
Maisie Adam; Elizabeth Alker; Jing Lusi; Stuart Maconie; Thea Gilmore; Singing In the Rain
Loose EndsShow Notes
There's plenty of festive energy left with Stuart Maconie and guests in the Loose Ends twixtmas studio: Taskmaster champion Maisie Adams tells us how she got in touch with her previously hidden competition-demon on the show, her highly-flammable competition outfit and that nailbiting finish, as well as revving up for a new tour in 2026. ITV's hit drama Red Eye is back for a second season on New Year's Day and its star Jing Lusi tells us about reprising her role as the kickboxing DI Hanna Li. She thinks DI Li would not approve of her penchant for Romcoms and fitness avoidance. And Radio 3's Elizabeth Alker outlines how rock and pop musicians from The Beatles to Radiohead to Manic Street Preachers owe a debt to classical music with tales from her new book Everything We Do Is Music. She also has tales of her rockstar Yorkshire terrier Terry who rules the roost at her house in December and well, all year round really. Plus inspiring music for the turning of the year from Thea Gilmore and from Carly Mercedes Dyer singing You Are My Lucky Star from the musical Singing in the Rain. Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant producer: Sam Nixon Technical producers: John Cole & John Benton Production coordinator: Pete Liggins
More from Loose Ends
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
Clive Anderson is joined by 'Modern Family' star Jesse Tyler Ferguson who is taking on the role of Truman Capote in Tru by Jay Presson Allen at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Tim Minchin on the 15th anniversary of the hit musical Matilda, novelist Kate Mosse on her new book celebrating the wonders of Autumn and comedian Harriet Kemsley who is currently on tour with her stand-up show Floozy. There's also music from cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson's new album 'New Roots' Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen
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