Lines of Work

Lines of Work: Soldier Harry Parker on Ulysses S Grant

Soldier Harry Parker reflects on the personal memoirs of Ulysses S Grant.

• 15 mins

Lines of Work

Lines of Work: Journalist Helen Lewis on John Milton

Journalist Helen Lewis reads poet John Milton's defence of a free press, Areopagitica.

• 15 mins

Lines of Work

Lines of Work: Gardener Jackie Bennett on Francis Bacon

Gardener Jackie Bennett responds to Elizabethan thinker Francis Bacon's essay Of Gardens.

• 15 mins

The Art of Storytelling

The Art of Storytelling: Edmund de Waal

Artist and writer Edmund de Waal considers the idea of storytelling through objects.

• 15 mins

The Art of Storytelling

The Art of Storytelling: Jon Gower

Writer Jon Gower recalls lessons learned from a master storyteller: his grandfather.

• 15 mins

The Art of Storytelling

The Art of Storytelling: Clemency Burton Hill

Broadcaster Clemency Burton-Hill considers the relationship between storytelling and music

• 15 mins

The Art of Storytelling

The Art of Storytelling: David Crystal

Professor David Crystal asks how we can preserve for the future the story of language.

• 15 mins

The Art of Storytelling

The Art of Storytelling: Emma Smith

Professor Emma Smith considers William Shakespeare's skills as a storyteller.

• 15 mins

Get Playing

Alistair McGowan on playing the Piano

Impressionist and actor Alistair McGowan describes his attempts to relearn the piano.

• 15 mins

Get Playing

Get Playing: Joanne Harris on playing the flute and bass guitar

Writer Joanne Harris discusses her love of playing the flute and bass guitar.

• 15 mins

Get Playing

Get Playing: Poet Fiona Sampson on playing the violin

Poet Fiona Sampson discusses her early life as a violinist.

• 15 mins

Get Playing

Get Playing: Peter Bradshaw's electric guitar

Film critic Peter Bradshaw describes how he was reunited with his electric guitar.

• 15 mins

Get Playing

Get Playing: Alexander McCall Smith on the saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra

Writer Alexander McCall Smith on playing saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra.

• 15 mins

The Shopping News

Rome

Joanna Robertson argues that when Romans go shopping they buy into a local identity.

• 15 mins

The Shopping News

New York

Joanna Robertson on how book-shopping in New York can be about intellectual validation.

• 15 mins

The Shopping News

Berlin

How shopping for toys in Berlin reveals an attitude to childhood that is unique to Germany

• 15 mins

The Shopping News

Tirana

Joanna Robertson on buying dreams of wealth in Tirana in the aftermath of communism.

• 15 mins

The Shopping News

The Shopping News: Paris

How buying food in Paris is not just for the tastebuds, but also a serious part of culture

• 15 mins

A Reflection on Worrying

A Reflection on Worrying: Worry and Communication

Emma Jane Unsworth explores modern communication and its scope to fuel personal anxiety.

• 15 mins

A Reflection on Worrying

A Reflection on Worrying: The Rituals of Worry

Professor Francis O'Gorman examines rituals and ceremonies that often accompany worry.

• 15 mins

A Reflection on Worrying

A Reflection on Worrying: Parental Worries

Historian Emma Griffin explores how parental worries have changed throughout the centuries

• 15 mins

A Reflection on Worrying

A Reflection on Worrying: Worry and Music

Musician Tom McKinney on how his own worry runs much deeper than that of stage fright.

• 15 mins

A Reflection on Worrying

A Reflection on Worrying: The Comedy of Worry

Comedian Steve Punt explores how worry has always been a bedfellow of comedy.

• 15 mins

The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Earl Grey Whistle Test: The Indivisible Men

David Hepworth and Mark Ellen discuss other double acts and their own relationship.

• 15 mins

The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Dancing About Architecture

Mark Ellen explores the difficulties of describing music to people who have not heard it.

• 15 mins

The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Earl Grey Whistle Test: The Writer's Wardrobe

Music journalist David Hepworth discusses the dress code for the creative homeworker.

• 15 mins

The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Earl Grey Whistle Test: It's All About the Drummer, Stupid

Music journalist David Hepworth discusses the only band member who matters: the drummer.

• 15 mins

The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old

David Hepworth reflects on what keeps rock stars playing into old age.

• 15 mins

The Somme

Paul Muldoon - July 1st 1916, with the Ulster Division

Paul Muldoon reads his new poem July 1st 1916, with the Ulster Division.

• 15 mins

The Somme

Yrsa Daley-Ward - When your mother calls you, come

Yrsa Daley-Ward reads her new poem When your mother calls you, come.

• 15 mins