Best Alex Colgan Podcasts (2025)

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Jenny Colgan, Douglas Maxwell, Zara Gladman, Michael Mullen, James Yorkston, Rachel Newton 35:57

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5d ago35:57

35:57

It's 20 years since Jenny Colgan became a published author and since then her books have been translated across the globe, from Brazil to Bulgaria. Her latest novel is Meet Me at the Seaside Cottages. Playwright Douglas Maxwell is back at the Tron in Glasgow, a theatre that kickstarted his professional career 25 years ago. His one-man show Man’s Be…

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Ore Oduba, Amy Macdonald, Kim Blythe, Tom Newlands, Rose Room 36:30

12d ago36:30

36:30

Ore Oduba switched broadcasting for the stage after his 2016 Strictly win. His latest production is the adaptation of Peter James’ Picture You Dead book which is on tour across the country. Tom Newlands' debut novel Only Here, Only set in a fictional Fife town has received many plaudits in the UK and beyond. It's coming out in paperback later in Ju…

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Adam Buxton, Tanita Tikaram, Jimi Famurewa, Kiran Landa and Honeyglaze 34:41

19d ago34:41

34:41

This week Clive Anderson is talking playing with toys, settling scores and saying goodbyes with OG podcaster Adam Buxton. Tanita Tikaram has finally recorded the follow up to her multi-millions selling 1988 album 'Ancient Heart', called 'LIAR' Jimi Famurewa tells us how you go from stuffing mashed potato in your pocket to appearing on Masterchef. K…

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Patrick Grant, Jason Donovan, Sophie McCartney, The Young'Uns, Mychelle, Stuart Maconie 38:55

26d ago38:55

38:55

Jason Donovan won the hearts of millions alongside Kylie Minogue in the Australian soap Neighbours; then his debut album was the biggest seller of 1989 and he topped the UK singles chart 4 times. In the 1990s he reinvented himself in musical theatre with acclaimed roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla Queen of the Desert …

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Paloma Faith, Mike Bubbins, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Helen Carr, Euros Childs, Kizzy Crawford 36:17

1M ago36:17

36:17

Clive Anderson brings us Loose Ends from the Hay Festival. Joining Clive in front of a Hay audience are singer Paloma Faith who last year released her most personal album 'The Glorification of Sadness'. She also published her first book 'MILF' (no, not that one), a rousing call to arms for women to take up space, based on her experiences in the mus…

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Jess Gillam, Stevie Martin, Georgia Ruth, Emma Jane Unsworth, Ben Aitken, Stuart Maconie 35:29

1M ago35:29

35:29

The comedian and podcaster Stevie Martin is currently battling it out in the latest series of Channel 4’s award winning show Taskmaster - you might have enjoyed her "most snooty possession" which was a portrait of her pet tortoise in military uniform. She'll be here to tell us all about getting "the call" and her favourite games...sorry... tasks. I…

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Gruff Rhys, Phina Oruche, Kate Mossman, Divina De Campo, Joe Kent-Walters 38:45

2M ago38:45

38:45

Joining Stuart Maconie in the Salford studio are the actress Phina Oruche who began her career modelling in America. She's best known for playing Liberty Baker in Footballers Wives. Phina is currently on stage at the Liverpool Everyman in Nathan Powell's new play 'Takeaway', where she stars as Carol, the matriach behind Hyltons Caribbean takeaway. …

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Alex Horne and The Horne Section, Susie Dent, Anoushka Shankar, Kate Wiliams, Callum Scott Howells, Clive Anderson 37:14

2M ago37:14

37:14

Taskmaster star, comic and sitcom actor Alex Horne joins Clive Anderson to talk about season two of his sitcom, to introduce his comedic band The Horne Section and tell us why he's never running out of taskmaster tasks. The lexicographer and broadcaster Susie Dent is now a mystery thriller writer too, she'll be with us to talk about twisty word clu…

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Rachel Joyce, Matilda Mann, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Levison Wood, Maya Delilah, Stuart Maconie 36:34

2M ago36:34

36:34

Rachel Joyce’s debut novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was a bestseller in 30 languages, became a much-loved film with Jim Broadbent and is about to become a stage musical. She's also got a new novel, a sun-soaked family drama called The Homemade God which has already been hailed by one critic as "the perfect holiday read". Levison Wood h…

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Kieran Hodgson, Julie Lin, Lewis Gribben, Selali Fiamanya, Skerryvore, Mike McKenzie 35:16

