The Radio Times Podcast: Series Five

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Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on fame, rock-bottom and the perils of being opinionated women

This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the popstar-turned-actor Lily Allen and the TV presenter Miquita Oliver. They grew up in Ladbroke Grove, West London, in creative households, spending much of their youth roaming Portobello market and flunking school. Allen's mother is the film producer Alison Owen, and her father is the actor Keith Allen. Oliver was raised by her mother, the broadcaster and chef, Andi Oliver.

Both Oliver and Allen made their name at a young age – Oliver as a TV presenter on Channel 4's music show Popworld and Allen for her debut-smash-hit Smile. In this episode, they talk about the perils of fame and how they handle trolls. Plus, they reminisce about the hedonism of the '00s and reveal why they never listened to the advice imparted by their famous family members.

Theo James on The Gentlemen, Hollywood and Divergent (Live 5 March)

This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the actor, Theo James. He grew up in Buckinghamshire, the youngest of five siblings, and dreamed of a career as a musician. After reading Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, he segued into acting, enrolling as a student at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre. He catapulted to fame when he landed the leading role of Four in the YA Hollywood hit-series, Divergent. Since then, he has starred in The White Lotus, Sanditon, The Time Traveller's Wife – and, most recently, Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. In this episode, he talks about the harsh realities of overnight fame, how the Me Too movement has shaped film sets and how his latest role exposes Britain's class system.

Joanna Lumley on the secrets of a long marriage, the Swinging Sixties and beauty (Live 27 March)

This week joining Kelly-Anne Taylor in the studio is the British actress, presenter and author, Joanna Lumley. Born in India, in Kashmir, Srinagar – she was brought up in the Far East, coming to the UK, aged 8, to attend boarding school. She went on to work as a model and actress, living in London in the Swinging Sixties – and made her name starring as Purdy in The New Avengers. She boasts a successful career – spanning over six decades – she had audiences in hysterics as Patsy in hit sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, has presented wonderful travel programmes – and, of course, captured the nation in Jan Etherington’s radio show, Conversations from a Long Marriage – in which she stars alongside Roger Allam.

In this episode, she talks about why she doesn’t have a mobile phone and how difficult she found it to shed the ‘pretty girl’ stereotype when she moved from modelling to acting. Plus, she talks about raising a child as a single mother, how playing Purdy in The New Avengers changed things financially for her and why she wishes sex scenes would be cut from TV and film.

Martin Compston on Line of Duty, on-screen nudity (Live 20 February)

This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the Scottish actor, Martin Compston!

Born and raised in Greenock, Scotland – he first made his name starring in the Ken Roach film, Sweet Sixteen (which won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival). It was his role as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty that made him a household name. In this episode, he talks about how that role changed his life, what it’s like living in Vegas – and why he’s doing less on-screen nudity. Plus, he chats about his latest travelogue Martin Compston’s Norwegian Fling and what it was like running with wolves.

Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley on Barbie, equal pay and their worst auditions (Live 13 February)

On this week’s episode, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley!

From Broadchurch to The Crown to The Favourite, Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman has become a staple of British film and television. And Irish co-star Jessie Buckley boasts an impressive CV herself, starring across the big and small screen in projects like War & Peace, Chernobyl and Wild Rose. As a pair, Colman and Buckley previously worked together on Netflix movie The Lost Daughter – they played the same character at different ages and were both nominated for Oscars – and now share the screen again as warring neighbours in Wicked Little Letters, a comedy about a real-life poison pen scandal that shocked 1920s England. In this episode, we talk about sexism in the film industry, the importance of equal pay, the female-led films dominating the box-office and they share what they’ve learnt from their worst auditions.

Sophie Rundle on Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack and the #MeToo movement (Live 6 February)

This week’s guest is the actress, Sophie Rundle! Her career began with a bang – when she landed the role of Ada Shelby in the hit-drama Peaky Blinders, straight out of drama school. Since then, she’s gone on to star in Sally Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack, Alibi’s The Diplomat and most recently ITV’s, After the Flood. In this episode, she talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about how revolutionary Gentleman Jack was in depicting LGBTQ+ love stories and how it has been heralded for its portrayal of sex scenes. Rundle discusses her own experience filming intimate scenes – and how they have changed over the course of her career. Plus, she reveals how Peaky Blinders changed her life – and, the pressure she faces to look a certain way on screen.

Rylan on trolls, reality TV and Celebrity Traitors (Live 30 January)

This week’s guest is the TV presenter and reality TV star, Rylan!

He grew up on a council estate in East London – with his mum, Linda, his nan and older brother. It was the era of reality TV – and Rylan decided that was the way to make his fame and fortune. In 2012, aged 23, he appeared as a contestant on X Factor – and his emotional reaction at the judge's houses and his live show performances made him an X Factor icon. He turned his moment in the limelight, into a longstanding career – pivoting into the world of presenting. In this episode, he reflects about his time on X Factor, receiving death threats and handling overnight fame. Please note that this episode contains strong language.

Tamsin Greig on being a working mother, playing baddies and hysterical laughing on set (Live 23 January)

This week’s guest is the actress, Tamsin Greig!

She grew up in London with her parents, two sisters – 5 lodgers and a handful of cats. Her mother had been in amateur dramatics – and Tamsin, absorbed by osmosis, the yearning to perform at a young age. She graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first-class BA in Drama and Theatre – and then, worked at the Family Planning Association – before getting her foot in the door with her role as Debbie Aldridge in The Archers. Since then – she has had a glittering career on both the stage and on television. She has starred in some of Britain’s most loved sitcoms – from Black Books to Green Wing – and most recently, Friday Night Dinner. In this episode, she discusses what it’s like to juggle parenthood with working life, her love of trampolining and playing a baddie in Paramount’s new drama, Sexy Beast, based on the cult-classic gangster film of the 00s.

Nicole Kidman on height, Hollywood and her superpower (Live 16 January)

Our guest in this episode is Hollywood A-Lister, Nicole Kidman!

With a career that spans over four decades, Kidman has starred in almost 100 TV and film projects and picked up all of the most prestigious awards including, an Oscar, Bafta and six Golden Globes. She was born in Hawaii to Australian parents: her father was a biochemist and later a psychologist, and her mother was a nurse educator. Aged 3, she moved to Australia, and it was there, that she found her love of acting. She headed to Hollywood at 20 for a starring role opposite Sam Neill in the psychological thriller Dead Calm – and she quickly made her mark. She has since forged a very successful career – in an industry renowned for its fickleness. In this episode, she discusses her latest project – Expats – an Amazon Prime drama directed by The Farwell’s Lulu Wang. It follows three American women living in Hong Kong whose lives are impacted by a horrific event – the disappearance of a young boy. Kidman plays Margaret, the mother of the missing child. In this episode, she sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to unpick the emotional impact the role had– and the importance of having more women behind the lens. Plus, she talks about inner resilience being a superpower and reveals how she deals with negative press.

Joe Wicks on health hacks, feeling good and growing up with addiction (Live 9 January)

This episode's guest is the nation’s favourite PE teacher – Joe Wicks!

His YouTube workout videos kept the nation moving during lockdown and catapulted Wicks into national (and global!) consciousness. In 18 weeks, he amassed over 80 million views! In this episode, Joe discusses how growing up in a household plagued by drug addiction has shaped him into the person he is today and how finding fitness saved his life. Plus, he talks to host Kelly-Anne Taylor about his new book Feel Good in 15 and reveals some health tips that will help you make better choices this January!

Ed Gamble on The Traitors, weight loss and dieting fads (Live 2 January 2024)

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first episode of The Radio Times Podcast in 2024! Joining host Kelly-Anne Taylor, this week, is the comedian – Ed Gamble!

He first ventured into comedy whilst studying at the University of Durham and quickly made a name for himself on the London comedy scene – juggling part-time jobs with late-night gigs. A regular on panel shows, Ed Gamble has also found success talking about food – he is a judge on the BBC’s Great British Menu and host of the chart-topping food podcast, Off Menu – alongside James Acaster. In this episode, he talks about how losing 7 stone in his early 20s impacted how people treated him and why, as a type 1 diabetic, he hates dieting brands using medication intended for diabetics to promote weight loss. Plus, he talks about the return of The Traitors and unpicks why everyone is obsessed with the show.

Mae Martin Christmas Special: Roast potatoes, terrible presents and New Year resolutions (Live 19 December)

For our Radio Times Podcast Christmas special, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the comedian, actor and screenwriter, Mae Martin.

Their first foray into stand-up came aged 13 – and by 15 Mae had dropped out of school to pursue comedy full-time. They relocated to London in their early 20s and made a name for themselves on the British comedy circuit. With two Netflix comedy specials under their belt, they’ve also conquered the world of television with the Netflix series Feel Good – which Mae stars in alongside Charlotte Richie. In this festive episode, Mae talks about how they spend the big day, what the best part of a Christmas dinner is, what part to avoid – and the worst Christmas present they have ever received.

The Hairy Bikers on good grub, celebrating life and having ideas above your station (Live 12 December)

In this week’s episode, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by TV chefs, Si King and Dave Myers – aka The Hairy Bikers.

Dave was born and raised in Barrow-in-Furness, and Si in Kibblesworth County Durham and both brought up in working-class families. They met on the TV set on Catherine Cookson’s The Gambling Man – Si was the second assistant director and Dave, head of make-up. It was their united love of motorbikes and good grub that helped launch The Hairy Bikers – but it’s not always been an easy ride.

In this episode, they discuss low ratings and the Christmas special that was supposed to be their swan song, Dave’s ongoing battle with cancer and why Christmas means so much to them this year.

