The Author Archive Podcast

There is a press story telling how Sir Rannulph Fiennes seems to have disappeared. Obviously I have no idea where he is. I remember him as a fascinating, engaging and memorable interviewee. In 2019 Sir Rannulph was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. A few years ago as part of the Cheltenham Literary festival I interviewed Sir Rannulph on stage at the Everyman Theatre about his family history book 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen'. I remember shaking hands - a non standard formality for him. He told me how he had to adopt a DIY approach to dealing with frost bite in his fingers. In this episode there's a conversation I had with Sir Rannulph later in a London studio, a chat with the legendary travel writer Eric Newby, and the life of the unforgettable adventurer Lucy Irvine. Lucy had replied to an advertisement in 1980 seeking a woman to spend a year on a desert island with a man she didn't know. This adventure became a film starring Oliver Reid. She tells me how she went on to write the story of another island dwelling family in her book Faraway. Memorable stories.

The American president now suggests that he is closely associated with Jesus. He has distributed pictures. He is performing Bible readings. Will he include the bits from Matthew 5:9? Blessed are the peacemakers? He declares that he has been saved by God to make his country great again, I find it impossible not to wonder about the precise nature of the deity that he professes to believe in. Are Donald and his advisers familiar with the writings that are the basis of his religion? This book by Catherine Nixey is terrific - its a revelation and it's now available in paperback format. Catherine has studied texts written around the same time as the writings we know as the gospels. Some of these ancient documents tell the story of the bible characters we are familiar with in a totally different way. Listen to Catherine talk about her research and you will be surprised ..... probably very surprised!! Every time I see a politician leaning in a faith direction I want to urge them to read this book!

Antonio Forcione is a brilliant guitar player. Antonio really likes to entertain and he is joined by comedian, singer and songwriter Boothby Graffoe. When we talked Antonio was in a museum in Rome and Boothby was in Portugal. I'm David Freeman and I was in Cheltenham. I saw the show last night - it was brilliant.

Joseph Millson is an author but he is also a stage actor. Currently he is starring in the hugely successful West End revival of Phantom of the Opera. He tells me about his first novel - Miller Rose Roberts. Who she is, what she does and the role of tinnitus in the story. Joseph is an entertainer.... great fun. Amongst other stories he describes how his dad became fused to a bass guitar. He didn't mean to!

Jeanette Winterson celebrates her 67th birthday on August 27th. This interview was recorded when Jeanette was a 20 something brand new literary force and a CD was cutting edge technology. I remember this conversation with huge affection. Mostly I would talk to an author for 20 minutes or so but this conversation is twice that. It was recorded in the spring of 1984 when 'Oranges are Not the Only Fruit' was first published. I was very fortunate because I was one of the very first broadcasters to interview Jeanette. I had been reading the book in bed the night before and was buzzing with enthusiasm for it when I met her. Hear the author talk about her life in religious Accrington and why she rejected the faith. A superb book!