Now You're Asking with Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn

All life is truly here, this week with an awkward family Christmas (that needn’t be so bad), a semi-cancelled wedding (which almost certainly wasn’t so bad), and pulling out an under-used dinner service (which definitely isn’t bad). All these conundrums and many more have come in to the Now You’re Asking mailbox for Marian and Tara to do their best to address.Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve the biggest - and smallest - of things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

You're an older woman, you're in a new relationship and you're worried that your new partner might be critical of what you describe as 'your windsock'? Step this way.Each week for this series of 10 mini-podcasts, Marian and Tara take one email from a listener to spotlight with, perhaps, a little less diplomacy that they might muster in the full versions of their popular problem-busting podcast, Now You're Asking. It's a hard and fast snapshot of their take on an issue or problem.It's Now You're Asking with a little salt in the caramel - all the more tasty for being bite-sized!Producer: Steve Doherty A Giddy Goat Production

From broken bones to moving homes by way of orgasms (or the lack of) and a best friend who undermines your big day for their own ends – the depth and breadth of listener questions continues to amaze us. Marian and Tara unpick, unpack and address the issues from as many different angles as they can think of, calling on their own life experience to guide them. They may not have the answer to everything, but they’ll do their best to find it. Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve the biggest - and smallest - of things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

You have a friend who always manages to turn the conversation around to herself - what should you do? Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn launch their new series of mini-podcasts with some thoughts on dealing with a frankly awful friend.Each week for this series of 10 mini-podcasts, Marian and Tara take one email from a listener to spotlight with, perhaps, a little less diplomacy that they might muster in the full versions of their popular problem-busting podcast, Now You're Asking. It's a hard and fast snapshot of their take on an issue or problem.It's Now You're Asking with a little salt in the caramel - all the more tasty for being bite-sized!Producer: Steve Doherty A Giddy Goat Production

So many questions in this week’s instalment: Does the thought of writing a stack of thank you cards fill you with dread? Why does nobody seem to send them, anymore? Can you find a way to a new you after a long-term relationship – especially an abusive one – in the harsh world of modern dating? How can you make amends when you’ve accidentally angered all the old ladies in your apartment block? Can you really make stock from feathers? Pull up a chair at Marian and Tara’s virtual kitchen table and the producer might even pour you a cup of sound effect tea. Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve your biggest - and smallest - of the things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Your close friend is doing a bad job at disguising his baldness – people are noticing and making cruel comments… what should you do? You know your relationship is over but, if you leave, your partner’s life might fall apart… what should you do? You’ve been asked to a party and the hosts are now asking you to help pay for it… what should you do? Modern dilemmas tackled with wisdom, grace and trademark good humour by Marian and Tara. All this and... is Marian declaring herself to be running for political office?Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million copies of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve your biggest - and smallest - of the things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world, the hosts invite you to pull up a chair at their virtual kitchen table as they read and digest their inbox.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Is my son gay? What does it even mean when you’re told to “be kind to yourself”? Should I have a baby because I am lonely? All this and possibly our most controversial response to date when a listener confesses to losing the knack of brewing a good cup of tea. Marian and Tara sit up straight and set to tackling their in-tray of Asks. Marian Keyes is a multi-award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve your biggest - and smallest - of the things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world, the hosts invite you to pull up a chair at their virtual kitchen table as they read and digest their inbox.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Your new boyfriend wants to go on a package holiday by the sea, but you’d rather be hiking in the mountains – is it time to dump him? Your friends are telling you to make more of an effort but you’re happy in your old clothes – is it time to smarten up? And you’re a working mum of a toddler but you find yourself ‘zoning out’ when he’s in your care – is it time to worry? All this and robbing a bank the middle-aged way are tackled by Marian and Tara.Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve the biggest - and smallest - things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world, the hosts invite you to pull up a chair at their virtual kitchen table as they read and digest their inbox.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Content warning - this show contains rodents! Squirrels, to be precise. What can you do to keep them away? Marian and Tara also tackle dealing with prejudice around autism and what to do if you'd rather not go to another birthday party.Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve your biggest - and smallest - of the things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world, the hosts invite you to pull up a chair at their virtual kitchen table as they read and digest their inbox.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Is it ever possible to know whether your partner is 'The One'? Can you go to church but avoid drinking the Kool Aid? Should men shave more than the hair on their chin? It's safe to say there is no subject that Marian and Tara won't tackle in their quest to solve their listener's conundrums.Marian Keyes is a multi award-winning writer, with a total of over 30 million of her books sold to date in 33 languages. Her close friend Tara Flynn is an actress, comedian and writer. Together, these two friends have been through a lot, and now want to use their considerable life experience to help solve your biggest - and smallest - of the things that keep us awake at night.Previous series were welcomed by listeners and critics: "Both are warm and kind enough to not only be funny but also offer genuinely thoughtful, if left-field, advice." (Miranda Sawyer, The Observer) "Keyes and Flynn are my new favourite double-act." (Jane Anderson - Radio Times) "I found their compassion endlessly soothing." (Rachel Cunliffe - The New Statesman)Recorded in Dublin with emails received from listeners around the world, the hosts invite you to pull up a chair at their virtual kitchen table as they read and digest their inbox.Got a problem you want Marian and Tara to solve? Email: marianandtara@bbc.co.uk.Producer: Steve Doherty. A Giddy Goat production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds