Loose Ends

Episodes

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  Andrew Hunter Murray, Dilly Carter, Hannah Byczkowski, David Eagle, Chris Brain, Daisy Peacock, Kiri Pritchard-McLean 15.08.2026 36m

  Kiri Pritchard-McLean presents Loose Ends from the Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield. She's joined by author and broadcaster Andrew Hunter Murray who tells us how to write novels with the aid of a spreadsheet. Professional organiser Dilly Carter on unboxing a skull, comedian and Traitors star Hannah Byczkowski on crying into Claudia Winkleman's arms, and comedian David Eagle on negotiating a climate change protest at his wedding. There's music from Yorkshire singer-songwriter Chris Brain and Sheffield's own Daisy Peacock.Presenter: Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Elizabeth Foster
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  Liam Ó Maonlaí, Michael Fry, Emma Southon, Olivia McVeigh, Dónal O'Connor, Neil Martin, Clare Sands 08.08.2026 35m

  Stuart Maconie finds himself "i lár an aonaigh" - at the heart of craic, ceol, and much more at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All-Ireland Fleadh), as Belfast hosts the festival celebrating Irish music and culture for the very first time.The Fleadh comes second nature to frontman and lead singer of Hothouse Flowers Liam Ó Maonlaí, who was brought up in a household full of traditional Irish music and song. As the band prepares for their "Greatest Hits" tour later this year, Liam reflects on the poignant story behind their hit single "Don't Go", and the time he was left behind by the band's tour bus.Olivia McVeigh mightn't be in a band, but alongside her fellow podcasters of The Girls Groupchat she's taking the show onstage, alongside Irish girl group legends B*witched and even to ABBA Voyage. She tells Stuart about how her diagnosis of alopecia changed her entire career trajectory, into a world of advocacy and empowering others with the condition.Emma Southon may have had a very different career as historian if she hadn't hated history so much at school. She talks about her new book Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire, which sets out to give readers a full picture of the reality of enslaved people in Ancient Rome.And Michael Fry muses on how a period of pure boredom pushed him towards comedy, and why he thinks the medium of radio is ripe for laughs, ahead of his third series of Lunchtime with Michael Fry on BBC Radio Ulster.Plus, musicians Dónal O'Connor, Neil Martin and Clare Sands give us just a "blaiseadh beag" - a very small taste of the great music coming out of the Fleadh.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Anthony McKee Technical Producer: Davy Neill Production Co-ordinators: Sylvie Conway and Caoilfhinn McFadden
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  Mari Wilson, Fiona Allen, Olly Smith, Natalie Wildgoose, Tristan Gooley 01.08.2026 35m

  TV presenter and wine expert Olly Smith's written a novel - Death by Noir - a crisp murder mystery set among the vineyards of Sussex. Smack the Pony star Fiona Allen's taking a solo show - White Lies - to the Edinburgh Fringe, all about the fibs people tell to get out of socialising...and their dire consequences.Tristan Gooley, author of The Hidden Seasons, tells us about 'shooting star' season, what to learn from a single tree and how to navigate using grass as a compass. Music from Mari Wilson who sang Just What I Always Wanted in the 1980s and has her first new music out for a decade. Plus a song from rising star of lo-fi folk Natalie Wildgoose. Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant Producer: Lizzie Foster Technical Producers: John Cole and Kelly Young Content Assistant: Sam Nixon
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  Chris Chibnall, Ayoade Bamgboye, Wendi Peters, The Anchoress, Later Youth 25.07.2026 34m

  Kiri Pritchard-McLean is joined in Salford by writer and Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall who has turned his hand to crime novels, first with Death at the White Hart and now The Parkwood Murders.Comedian Ayoade Bamgboye is fresh off the first season of Saturday Night Live UK and she's wrapping up the tour of her hit Edinburgh show Swings and Roundabouts, which earned her the best newcomer award at the festival in 2025, before heading back to the festival this year with a work in progress show.Wendi Peters played Cilla Battersby-Brown in Eastenders and Dr Nina Bulsara in Doctors. Her latest role is in the new BBC One crime drama series The Hairdresser Mysteries.Music is from The Anchoress, AKA Catherine Ann Davies who is soon to release a new album As We Once Were, her much anticipated follow up to her critically acclaimed 2021 album The Art of Losing, and Later Youth AKA Joe Dudderidge.Presenter: Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Jessica Treen
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  Ruthie Henshall, Tez Ilyas, Mica Millar, Joe Pasquale, Dave McCabe 18.07.2026 36m

  West End star and Olivier Award winner Ruthie Henshall has a new memoir and as you might expect it's very glamorous and full of tales about the cast of Cats, Les Mis and Crazy for You. It also tells the story of her secret five year relationship with a young Prince Edward, how the now-King of England mixed her first martini and Princess Diana encouraged her to belt out a show tune after dinner.Performer and all-round master entertainer Joe Pasquale is making his Edinburgh Fringe debut this year - before now he's always been too busy presenting The Price Is Right or competing in Dancing on Ice or winning I'm a Celebrity. Find out about his show - 11 and a half Angry Men. The comedian Tez Ilyas, star of Man Like Mobeen and The Tez'O Clock Show is also heading for Edinburgh and then out on tour with his new show - Tez Things I Hate About You. He's entered his "uncle stage", he says, and thrives on deinfluencing.Plus music from soul singer Mica Millar and from The Zutons front man Dave McCabe, now solo.Presenter Kiri Pritchard-Mclean Producer Olive Clancy Assistant producer Lizzie Foster Production co-ordinator Pete Liggins Technical producers Amy Brennan and Kelly Young
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  Nigel Harman, Daliso Chaponda, Nikki Smith, Liana Flores, Ibibio Sound Machine 11.07.2026 37m

  Stuart Maconie is joined by Nigel Harman, best known for playing lovable rogue Dennis Rickman in Eastenders, he's also much in demand as a panto villian. Trained in musical theatre, he also started in Shrek the Musical and his latest stage role is playing Bruce Bechdel in a musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel's memoir 'Fun Home' at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Daliso Chaponda describes himself as a 'comedian, writer and antisocial commentator' and has been touring the country with his latest show Topical Storm. A regular on Radio 4, Daliso tackles not the actual news, but look at news itself. Thriller writer Nikki Smith began her career in finance, and only turned to writing in 2017. Since then she's more than made up for lost time, publishing five best selling books and she's just about to publish book number six, 'The Last Place You Look'.Music is from Liana Flores who had a viral hit with Rises The Moon in 2022 and has since released her debut album and toured round the world and Ibibio Sound MachinePresenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen
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  Adrian Lester, Kathy Lette, Alexandra Burke, Sir Grayson Perry, Katie Norris 04.07.2026 37m

  Adrian Lester on the art of simultaneously sword-fighting while reciting poetry in his starring role in the RSC's acclaimed Cyrano de Bergerac. Alexandra Burke pays tribute to Chaka Khan in her new show I'm Every Woman and sings a beautiful Loose Ends special version of Ain't Nobody.Sir Grayson Perry is putting the fun into dysfunctional with a comedy musical about his life, he describes it as the "most expensive therapy ever".Kathy Lette's new novel explores what happens when the sisterhood goes sour and how to put it right. Plus musical comedy from Katie Norris's Edinburgh-bound show Mother Succubus. Presenter Clive Anderson Producer Olive Clancy Assisstant producer Sam Nixon Technical Producers Gayl Gordon and Dave O'Neill Production Coordinator Pete Liggins
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  Harry Shearer, Bella Hull, Joanna Cannon, Gabriella Cilmi, Gina Birch 27.06.2026 36m

