Weekend Breakfast with Alison Curtis

The Queen of Ireland and "National F*cking Treasure!!" Panti Bliss joins Weekend Breakfast for a very special and chaotically fun Christmas Gift Guide!Dr Panti Bliss has been announced as the Ambassador for Design & Crafts Council Ireland, Made Local campaign.The ‘Made Local’ campaign celebrates the spirit of community and grassroots energy that has always been central to Ireland’s greatest movements.madelocal.ie ---- where you can search for makers and the products you want by location. 1,500 makers based in Ireland and 350 retailers to buy from. Gifts featured:PANTI’S BLISSFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE           FOR HIM, FOR HER, FOR THEM, FOR KIDS – FOR EVERYONE!!!The Queen of Ireland and the official Ambassador for the Made Local Campaign has hand picked a few of the amazing handmade Irish items for sale now in time for the perfect Christmas gift!Let’s go!Earrings by A Little IdeaFrom Dublin and stocked in Om Diva, these large dangly swirl earrings are called after CMAT!Available online at alittleidea.ie/ or Om Diva in Dublin 2 Sleep Set by Jo BrowneJoanne, from Carlow,the maker behind Jo Browne, has beautiful luxury natural products for you and your home.Available in lots of shops across the country including Arnotts in Dublin and online jobrowne.comGreen Mug by Magda BethaniMagda, based in Wicklow, is a ceramicist - see more here   magdabethani.com Seaweed Foot Scrub by WasiWasi is an Irish seaweed skincare brand from Cork Available online at wasi.ie/ or from the Irish Design Shop. Ribbed Merino Hat by Ireland’s EyeThis chunky ribbed hat made from 100% merino wool is by Ireland’s Eye, who create all-natural knitwear in Dublin Available from Irish Design Shop Linen Barn Owl by We Make GoodWe Make Good is a social enterprise that promotes equality and sustainable production based in Dublin wemakegood.ie or from Irish Design Shop Porcelain Landscape Disc by Karo ArtKaro Art, based in Dublin 8, has creates beautiful ceramicsAvailable from Irish Design Shop and online karoart.eu/    

Stephen - Actor, writer, presenter (Landscape Artist Of the Year and on radio a weekly show on Classic FM)Anita – is an award winning Illustrator, Designer and ArtistTogether they make a brilliant creative force behind eight children's books!! The first book was called Escape The Room and now they have made seven since including the hugely successful and brilliantly titled The Fart That Changed The World!You may have seen them on Celebrity Gogglebox UK and they are hilarious!They both joined Alison on Weekend Breakfast to talk real life heroic St. Bernard's, psychotic squirrels and summers in Ireland!

Jeff Kinney joins Alison live from London to discuss the new book in The Diary of A Wimpy Kid Series; Party Pooper.He answers some super-fan questions and says that as his heritage is Irish, it wouldn't be out of the question for Greg to come to Ireland...

Dermot O'Leary is in the studio to chat to Alison about his new book, Toto the Ninja Cat & the Pirate Treasure Hunt.They also chat about radio, Wexford and his undying love of television and reading!

Superstar and Supermum - The Queen Of Kitchen Disco - Sophie Ellis- Bextor is a remarkable woman. Singer, songwriter, podcaster, best-selling author, Mum to five fab kids and now gherkin connoisseur!!Sophie joins me to chat all about Kerry, falling in love with Irish donkeys, growing old but not acting ancient, her new role as a gherkin connoisseur and of course her brand new album!! "A little slice of disco-optimistic pop!"The brilliantly named 'Perimenopop' is OUT NOW!

Join Alison Curtis for a delightful reunion with father-daughter duo Kathi "Fatti" and John Burke, as they dive into their exciting new book, "Animalopedia." John, a former primary school teacher turned author, shares how he has blended his passion for nature with his love for storytelling, while Kathi showcases her incredible talent with over 300 vibrant illustrations that bring these animals to life! It features every animal that has ever existed in Ireland! It's been a decade since we had them in studio! Plus, Cathy spills the beans on her secret project – an upcoming fictional story! Tune in for laughter, insights, and a celebration of wildlife!

Join Alison Curtis as she welcomes Canadian astronaut and author Chris Hadfield back to the show! Chris shares insights into his life, his remarkable family, and his latest literary success, "Final Orbit." His new book is a gripping thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War that has already become a number one best-seller in Canada! Chris reflects on his unique perspective from space and how it enriches his storytelling, blending history with fiction in a captivating way. He adores Ireland and has a daughter and now a gorgeous 7 month old Granddaughter here! Plus, they dive into the exciting future of space travel and the inspirational role of STEM education for young people. 'Final Orbit' is out now!

David Walliams is one of the world's most prolific children's authors. He has sold over 60 million copies, written more than 40 and has been translated into 55 languages! He joined Alison Curtis in studio for LOTS of laughs, and some very special calls from some of his biggest fans in Ireland.HIs brand new book 'Santa & Son' is out on October 23rd

Alison chats to Tadgh O Donovan, who features in new show 'A Rebel Education: Inside Carrigaline Community School,' on Virgin Media Television every Sunday evening. Tadgh himself has an incredible journey from being a traditional teacher to becoming a social media sensation. He discusses how the shift to online learning during COVID opened new doors for engaging students where they are—on platforms like TikTok! He tells us all about how the show was filmed over a year revealing the challenges, tears and joys of life in a modern Secondary classroom. Tadgh loves to teach and as a Science Teacher he also highlights the importance of STEM education, especially for girls, showcasing the incredible projects his students are spearheading. Oh, and how a Finding Nemo reference to his class made him look soooooo old!!!

I SWEAR is an honest, funny, moving and powerful new film inspired by the life and experiences of John Davidson, charting his journey for the understanding and acceptance of Tourette Syndrome. Alison Curtis is joined by the Directer and writer Kirk Jones and the main star Robert Aramayo (who some will know as Elrond in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER), it also has a fantastic supporting cast - Maxine Peake, Shirely Henderson and Peter Mullan. Kirk and Robert discuss why this movie is so important to them and the community it highlights. It is already being talked about as a sleeper hit for 2025 with an Oscar worthy performance by the lead role.It is in cinemas now.