The Author Archive Podcast

Sir Ranulph Fiennes - The Secret Hunters

Sir Ranulph Fiennes met David Freeman when his book 'The Secret Hunters' was published in 2001.

The book tells the story of a diary that was found in a shelter in Antarctica in 1997. This opens the door to a world of deprivation, war, survival and revenge.

It's a gripping page-turning read, but is it fiction?

Anthony Holden - Shakespeare

David Freeman met Anthony Holden around the turn of the century to discuss Anthony's biography of William Shakespeare and was surprised to learn that there was so much biographical material available.

Carol Drinkwater - The Olive Farm

Carol Drinkwater came to prominence playing the wife of James Herriot in the first TV version of All Creatures Great and Small.

Now she is probably better known for living life on an olive farm in southern France.

She told David Freeman the story when The Olive Farm was first published.

Joseph Kanon - The Good German

This conversation with the American author Joseph Kanon took place in London when the novel The Good German was published.

The backdrop to the story is World War II.

In 2001such a war seemed a far distant nightmare that could never happen again. Surely it really could never happen because everyone knows how unthinkably bad it is.

But it is happening. As Joseph says in this conversation  .... who are the people who are inflicting these outrages? Do their mothers know what they are doing? Who could possibly think such outrages are justifiable?

Tony Hawks - One Hit Wonderland

In the summer of 2002 David Freeman talked to Tony Hawks about the challenge he had been given to have a hit record somewhere.

It's a remarkable, entertaining and almost unbelievable story. He reveals how he rose to the challenge and became a chart star in Albania with the help of Norman Wisdom. Simon Cowell gets a mention too.

John Simpson BBC World Affairs Editor

David Freeman met John Simpson when his book 'A Mad World, My Masters' was first published.

The conversation ranged from Robert Maxwell, father of Ghislaine , to Idi Amin, Colonel Gaddafi and the International Red Cross. It was wide ranging and hugely entertaining.

Edwina Currie

Edwina Currie was a Tory MP from 1983 to 1997.

She became Junior Health Minister for 2 years and famously had an affair with John Major, who became Prime Minister, that lasted 4 years.

David Freeman met her when her novel This Honourable House was first published. Prior to this, and her second marriage she had written Chasing Men.

In this conversation, she talks about her life and her books, but also revealingly about the Tory party that she used to be a part of. Times change??

David E. Hoffman - The Oligarchs

This conversation between the American journalist David E.Hoffman and David Freeman took place in London in 2002.

David Hoffman had been Moscow Bureau Chief for the Washington Post. Prior to this he has studied Russian at Oxford University and found himself fascinated by the rise of what was then a new force in Russia, the Oligarchs.

Clive James

Clive James died in 2019 after a long illness.

This conversation with David Freeman was recorded in 2001 when Clive was excited by the internet and somewhat fearful of the way public service broadcasting was heading.

Listening to Clive James now it is clear that he had a very good grasp on what could happen in many spheres of life - and he really didn't approve.

Paul Jones

Paul Jones talks to David Freeman about his life in music with Manfred Mann and The Blues Band.

At the time the conversation was recorded The Blues Band had announced they were retiring and Paul told David how he felt about the decision.