  Harry Shearer is a comedy legend. He’s the voice of Mr Burns in the Simpsons (and many other characters), he’s Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, and he’s over here with a brand new musical about J Edgar Hoover. Bella Hull first performed stand up a decade ago at the age of 17. In her new show ‘Mad Cow Disease’ she looks back on her decade in comedy. She also spills secrets from the writing room of Saturday Night Live UK. Best Selling novelist Joanna Cannon’s latest book is ‘An Unlikely Visitor’, the story of recently widowed Margaret, who is finally facing up to her past. And there’s music from Gina Birch whose band The Raincoats are a cult favourite. She performs from her latest solo album, ‘Trouble’ and we're also joined by Gabriella Cilmi whose song 'Sweet About Me' was a massive global hit. She performs new material and tells us about meeting her hero, Robert Plant.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen
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  Daniel Sloss, Horse McDonald, Helen Watson, Stuart Maconie, Dan Richards, Darren Brownlie 20.06.2026 34m

  Stuart Maconie sets up camp at Borders Book Festival in the Scottish Borders.Comedian Daniel Sloss continues his world domination with his latest show Bitter which is helping him tick off 60 different countries.She perhaps can't claim 60, but Helen Watson visited an incredible list of countries when she cycled 15,000km from Glasgow to China along the Silk Road in 2009. Her book Tea and Grit dives back in to memories of that expedition.Actor Darren Brownlie's latest project takes us on another journey, to Cumbrae on the west coast of Scotland where musical Crocodile Rock tells a beautiful story of coming out and finding out who you really are.Dan Richards adventures have been very much in the dark, as his book Overnight explores the many wonders and workers of the nighttime, from the high seas, to the top of a crane.Plus, singer-songwriter Horse fills the tent up with glorious music, picked from her decades-long back catalogue.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Caitlin Sneddon Technical Producers: Andrew Hay and Fraser Jackson Production Co-ordinator: Lauren Stewart
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  Robert Thorogood, Emma Doran, Tim Foley, Alexis Taylor, Creepy Crawly 13.06.2026 35m

  Cosy crime, Mams and other people's Mam's and the joy of space travel are all explored on this week's Loose Ends. Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood reveals his Aunty Jess, a woman who thought two vegetables of the same colour on a place was "common", inspired his Marlow mysteries ace-investigator Judith Potts. Dublin comedian Emma Doran is heading to Edinburgh Festival, but she's not convinced its anything other than a pyramid scheme. Her tour is called Emmaculate, after the ultimate compliment one Mam would give another Mam in her youth - "your house is immaculate".And award winning playwright Tim Foley talks about his latest play Life Out There, set aboard a drifting space ship full of jobsworth astronauts in the near future. Its going to be staged at Jodrell Bank Observatory - find out what the real scientists make of his ideas.With music from Hot Chip front man Alexis Taylor's new solo album Paris in the Spring and from folk pop act Creepy Crawly aka Rachel Cawley. Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant Producer: Lizzie Foster Technical Producers: John Benton and John Cole Production Co-ordinator: Pete Liggins
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  Nish Kumar, Holly Jackson, Rachel Parris, Haircut 100, Liam Bailey 06.06.2026 36m

  Edith Bowman is joined by best-selling author Holly Jackson, whose Young Adult mystery crime series A Good Girl's Guide to Murder has been adapted into a TV series staring Emma Myers as the straight-laced amateur detective Pip. Comedian Nish Kumar is heading out on a new tour later this year 'Angry Humour from a Really Nice Guy', he joins Edith to tell her what makes him angry, (hopefully whilst being really nice about it). Rachel Parris is also going on tour soon, a musical comedy show called 'The Rachel Parris Songbook'. She talks about her greatest hits and also the new series of her podcast 'The Power of A Book'.And there's music from Haircut 100, back with a new album - their first in 44 years, and Liam Bailey from his new album Shadow TownPresenter: Edith Bowman Producer: Jessica Treen
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  Ben Elton, Sarah Jane Morris & band, Suzi Ruffell, Keith Brymer Jones, Barns Courtney 30.05.2026 36m

