Loose Ends

Comedian Jo Brand on her plans to take the world by storm as a grumpy old woman in her new book Decline and Falling Over.Professor Dr Tim Spector on Good Mood Food, all about our incredible gut and how it affects how you feel about the world.Actress Romola Garai on her new ITV drama Adultery, named, she says, to make sure nobody mistakes what its about. And Siobhan McSweeney, the new presenter of the Comfort Eating Podcast (now visualised) on why stout, chocolate and crisps together are a comfort to her.Plus music from Passenger and Blossom Cadarone.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Olive Clancy Content Assistant: Sam Nixon Technical Producers: Mary Stone, Steve Greenwood and Maddie Larkman

Stuart Maconie is joined in Salford by 'The Wizard of Prog', Rick Wakeman. A man who has lived life to excess, he's not short of stories, from working as a session musician with his friend David Bowie to joining, leaving and rejoining Yes and his creating solo extravaganzas such as 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table'. As well as regaling us with a few of these stories, Rick performs for us.If Rick Wakeman is the Wizard of Prog then Oz Clarke is the Wizard of Wine. The man who taught Britain how to appreciate the grape has written 'A Vine is a Wild Thing' -an updated and revised edition of his classic guide 'Red & White'. Oz takes us through how our taste in Wine has matured over the years since he first graced our screens on Food and Drink, and what we should be drinking this Christmas. Musician Nadine Shah has composed the soundtrack for a new production of King Lear, currently at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. She's also acting in it, taking on the role of Goneril. Comedian Allyson June Smith hails from Canada and has made her home in Manchester. She's currently on tour with her 'Allyson Wonderland' Show.And we're celebrating Halloween with a song from the 'Brechtian Punk Cabaret' trio 'The Tiger Lilles', ahead of their Songs For the Dead concert at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Stuart Maconie is joined by performer, panto star and all round beam of joy Su Pollard, who has summed up her varied career in a memoir, 'Fully Charged'. Lloyd Griffith is a comedian, presenter and choirister, but today he's here as one of the stars of 'Return To Paradise. Naomi Katiyo stars as Sylvia Pankhurst in 'Sylvia: A Musical Revolution'. Actor, writer and theatre maker Emily Woof's latest novel 'Ecstatic' is inspired by the practise of Ecstatic dance and there's music from The Mary Wallopers, who are touring their new album 'Paddywhackery'.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Clive Anderson is joined by writer Alexander McCall Smith whose latest novel The Isle of Good Karma takes us on a life-changing trip from the Isle of Lewis to the Himalayas.Comedian Marc Jennings is on tour with If & When, diving in to some of the headlines that have kept us busy over the last year. A new production of Scottish classic The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is bringing the drama of Marcia Blaine School for Girls to audiences across Scotland - director Vicky Featherstone sheds a light on the production.Plus music from Big Country Redux and Zoe Graham. Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Caitlin Sneddon

Craig Revel Horwood on how his Strictly baddie persona earned him his pantomime villain break as well as being rammed by a trolley at the supermarket. Comedian and Taskmaster competitor Chloe Petts on how playing in goal as a teenager set her up for a life in stand-up and how bean-eating is her superpower. Si King on writing his first ever cookery book without his Hairy Biker partner and what Dave Myers might make of his meatball recipe. Plus music from Roachford, 90s star out on the road this winter with Jools Holland and Mike and the Mechanics as well as Hue and Cry. Presenter Stuart Maconie Producer Olive Clancy Assistant Producer Lizzie Foster Content Assistant Sam Nixon Technical Producers John Cole and Jack Morris

Clive Anderson is joined by 'Modern Family' star Jesse Tyler Ferguson who is taking on the role of Truman Capote in Tru by Jay Presson Allen at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Tim Minchin on the 15th anniversary of the hit musical Matilda, novelist Kate Mosse on her new book celebrating the wonders of Autumn and comedian Harriet Kemsley who is currently on tour with her stand-up show Floozy. There's also music from cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson's new album 'New Roots'Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen

Stuart Maconie and guests are at the BBC's Contains Strong Language Festival in Salford. Baudelaire of the bus stop, local man made poetic, John Cooper Clarke reveals where he goes for inspiration.Multi-award winning poet and novelist Jackie Kay who began writing as a pre-teen and hasn't stopped since. Hannah Maxwell's acclaimed Edinburgh show is called Turn Your F**king Phones Off, but she's having to tone it down for her forthcoming tour.And music and poetry from the "alt-pop poet" Antony Szmierek's new album Decoding Birdsong - the musician who went from playing at Glastonbury to his day-job as a teacher. Presented by Stuart Maconie Produced by Olive Clancy Assistant Producer Lizzie Foster Production Coordinator Mica Nepomuceno Technical Producers: Mike Smith, Phil Booth, Jonathan Esp

Stuart Maconie is joined by comedian Simon Brodkin, known for his character Lee Nelson and his stunts, slipping past security to prank the likes of Donald Trump, Seb Blatter and Theresa May. He's out on tour with a new show, Unleashed. Ahir Shah won the Edinburgh Comedy award in 2023 for his show Ends. His new show, Golden is inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche and Gerald Manley Hopkins. Best Selling Crime Author Elly Griffith's The Killing Time is the second in her new Ali Dawson series. And there's music from Cara Dillon and Truthpaste.Presester: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Stuart Maconie is joined in the Salford studio by the food critic and broadcaster Jay Rayner, who tells us about the worst thing he's ever done for money. Helen Rebanks, author of the best-selling book The Farmer's Wife, on not discussing bluetongue and Herdwicks with Whoopi Goldberg, and comedian Sindhu Vee on the perils of a four-a-day mango habit.There's music from Portland-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs and Falkirk's own Arab Strap.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Elizabeth Foster

Clive Anderson's guests include the broadcaster and journalist Janet Street-Porter who is celebrating her 80th birthday by hitting the road. In 'Janet Street Porter is Still of The Leash at 80', Street-Porter is revisiting the highs and lows of her long and unusual life and career, settling scores and telling truths.Comedian writer and actress Isy Suttie is the latest to take on the Taskmaster. As she tells Clive, she's no stranger to a dare - was this good training for the TV show?Christopher Chung is best known for playing the deluded MI5 tech specialist Roddy Ho in Slow Horses. As the acclaimed spy drama returns for a sixth series, Chung is also starring as the romantic lead Roddy Ho wishes he was in a new adaptation of Miles Franklin's 'My Brilliant Career'And music is from Altered Images who are on tour playing their hit 1981 debut album 'Happy Birthday'. Clare Grogan tells us why now is the right time to look back. Looking forward is Jordan Rakei, whose new album 'A Safe Place to Be Wild' is out in October. He joins us in the studio to perform a track. Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Jessica Treen