Show Notes
Loose Ends is cavorting among the snow-caps of Cumbria at the Kendal Mountain Festival this week. Chef d'Equipe Stuart Maconie reaches for the summit of chat with navigation from the adventurer and broadcaster Ben Fogle - celebrating twenty five years since he was Castaway on a remote Scottish island for the BBC reality TV show that he says is more relevant today than ever. The award-winning writer Sarah Hall provides forecasts as she describes the star of her new novel Helm - a personification of Britain's only named wind, the puckish, mercurial, destructive force of the Eden Valley she grew up on. Horrible Histories author Terry Deary confesses to being an inveterate townie, but keeps our spirits up with gruesome tales from his latest book Revolting, which asks what would make you fight the power and how would you do it? He cites the Suffragists and their daring idea to wrap themselves in brown paper and post themselves to Downing Street. With music from rising Americana band Smith and Liddle who hail from the Northeast and Cumbrian singer-songwriter Holly Brooke. Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant producer: Samuel Nixon Technical producers: Mark Ward and Liam Juniper Production coordinator: Pete Liggins
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Clive Anderson is joined by writer Alexander McCall Smith whose latest novel The Isle of Good Karma takes us on a life-changing trip from the Isle of Lewis to the Himalayas. Comedian Marc Jennings is on tour with If & When, diving in to some of the headlines that have kept us busy over the last year. A new production of Scottish classic The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is bringing the drama of Marcia Blaine School for Girls to audiences across Scotland - director Vicky Featherstone sheds a light on the production. Plus music from Big Country Redux and Zoe Graham. Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Caitlin Sneddon
Craig Revel Horwood on how his Strictly baddie persona earned him his pantomime villain break as well as being rammed by a trolley at the supermarket. Comedian and Taskmaster competitor Chloe Petts on how playing in goal as a teenager set her up for a life in stand-up and how bean-eating is her superpower. Si King on writing his first ever cookery book without his Hairy Biker partner and what Dave Myers might make of his meatball recipe. Plus music from Roachford, 90s star out on the road this winter with Jools Holland and Mike and the Mechanics as well as Hue and Cry. Presenter Stuart Maconie Producer Olive Clancy Assistant Producer Lizzie Foster Content Assistant Sam Nixon Technical Producers John Cole and Jack Morris
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Stuart Maconie and guests are at the BBC's Contains Strong Language Festival in Salford. Baudelaire of the bus stop, local man made poetic, John Cooper Clarke reveals where he goes for inspiration. Multi-award winning poet and novelist Jackie Kay who began writing as a pre-teen and hasn't stopped since. Hannah Maxwell's acclaimed Edinburgh show is called Turn Your F**king Phones Off, but she's having to tone it down for her forthcoming tour. And music and poetry from the "alt-pop poet" Antony Szmierek's new album Decoding Birdsong - the musician who went from playing at Glastonbury to his day-job as a teacher. Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced by Olive Clancy Assistant Producer Lizzie Foster Production Coordinator Mica Nepomuceno Technical Producers: Mike Smith, Phil Booth, Jonathan Esp
Stuart Maconie is joined by comedian Simon Brodkin, known for his character Lee Nelson and his stunts, slipping past security to prank the likes of Donald Trump, Seb Blatter and Theresa May. He's out on tour with a new show, Unleashed. Ahir Shah won the Edinburgh Comedy award in 2023 for his show Ends. His new show, Golden is inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche and Gerald Manley Hopkins. Best Selling Crime Author Elly Griffith's The Killing Time is the second in her new Ali Dawson series. And there's music from Cara Dillon and Truthpaste. Presester: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen