Episodes
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Robin Eggar - biography of Tom Jones
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
This conversation was recorded in 2000 when Robin Eggar's biography of Tom Jones was first published.
At this time Tom's wife, Linda, was still alive and Tom himself was a mere 60 years old.
It emerges from this interview that the man born Thomas Woodward was driven by two passions. What they are is revealed in this Author Archive episode.
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Nina Simone
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Nina Simone was born on February 21st 1933'
There has been news recently of a plan to buy Nina Simone's childhood home in Tryon North Carolina and make it into a museum celebrating the life and work of the girl who was born Eunice Waymon.
I interviewed Nina in December 1998 just before her last ever show at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
She was talking to me for a programme on the radio station Jazz fm, which would promote the concert.
Nina had a reputation for being a tricky interviewee but on the day she was delightful and during the conversation she was eager to give her views on sexism, racism and feminism.
After the interview I was asked to introduce Nina on stage at the Albert Hall. It was a memorable day.
Friday Feb 16, 2024
Friday Feb 16, 2024
Once again Meghan and Harry are juggling with their identities.
They are clearly wanting to be royal having given up being 'royal'. If you decide to walk away from your royal identity just what are you left with?
This book,'Traitor King', tells the story of an inglorious royal. It is a shocking example of what happens when inherited status is randomly given to a person who is clearly not up to the task. The book is the basis of the Channel 4 programme that shed light on the whole episode.
As well as telling the historical story Andrew Lownie discusses the lessons that can be learned by the present Royal Family. Maybe food for thought for Andrew as well as Harry and Meghan.
Andrew Lownie is currently working on a biography of Price Andrew. Because of the rules surrounding the royals he is finding it impossible to access some of the documents he requires to write a substantial comprehensive book.
I'm looking forward to talking to Andrew about it.
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Lisa St Aubin De Teran - Memory Maps
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Lisa has written a new memoir 'Better Broken Than New'
She has ploughed this furrow before and I interviewed her when 'Memory Maps' was published.
Lisa has lived life to the full.
She is a very beguiling woman and many men have fallen for her charms and married her.
On the day I interviewed her she was in the mood for remembering her life and loves in wonderful detail.
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Jon Ronson : Them
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Jon Ronson was not so well known when this conversation was recorded in the early 2000s
I was very taken with the subject of the book and the way Jon talked about it.
Being a Jewish journalist getting involved with people money raising for Hamas seemed improbable. It's true of course, as was Jon's interest in the wilder fancies of David Icke.
'Them' is a terrific read.
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
Maeve Binchy - Scarlet Feather
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
This conversation was recorded when the very last Maeve Binchy novel was published in paperback.
Maeve was always an entertaining interviewee - getting her to talk was never a problem!
Unsurprisingly her books continue to sell.
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
As more Brexit checks and red tape come into action it is illuminating to remember how we get to be in this sorry situation.
Many of the leading players are only where they are because they are Brexiteers.
Professor Grey has made it a personal mission to chronicle the drama and effects of Brexit.
He writes a blog and now the latest edition of his book "Brexit Unfolded" is published bringing the story up to date.
Does this mean that the Brexit story has reached a conclusion?
Maybe not!!!
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Simon Sebag Montefiore : the life of Potemkin : his bones are still making news.
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore explains the mythic status of this eighteenth century Russian statesman, and military leader.
In this conversation recorded in London in 2000 the historian Simon Sebag Montefiore tells David Freeman about practical politics in 18th century Russia and how Potemkin made his way in society with the help of the love of Catherine the Great.
Their relationship has been told in films but the way Simon tells the story is probably more gripping and unbelievable.
Simon told the story in full in his the books, Prince of Princes, and Catherine the Great and Potemkin, The Imperial Love Affair.
Interesting to hear Simon say that Putin read this book and what he learned has informed his political views. This lead to the invasion of Ukraine and a significant incident when Russian troops broke into the crypt of the cathedral in Kherson and removed the bones of Grigory Potemkin.
This is history to remember. Putin uses this history to justify his 'special military operation'.
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Magnus Magnusson - Scotland: The Story of a Nation
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Magnus Magnusson died in 2007. He was 77.
I spoke to Magnus when his history of Scotland was first published in 2000.
Our conversation covered thoughts on Scottish independence, the film Braveheart, Shakespeare and whatever happened to the Picts.
There was so much more to Magnus than being the chair .....I've started so I'll finish ..... of Mastermind!
Monday Jan 01, 2024
David Sedaris
Monday Jan 01, 2024
Monday Jan 01, 2024
David Sedaris now fills arenas with enthusiastic fans but when David Freeman interviewed him in 2000 he was almost unknown.
His book 'Me Talk Pretty One Day ' was just published