyer's oeuvre, exploring accusations of anti-Semitism which have led some to call for her to be ‘cancelled'. Finally, we have an Aussie book club who've never read her work giving us their verdict on The Grand Sophy. SO. MUCH. GOOD. STUFF. This episode was edited, researched, produced and hosted by Sara-Mae Tuson. Beth Keehn worked with Sara-Mae on production, writing and research. Mike Scott also helped with production, as well as a little acting here and there. Rowan Scott for being an adorable addition to the Fable Gazers family. Thanks to Cat Warren and Will Dell for their help across the series with production. Michael Mandalis edited and recorded Beth's bits throughout the season and he did a marvellous job. Thanks also to Geraldine Elliot, Talitha Gamaroff and everyone who supported us in creating this work. We could never have made this without the help of all the guests we've had on this season's episodes. You're all totally fabulous, even if you didn't become converts. Heyer's deathbed scene was enacted by the magnificent Sarah Golding as Heyer, and Karim Kronfli doing his usual fabulous job as Ronald. We'd like to thank our wonderful cast across the series: Helen Davidge as young Heyer, Beth Crane and Hedley Knights playing multiple roles, including Heyer's son, Richard (please check out their brilliant pod We Fix Space Junk, amongst many others), Fiona Thraille (playing Pat Wallace and others), Thomas and Holly Golding as young Boris and young Richard, John Grayson as Frere, Karen Heimdahl, my mother, Cathy Tuson as Sylvia and Mike Scott, again. You all helped to bring Heyer's world to life, and we're profoundly grateful to all of you. Look out for bonus episodes later in the year, we have plans to work with the International Heyer Society and Jen Kloester on some special short episodes. The music used in this episode is from Emma Gattril's luminous album, Chapter I, as well as Jerome Alexander's cinematic Message to Bears work. Original music was composed especially for the podcast, by Sara-Mae and Tom Chadd, and their work will shortly be available on Spotify and Bandcamp or on request for people who donate to our Paypal. Comment and take part in our discussions on social media, we're @fablegazers on Instagram and @fable_gazers on Twitter. Special thanks to Peter Buckman for all his kind assistance, and for letting us use selections from his adaptation of The Grand Sophy, do go and find out more about it at thegrandsophy.co.uk Remember to rate and review the pod … it helps small indie companies like us to thrive. If you'd like to help us with future projects, you can go to our 'Support us' page and donate money to keep us in tea and biscuits. Heyer Today has been a Fable Gazers production.   Show notes: The Grand Sophy extracts were produced by Jane Markham of Podcats, who cast six young actors, all members of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. You can listen to the podcast on most podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify, TuneIn, ITunes, and Google Podcasts. Websites: www.thegrandsophy.co.uk. Sarah Golding   Karim Kronfli You can find Message to Bears here. Tom Chadd's music here. Emma Gatrill's website is here.

As May arrives swifts are returning to their UK nesting sites - heralding the start of summer. But their populations plummeted by 53 per cent between 1995 and 2015. It’s a subject that Nature’s Voice has visited before and on this episode Jane Markham meets one of the country’s leading swift experts Edward Mayer, the founder of Swift Conservation, and to Jos Ashpole from the RSPB’s migrant programme about why people love these birds and what is being done to help reverse the decline. 

This year the Big Garden Birdwatch is 40 years old and to celebrate Jane Markham will be meeting Ian Barthorpe who took part in the very first count when he was seven years old.  He is now visitor experience officer at RSPB Minsmere.  She’ll also talk to Green Fingered George – a young blogger - who is one of the new generation of Big Garden Birdwatchers. He took part in the RSPB’s latest TV ad which gave him the chance to meet his wildlife hero Chris Packham. 

The government has set its vision for a green future in a detailed 25 year plan to improve the environment. On this month’s Nature’s Voice, the RSPB’s Senior Policy Officer Robin Wynde talks to Jane Markham about the plan and what needs to be done to achieve its goals. And Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines, a member of the new Nature Friendly Farming Network, explains why it’s so important that sustainable farming has a voice at this critical time in the debate over the future of agriculture.

As part of Project Puffin the RSPB wants you to join the Puffarazzi and send in your photos of puffins carrying fish in their beaks. Puffins have recently been added to the red conservation list and your photographs will help research into how they are faring during this breeding season. RSPB Northern Ireland's Liam McFaul is warden of the dramatic Rathlin Island reserve - a great place to see puffins. Jane Markham talks to him, and visitor experience officers Hazel Watson and Ric Else, about about the island's huge sea bird colony. Plus conservation scientist Ellie Owen explains what Project Puffin is all about

The little tern is the smallest and one of the rarest breeding seabirds in the UK. They over winter in Africa and on their return they nest in the open on sandy and shingle beaches which leaves them vulnerable to human disturbance, predators and high tides. The Little Tern Recovery Project is a five year programme, in partnership with 10 other organisations, to protect these brilliant little birds. As the project moves into its fourth breeding season Jane Markham meets Fabienne Fossez who runs the team of volunteers on the east Norfolk coast. And talks to Sue Rendell Read, the project manager, and her assistant Anne Parr about its progress.

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2017 takes place between 28-30 January – yes this year you have a choice of three days to take part in the annual count by spending an hour in your garden noting down all the birds you see. And – particularly if you live in the east of the country – you might be lucky enough to spot an exciting visitor or two this time. With berries short in other parts of northern Europe, waxwings have already been spotted on the east coast. On this month’s Nature’s Voice, Jane Markham discovers that we may be heading for a waxwing winter!

Jewellery designer Alex Monroe has created some very special pieces for the RSPB featuring a curlew, a pair of turtle doves and a harvest mouse. The collection illustrates his great love for wildlife and in particular the wildlife on the RSPB’s Minsmere reserve in Suffolk - a place he’s known since he was a child. He’ll be telling Jane Markham about his inspiration and she’ll be meeting the RSPB’s Adam Rowlands and Matthew Parrott from Minsmere to find out more about one of the RSPB's flagship reserves. Alex will be donating £35 from each piece sold to the RSPB.

This year’s Big Wild Sleepout is upon us and on this edition of Nature’s Voice we go on a night time adventure at RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve. We’re on the trail of moths and bats – creatures you may well hear in your own garden if you take part in the Big Wild Sleepout over the last weekend of July. Jane Markham also speaks to the RSPB’s Paul Birmingham about why it’s become such a popular event and why it’s so important to reconnect with nature.

It happens every morning at this time of year - in the countryside and in towns - but how many of us have ever really listened to the dawn chorus? Why do the birds start singing before the sun even rises and does the early bird really catch the worm? RSPB wildlife adviser Ben Andrew talks to Jane Markham about the birds as they start to sing in an Oxfordshire garden, identifying the early risers and what you should listen out for. 

If your image of a scientist is someone in a white coat then RSPB conservation scientists Dr Jennifer Smart and Dr Ellie Owen will dispel that image for good. Their work has them up to their knees in water or harnessed on the edge of some of the UK's highest cliffs! Jane Markham meets them both. But science isn't the only way to help the natural world and she also talks to singer and songwriter Miel de Botton about her song Birds without Borders inspired by the RSPB's campaign of the same name.

Beecroft Academy in Dunstable is centre stage on this episode of Nature's Voice. Jane Markham went on a school visit with RSPB early years education officer Rebecca Kerfoot in the run up to January's Big Schools Birdwatch. And there are lots of new things for teachers, and the children in their classes, can do to prepare for the count which takes place in the first half of next term. 

In the run up to the Paris Climate Change Conference this edition of Nature's Voice looks at how climate change is affecting wildlife. The RSPB's conservation director Martin Harper talks to Jane Markham about the challenges ahead and we celebrate a success story. Bitterns, their reedbed habitats on the coast threatened by rising sea levels and reduced to a handful of breeding pairs in the mid 1990s, are now flourishing at Lakenheath Fen in reedbeds planted with the help of volunteers.

This July, sections of the sea wall at Wallasea Island in Essex were breached as part of a project to recreate more than seven square kilometres of rare coastal habitats. These are to compensate for habitat lost for development and rising sea levels due to climate change. It's one of the RSPB's most ambitious ventures to date and has been made possible with the help of three million tons of clean soils from one of its key partners, Crossrail, who are building London's new railway. For Nature's Voice this month Jane Markham was given a guided tour of the reserve by the RSPB's project manager, Chris Tyas, to see how the new saline lagoons and mud flats are shaping up.

The puffin is on the new European Red List of birds under threat. Their main breeding colonies in Iceland and Norway have seen sharp declines in the number of chicks making it through to adulthood, and the alarm bells are ringing for this iconic and much-loved sea bird. On this episode of Nature's Voice, and with this year's breeding season in full swing, Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Keith Clarkson about the puffins (and their pufflings) breeding at the Bempton Cliffs reserve, and to conservation scientist Dr Mark Eaton about what is going wrong and what can be done to help. Plus, we look ahead to this year's Big Wild Sleepout.

EU legislation – the Birds and Habitats Directives – which protect the most important wildlife species and habitats in the UK and Europe are being reviewed and at risk of being weakened. On this month's nature's voice, Jane Markham visits the RSPB's heathland reserve at Arne in Dorset, one of the world's rarest habitats, and a place which is protected thanks to the Birds and Habitats Directives. She also speaks to Alistair Taylor, the RSPB's Senior Policy Officer for Nature Directives, and looks at the Defend Nature campaign, which is how you can help protect the laws which protect nature. 

One of the last places where you are almost guaranteed to hear nightingales sing in spring is under threat after outline planning permission was granted on a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Kent. Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Rolf Williams about what you can do to help. We visit the first RSPB Garden Festival, part of the Giving Nature a Home in Glasgow project. And look ahead to September's Members Day and AGM at its new home at the ICC in Birmingham with details of an 'early bird' discount if you want to go along. 

16 years ago Doñana National Park in southern Spain was devastated by a blanket of toxic sludge. Today, after years of work costing £74 million, it is once again teeming with wildlife. But there are new threats to this internationally important wetland  - Jane Markham talks to RSPB campaigner Conor Jameson about its plight. Plus Clare Stringer, Head of the RSPB's UK Overseas Territories Unit,  discusses her team's report on the 28,000 species which live in these, often remote, parts of the world. It includes the incredibly rare yellow spiky woodlouse!         

For the Big Wild Sleepout this year why not host a sleepover in your garden? The idea is to get up close to nature, and raise money to protect it, by spending a night outdoors between June 16th and 22nd. Jane Markham talks to Richard Bashford about how to get the most out of your sleepout. Plus the RSPB's Minsmere reserve in Suffolk is the new home for the BBC's Springwatch programmes. Will they film a bittern 'booming' and perhaps, more excitingly, will these rare and secretive herons breed in the reedbeds? 

The Big Garden Birdwatch results have arrived and in this episode of Nature's Voice we hear from the children of a Folkestone Primary school about what they did for their Big Schools Birdwatch.  We look at the ups and downs for this year's top ten birds in the survey plus the RSPB launches a new Centre for Conservation Science and Jane Markham talks to one of the scientists, Matthew Carroll, about his work investigating possible links between climate change and the declining populations of Kittiwakes. 

As wildlife presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff takes up her role as the RSPB's new President she talks to Jane Markham about her love of the natural world and how, at a time when nature is facing huge challenges, she hopes to inspire adults and children alike to do their bit to give nature a home.

Ospreys from Loch Garten are well on their way south. We know this from data received from the satellite tags worn by this year's youngsters Breagh and Oighrig. On this month's Nature's Voice Richard Thaxton, site manager at Loch Garten, looks back at a successful breeding season on the reserve and Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Grahame Madge about the shocking numbers of migrating birds shot by illegal hunters on Malta. 

Sir David Attenborough has issued a call to arms in response the State of Nature report. In this month's podcast we hear how news of worrying declines in the natural world, highlighted in the report, has been received. 25 conservation organisations, including the RSPB, were involved in putting the report together and Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Jonny Wright about a new campaign - Giving Nature a Home - to inspire us all to take up Sir David's challenge.

The State of Nature report, just published by the RSPB in collaboration with more than 20 other major conservation groups, provides alarming reading. It shows that more than half the UK’s native species are declining and a large number of those are threatened with extinction.  On this month's podcast Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's senior conservation scientist Dr Mark Eaton, one of the lead authors of the report, and Matt Shardlow, chief executive of Buglife, about the results and asks where we go from here.

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2013 shows sparrow and starling numbers continuing to decline and on this month's Nature's Voice we look at how saving nature starts at home in our gardens and window boxes. Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Adrian Thomas - Homes for Wildlife blogger and gardening expert - about what to plant to give our birds, butterflies and bees a helping hand

It’s January already and  time for the world’s biggest annual bird survey - Big Garden Birdwatch!  Kate Long, author of ‘The Bad Mother's Handbook’  has taken part with her family for the last seven years. Her sons are now 15 and 12. As a wildlife enthusiast and nature blogger Kate tells Jane Markham that there's never been a better time to be a teenager with an interest in nature.  We'll also have tips and ideas for how you and your family can get involved and what to look out for.

Mike Dilger - ecologist and natural history presenter - has a new book out, written for the RSPB. Wild Town aims to show children that wildlife is all around us in our towns and cities as well as in the countryside. Jane Markham talks to Mike about some of the animals and habitats to look out for on his ultimate urban safari. 

The finalists in this year’s Nature of Farming Awards have been selected and in this edition of Nature’s Voice we hear from all four of them and how they are working to protect nature on their farms. The Make Your Nature Count results are in and Jane Markham talks to the editor of the RSPB’s Birds magazine, Mark Ward, about the wildlife he sees from his home overlooking farmland.  Plus step up for nature by making your voice heard in the debate over EU funding for farmers. 

The Rio+20 Earth Summit may not have seen a giant leap forward for the environment, but as the RSPB's Sacha Cleminson tells Jane Markham on this edition of the Nature's Voice, it has perhaps nudged the agenda forward.  We also assess a new report calling for a woodland culture for the 21st century to restore our ailing woodlands. And why not step up for nature and create a woodland glade in your garden - even if it's tiny!

Chris Packham and the BBC Springwatch team return to the RSPB's Ynys-hir reserve at the end of May. On this month's Nature's Voice (our 60th edition) Jane Markham finds out how the preparations are going from the warden there, Russell Jones, and catches up with TV presenter Iolo Williams whose knowledge of wildlife in Wales is second to none. We also preview Make Your Nature Count - the RSPB's summer survey with ambitions to rival the Big Garden Birdwatch!

India's vulture population has been devastated over the last 20 years. Ninety nine per cent of one species has been wiped out. We look at why this has happened and, four years after we first featured the subject on the Nature's Voice podcast, we chart progress towards bringing them back from the brink of extinction. Jane Markham also talks to the head of the RSPB's tropical forest unit about the continuing loss of rain forests around the world and initiatives to make the trees more valuable standing than they are as logs. Plus stepping up for nature by investing in solar panels for our homes. 

How do you put a satellite tag on a Gannet? Research at the RSPB's Bempton Cliffs reserve in North Yorkshire meant staff there needed to do just that. Jane Markham asks Steve Race, community education officer at Bempton, how it was done and what they hope to find out from the data that is being collected. Plus step up for nature by signing the RSPB's Marine Pledge to call for marine conservation reserves to benefit the seabirds around our coast. 

BBC Springwatch's new home is at the RSPB's Ynys-hir reserve near Aberystwyth. From May 30th Kate, Chris and Martin will be broadcasting from a converted tractor shed on the site. In this episode of Nature's Voice we visit Ynys-hir in the run up to Springwatch and Jane Markham talks to David Trotman from RSPB Cymru - who is delighted that the BBC are coming to a Welsh reserve in the year the RSPB is celebrating its centenary in the principality.

Kate Humble tells us how she is ‘Stepping Up For Nature’ as part of the RSPB’s latest campaign.  As RSPB President, she was at the launch of the project and this month’s Natures Voice looks at how you too can step up to help wildlife and the environment. Also this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch results are in and Mark Eaton, one the RSPB’s scientists, discusses them with Jane Markham.  Despite the cold winter there is some good news for some of our smaller birds. 

The scaffolding is coming down and the theatre technicians are busy inside the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon. A year since our last visit to the building site things are beginning to take shape. Jane Markham goes behind the scenes and finds out why it will be another year before the actors will arrive!

Nuneaton forms the backdrop to George Eliot's first published work of fiction, Scenes of Clerical Life, and it's the publication of the three stories in this book in 1857 - 150 years ago - that we are celebrating in 2007 with numerous events and this series of podcasts. Jane Markham is joined by local historian, and George Eliot fan, John Burton, Kathleen Adams, secretary of the George Eliot Fellowship and students of Nuneaton's King Edward the Sixth College to explore the town and how it relates to the town George Eliot called 'Milby' in one of the stories in the book - Janet's Repentance.

George Eliot was born Mary Ann Evans on the Arbury Estate near Nuneaton in North Warwickshire. Her father was the estate manager to the powerful Newdigate family (who still own Arbury today). This driving tour skirts the estate and visits places that feature in her first published fiction Scenes of Clerical Life which was published 150 years ago this year. This podcast is part of 150th anniversary celebrations and Jane Markham is joined by local historian, and George Eliot fan, John Burton on a trip that takes us from Chilvers Coton Church, where she was baptized to Griff House - now a restaurant - where she grew up

Spring arrives in the UK and the birds get busy - but what does the discovery of a dead swan with the H5N1 strain of avian flu at the beginning of April mean for the rest of the season. Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Andre Farrar to get the facts.

Bird Flu. Jane Markham talks to the RSPB's Head of Species Conservation, Julian Hughes about the implications for Britain's wild birds.

Jane Markham visits Otmoor in Oxfordshire with RSPB volunteers pond-dipping and reed planting with local children. Will the Bittern - one of Britain s rarest birds be seen on the moor once again? (see logo for picture) Plus a preview of this autumn s Fee

As the Shugborough Music and Fireworks weekend approaches, Jane Markham talks to technicians and performers as they look forward to this year's event. Plus she announces the winner fo the competition for tickets and champagne.

Jane Markham visits the Royal Shakespeare Company following their hugely successful Complete Works Festival and looks ahead to 2007 and the transformation of Stratford Upon Avon's Theatres