2M ago35:16

35:16

Clive Anderson will be joined by comedian and star of Two Doors Down Kieran Hodgson ahead of his upcoming show Voice Of America. Chef Julie Lin's cookery book Sama Sama celebrates all parts of her Malaysian, Chinese and Scottish identity and mixes tradition with innovation. Lewis Gribben stars in the new series of Charlie Brooker's multi award-winn…

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Karen Dunbar, Mollie Hughes, Rosco McClelland, Kirsty MacLaren, NATI., Lewis McLaughlin 34:13

2M ago34:13

34:13

Stuart Maconie will be joined by comedian Karen Dunbar, star of sketch comedy show Chewin’ The Fat, ahead of her nationwide tour. Restless Natives: The Musical is the new stage adaptation of the Scottish cult classic. Actor Kirsty MacLaren stars in the show which brings some of Big Country's greatest hits to life. Rosco McClelland celebrates his re…

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Billy Porter, Deborah Frances White, Anna Chancellor, Lapsley, Anthony Joseph 34:50

3M ago34:50

34:50

Joining Clive Anderson in the Loose Ends studio are the Emmy award-winning actor Billy Porter, currently hanging out in the Kit-Kat club where he is starring as Emcee. Comedian and 'Guilty Feminist' podcaster Deborah Frances White has just published a new book 'Six Conversations We're Scared to Have', about how to ask difficult questions and change…

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Michael Rosen, Barbara Flynn, Dylan Jones, Kemah Bob, Grace Petrie, Brad Kella, Stuart Maconie 35:46

3M ago35:46

35:46

Loose Ends this week is all about finding the light. Poet, performer and broadcaster Michael Rosen is touring a one man show making sense of some of the darker moments of his life. Dylan Jones was the editor of era-defining magazines like i-D, Arena and British GQ in the 1990s and noughties. Now his memoir, These Foolish Things - tells how he left …

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Bridget Christie, Adam Frost, Louise Young, Richard Dawson, Abel Selaocoe 33:25

3M ago33:25

33:25

Clive Anderson's guests in Salford include Bridget Christie who returns with series two of The Change. Gardener's World expert Adam Frost who is on the road with his 'Lessons from the Garden' tour and up and coming stand up Louise Young. Music is from Richard Dawson who has just released a new album 'End of the Middle' and cellist and singer Abel S…

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Declan Lawn, Naoise Dolan, John Meagher, Emer Maguire, Ryan McMullan, Chubby Cat 36:42

3M ago36:42

36:42

Stuart Maconie and guests come together with mighty laughs, big stories, and altogether good craic from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Declan Lawn is a screenwriter of multiple TV series alongside his creative partner Adam Patterson, including the successful Blue Lights as well as the BBC miniseries The Salisbury Poisonings. Series three of Blue Lights…

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Michael Ball; Hollie McNish; Pearl Mackie; Sam Lee; Pierre Novellie; Clive Anderson 34:44

4M ago34:44

34:44

Clive hosts Loose Ends with an audience in London this week with a set of guests with a serious work ethic and willingness to try new things in the name of entertainment. The chart topping superstar and award winning actor Michael Ball is now also a best selling novelist. Can life backstage really be as chaotic as this page-turner set in theatrelan…

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Dave Gorman, Angela Barnes, Simon Barnes, HotWax, Ni Maxine 34:24

4M ago34:24

34:24

Stuart Maconie is looking on the bright side this week with Dave Gorman who thinks that 'Modern Life is Goodish'. In the latest installment of his TV series, Dave Gorman is back with his trusty powerpoint as he falls down rabbit holes but always with a smile on his face -ish. And just to balance out all that positivity we've got natural worrier Ang…

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Stewart Lee, Barb Jungr, Philippa Dunne, Biig Piig, Aysha Kala 35:36

4M ago35:36

35:36

Stuart Maconie is joined by the 41st best stand up ever to talk about his new tour 'Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf', and by Philippa Dunne who plays Anne in the school gates sitcom 'Motherland'. Anne is back in the spinoff series 'Amandaland', focusing on Anne's glamorous best friend Amanda. Aysha Kala tells us how she nailed the accent to play Saima …

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Hue and Cry, Larry Dean, Kirsty Logan, Jack Docherty, Su-a Lee 35:03

4M ago35:03

35:03

Jack Docherty has entertained audiences in eight series of BBC Scotland’s mockumentary police show Scot Squad, as Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson. He returns to our screens in new spin-off The Chief. Writer Kirsty Logan has written on witches, mermaids, and motherhood. Her latest collection of dark tales of love and desire is No & Other Love S…