  Comedy writer Ben Elton's autobiography What Have I Done? tells the story of a career of comedy firsts, writing hit shows like Blackadder, The Young Ones and Upstart Crow. His love of words is legendary - as a small child his mother wouldn't let him speak til she was on her second cup of tea to braving the "Oxbridge tutorial" vibe of the Blackadder rehearsal room with Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Rowan Atkinson. Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones is a man so mad about pots they can move him to tears. He's now on the road with a tour about his renovation of a Welsh church complete with pigeon poo that took £40,000 to remove. But did you know he puts his remarkable resilience down to his ballet training?Comic Suzi Ruffell is also on the road with her stand up show, dressed correctly - 'shirt, tie and mullet', she says - but she's also written a memoir slash how-to-guide, Am I having fun now?, about winning (and laughing) at life in spite of her deep anxiety about it.And music from Sarah Jane Morris's new album paying tribute to the great women singer songwriters and from Anglo-American rocker Barns Courtney.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant Producer: Sam Nixon Technical Producers: John Cole and Kelly Young
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  Hay Festival, Athena Kugblenu, James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Keith Cameron, Robin Morgan, Georgina Hayden, Cerys Hafna 23.05.2026 37m

  Recorded in front of an audience at this year's Hay Festival, Clive Anderson is joined by comedian Athena Kugblenu, celebrating failure with her second history book for children, History's Most Epic Fails. Comedian Robin Morgan bears all in his latest stand-up hour, Let's Overshare. Food writer Georgina Hayden's new book is Medesque: Everyday Recipes with Mediterranean Roots. Keith Cameron is the author of 168 Songs of Hatred and Failure: A History of the Manic Street Preachers, telling their story song by song. Keith is joined by James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire from the band. And there's more music from Welsh harpist Cerys Hafana.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen
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  Conn Iggulden, Bank of Dave musical, Cally Beaton, Guvna B, Emma Kenny 16.05.2026 35m

  Best-selling historical novelist Conn Iggulden on influencers in the Roman Empire, why Emperor Nero wasn't entirely a baddie and why we have far more in common with ancient Romans than we think. The stand-up comedian Cally Beaton didn't get into comedy until she was in her 40s, but after a chance conversation with Joan Rivers, she left the boardroom for evenings telling funny stories from sticky stages at the back of pubs. She has plenty to say about career swerves.Emma Kenny is best known as a TV parenting guru, but her dark side hustle is true crime tours - more gristle than toddler grizzle - and audiences love it.Also, music from Rob Madge's joyful Bank of Dave Musical and from MOBO winner Guvna B's new album, The Bed I Made.Presented in Salford by Stuart Maconie Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant producer: Sam Nixon Technical producers: John Cole and Helen Williams
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  Ardal O'Hanlon, Ella Risbridger, Kathy Maniura, Jasmine Jethwa, Jim Moray 09.05.2026 36m

  Ardal O'Hanlon's new book 'A Plot to Die For' is the first in a series of crime novels starring Finn O'Leary, the celebrity gardener who comes back to his small home town where it turns out things aren't quite so cosy. Ella Risbridger tells us why the maxim 'never met your heroes' absolutely does not apply to Nigella Lawson and comedian Kathy Maniura skewers a specific kind of male midlfe crisis in her show 'Cycling Man'. Music is from Jasmine Jethwa and Jim Moray.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen
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  Tracy Borman, Phil Wang, Anna Haugh, Pulman and Stilgoe, Finn Forster 02.05.2026 34m

