BIG SWISS by Jen Beagin, chosen by Nussaibah YounisA HEART SO WHITE by Javier Marías, chosen by Josh CohenTHE END OF EDDY by Edouard Louis, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Big Swiss is a 29-year-old gynecologist who has never had an orgasm. Greta Work is an audio transcriber for a sex therapist who is infatuated by one of his clients. After an encounter…

Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London and President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. She has devoted her career to harnessing the potential of nanoparticles – which are less than a thousandth of the width of a human hair - to take medicines to hard-to-reach areas of the bod…

Canadian Rock: We Stand on Guard for Thee Since the beginning, Canadians have known how to rock. It's in their cold blood. From Paul Anka to the present day, there is so much to celebrate. Dr Clarke and Ferris Kennedy put it all in perspective. We discuss the bands, the people, and the hits. Do yourself a huge favor and listen in.…

AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST by Iain Pears, chosen by Peter KosminskyHEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING by Will Arbery, chosen by Jack ThornePERFECTION by Vincenzo Latronico, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Thorne and Kosminsky are great friends, but don't fully agree on the books discussed. Topics raised by their choices include toxic masculinity, empathy, …

Actor Danny Dyer became a household name when he joined the cast of EastEnders as Mick Carter, landlord of the Queen Victoria pub. He recently stole the show from some stiff competition playing Freddie Jones in the television adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s novel Rivals which won him a Royal Television Society Award for Best Supporting Actor. Danny wa…

Even now, almost 50 years after his death, you can still see Sid's Kids. The hair. The boots. T-shirts, chains and 'The Attitude'. Sex Pistol Sid Vicious was hugely influential within his very brief career and his very brief life. Dr. Clarke explores what happened, how it happened, and the inevitable results. Tune in as he explores the strange life…

Jack Thorne, screenwriter and playwright, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would want with him if cast away on a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.By BBC Radio 4

Sue Lawley talks to the actor Dame Joan Plowright in a programme first broadcast in 2006. Dame Joan died in January at the age of 95.By BBC Radio 4

For over 50 years, AC/DC has maintained a remarkably stable lineup, with little to no internal drama or conflict. However, the departure of a lead singer, such as the passing of Bon Scott and the replacement by Brian Johnson, can significantly impact the band's dynamic. Music journalist Kennedy explores this unique dynamic shift and how it has ulti…

Kirsty Young interviews writer Colm Toibin in a programme first heard in 2016.By BBC Radio 4

The state of radio airplay is puzzling. Are stations contractually constrained, or simply playing it safe with the same 18-song rotation hour after hour? What happened to the deep cuts and lesser-known album tracks that used to surface when listeners dug through crates of vinyl? Radio analyst Kennedy examines this evolving landscape and shares his …

So Much Good Music, So Little Time. On Kennedy's Corner, T-Bone Terry guest hosts a discussion about the wealth of great heavy metal music and the bands that deserve induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.By Paolo Pettofrezza

Lindsey Hilsum is a multi-award-winning journalist who has been a foreign correspondent for the past four decades. She has been Channel 4’s international editor for the past 22 years and has reported on every continent except Antarctica. After studying French and Spanish at University, she worked as an aid worker in Mexico and Kenya before becoming…

So Much Music, So Little Time. In an exclusive one-on-one interview, Serious Rock Talk's Kennedy sits down with T-Bone Terry, the lead singer of the rock band Ranamers. Delve into T-Bone's journey, from his early days in the rock and metal music scene to his acclaimed career with his former band, Eudoxis.…

Donna Ockenden is a former clinical midwife who led the Ockenden Review which revealed, at the time, the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history. Published in 2022, the review highlighted serious failings in maternity care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which contributed to the deaths of more than 200 babies and nine mothers. Don…

The Tale of Phil Spector: Violence Covered in Sugar and Candy Brilliant and abusive. Cruel and kind. A genius, A murderer. Music producer Phil Spector functioned on many levels, one of which led him down a very dark, sinister path. Dr. Clarke helps to illuminate the man's career, talent, demons and the terrible act that sent him to prison. #philspe…

Professor Carl Jones is a conservation biologist who is best known for saving the Mauritius kestrel from extinction. He is the scientific director of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, chief scientist at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and an honorary professor in ecology and conservation biology at the University of East Anglia. He was born in Car…

Cyndi Lauper is a multi-award winning singer and songwriter. She has sold more than fifty million records, won an Emmy for acting and her musical Kinky Boots earned her a Tony and an Oliver award. Born in 1953, Cyndi grew up in a blue collar neighbourhood in New York. Her mother loved music and art and took her children to free exhibitions in New Y…

Jimi Hendrix: What Happened on September 18, 1970? Few rock personalities command as much recognition and respect as Jimi Hendrix. But popularity breeds conspiracies—and the death of Jim Hendrix is shrouded in confusion, distortion and deceit. Join Dr. Ian Clarke as he examines the evidence and opinions, identifying the bogus, condemning the crimin…

Douglas Stuart author of Booker Prize winning novel Shuggie Bain chooses his favourite book - Train Dreams by Denis Johnson - a short novel encapsulating the history of America in the early 20th century through the life of a lonely man in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.He's joined by Radio 1 and The Voice Wales presenter Sian Eleri whose choi…

William Boyd is the author of eighteen novels, five short story collections and numerous screenplays. His first published novel, A Good Man in Africa, was inspired by his childhood in West Africa. He is well known for writing ‘whole life’ novels including Any Human Heart which he adapted as a BAFTA-winning television series. He was born in Accra in…

The death of rocker Bobby Fuller is an enduring riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Who did it? Why? Where? And when? Everything was going Bobby's way. He was set to explode into international stardom. But suddenly out of nowhere... Listen in as Dr. Clarke leads you down a dark, winding path to arrive at one of rock's most bizarre deaths.…

EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave, chosen by Lucy SpeedTHE HUMAN FACTOR by Graham Greene, chosen by Harriett Gilbert253 by Geoff Ryman, chosen by Sarah Mills Former Eastenders and present-day Archers actor Lucy Speed and comedian Sarah Mills talk about books set in wartime London, a 1990s underground train, and Graham Greene's MI6. Lucy's …

Sir Jony Ive is a designer who is best known for his pioneering work at Apple alongside his friend and colleague, the late Steve Jobs. Jony’s creative vision is behind some of the company’s seminal products which have transformed the way we live today including phones, music players and watches. He was born in Chingford in east London and loved dra…

Actor Nina Sosanya and prize winning poet and writer Joelle Taylor talk favourite books with Harriett. Nina chooses Sally Jones and the False Rose by Jakob Wegelius, a children's novel with a mute gorilla engineer as its protagonist. The book appeals to Nina's love of engineering, and the city of Glasgow! Joelle nominates Booker Prize winning The S…

Wilhelmina – Mina – Smallman is an activist who campaigns for the safety of women and girls and police reform. She is a former teacher and priest who was the first woman of colour to be an archdeacon in the Church of England. In 2020 her daughters Bibaa and Nicole were murdered as they celebrated Bibaa’s 46th birthday in Fryent Country Park. It lat…

Rock Stars of Italian Descent. Who Knew? Be prepared for an explosion of surprises. In this episode, Ferris Kennedy—he of Italian background—takes great delight in confusing Dr. Clarke by listing the many rock musicians of Italian descent—people you have no idea had roots in Il Bel Paese!. This is a special chance to be entertained by pretty cool i…

MOON TIGER by Penelope Lively, chosen by Sara CollinsNUMBER GO UP: INSIDE CRYPTO'S WILD RISE AND STAGGERING FALL by Zeke Faux, chosen by Oliver BurkemanLORD JIM AT HOME by Dinah Brooke, chosen by Harriett Gilbert "I'm writing a history of the world" - so begins the choice of novelist and broadcaster Sara Collins: Penelope Lively's Booker Prize-winn…

Stephen Mangan is an award winning actor who is also a presenter and writer. His prolific career includes comedic roles in TV hits Green Wing; Episodes and Adrian Mole. He also plays the much loved Nathan in BBC drama The Split and has appeared in many award winning theatre productions in the UK and on Broadway. Born in London to Irish immigrant pa…

What Happened to The Beatles after They Broke Up? The Beatles' career is well known. But what happened to the lovable mop tops after the best rock band in the world broke up? Kennedy and Clarke have you covered. The post-Beatle careers of John, Paul, George, and yes, even Ringo, are discussed, condemned, and celebrated.…

WHEN WE CEASE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD by Benjamin Labatut (translated by Adrian Nathan West), chosen by Ted Hodgkinson ENTER GHOST by Isabella Hammad, chosen by Inua EllamsGHOSTING: A DOUBLE LIFE by Jennie Erdal, chosen by Harriett Gilbert As Head of Literature and Spoken Word-programming at the Southbank Centre in London, writers and writing are a…

Nemone Lethbridge is a barrister who was called to the bar in 1956. One of very few female barristers working at the time, she encountered misogyny and was one of the trailblazers for women working in the legal profession who followed behind her.At her first Chambers, she wasn’t allowed to share a toilet with her male colleagues and had to use the …

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, chosen by Julia BradburyA Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, chosen by Ramita NavaiAn Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim, chosen by presenter Harriett Gilbert TV presenter, author and walking enthusiast Julia Bradbury recommends a fiction book by Matt Haig, How to Stop Time, which brings to life the idea of living f…

