The Convex Conversation

Lorraine Kelly talks about the privilege of broadcasting throughout the pandemic & the importance of keeping the nation's spirits up even when she felt low & anxious at times.    Lorraine chats about her incredible 35 years in the industry; the major stories she’s covered; the celebrities she’s interviewed & laughs about her appearance on C4’s The Last Leg & the fallout when she named ITV's Good M...

  Chef Tom Kerridge calls for a Ministry for Hospitality to help the industry get back on its feet after the pandemic & an end to politicians calling low-paid workers "low-skilled".   Tom & Helen discuss their shared passion for saving Britain's pubs, subject of his latest BBC2 series, & Tom reveals how providing meals for exhausted NHS staff when his businesses like two Michelin starred The Hand...

Andrew Ritchie MBE shares the fascinating story of how he invented the now iconic folding Brompton Bicycle 45 years ago in his bedroom overlooking London’s Brompton Oratory.    Whip rounds from friends got him started & set him off on what he describes as a perilous journey at times, but which resulted in his award-winning bike being used & loved all over the world, revolutionising city travel.   ...

  As Tusk celebrates 30 years as one of the world’s leading conservation charities, Charlie Mayhew says having Prince William as a Royal patron from the early days has been of immense value to conservation in general & the projects Tusk supports.    Charlie shares his personal story of how he started out at Lloyd's of London, fell in love with Africa after hearing stories of life in the Bush from...

  Cleo Rocos, who shot to fame starring alongside comedy legend Kenny Everett in the eighties, tells Helen about growing her award-winning tequila brand from scratch including trips to Mexico working in the fields with the jimadores on the agave harvest.   Cleo also reminisces about life on set with Kenny; their close friendship & secret fun times with Queen's Freddie Mercury & Princess Diana who...

  In this week’s Convex Conversation, actor & man of Kent Neil Stuke talks about his roles in everything from Silk & Dr Foster to Silent Witness, Dr Who & Game On.   He also shares his passion for community & saving the great British pub; his love of art, architecture & design, & reveals how an early morning cold swim in the sea off the Kent coast kick starts his day!    Cover photograph by Liam D...

  In this week’s Convex Conversation, Hilary Evans talks about the pioneering research the charity is leading to find effective treatments for Alzheimer’s. Digital fingerprints could lead to early detection and treatments years before symptoms even show.   Actor & supporter Samuel L Jackson speaks movingly about how he & his family have been affected by dementia & gives us an insight into the dise...

John takes us on a culinary journey to some of the incredible places he’s visited & the dishes he’s brought back to share in his beautiful cookery books. Middle Eastern & North African food are a favourite & John’s cooking films have inspired many on Instagram.     He also talks about his experiences in Gaza for The World Food Programme which supports millions of refugees.                 

Crystal is responsible for social media for Google UK, at just 30, her contribution to the tech & media world has already been recognised in a series of awards. Crystal shares her leadership style; the secrets to driving positive change by being 'more pirate' & reveals she's writing a book of things she wished she'd known when she started in the industry. 

American-born sculptor Helaine Blumenfeld gives a fascinating insight into how she creates her public sculptures - some of which are five metres high - in materials like white Italian marble & bronze. Helaine talks about her extraordinary life from growing up in New York; studying under Russian sculptor Ossip Zadkine who after admiring her early work, expected her to be a man, to living in England...

  Adil Ray, of Good Morning Britain & Citizen Khan fame, talks about his upcoming film with Dame Judi Dench; the joys of live broadcasting on ITV & Lingo - the new word game he’s hosting.   Mr Khan makes a welcome appearance, as Helen & Adil explore his early days growing up in Birmingham; the surprise discovery he’s related to the Bugandan royal family & his fascination with socks!               ...

  Personal trainer Patrick Hutchinson made headlines all over the world when an unforgettable photograph of him carrying a far-right protestor to safety during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in London went viral.   Patrick tells Helen how his life changed that day.    His unexpected notoriety has given him & his friends a platform to set up UTCAI – United To Change And Inspire – aimed at overc...

  Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh describes the harsh dangers & absolute beauty of swimming in a glacial river under the ice sheet in Antarctica in just his Speedos to highlight the devastating effects of climate change.   Lewis explains how all of our futures will be determined by the polar regions which are melting at a frightening rate. He continues to push himself to the absolute limit to encoura...

Camille talks about the challenges & joys of transforming the Docklands wasteland of the early nineties into a stunning city within a city.   She also shares her love of art which she’s brought to the Canary Wharf estate; discusses the importance of women at senior levels; talks about the drive & determination she believes she got from her father & laughs about her well-known dislike of holidays! ...

  Neil gives a fascinating insight into what it's like flying advanced trauma medics to the scene of critical incidents including stabbings, shootings & road accidents in the capital.  London has one of the world's most complex & crowded airspaces and the aim is to take the hospital to the roadside to deliver life-saving care for patients like Yair & Victoria who we hear from in this week's Convex...

  Former Communard, vicar of Finedon, co-presenter of BBC's Saturday Live, musician, writer & Twitter lover Richard Coles shares stories from his youth, his days as an accidental pop star & life as a vicar.    Richard also talks about coping with grief after the unexpected loss of the love of his life and reveals he’s "standing up & facing forward".                   

  Dee shares remarkable stories from her six circumnavigations of the globe. She earned a place in the record books & an MBE for being the first woman to go solo the ‘wrong’ way, against prevailing winds & currents, inspired by Sir Chay Blyth.    Dee talks frankly about life alone in some of the most hostile waters & conditions; learning to live with herself 24/7; the beauty & power of nature; dev...

  Ben shares his extraordinary business journey. He started out selling sandwiches & opened his first café more than 20 years ago with his brother Hugo, hence the name ‘Benugo’.   He talks to Helen about the ups & downs of growing his business into a £100-million-pound empire, the challenges of being in some of Britain’s most prestigious museums & galleries including the V&A, & the importance of B...

    Helen chats with former UK Special Forces operative Ollie Ollerton from Channel Four's reality show SAS : Who Dares Wins. Ollie talks frankly about the battles he's been determined to overcome, including a vicious & traumatic attack when he was a young boy & shares how he uses his own extreme personal & military experiences to help others turn their lives around through his organisation, Break...

  Helen chats to Gethin Jones about his time on Celebrity MasterChef 2020 including his surprise departure at the final stages.   Gethin also talks about presenting on The One Show & Radio 2, his Blue Peter audition & the autism foundation he’s set up inspired by his nephew. And he attempts to teach Helen some Welsh!   

  Presenter & journalist Penny Smith chats about her career in live broadcasting, her passion for opera & theatre, and shares the five things she can’t live without!   She also reveals the terrifying moment she found herself on the wrong end of a submachine gun and feared her time was up.   

  Helen meets refugee Eid Aljazairli & hears about his extraordinary escape from war torn Syria at the hands of smugglers & the moment he feared he would drown at sea when the small wooden boat he was in collapsed. Despite being a non-swimmer when he left his family in Damascus, Eid is now training for Tokyo 2021 where he hopes to compete as a swimmer for the Olympic Refugee Team & is a financial...

One of Britain’s favourite actors Amanda Redman chats to Helen about how the devastating burns accident she had as a child inspired her to come up with a new plotline for ITV drama The Good Karma Hospital; reminisces about happy times on the set of New Tricks with Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong & James Bolam & shares her passion for her drama school.   

  Gyles shares with Helen everything from his friendships with Dame Judi Dench and Mrs Thatcher to his relationship with the Royal family.   He keeps his synapses supple by reciting poetry & talks about the podcast series he does with Countdown’s etymologist Susie Dent on their shared passion for words.  

    Greg Jenner, of Horrible Histories & You’re Dead to Me, shares how his childhood interest in toy knights & Tony Robinson’s sitcom Maid Marian and her Merry Men may have contributed to him becoming a public historian.   We explore the history of celebrity, discuss why comedy & history work so well together, and find out about Greg’s mission to inspire those who don’t think history is their thin...