Showing results by author "Holly Newson" in All Categories

Joining us at Audible Studios is British advertising executive Rory Sutherland, whose TED talks have been viewed nearly seven million times. He has recently released his book Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense. In many areas of our lives, reason plays an infinitesimal part. We are driven by unconscious desires. We are drawn to the beautiful, the extravagant and the absurd, such as tiny bottles of fragrance. If you want to influence people's choices, you have to bypass reason.

Rory Stewart has had a far-reaching career over a multitude of different countries and positions. Having been educated at Eton and then Oxford University, Stewart went on to join the Foreign Office where he worked primarily in military intervention and international development, serving in Jakarta and Southern Iraq. Following these postings, Stewart walked alone across Afghanistan, relying on its people to house him on his way. He consequently wrote a book about this journey, and has gone on to become a bestselling author.

Joining us at Audible Studios is prominent stage and television actor David Tennant, who has narrated The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells for Audible Studios. The War of the Worlds depicts the arrival of an alien vessel on Horsell Common, in Woking. The initial genial interest in the Martians quickly turns to terror as they emerge with deadly heat rays and power beyond our control and comprehension. Their ruthless disregard for human life leaves humanity under threat of extinction. As the world crumbles, a lone man sets out across the wasteland to find his wife.

When life got in the way of Mortimer and Whitehouse's friendship, they found their connection dwindled to occasional catch ups and one-off phone calls. Then, conveniently, they were both diagnosed with heart disease! And they realised life is short, and they should spend it together, doing what they love: fishing. Following the success of their BBC series, Gone Fishing, Mortimer and Whitehouse have created an audiobook of the same name, which is their love letter to the joys of angling, and the simple wonder of just having a laugh with your mates.  

Joining us at Audible Studios is award winning actress and national treasure, Miriam Margolyes. Though she might be remembered for her occasional profanity on air, or crude outburst, Miriam is also loved for her theatrical skill. We'll be asking Miriam Margolyes about her new book, and second memoir, Oh Miriam! We will find out what her most important life lessons are, what she thinks of being called a national treasure, and things will get a little lewd as we discuss how she loves to see people’s reactions.

Glover worked her way through the ranks of BBC Radio, starting as a filing clerk, and becoming the presenter of The Listening Project for BBC Radio 4 and My Perfect Country for the BBC World Service, besides many other award-winning projects. Garvey spent a lot of her career on BBC Radio 5 Live, being the first voice heard on the station when it launched at 5am in 1994. She presented some of its main shows such as Midday and Drive, going on to host BBC Radio 4's prestigious Women's Hour. 

Joining us at Audible Studios is Rachel Reeves, British economist and Labor Party politician. We spoke about her new book, Women of Westminster, which details the stories of women MPs from 1919-2019. In the past century, a total of 491 women have been elected to parliament. However, it wasn’t until 2016 that the total number of women ever elected eventually surpassed the number of male MPs in a single parliament. We spoke about Rachel about interviewing Teresa May for the book and how being a woman MP has affected her career.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk about his children’s books Junkyard Jack and the Horse That Talked and Tilly and the Time Machine is British comedian, actor and writer Adrian Edmondson. Best known for his comedic roles in television series such as The Young Ones and Bottom, which he wrote together with his best friend and collaborative partner, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson has seen huge success since the early '80s, having been an integral part of The Comic Strip Presents.

In his new book, The Fast 800, he gives recipes and meal plans to help you take your future health into your own hands. He gives scientific evidence for using intermittent fasting, tells of the power of time-restricted eating and confirms that 800 calories is the magic number for weight loss. If you can stick to 800 calories a few days a week, you will trigger desirable metabolic changes while still having enough calories to keep you sustained. We spoke about enduring diet myths that need busting, how fasting can help the brain and always trying things out on himself.  

In his memoir Waypoints, Heughan digs into his Scottish heritage by hiking the West Highland Way, and along the journey he recounts the life and career events that have shaped him and his personal values. We spoke to Sam Heughan about the joys and trials of West Highland Way, his journey towards processing the absence of his dad, and how the creation of his Outlander family came at just the point he needed in his career.