Nick Cave is a singer and writer who, with his band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, has released emotionally intense and provocative music since the mid-Eighties. He is also a novelist, composer and has written film scripts and soundtracks along with his writing partner and Bad Seed Warren Ellis. Nick grew up in Wangaratta, Australia the third of four…

The Men that Made Nirvana Successful We know that you like/love Nirvana. That means you're interested in behind-the-scenes revelations about exactly who helped them along. Which band mates left, and who remained to ascend the stairs to rock stardom? Ferris Kennedy is jacked as he kicks it with a discussion of a great band with eternal vibes.…

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, translated by John E. Woods, chosen by Iszi LawrenceTwo Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles, chosen by Joe DunthorneOh William! by Elizabeth Strout, chosen by presenter Harriett Gilbert Historical fiction author and broadcaster Iszi Lawrence adores the sensational novel Perfume, and has done since she …

Harriet Wistrich is one of the country’s most prominent human rights lawyers. In 2016 she founded the Centre for Women’s Justice and over the course of her career, she has won landmark victories in very difficult legal cases. She has helped women imprisoned after killing their abusers regain their freedom. She’s also represented women seeking justi…

Foo Fighters: What's Next? Hey, the Foos have been through a lot. And they're still around—still selling out stadiums, still bringing garage rock to the masses. But what's next? Ferris Kennedy amps it up as he plots a path for Dave Grohl and the boys. You don't want to miss this inaugural episode of Kennedy's Corner.…

Books featured: True Grit by Charles PortisSorrow and Bliss by Meg MasonMoominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson Nicci Gerrard and Sean French write collectively as Nicci French. They not only write together, they're also a married couple and they love to read. Sean chooses True Grit by Charles Portis, better known for the film versions with John Wayne…

Laurie Anderson is an artist and performer who came to fame in the UK with her 1981 hit O Superman. Her work spans music, film and multimedia projects which interrogate our relationship with technology and tell stories about the world we live in. She was born in Chicago in 1947, the second-oldest of eight children, and started learning the violin w…

Mark-Anthony Turnage is a composer of contemporary classical music. Once called “Britain’s hippest composer”, he has been in a rock band, got drunk with Francis Bacon, and tackled anything from drug abuse to football in his works.Mark was born in June 1960 in the Thames estuary town of Corringham in Essex. His musical talent was nurtured by his par…

Sam Cooke: Motel Money Murder Madness Much has been written about the strange circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Sam Cooke, one of the greatest soul and pop singers/composers of the early 1960s. In this episode, Dr Clarke discusses conspiracies and carefully evaluates the circumstances which led to Cooke's murder in a $3-dollar-a-night m…

Marianela Núñez is a Principal dancer of the Royal Ballet and Opera. Born in Argentina in 1982, Marianela knew she wanted to be a ballet dancer from the age of five and joined the Teatro Colón Ballet School in Buenos Aires when she was eight. She dedicated herself to becoming a professional ballerina and had the full support of her parents despite …

Is Rock Music Soon to be Extinct? Classic bands are aging. Radio is dying. New music formats are flourishing. Has rock music really strummed its last chord? In this episode we review the tell-tale facts, consider the trends, and deliver entertaining, persuasive conclusions that will just about make your day!…

Gareth Southgate OBE is the most successful England men’s football manger in the modern game. He holds the record as the man who has represented England in more games than anyone else, with 102 games as men's senior team manager, 57 caps as a player and 37 as men's under-21 head coach, leading to a total of 196 games in which he has been involved a…

Cher has been a global star for over six decades. Her career has spanned music, television and film and throughout that time her outfits have made flamboyant fashion statements. She was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California and had a peripatetic childhood. Her mother married six times and with each new husband the family moved house. In …

Are Rock Lists Goofy or Great? Listeners of Serious Rock Talk know our mixed emotions about 'Greatest Songs/Bands/Guitarists/Singers/Etc.' lists. In this episode, we make a temporary truce with those that perpetuate lists (Rolling Stone Mag et. al.) and we come out the other end with a lot of laughs. Listen up and enjoy original insights and random…

Former cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent is the first Black woman to play for England and she was part of the team which won the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2009. Today she is a broadcaster and cricket commentator for Channel 4, Sky Sports and the BBC’s Test Match Special. Ebony was born in south London and as a child it was football that caught her …

New Year's Eve Show 2024 2024 was an amazing year for rock—and dare we say an outstanding year for the Serious Rock Talk Podcast. We thank you all for lending us an ear, sending emails, and making suggestions. Listen in as Dr. Clarke, Steven Wheeler, and Ferris Kennedy sum it all up for you. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. 2025—here we come!…

Mark Steel is a writer, comedian and radio presenter. His performing career began as a poet in the alternative comedy scene in the early eighties at the Comedy Store. A regular presenter on Radio 4, he began his award winning series, Mark Steel’s in Town in 2009. Alongside his performing career, he’s been a regular newspaper columnist writing for t…