James O'Brien on selling suits to John Major, being a 'not very good' journalist and the impossibility of impartiality (Live 5 December)

This week’s guest is the LBC radio host, James O’Brien.

James grew up in Kidderminster in the 70s and 80s with his adoptive parents Joan and Jim O’Brien. He attended Ampleforth College, the famous Catholic public school in Yorkshire. He describes his school years as rebellious – but reflects that the ‘weird burning sense of injustice’ he felt was ‘pretty well placed’. Following in his father’s footsteps – James pursued a career in journalism – and got his foot in the door thanks to a chance encounter with John Major. Although he started out in print, he later segued into broadcast – starting his LBC show in 2004.

In this episode he discusses with host Kelly-Anne Taylor the impossibility of impartiality, receiving hate on social media, imposter syndrome, his new book 'How They Broke Britain' and what he gets up to on Christmas Day.

Bear Grylls on island life, exploring Eton's sewers and embracing failure (Live 28 November)

Our guest next week is the British adventurer, Bear Grylls!

Born in Northern Ireland, and raised on the Isle of Wight, Bear – a nickname he was gifted by his older sister – developed a taste for adventure whilst on excursions with his father. He started at Eton at age 8 – and found solace in a regimented world by making rafts, climbing buildings and exploring the sewers at night by torch. Later, he was accepted as part of the SAS. A horrific parachuting accident which left him with a broken back turned Bear’s life upside down. While lying in a hospital bed, with a poster in front of him of Everest, he vowed to get better and one day climb that mountain – which he did, becoming the youngest Briton at the time to do so. Since then, he’s brought a number of successful television shows to our screens – and cemented himself as Briton’s favourite adventurer.

In this episode, he talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about the invaluable life lessons his parents instilled in him, the joys of watching telly in bed and what one soldier said to him in the SAS recruitment process.

Romesh Ranganathan on private school, women in comedy and living in a B&B (Live 21 November)

Our guest this week on The Radio Times Podcast is Romesh Ranganathan!

Born and raised in Crawley, in West Sussex – Romesh’s childhood was a tale of two halves. Life started in a two-up, two-down house and he attended private school – but after his father was imprisoned, life as he knew it was upended. Years later, he left his job as a Maths Teacher to pursue comedy full-time – and although, he doesn’t shy away from how tough it was at first to make ends meet – what has ensued is a glittering career which has established him as one of Britain’s leading comics. In this episode, he talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about diversity in comedy and what he thinks of people who brand women ‘un-funny’. Plus, they talk about why he wouldn’t send his kids to private school, how his three young boys keep him humble and why, if his career ended tomorrow, you’d still find him with a mic hooked up to a lamppost in the park.

Shirley Ballas on Strictly, self-confidence and the toxic side of the dance industry (Live 14 November)

On this episode of the Radio Times Podcast is the dancer and head judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, it is Shirley Ballas!

Born and raised in Merseyside, she grew up with her mother and brother on a council estate – and found dance at the age of 7 when a tune caught her ear. She worked her way to the top of the dancing world – and has plenty of stories to tell of her journey. In this episode she talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about everything from the phone call that changed her life but ended her engagement to Nigel Tiffany to how she was almost bullied out of the dance industry – but instead, landed the Strictly gig.

Jo Brand on Bake Off, her days as a psychiatric nurse and handling hecklers (Live 7 November)

Our guest on this episode of The Radio Times Podcast is the comedian, Jo Brand!

Raised in Kent, she was a student at Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School and on a sure-fire path to Oxbridge. However, when her parents attempted to uproot her and move to Hastings, she revolted and left home as a teenager. She got her life back on track after accidentally setting the bed-sit she was living in on fire and trained as a psychiatric nurse – a career she pursued until she made a name for herself in the alternative comedy scene of the 1980s. The rest is history – she’s a BAFTA award-winning actress and a national treasure.

In this episode, she sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to discuss how her nursing days primed her for a career in comedy, how she never had a life plan and why she never watches herself on panel shows.

Big Zuu on learning Latin with Boris Johnson, the Strictly-curse and being angry at the BAFTAs (Live 31 October).

To launch Series Five of the Radio Times Podcast, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the double-Bafta-winning TV chef Big Zuu!

Born Zuhair Hassan to a mother from Sierra Leone and a dad from Lebanon, he grew up on the Mozart Estate in West London. He started cooking at age nine to, as he says, ‘help around the house’ when his mother fell pregnant with his younger brother. It was whilst he was studying to become a social worker at University, that he decided to drop out in pursuit of a full-time music career. After making a name for himself as a Grime MC/Rapper, he turned the heads of TV commissioners when he started posting videos of himself on social media cooking. That landed him his Dave show Big Zuu, Big Eats. In this episode, Big Zuu talks about his love of Strictly, why his mum thought he was possessed by the devil and learning Latin with Boris Johnson.

Write to the Radio Times Podcast team and let us know your thoughts at: podcast@radiotimes.com

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