Julian and Isabel Bannerman

For the final episode of Series Four of The Third Act, Gyles Brandreth returns to Auriens. Fondly dubbed the “Peter Pan” of Auriens, following his time in the wellness programme where he emerged feeling fitter than ever. He likely needs no introduction. A broadcaster, author, former politician, podcaster and even a jumper designer, he’s also a familiar face on beloved programmes such as Countdown, Just a Minute and Celebrity Gogglebox. In conversation with Catherine Fairweather, he reflects on how young he really feels, what happiness means to him, royalty, and the art of embracing change.

Hosted by Catherine Fairweather, this episode features an inspiring conversation with Lynne Charles, Artistic Director of English National Ballet School. With a remarkable career spanning over 35 years, Lynne has performed internationally, including 12 seasons with Hamburg Ballet, before dedicating herself to teaching. She has worked with leading companies such as English National Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, helping to shape the next generation of dancers. Residents at Auriens Chelsea recently had the pleasure of experiencing Lynne’s choreography during a special festive performance on site.

This episode features an insightful conversation with entrepreneur and business leader Jeremy King. Jeremy reflects on his journey from his early ventures to co-founding the renowned restaurant group Caprice Holdings, sharing the pivotal moments, challenges, and decisions that shaped his career. He discusses how the hospitality industry continues to evolve, including changing consumer habits, with people drinking and dining out less than before. Drawing on decades of experience, Jeremy shares his perspective on leadership, resilience, and innovation in a fast-paced industry, as well as lessons from his new book Without Reservations: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants.

Auriens is proud to present Series Four, Episode Nine of ‘The Third Act’ hosted by Catherine Fairweather, in conversation with celebrated actress Harriet Walter. With a career spanning stage, screen, and television, Harriet has brought Shakespearean heroines and modern characters alike to life, earning acclaim for her fearless performances and lifelong commitment to storytelling. In this episode, Harriet reflects on decades of acting and the enduring power of theatre, exploring themes of forgiveness, loving later in life, health, daily rituals, and the mortality of assisted dying, where Harriet explains: “You can’t process death. It’s impossible to imagine or process… We’re sentient beings, we cannot conceive of not being.”

Series Four of The Third Act continues with Episode Eight, the original podcast from Auriens, hosted by Catherine Fairweather.In this inspiring episode, legendary British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes reflects on her extraordinary journey from art college to international acclaim. She recounts the pivotal moment a meeting with Vogue editor Diana Vreeland opened the doors to success in the United States, and shares the story behind founding the Fashion and Textile Museum — a lasting legacy celebrating creativity and design.With candour and characteristic optimism, Zandra speaks about the role of instinct, resilience and hard work in shaping her career, as well as her refreshing philosophy on ageing and experience:“I don’t think we should live with regrets. We’ve got to think it was a bad decision and hope that we can regroup to make the right decision.”A thoughtful and uplifting conversation, this episode explores creativity, courage, and what it truly means to live a life well lived.

In this episode, host Catherine Fairweather sits down with esteemed British author and journalist Sofka Zinovieff, whose latest book Stealing Dad has been described by The Observer as “funny, sad and full of beautiful writing.” Their conversation looks at the themes at the heart of Sofka’s work: inherited identity, complex family dynamics, and the rituals that, as she puts it, “give shape to loss.” Drawing on both personal experience and professional insight, Sofka discusses how these ideas informed Stealing Dad and why they continue to resonate with readers.

In tribute to Sir Tom Stoppard, who died last week, we are reposting this conversation from our archives. Sir Tom Stoppard was one of the most widely acclaimed playwrights and screenwriters of his generation. His award-winning body of work includes the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love and the plays Arcadia and The Real Thing. His final major work, Leopoldstadt—often described as his most personal play—is set in the Jewish community of early 20th-century Vienna. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Play after its celebrated West End run and is currently playing on Broadway. In this episode, Sir Tom speaks with Catherine Fairweather about his childhood, his writing process, the benefits of getting older, and the tick-tock of the universe.

Legendary Canadian journalist Graydon Carter joins Catherine Fairweather for Episode Five of The Third Act. Best known as the former Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair, co-founder of the ground-breaking satirical magazine Spy, and founder of the digital weekly Air Mail, Graydon has spent decades shaping how we read, think, and stay curious. In this episode, Graydon reflects on the golden age of print, the thrill and challenge of reinventing journalism for a digital world, and why satire should always “punch up.” He also shares his thoughts on keeping one’s mind sharp, staying endlessly inquisitive, and embracing the joy of reinvention in later life.

In this episode of The Third Act, host Catherine Fairweather sits down with acclaimed actress Jenny Seagrove. Known for her roles in Local Hero and A Woman of Substance, Jenny has also dedicated much of her life to animal welfare through the Mane Chance Sanctuary. Together, they explore themes of love, loss, resilience and the evolving journey of self-worth, and how Jenny continues to discover new purpose in later life.

This week, Catherine Fairweather is delighted to welcome the extraordinary garden designers Isabel and Julian Bannerman to the podcast. Since 1983, the Bannermans have created exceptional gardens, culminating in the honour of receiving the Royal Warrant from King Charles III in 2024. Speaking from their home at Ashington Manor in Somerset, they reflect on their favourite projects, their celebrated ‘no-rules’ approach, and their enduring philosophy of planting for future generations.