Profile BBC Radio 4

Rylan Clark is on the cusp of becoming a national treasure. Having defied the odds of most reality TV stars, he has managed to stay the course, cementing his already steady career rise to the top with his most recent television outing with Rob Rinder 'Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour', which showed the viewing public a whole new side to his talents.
Brought up in the East End by his mum, Linda. Rylan or Ross as his family and friends know him, was always performing from a young age, according to his mum. The family moved to Essex when he was around 11 going to school in Upminster, where Ross was a mischievous and talented student.
After a few years in retail he started modelling and went off to Ibiza where he was in tribute bands to Take That and Westlife. His big break came when he appeared on X Factor in 2012. Although he didn't win, he did make an impression, and after winning Celebrity Big Brother his career took off.
Mark Coles charts the rise of Rylan Clark.
Presenter: Mark Coles
Contributors
Scott Bryan, TV critic and broadcaster
Linda Clark, Mother
Bernice Cole, Make-up artist and friend
Nader Dehdashti, Agent and friend
Mark Duncan, Deputy Headmaster, Coopers' Company and Coborn School
Robert Rinder, Broadcaster and barrister
CREDITS
X Factor - Thames and Syco Entertainment
Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour - Rex Productions
Keeping Up Appearances - BBC
Masterchef - Endemol Shine UK
How to Be a Man - Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds
How to Be in the Spotlight - Mindhouse production for BBC Sounds
Production Team
Producers: Julie Ball, Diane Richardson & Ivana Davidovic
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Alan Bleasdale, the Liverpudlian screenwriter and playwright, is in the spotlight this week as a stage version of his iconic 1980's TV series 'Boys from the Blackstuff' opened at the National Theatre. Born in Liverpool, an only child who first went into teaching, his first public work was 'Scully' for Radio Merseyside, a kind of Liverpudlian Adrian Mole, which he wrote whilst he was still teaching.
But it was 'Boys from the Blackstuff' that made him a household name with one of the characters, Yosser Hughes' line 'Gissa job' providing a chant on the stands of his beloved Liverpool Football Club.
His work has courted controversy with successive governments, although he says he's not political, only voting for the first time at the age of 38. Now in his late 70's and 40 years on from the original television series, he's back in the spotlight. Stephen Smith talks to friends and colleagues about his work, phobias and how to tell if you're having a heart attack.
Presenter: Stephen Smith
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Julie Ball and Diane Richardson
Researcher: Marianna Brain
Editor: Bridget Harney
Sound: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck
Contributors
Peter Ansorge, former Script Producer, BBC Drama and Commissioning Editor, Drama C4
James Graham, Playwright and Screenwriter
Robert Lindsay, Actor
Sir Michael Palin, Actor and Author
Tony Schumacher, Author and Screenwriter
Trevor Stent, former teaching colleague
CREDITS
Boys from the Blackstuff, BBC Drama
Desert Island Discs, BBC R4
GBH - Channel 4
Scully's New Years Eve, BBC

Ann-Marie Powell, is the exuberant and colourful, garden designer, whose' Octavia Hill 'Garden was one of the eight main gardens in competition at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.
After dropping out of college she spent six months travelling in India, Nepal and New Zealand, which inspired her to take up gardening. Attending Capel Manor horticultural college her first job was working in sales for a large nursery. But Ann-Marie's colourful personal style and outgoing personality led her employer to encourage her to apply for a job as a presenter on a TV gardening show. She soon blossomed into a popular gardening show host working with fellow gardeners like Carol Klein, Joe Swift and gardening supremo, Monty Don.
In addition to running her own successful garden design business from the home she shares with her husband and two boys, on the Hampshire borders, she feels it's important that everyone should have access to green spaces, no matter where they live. During lockdown her Instagram page 'My Real Garden' was a big hit broadcasting garden tips and advice everyday.
Presenter: Mark Coles
CONTRIBUTORS
Julian Bundy - Husband
Angela Halksworth - Co-owner, Tendercare Nurseries
Janet Morgan - Friend
Jane Owen - Garden Designer
Mark Straver - Hortus Loci
Cleve West - Award winning Garden Designer
Tamsin Westhorpe- Gardener and Horticulture Writer
CREDITS
Gardens, Weeds and Words Podcast - Presented by Andrew O'Brien
Real Gardens - Channel 4
RHS
National Trust
My Real Garden - Instagram - Ann-Marie Powell
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Julie Ball and Diane Richardson
Editor: Bridget Harney
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound: David Crackles

You may know her from Play School, Bafta or the House of Lords, Baroness Floella Benjamin doesn’t sit still, she’s even appeared in panto.
Stephen Smith hears about the remarkable life of the Trinidad-born actress, TV presenter and author, who campaigns passionately for children and the Windrush generation.
Contributors
Colin Webb, Publisher, 'Coming to England'
Nero Ughwujabo, Senior Strategy Adviser - Equality Diversity and Inclusion, The Prince's Trust
Lord Simon Woolley, Principal at Homerton College, Cambridge University
Johnny Ball, Children's TV presenter
Paul Nicholas, Actor
Linzi Beuselinck, Actress
Jeremy Swan, Children's TV producer
Ros Edwards, TV producer
Credits
BAFTA
Aladdin and The Forty Thieves, BBC 1984
Desert Island Discs, Baroness Floella Benjamin, BBC Radio 4, October 2020
Presenter: Stephen Smith
Producers: Diane Richardson and Drew Hyndman
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound: Neil Churchill
Programme Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck

After over four decades in the SNP and nearly two in government, John Swinney is finally stepping up to the top job for the first time, becoming Scotland’s new First Minister.
He’s no stranger to big jobs - it’s actually his second stint as SNP leader - but leading his country and his party is looking tougher than ever, as the SNP finds itself facing formidable challenges.
Who is this stalwart of the SNP, and do his life and experiences equip him for the task ahead? Mark Coles talks to friends, colleagues, and those who’ve watched this political operator up close for years.
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producer: Nathan Gower
Assistant Producer: Diane Richardson and Marianna Brain
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Programme Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
Music:
‘John Swinney (We Salute You)' by Nocturnal Vermin (Isaac Brutal, James ‘Slippyunderfoot‘ McCready, Arnold Bastard)

Isaac Levido has established a formidable reputation as a election strategist, helping to craft wins both in the UK and Australia. Thought of as a protege of the quasi-legendary election guru Sir Lynton Crosby in his early years, he’s rapidly racked up achievements of his own, propelling both Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson back into office with his brand of data-driven analysis.
Stephen Smith opens the black box that is electoral strategising and sets out to understand the mind of the man who is set to shape the Conservatives’ impending general election campaign.
Guests:
Katy Balls, Political Editor of The Spectator
Alexander Downer, former leader of the Australian Liberal Party
Paul Stephenson, Vote Leave Campaign Director
Lord Andrew Feldman, former chair of the Conservative Party
David Bold, friend and Australian political advisor
Presenter: Stephen Smith
Producer: Nathan Gower
Assistant Producers: Julie Ball, Diane Richardson
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Programme Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
Archive:
The Thick of It, BBC
Scott Morrison election night speech, ABC News
Boris Johnson election victory speech