Rising to fame as a pop star as part of The Communards, Richard Coles has had a very varied career - he has worked as a vicar for several parishes after finding religion later in life, has appeared on many panel shows. He shared his life through his memoirs, including details of his civil partnership and grief following the death of his partner. Coles has begun writing fiction – the Canon Clement Mystery series – starting with Murder Before Evensong, and is with us to talk about the second in the series, A Death in the Parish.

Carr, best known for his dark one-liners and signature laugh, didn't begin life as a comedian. After studying social science and political science at Cambridge, he began working for fuel company Shell. While there, he began reading self-help books and, feeling miserable, decided to make a change - he gave up his job and learned how to write jokes, got his first gig as a stand-up and changed his life!

Born and raised in West Lothian, Brady pursued a career in journalism after university, though always had an interest in comedy. After reaching the final of "So You Think You're Funny" at the Edinburgh Fringe, Brady launched her stand-up career and has since appeared on panel shows. Brady knew she was autistic as a teenager, but was told she couldn't be, as she was good at making eye contact and had a boyfriend. After finally getting a diagnosis in 2021, Brady has now penned her autobiography, Strong Female Character, which details the struggles she faced growing up with autism.

Louise Allen talks to us about the release of her first audiobook, Thrown Away Child, a memoir in which she revisits a childhood plagued with abuse and neglect from the very people who were supposed to protect her. Louise explains why she has set out to challenge the UK’s foster system. Hoping to improve the lives of the many foster children whose futures hang in the balance, Louise offers firsthand insight as to why we need to change our approach in dealing with vulnerable children and why she is now in a position to speak out.

My Life with Murderers is Wilson's account of his career, from being the youngest prison governor in the UK to gaining his professorship at Birmingham City University. His book is a study of the dark capabilities of human nature. In this interview, we spoke about the wide continuum of people that make up ‘murderers’, the decline of the prison systems and what sort of conversations he’s had with serial killers.

Known for his deadpan humour and sarcasm, Jack Dee is a regular on our screens and airwaves. After his first ever stand-up, Jack Dee was encouraged to tour the circuit, and after winning the Best Stage Newcomer awards in 1991, Dee began to grace our screens with The Jack Dee Show. Since then, Dee has performed sell-out stand-up shows, written and starred in sitcoms such as Lead Balloon and hosted shows such as I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Have I Got News for You.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk to us about his latest series, Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets, is the man himself, Stephen Fry. A comedian, actor, writer and more, Stephen has narrated the full collection of Sherlock Holmes for audiobook, was one-half of comic duo Fry and Laurie and is well known for his many years presenting QI. His list of accomplishments beyond this would far exceed the word count here! Now he lends his smarts and his voice to delving into the mysterious world of the Victorians in new series Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk about his debut novel, One Enchanted Evening, is ballroom dancer, singer and television presenter Anton Du Beke. Best known as a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since the show’s conception in 2004, Du Beke has also been a familiar face on British shows such as Hole in the Wall and has now published his debut novel, One Enchanted Evening. Anton Du Beke talks to us about how he created the book, how Strictly has evolved over the years and if everyone really can dance.

Ant and Dec met on CBBC's Byker Grove and an instant friendship was formed, on and off screen. They moved from acting to music, releasing three albums as PJ & Duncan, including their still popular hit, 'Let's Get Ready to Rhumble'. From there, presenting children's TV with shows such as SMTV and Gimme 5 was the next step in their journey towards international renown. Next came primetime slots, with the duo presenting shows such as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 

Rinder was called to the Bar in 2001, beginning a pupillage at 2 Paper Buildings before moving to 2 Hare Court as a criminal barrister. Rinder has worked on cases from fraud to murder, and money laundering to political corruption. Having approached ITV with a television script, written in his spare time, he was asked instead to be the face of a British Judge Judy-esque show, thus Judge Rinder was born.