The Third Act

Julia Samuel MBE is one of the UK's foremost pyschotherapists and grief counsellors. Author of three books and a regular columnist for The Times, she has been described as the person the nation turns to in times of tragedy and despair. Over a cup of tea at Auriens with Catherine Fairweather, Julia talks about her childhood and the loss and grief suffered by own family. She shares her thoughts on the archetypal British stiff upper lip as a way of coping and love being the strongest medication.

Sir Tom Stoppard, a legendary playwright known for his acclaimed works like Shakespeare In Love and Leopoldstadt, shares incredible insights with Catherine Fairweather. They discuss how childhood memories shape identity, reflecting on his past in India and the pain of nostalgia. Stoppard elaborates on his unique writing process, emphasizing the joy of using fountain pens. The conversation takes a deeper turn as they contemplate mortality and how life experiences influence storytelling, revealing the intricate connection between memory, identity, and creativity.

Michael Heseltine is perhaps best known as a politician and former Secretary of State for the Environment. But he is also a successful entrepreneur, publisher and property developer. In addition, he also has a keen interest in nature and, with his wife, has created one of the UK's most beautiful arboretums. Presenter Catherine Fairweather talks to Lord Heseltine about his time in politics but also about Brexit, dyslexia, risk and his long-standing love of trees.

The Third Act is back by popular demand for a second season of sparkling conversations with vintage minds. Brought to you by Auriens, new episodes will drop weekly from 15th February. Across the series, journalist Catherine Fairweather will be breaking bread with twelve national treasures, and asking them to share their secrets of a life well lived. Guests include playwright Tom Stoppard, journalist Rosie Boycott, politician Michael Heseltine, actor Simon Callow, photographer Steve McCurry and psychotherapist Julia Samuel.

For the final episode of this series, Catherine Fairweather talks to renowned photographer, Sir Don McCullin CBE. For the past 50 years he has proved himself a photojournalist without equal, whether documenting the poverty of London’s East End, or the horrors of wars in Africa, Asia or the Middle East. Simultaneously he has proved an adroit artist capable of beautifully arranged still lifes, soulful portraits and moving landscapes. He also happens to be Catherine's husband which allows her to ask questions she has never yet asked him - about his reputation as a hard-bitten war photographer, his thirst to learn about new cultures and their very first meeting.

While she may be best known for the popular TV series Hart to Hart, Stefanie Powers has made over 30 films as well as 25 mini-series and numerous plays. Alongside her acting career, she is a passionate conservationist having established the William Holden Wildlife Foundation to further her long time partner's work in East Africa. In this penultimate episode of the first series of The Third Act she talks with Catherine Fairweather about her career, her charity work and the challenges of show business.

Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE is one of the world's most respected and renowned explorers. The founder of the Scientific Exploration Society and Operation Raleigh, his many expeditions include a complete navigation of the Congo River and the first vehicular journey from Alaska to Cape Horn. He also 'invented' white-water rafting during a particularly perilous descent of the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. At the age of 85 he is already planning his next trip to Bolivia. But he takes time out of his preparations to talk with Catherine Fairweather about how he first discovered his love of exploring, the importance of continually challenging yourself and his brush with the Loch Ness monster.

Brigid Keenan was the youngest ever fashion editor at The Sunday Times when she joined the paper in the 1960's. However she gave up her career when she married a diplomat and, in her own words, became 'a trailing spouse'. During her time living in seven different countries, she has written seven books. Her most successful, 'Diplomatic Baggage', was written while in her 60's and is about to republished this summer. Over lunch with Catherine Fairweather, she talks about choosing between marriage and career, her amazing recovery from a stroke 5 years ago and her thoughts on getting older.

Johnny Roxburgh is a party architect who has worked in the events industry for over 40 years. He has dreamt up parties around the globe for everyone from HM The Queen to Sting and played a key role in many landmark events such as Prince William's 21st birthday. With Catherine Fairweather, he discusses bringing his clients ideas to life including floating a tent on the Mediterranean for a dinner for 400 people, organising his own wedding and his secrets to living well.

The colourful and sometime controversial Lt Cl Tim Spicer is a 20 year veteran of the British Army who has found new success as an author. A former Commanding Office of the Scots Guards, Tim saw active service in the Falklands, the Gulf War and the Balkans. Along with An Unorthodox Soldier, an account of his military life, Tim's most recent book is A Dangerous Enterprise which tells the tale of a secret mission by the Navy during World War II to rescue agents from occupied France. With Catherine Fairweather, he talks about the balance between discipline and indulgence, his love of adventure and living life "on the sharp end of things".