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Kevin Clifton, Liz Lochhead, The Hebridean Baker, Wild Rose, Mama Terra 34:29

5M ago34:29

34:29

Kevin Clifton entertained the nation for years on Strictly, now he can often be found treading the boards instead – and is currently starring in Chicago as it tours the country. Poet and former Scots Makar Liz Lochhead talks about her collection of poems A Handsel ahead of her appearance at the Winter Words Festival in Pitlochry. Coinneach MacLeod,…

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Mhairi Black, Gordon Buchanan, EMEL, Cal MacAninch, Michael Pedersen, LÉDA 34:35

5M ago34:35

34:35

Natural history presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan’s new book In The Hide is a look back at some of his greatest adventures across the world, from Mumbai to Mongolia. In 2015 Mhairi Black became the youngest MP elected to the House of Commons since the 1800s. After stepping down at the 2024 General Election, she turned her mind to her tell-all…

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Susie McCabe, Peat and Diesel, Carina Contini, Meredith Brook, Paul Malgrati 35:50

5M ago35:50

35:50

Clive Anderson celebrates Scotland’s Bard with a special Loose Ends Burns Supper. Comedian Susie McCabe is back with her new show Best Behaviour. The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award-winner and host of the smash-hit podcast Here Comes The Guillotine is headed for Glasgow Comedy Festival. Meredith Brook stars in new BBC ALBA drama An t-Eilean …

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Deacon Blue, Paul McKenna, Rachel Sermanni, Julie Wilson Nimmo, Jon Muq 35:28

5M ago35:28

35:28

This year the Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue celebrates 40 years together. Not only is the band going strong – so is the marriage bringing together its lead vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh. They both join Nihal Arthanayake to reflect on four decades of music-making. Paul McKenna’s career has taken him from radio DJ to stage hypnotist…

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Joanne Harris, Richard Blackwood, Dr Rangan Chatterjee, Nina Gilligan, Clive Anderson, The Deep Blue, John Bramwell 35:47

6M ago35:47

35:47

Loose Ends is in Hebden Bridge this week, a town made famous by the BBC drama Happy Valley, but you might also recognise the place and its glorious scenery from Last Tango in Halifax, Gentleman Jack or The Gallow's Pole. Clive will talk to local resident and bestselling novelist Joanne Harris, maybe best known for Chocolat which was adapted into an…

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Owen and John talking about biscuits and old movies 52:34

6M ago52:34

52:34

Another portion of waffle, hope you enjoyBy Owen Colgan

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Owen and Adam talk about life in Mayo 41:46

6M ago41:46

41:46

Shootin the breeze on this one.By Owen Colgan

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Blossoms, Rowetta, Graham Fellows and Miranda Sawyer 32:05

6M ago32:05

32:05

Loose Ends is kicking off the year with a special recording at the Salford Lad's Club. If your New Year's resolution is to listen to music we've got you covered as Stuart Maconie will be joined by Stockport's finest, Blossoms, performing songs from their fourth UK number one album 'Gary'. We also have the powerhouse vocals of Rowetta, who will also…

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Wayne Sleep, Ben Miller, Rosalind Eleazar, Lou Conran, The Lottery Winners, Stuart Maconie 36:07

6M ago36:07

36:07

Wayne Sleep, Ben Miller, Rosalind Eleazar and Lou Conran join Stuart Maconie for this week's Loose Ends, with music from The Lottery Winners. Dance icon Wayne Sleep waltzes in to tell us stories of his life - all detailed in his new autobiography, Just Different. Tales of his friendships with Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, David Hockney and fello…

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Toyah Willcox, Adam Riches, John Kearns, Grace Dent, 30 years of Stay Another Day, Georgia Cecile, Clive Anderson 34:32

6M ago34:32

34:32

It's a glorious fusion of nostalgia, tinsel and song this week in a show recorded with an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre. Clive talks to punk princess Toyah Willcox about her Xmas Party tour with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and a blistering year that's seen her perform at Glastonbury, take part in Strictly Come Dancing and join the cast …

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Richard Hawley, Cariad Lloyd, Tim Clare, Seema Pankhania 36:41

6M ago36:41

36:41

Stuart Maconie is joined in the Salford studio by Sheffield's finest, Richard Hawley, playing tracks from his latest album 'In This City They Call You Love', and by comedian and podcaster Cariad Lloyd on her Christmas book for children, The Christmas Wish-tastrophe. Seema Pankhania is on a quest to cook the national dish from every country around t…

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Jenny Eclair; Idlewild's Roddy Woomble; Lou Sanders; Nikki Amuka-Bird; Ferdia Lennon; Clive Anderson 36:38

7M ago36:38

36:38

Loose Ends this week is a masterclass in the many ways human beings find to laugh: the writer and comic Jenny Eclair started her career as a punk performance poet, who created her stage name to chime with the band she joined - Cathy le Creme and the Rumbabas. But as we learn in her new memoir, she knew as a small child called Jenny Hargreaves that …

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Charles Spencer, Romy Gill, Ben Hardy, Sarah Mills, New Starts, Clive Anderson 35:43

7M ago35:43

35:43

Author and historian Charles Spencer has written many books including The White Ship, To Catch A King and A Very Private School, and now finds himself down a Rabbit Hole – along with his fellow trivia hunters Cat Jarman and Richard Coles - in their podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives. Digging into the past and uncovering weird and wonderful stories,…

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Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Louise Minchin, Robert Macfarlane, Chris Cantrill, Melanie Baker, Stuart Maconie, Olivia Fern 34:25

7M ago34:25

34:25

Loose Ends embraces the great outdoors this week at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Stuart talks to festival patron and bestselling writer Robert Macfarlane about his "mountain DNA" and unusual walking snack. Broadcaster and writer Louise Minchin loves a mountain too. Having put aside the extreme working practice of rising at 3am for Breakfast TV she…

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Shazad Latif, Laurie Anderson, Michael Cumming, Sooz Kempner, Trust Fund, Ellen Beth Abdi 36:43

7M ago36:43

36:43

Clive Anderson is joined by actor Shazad Latif, who stars as Nemo in 'Nautilus', a new ten part TV series based on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Latif's TV credits include Spooks, The Pursuit of Love and Toast of London, where he played the fan favourite Clem Fandango. And he's also joined by Michael Cumming, who directed Latif in thr…

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John Bishop; Lucy Shepherd; Adrian Chiles; Grace Campbell; Stuart Maconie; Ron Sexsmith; Seckou Keita 38:03

8M ago38:03

38:03

The comedian and actor John Bishop is about to head off on a tour celebrating 25 years in stand up - a quarter century since he took to the stage on a whim and ended up one of the UK's favourite stars. The explorer Lucy Shepherd is more likely to be found fighting off venomous spiders than hecklers. For her latest TV series she's embarked on a neve…

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Michael Palin, Jessica Raine, Susan Wokoma, The WAEVE, Ashley Henry 35:19

8M ago35:19

35:19

Monty Python star and king of the travel documentary Michael Palin has just published the fourth volume of his best-selling diaries. In 'There and Back' he covers the years 1999-2009. He joins Clive to talk about how the 21st Century has treated him. The actor and Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine is soon to return to our screens in the second se…

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Harriet Walter, John Douglas Thompson, Robert Popper, Jessica Hepburn, Emily Burns, Wes Finch 35:25

8M ago35:25

35:25

Loose Ends is at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and Stuart Maconie is joined by Harriet Walter, who has played many roles at the RSC in Stratford and has just published 'She Speaks!', a book imagining what Shakespeare's women might have said if they'd been given half a chance. John Douglas Thompson is one of America's finest classical ac…

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Bill Bailey, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Amanda Owen, Katherine Priddy & Richard Walters, Maya Sondhi, Stuart Maconie 34:40

8M ago34:40

34:40

Stuart is joined in the Loose Ends Salford Studio by comedian, musican, actor and Strictly winner Bill Bailey. His new book is 'My Animals, and Other Animals: A memoir of sorts'. It's the story of his life through the creatures who have meant something to him, and a celebration of how animals bring us joy. The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, ta…

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Pam Ayres, Dawn O'Porter, Dee C Lee, Poppy O'Toole, Ahir Shah, Clive Anderson 36:10

9M ago36:10

36:10

The poet Pam Ayres, author of Oh, I wish I'd looked after Me Teeth - which was voted one of the UK's top ten comic verses - joins Clive to discuss almost half a century of writing and a new volume of her collected works - Doggedly Onwards. Dawn O'Porter was once the journalist behind documentaries on topics from extreme dieting to poligamy and even…

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Tim Smit, Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle, Angeline Morrison 33:53

9M ago33:53

33:53

Stuart Maconie presents Loose Ends from the North Cornwall Book Festival in St Endellion. He is joined by Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle and Tim Smit, and there's music from the multi-instrumentalist Angeline Morrison. Patrick Gale is the author of the Emmy award-winning BBC drama Man in an Orange Shirt and novels including A Place Called Win…

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Nihal Arthanayke, Henry Normal, Donna Ashworth, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Mike Harding, The Lovely Eggs 34:49

9M ago34:49

34:49

Nihal Arthanayake presents Loose Ends from the third annual Morecambe Poetry Festival. He's joined by Henry Normal. Henry is a writer, poet, TV and film producer who has been involved with many of our most loved comedies, such as The Mrs Merton Show, The Royal Family, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge. He's a prolific poet, and his latest collect…

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Richard Armitage, Rianne Downey, Chris Brookmyre, Dr Marisa Haetzman, Suzy Aspley, Chloe Matharu 35:58

9M ago35:58

35:58

From Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. Richard Armitage’s CV is already packed with roles, including a string of stellar acting credits in the likes of The Hobbit, North and South, Robin Hood, and Spooks. Now he’s added author to the list with his debut novel Geneva. Ambrose Parry is not one writer but two – it's the penname of in…

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Sir Ian Rankin, Michelle McManus, Kim Carnie, Shane Todd, Len Pennie, Luke La Volpe 36:13

10M ago36:13

36:13

Sir Ian Rankin’s much-loved detective Rebus has had a big year, with a fresh BBC TV adaptation in the summer, and now a return to the stage. Clive Anderson hears about new play Rebus: A Game Called Malice which was written by Sir Ian and Simon Reade, it's touring the UK. Michelle McManus chats to poet and women’s rights advocate Len Pennie who rose…

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Elaine C Smith, Nathan Carter, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Becky Sikasa, Claire Love Wilson 36:38

10M ago36:38

36:38

Elaine C. Smith has delighted audiences for decades, including work on TV shows like BBC Scotland’s Two Doors Down. In her latest project she joins the touring cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and takes on a character that used to terrify her - The Childcatcher. Claire Love Wilson is a Scottish-Canadian theatre-maker, actor, and singer-songwriter wh…

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Owen's Oddyssey: Ep 14 - Owen and John go halves on a conversation. 1:00:05

10M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Hello. Sorry about the slowness with the uploads- I was learning Irish in Waterford #Flashbackstothewar It was a great experience agus is maith liom sneachta!! This podcast is with the man-made powerhouse of Sligo John Colleary or as his friends call him - Mr.Call Early as he likes to rise early from bed. But anyway, how are you?…

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Su Pollard, Michelle McManus, Camille O'Sullivan, Chris Grace, Catherine Cohen, Sinéad Gleeson 35:11

10M ago35:11

35:11

Actress and singer Su Pollard’s new tour Still Fully Charged celebrates her 50 years in showbiz – she catches up with Michelle McManus about what keeps her hooked, and being beaten by a dog in a talent competition. Clive Anderson chats to comedian and actor Chris Grace. He’s returned to Edinburgh after his sold-out 2023 run, this time with a packed…

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Jason Byrne, Marjolein Robertson, David Ireland, Isabella Nefar, Catriona Price, Two Hearts 33:23

10M ago33:23

33:23

Clive Anderson is joined by comedian Jason Byrne who returns to Edinburgh for his 28th consecutive Fringe with No Show, a performance that will be totally new each night. Playwright and actor David Ireland’s award-winning plays Cyprus Avenue and Ulster American have had success across the world. His latest play The Fifth Step stars Jack Lowden and …

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Bobby Davro, Michelle McManus, Lara Ricote, Hamish Hawk, Virginia Gay, A Giant on the Bridge 35:17

11M ago35:17

35:17

From the Edinburgh Festivals, Clive Anderson and Michelle McManus talk to actor, comedian and family favourite Bobby Davro about his beginnings in TV entertainment, his acting journey and finding comedy through tough times – something he explores in his show Everything is Funny...If You Can Laugh at It. Lara Ricote, a former winner of the Edinburgh…

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Ewan Mitchell, Jon Holmes, Julia Fordham and Kym Marsh. 36:05

11M ago36:05

36:05

This week Stuart is joined by Jon Holmes who's producing a new play at the Edinburgh Festival - which explores what happens when the camera moves on from a relationship forged on a Love Island-style reality show. And there are definitely some strained relationships in the second series of House of the Dragon - but they're more the kind that result …

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Owen's Oddyssey: Ep 13 - Alex Ferguson is the hardest man alive! 27:32

11M ago27:32

27:32

Alex Ferguson is the hardest man alive, I also talk about other random stuff too. Sorry I was away last week but I'm back again now and not going anywhere for a long while. Some great guests coming on soon too. Thanks for listening. Hope all is well.By Owen Colgan