20 Questions With

Julia Bradbury shares her story of recovering from cancer, and the journey she's been on since her diagnosis, as she explores alternative approaches to health and wellbeing. Along the way she explores the longevity of her career as a television presenter, her commitment to nature, her experience of travel, including to Antarctica, and her determination to be there for her children. This is a deepl...

One of the greatest directors of his generation, Sir Richard Eyre shares his insights from a life in theatre and film. From Judy Dench and Ian Holm to Anthony Hopkins and David Harewood, from Olivier to Brando, Eyre offers glimpses into a world of acting stardom and genius. What makes a great actor? What makes a great director? How did Eyre himself rise from being, in his view, an inadequate actor...

Superstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor brings joy and her unique giggle - as well as serious reflection on serious issues - to the 20 Questions With podcast. From her eBay habit to a career renaissance, a billboard hit, kitchen discos, the thrill of performing live, the energy of music, worldwide travel, working with her husband, raising five boys, making money, philately, the impact of her parents' divorc...

Legendary broadcaster John Sergeant tells the often hilarious stories that knit together to form a career that has straddled both the deadly serious and the comic and absurd. From Northern Ireland to the shiny floors of Strictly Come Dancing via Vietnam and Westminster, Sergeant has spent a life in the limelight. He reveals the background to his famous ambush of Margaret Thatcher on the steps of t...

Britain's most famous classicist, Dame Mary Beard, takes us on a journey through her life and career, offering insights and anecdotes along the way. What would the Romans have been like on X?  Should we pass moral judgements on those who lived thousands of years ago? Does being a classicist make you a better person? Does she see herself as an outsider? Who's her favourite Roman woman? Is it possib...

The veteran broadcaster reflects on a career that led him to become a presenter on the BBC's flagship Today programme, and one of Britain's most famous interviewers. He explores the impact growing up in a Cardiff slum had on his later life, reveals what has motivated him in his work, and shares his views on politicians. Humphrys also looks ahead to the BBC's future, predicts the end of the licence...

Expert in bushcraft, TV presenter and writer Ray Mears explains his love of nature, his fascination for human history, and the ways in which he uses his skills to become at one with his environment in the wild - both in Britain and beyond. 

Impressionist, pianist, poet and star of The Big Impression Alistair McGowan takes us behind the scenes of his career. Along the way he does impressions of Louis Theroux, Harry Kane, Raymond Blanc, David Hockney, Alan Bennett, Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Skinner, Richard Madeley, Alan Shearer, Jo Brand, Dara Ó Briain, Monty Don, Gareth Southgate, Ronnie Corbett, Sven-Göran Eriksson, John Bishop, David...

The Private Eye editor and star of Have I Got News For You on how to debate populists, the fluctuating fortunes of satire, the state of Britain, what he thinks of Keir Starmer, the role of social media in politics, the tone-setting of Donald Trump, the nature of the England Test team, life outside work, and the success of his wife, best-selling author, Victoria Hislop. 

Newspaper columnist Sir Simon Jenkins discusses his new history of America, reflects on the unpredictable state of British politics, looks back on his career in the media - including his time as editor of The Times - and offers a warning about what he sees as a threat to the British countryside. He also gives his view on the challenges to the union of the United Kingdom, laments what he sees as th...

Best-selling author and populariser of the power of geography Tim Marshall looks at the role geography plays in conflicts and international relations - past and present - from Britain to Japan, via the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Middle East. 

Popular philosopher Alain de Botton on life, death, the role of philosophy in contemporary life, love, anger, decision-making, pleasure, happiness, success, and ignorance. 

Steven Finn is a triple Ashes winner. A 6"8 fast bowler with 257 international wickets to his name, he was part of a side that won Test series in Australia, India and South Africa. He got Steve Smith out twice in one game, and also counts Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers amongst his Test victims. Middlesex's youngest debutant at 16, he came of age bowling at Lord's, and would end his playing career...

Mariella Frostrup, broadcaster, writer and campaigner, on women, the erotic, culture, radio, TV, upbringing, the loss of her father when she was a teenager, parenthood, career, being in the public eye, worrying, interviewing, equality, food, the menopause, and her new book, Menolicious. 

Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist, cosmologist and astrobiologist, who won The Templeton Prize in 1995. Here he reflects on the centenary of quantum mechanics, the future of quantum physics, the progress of AI, the potential for colonising Mars, the compatibility of God and quantum mechanics, theories of the Universe, the meaning of life, the history of scientific discovery, and coming up aga...

Times Columnist and food critic Giles Coren talks about food, dieting, restaurants, sport, fatherhood, performance, writing, money, TV, death, anger, self-harm, and causing offence. He also opens up about the lasting impact on him of being hit as a child by his father, the late broadcaster and satirist, Alan Coren. This is a conversation that oscillates between humour and seriousness and offers an...

Arguably England's greatest prop since World Cup winner Trevor Woodman, Alex Corbisiero has a fascinating life story. Born in New York and raised in Surrey, he went on to represent England at the highest level, before retiring in his late 20s after a long injury history. In 2020 he received treatment for testicular cancer. Now a TV personality, DJ, and rugby coach, Corbisiero is still only 37. Her...

Chris Hadfield has made three trips to space, observed Earth from afar, spacewalked, flown fighter jets, made music and become a novelist. Here he explores ideas he hasn't articulated before and takes us into parts of the universe most of us will never experience for ourselves. Hadfield introduces his latest book, Final Orbit, explains how he became an astronaut, thrillingly reveals what our plane...

The best-selling author of This Is Going To Hurt, Adam Kay, introduces his first novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, and takes us behind the scenes of his life as a comedian, while also reflecting on his career as a doctor in Obs and gynae. Stand-up, life, death, and a clarion call for the NHS.

Award-winning Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland explores themes from his new, Nazi era book, The Traitors Circle, including how human beings react to evil in their midst; considers what he sees as the growing threat of authoritarianism in the UK, the Tommy Robinson rally, and the involvement of Elon Musk; ponders whether or not participation on X is the best way to combat populist, and extreme...

The former Labour leader gives his views on patriotism, Keir Starmer, the upcoming Budget, inequality, child poverty, raising taxes, the left behind, the future of British manufacturing, charisma in politics, the survival of the Tory Party, Nigel Farage, populism, Donald Trump, proportional representation, the legacy of Thatcherism, and what it was like facing Margaret Thatcher at the despatch box...

Wow! What an extraordinary story Huey Morgan has to tell. Brought up on the rough side of New York by his mother, Huey got into trouble with the law before joining the US Marines. After leaving the military, he fell back into the criminal underworld before helping to establish the rap rock band, Fun Lovin' Criminals. His memoirs, Fun Lovin' Criminal, lift the lid on his journey towards stardom and...

Steve Richards gives his views on the state of British politics, some of the challenges facing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - including the vital importance of communication skills - the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK, the shift towards a multi party landscape, and the urgent need, as he sees it, to improve public services. Richards has been a political journalist for decades and, during thei...

As Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson was one of the most influential figures in British economics. Now Provost of Queen's College, Oxford, (as well as a Times columnist) having stepped down from the IFS this summer after a decade and a half of leading the independent think tank, Johnson offers his verdict on the British economy, what he makes of some of the choices facing...

Opera singer Freddie de Tommaso is only 32 but he's already a star and about to play a lead role in Tosca at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. From there he travels to New York to sing in La Bohème at The Met before his role debut in Verdi's Luisa Miller in Valencia. In this episode of 20 Questions, Freddie takes us behind the scenes of his success, explains how he sprang to fame, speaks of...