Loose Ends

Clive Anderson is joined in Salford by a Post-Coital (that's the name of her new show) Tiff Stevenson and by Sam Palladio is finally acting in his own accent in 'The Couple Next Door' after playing Texan Gunnar Scott in 'Nashville' for six seasons. Ella Al-Shamahi has been in search of what makes us 'Human' for her new BBC Two series. American actor and comedian Chris Grace is attempting to write a new show every night of the Edinburgh fringe. And there's music from the former Lush lead singer's new musical project, The Miki Berenyi Trio.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

Loose Ends is the guest of Durham Brass Festival this week, providing flugelhorns, euphoniums and an enthusiastic audience at the newly refurbished 110 year old Redhills Miners Hall, once known as "the Pitman's Parliament". Far from brassed off to be with him is the poet laureate Simon Armitage who finds exactly the right words to describe the magic of brass music but then admits to never having won a game of Cluedo. Perhaps unsurprisingly the thriller writer Paula Hawkins tells us she was something of a Cluedo ace in her youth but these days sticks to reconnoitring ideas for places to stash bodies for future novels. And there's laughs aplenty from the comedian Ria Lina who sensibly doesn't enter the Cluedo-debate though one suspects her masters in forensic science might give her an edge. All this with gorgeous music from Bill Ryder Jones with cellist Evelyn Halls and members of the NASUWT Riverside Brass Ensemble.Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced by Olive Clancy

This week Stuart is joined by comedian and poet Tim Key who takes us to LA Baby in his new book, Lucy Porter who is learning to let go in her new stand up show, and Shabaz Ali: the Tik Tok sensation with his takedowns of the super-rich. Eastenders and Call the Midwife star Leonie Elliott is starring in a new play, Liberation. There's music from Billy Nomates, performing from her new album Metalhorse and Brazilian composer, poet and multi-instrumentalist Bruno Berle.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

It's mostly lollipops, ribbons and cakes for Clive Anderson this week as he meets Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc, Jane Austen improviser Rachel Parris and Romantic Novelist Mike Gayle (the only man to win the Romantic Writers Association's top award). But not all....Mel Giedroyc's new podcast - and she emphasises it's a comedy one - is taking over from Kathy Burke on Where There's a Will There's a Wake - all about death, funerals and everything in between. She reveals how she and Sue Perkins met and unsurprisingly enough it was love-friends at first sight. Rachel Parris is taking Austentacious, her improv show based on Jane Austen, on the road and to Edinburgh Fringe again. She explains why nothing quite hits the spot like Jane. But she's also written a novel based on the romance between Pride and Prejudice character Charlotte Lucas and Mr Collins. And reader, Eliza Bennett does not come out of this well. Mike Gayle is the only man the Romantic Writers Association has bestowed its Outstanding Achievement Award upon and is a bestselling novelist. He describes his favourite reader letter from when he worked as an Agony Uncle for Bliss Magazine back in the day.All accompanied by the glorious sound of Debbie Wiseman's music for the TV series Wolf Hall, played by the composer herself with the Locrian Ensemble of London, soprano Grace Davidson and Alec Harmon on Cor Anglais.Presented by Clive Anderson Producer Olive Clancy

This week Loose Ends is coming from the Homecoming festival at the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. Clive Anderson is joined by comedian, actor and writer Dawn French, who moved to Cornwall to give her more space to write and Fern Britton, who has written eleven novels set in Cornwall, and has lived here on and off since starting her career in regional television here in 1980. He also chats to Edward Rowe, who starred in Mark Jenkin's acclaimed film 'Bait' and who performs comedy as The Kernow King, and there's music from the Welsh-Cornish singer-songwriter Gwenno who will be performing tracks from her upcoming album 'Utopia'.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

It's 20 years since Jenny Colgan became a published author and since then her books have been translated across the globe, from Brazil to Bulgaria. Her latest novel is Meet Me at the Seaside Cottages.Playwright Douglas Maxwell is back at the Tron in Glasgow, a theatre that kickstarted his professional career 25 years ago. His one-man show Man’s Best Friend explores isolation and dogwalking. Zara Gladman might be best known online for her portrayals of her Glasgow West End Mum character, but she has found fans far beyond the realms of her home city. In August, she'll be swapping sketch for stage with her show Aileen: Cameron’s Gap Year Fundraiser.Poet Michael Mullen's book Goonie is their debut poetry collection. It tells stories of family, humour and queer identity, from the living room to the hairdresser's chair. Plus music from singer-songwriter James Yorkston ahead of the release of his new album Songs for Nina and Johanna.Award-winning singer, harpist and composer Rachel Newton shares a track from her latest solo album Sealladh.Presenter: Nihal Arthanayake Producer: Caitlin Sneddon

Ore Oduba switched broadcasting for the stage after his 2016 Strictly win. His latest production is the adaptation of Peter James’ Picture You Dead book which is on tour across the country. Tom Newlands' debut novel Only Here, Only set in a fictional Fife town has received many plaudits in the UK and beyond. It's coming out in paperback later in June. Comedian Kim Blythe continues to go from strength to strength, from online skits to stand-up. Her show Cowboy will be at the Edinburgh Fringe this August. Amy Macdonald has answered her fans' calls for new music with her upcoming album Is This What You've Been Waiting For?. She shares a track. Plus music from jazz quartet Rose Room ahead of their performance at the Glasgow Jazz Festival.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Caitlin Sneddon

This week Clive Anderson is talking playing with toys, settling scores and saying goodbyes with OG podcaster Adam Buxton. Tanita Tikaram has finally recorded the follow up to her multi-millions selling 1988 album 'Ancient Heart', called 'LIAR'Jimi Famurewa tells us how you go from stuffing mashed potato in your pocket to appearing on Masterchef.Kiran Landa stars in 'Marriage Material', based on the novel by Santham Sangerhera at the Lyric HammersmithSouth London trio Honeyglaze perform a track from their album 'Real Deal'.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

Jason Donovan won the hearts of millions alongside Kylie Minogue in the Australian soap Neighbours; then his debut album was the biggest seller of 1989 and he topped the UK singles chart 4 times. In the 1990s he reinvented himself in musical theatre with acclaimed roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and now he's playing Frank-n-furter in the Rocky Horror Show tour. Its safe to say he knows a thing or two about eye catching costumes, as does Great British Sewing Bee judge and designer to the stars Patrick Grant. His book - Less - is a plea to us to stop buying so much rubbish, buy better, mend more and think about wearing woollen knit swimming costumes or at least cotton running gear. The comedian Sophie McCartney is best known for poking fun at parenting and her viral mum-parody to the tune of Ed Sheeran. But she likes a costume too - thigh high silver boots and leather shorts for her latest show One Foot In the Rave, full of advice on how best to turn 40, how to parent questioning teenagers and say a loud "no thanks" to a midlife crisis. With music from BBC Folk Award winners The Young'Uns and indie-soul singer Mychelle who's supporting Jorja Smith on tour. Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy

Clive Anderson brings us Loose Ends from the Hay Festival. Joining Clive in front of a Hay audience are singer Paloma Faith who last year released her most personal album 'The Glorification of Sadness'. She also published her first book 'MILF' (no, not that one), a rousing call to arms for women to take up space, based on her experiences in the music industry, and as a mother. Welsh comedian Mike Bubbins is the star of the sitcom 'Mammoth', in which he plays Tony Mammoth, a PE teacher from the 70's who finds himself in 2024. Writer Frank Cottrell Boyce has an impressively diverse CV, having written films such as 24 Hour Party People, Hilary & Jackie, Code 46 as well as the 2012 London Olympics Ceremony. He's the author of many beloved children's books including Millions, and his latest 'The Blockbusters'. Historian Helen Carr is the author of the best-selling 'The Red Prince: The Life of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster and her new book 'Sceptred Isle: A new history of the fourteenth century'And there's music from Euros Childs and Kizzy CrawfodPresenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen