logo
episode-header-image
Oct 31
27m 44s

Prunella Scales CBE, Gillian Tindall, Ro...

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Matthew Bannister on

The actor Prunella Scales, best known for playing Sybil in the TV comedy Fawlty Towers. Her son Samuel West reflects on her long career and happy marriage to fellow actor Timothy West.

Gillian Tindall, the writer who pioneered the technique of exploring history through the portal of a particular house or area.

Roger Smith, who co-founded and ran the Great Outdoors Challenge, encouraging thousands to walk across Scotland.

Anthony Grey, the novelist and journalist who was held in solitary confinement for over two years by Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution.

Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

ARCHIVE USED: Great Canal Journeys Series 1 Episode 1, Channel 4, 10/03/2014; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 05/06/1992; Suppose I Lose It, BBC Radio 4, 16/05/2016; A Question of Attribution, BBC Two, 20/10/1991; Fawlty Towers: Series 1: The Hotel Inspectors, BBC Two, 10/10/1975; Fawlty Towers: Series 2: The Psychiatrist, BBC Two, 26/02/1979; Fawlty Towers: Series 2: Basil the Rat, BBC Two, 25/10/1979; Fawlty Towers: Series 1: The Builders, BBC Two, 26/09/1975; Fawlty Towers: Series 2: Communication Problems, BBC Two, 19/02/1979; BBC News, BBC Radio 4, 26/11/1968; Anthony Grey To Be Released: Mother Waits, BBC News, 03/10/1963; Anthony Grey Released: Mother Hears News, News, 04/10/1963; Radio Newsreel, BBC World Service, 12/10/1969; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 01/11/1969; Anthony Grey: One Man’s Freedom, One Pair of Eyes, BBC Two, 26/06/1971; Return to Peking, BBC Two, 12/12/1988; Voices from a French Village, BBC Radio 4, 29/05/1996; Robert Elms, BBC Radio London, 05/09/2016; Bricks and Mortals, BBC Radio 4, 18/05/2005; The Adventure Show, BBC Two Scotland, 03/08/2008; Scotland Outdoors - A Coast to Coast Backpack Challenge, Beekeeping in Kinross and the Capercaillie of Speyside, BBC Radio Scotland, 24/05/2025;

Up next
Nov 21
Baroness Newlove, Zoe Wicomb, Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, Professor Roland Paxton
<p>Matthew Bannister on:</p><p>Baroness Newlove, who turned a tragic event in her own life into a powerful campaign for victims’ rights.</p><p>Zoe Wicomb, the South Africa-born author whose novels are set against the backdrop of the apartheid regime.</p><p>Sir Geoffrey Bindman, t ... Show More
27m 42s
Nov 15
James Watson, Pauline Collins, Judith Vidal-Hall, Dugald Ross
<p>Matthew Bannister on</p><p>James Watson who shared the Nobel Prize for identifying the structure of DNA, but was widely condemned later in life for his racist and sexist views.</p><p>Pauline Collins, the comic actor who triumphed in the role of Shirley Valentine on stage and s ... Show More
27m 45s
Nov 7
Dick Cheney, Yvonne Brewster, Mary McGee, Peter Watkins
Matthew Bannister onDick Cheney, the Republican politician who was Vice President under George W Bush and played key roles in both Gulf Wars.Yvonne Brewster, the Jamaican-born director and actor who founded the Black British Theatre Company Talawa.Mary ‘May’ McGee, the Irish woma ... Show More
27m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 12
The Nicola Sturgeon Interview
Today, Adam speaks to the former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Ahead of the release of her new book, 'Frankly', Nicola Sturgeon reveals details her time in office, her row with JK Rowling over gender in Scotland, her relationship with Alex Salmond, and her sexuality ... Show More
56m 6s
Jul 2025
The Kennedys – America's 'Royal' Families
Correction: JFK was assasinated on 11/22/1963 Ever since the United States rejected hereditary Monarchy, Americans have had a fascination with political dynasties. The Adamses, the Roosevelts, and the Bushes have all become pseudo-royal families with multiple generations in high ... Show More
34m 51s
Aug 7
Live at Edinburgh Fringe: John Swinney On Trump, Scottish Independence And The Loch Ness Monster
Today, Newscast was recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe in front of a live audience.Adam was joined by the First Minister of Scotland John Swinney. We covered his meeting with Donald Trump, his plan for Scottish Independence and his policy on the Loch Ness MonsterYou can now listen ... Show More
48m 21s
Sep 15
Patricia Lockwood, SEND rally, Maternity review, Kathrine Switzer
Patricia Lockwood is a poet, memoirist and novelist whose work straddles the literary world and the wilds of the internet. Patricia first went viral with her traumatic poem Rape Joke, while her memoir Priestdaddy, about being the daughter of a Catholic priest, has been called a m ... Show More
57m 40s
Jul 2025
Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister: The UK needs strong international relationships
The UK needs strong international relationships Nick Robinson, presenter of the BBC Today programme and Political Thinking podcast, speaks to Sir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister, about the importance of maintaining strong international relationships.In an interview recorded to ma ... Show More
22m 59s
Feb 2025
Why Britain's on Benefits - Fraser Nelson
Fraser Nelson is the former Editor of The Spectator, a Columnist for The Times and Sunday Times and in this interview discusses his Channel 4 Dispatches documentary "Britain's Benefits Scandal". Follow Fraser on X: https://x.com/FraserNelson SPONSOR. Augusta Precious Metals: le ... Show More
1h 28m
Jul 2025
Donald Trump's BBC interview in full and the story behind it
Adam Fleming from Newscast speaks to the BBC's Chief North America Correspondent Gary O'Donoghue about his exclusive interview with Donald Trump. It happened by phone call, waking Gary up in his apartment as he was asleep. Donald Trump told Gary that he is disappointed but not do ... Show More
24m 39s
Apr 2020
JFK, Carolyn Bessette And Now 8 Year Old Gideon: Inside The "Kennedy Curse"
In early April, 40 year old Maeve McKean and her eight year old son Gideon got into a kayak while isolating at her mother's home in Maryland, USA. They never came home.  Immediately their deaths became talked about under a tragic umbrella, was Maeve, the granddaughter of Robert a ... Show More
14m 38s
Sep 2024
Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods: 5. Silenced no more
Mohamed Al Fayed sells Harrods and retreats into a world of luxury villas and yachts. But will the women continue to stay silent about their allegations? Their stories weren’t all heard before his death but now they come together to speak out. Would the past catch up with a man w ... Show More
26m 6s
Feb 2025
How Westminster goes viral (without Elon Musk)
For years, Westminster has been addicted to Twitter (now called X). Host Sascha O'Sullivan looks at how the site – and SW1's reliance on it – has changed since tech billionaire Elon Musk took over. Sascha talks to Charlie Peters, journalist at GB News, whose story about grooming ... Show More
45m 39s