  Its food, glorious food week on Loose Ends as new Masterchef host - the Irish restaurateur and chef Anna Haugh - joins Clive to talk about her chemistry with co-host Grace Dent, kitchen etiquette and the hierarchy of carbohydrates (spuds on top, of course).Potatoes just don't cut it for the comedian Phil Wang, who will always be a noodles-man. He's going on tour but has a number of foodie side hustles, including hosting the Great British Menu and judging "the slurpies" his award for best chinese restaurant at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. And the historian Tracy Borman has a new novel all about the Boleyn family, its seems Tudor real lives were strange enough to seem made up and yes, foods like marchpane and manchet feature alongside the odd turkducken roast.Plus music from singer songwriter Finn Forster (who loves a Middlesborough chicken parmo) and from the golden era of the Hollywood musical from jazz pianist Joe Stilgoe with singer Liza Pulman (popcorn, anyone?).Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Olive Clancy Assistant Producer: Sam Nixon Technical Producers: Gayl Gordon and Giles Aspen
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  Cammy Barnes, Chris Forbes, Edith Bowman, Danielle Jam, Alys Williams, Ant Thomaz 25.04.2026 36m

  Comedian Chris Forbes is better known to many as Duncan AKA the other Murray brother, whose sketches with Judy Murray have tickled the nation. And thankfully they seem to have amused his fictional brothers too. Danielle Jam will be telling us what's the story in Balamory - she's joined the cast in the new series and is the nepobaby of the island, following in her dad's footsteps as village's latest resident inventor Ava Potts.From a sunny summer in London, to life as a Benedictine monk, Andrew Meehan's book Hey Man is all about a lifechanging friendship.The Light House is theatre-maker Alys William's touring play which wraps her experience supporting her suicidal partner in to a tale of love and play. Expect tears, and also a clown nose. Plus music from Cammy Barnes, whose musical career has taken him from bagpiping around world, to the stage of Britain's Got Talent, and sell-out solo shows. And Louisiana-born Ant Thomaz will be performing a track from his new album Gaia named after and inspired by his daughter. Presenter: Edith Bowman Producer: Caitlin Sneddon
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  Alfie Boe, Paul Black, Hannah Lavery, Clive Anderson, Amanda Dwyer, Alice Faye 18.04.2026 36m

  Alfie Boe's album Face Myself is his most personal yet, packed with original songs which let us get to know the man behind the music. He shares one of his new tracks. Comedian Paul Black has become a star of Scottish social media, with his viral videos reminding us that dads on holiday are all much the same no matter where they're from. His tour Cash Cow brings us more of the characters that people have come to love. Hannah Lavery's latest book Everything Everyday is a collection of poems that chart protest, grief and hope through the seasons, from the lament of a mourning whale, to the spark of connection of a message notification. This year's Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award winner was Amanda Dwyer. As a lifelong fan of the Big Yin, this win is propelling her towards her August Fringe run.Plus music from Alice Faye, whose beautiful songwriting has taken her from Waverley Station on Channel 4's The Piano, to recent wins at the Scottish Album of the Year Award and BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Caitlin Sneddon
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  Ralf Little, Nina Gilligan, Sam Riley, Janet Devlin, Will Brown, Kiri Pritchard-McLean 11.04.2026 36m

  Kiri Pritchard-McLean welcomes the actor and writer Ralf Little as he tours the country with the first ever stage adaptation of John le Carré's classic book The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.Comedian Nina Gilligan joins us to talk about her new Radio 4 comedy special and her upcoming stand-up tour, Lemoncake.Actor Sam Riley is about to star in the new BBC romantic crime drama Mint.And we've music from Kansas-born preacher's son Will Brown, and Janet Devlin with her new single, co-written with Jack Savoretti.Presenter: Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Elizabeth Foster
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  Jen Brister, Angelique Kidjo, Giles Terera, Jojo Moyes, Tessa Rose Jackson 04.04.2026 36m

  Clive Anderson is joined by comedian Jen Brister, currentl touring her show 'Reactive', she's on a mission to see if she can chill out. Actor Giles Terera is starring in a new production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest at the Old Vic and best-selling novelist Jojo Moyes' latest book is 'We All Live Here'.Angélique Kidjo is back with her first new album in five years, inspired by her mother, it's called 'HOPE!!'. Tessa Rose Jackson performs from her album The Lighthouse.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen