Unfiltered with Oli Dugmore

Most authors never have a bestseller. Even fewer come to define an entire decade. Trainspotting, both the book and the film that followed it, was a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s, catapulting writer Irvine Welsh into literary infamy. In this unflinching interview with James O’Brien, Irvine talks candidly about the drug-fuelled hedonism of the ‘80s and ‘90s that he both participated in and distil...

He’s best known as Luke Skywalker, but who was Mark Hamill before he picked up the lightsaber? The Star Wars legend joins James O’Brien for a very special interview, exploring his early love for show business, being cast by George Lucas in the first Star Wars movie, the wild space ride that he, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher were all launched on, and passing the torch to a new generation of heroe...

As the Nazis closed in on Prague, a six-year-old Alf Dubs was carried away from his native Czechoslovakia on the Kindertransport rescue operation that saved 669 predominantly Jewish children. In a remarkable interview with James O’Brien, Lord Dubs talks about the modest bravery of Nicholas Winton, the man who organised the rescue, growing up in Britain with a love of politics, the horrors he witne...

In a laugh-filled look behind the curtain of comedy, stand-up legend Richard Herring takes James O’Brien through his partnership with Stewart Lee, climbing the greasy pole of comedy, the various disputes and fallings out that come with collaboration, and how the pair of them managed to get away with some of the most outlandish television ever commissioned. Comedy fans will not want to miss this in...

The first sitting MP to appear on Unfiltered, David Lammy has represented the people of Tottenham for the best part of two decades. In that time, he has been privy to some of the most extraordinary moments and developments in British politics. In this incisive and impassioned interview with James O’Brien, David Lammy shares the impact of his father abandoning his family at the age of 12, the terro...

After almost drowning at the age of four, Scroobius Pip developed a stutter. Not only did it not stop him from becoming a successful rapper, spoken word poet, actor and fellow podcaster, he believes it was directly responsible for all of it. He joins James O’Brien for a fun and thought-provoking interview that will leave you believing that you too can do anything, just as long as you put your mind...

In 2012, at the end of their tether, Jack Monroe wrote a blog detailing the depths of the bitter poverty they had fallen into. After going viral, the post catapulted Jack from the brink of despair and into the spotlight. In a raw and exploratory interview, Jack takes James O’Brien through struggling to making ends meet, the realities of austerity in Britain, identifying as a non-binary and preferr...

Few British psychologists can also boast a successful career in the NBA, but John Amaechi can. In this enthralling and thoughtful interview with James O’Brien, John recounts his struggles growing up black, nerdy and exceptionally tall in 1980s Stockport, a chance encounter with a stranger that led him to pursue basketball, his decision to come out after leaving the NBA, and the realities of being...

Politics is a brutal game, and few politicians know this as well as Nick Clegg. The former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-Liberal Democrats leader gives James O’Brien an in-depth and revealing interview, covering his years in coalition with the Conservatives and his relationship with Prime Minister David Cameron, the Lib Dem massacre at the 2015 election and subsequent decline of the party, and his...

If there’s one thing Gary Lineker is not going to do, it’s ‘just stick to football’. The broadcaster joins James O’Brien for a boundless interview, from his time at the top-flight of football to dealing with the corruption rotting its core, to facing the fire and fury of the right-wing press for simply speaking his mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nimco was seven when she was taken to Djibouti to be cut. In an unflinching interview, activist Nimco Ali takes James O’Brien on her incredible personal story, from fleeing her native Somaliland as a child refugee escaping civil war to finding her place on the FGM frontline, fighting to bring the practice to an end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even as a young child, Paris Lees knew that she didn’t feel right in her body. In a bold and revealing interview, Paris takes James O’Brien on a journey from experimenting with tights and make-up, a reckless adolescence selling sex and spending time in prison, to becoming the first trans woman to feature in Vogue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Iain Lee went on I’m a Celebrity, he never expected to come out and be ambushed by 190 selfie-demanding school kids. The broadcaster and presenter joins James O'Brien for a frank and funny interview, discussing the ups and downs of his career, his challenges with mental health, and of course, what went down in the jungle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Baddiel’s mother had an impressively open 20-year-long affair with a golf memorabilia collector, and his father’s rare form of dementia removed his sexual inhibitions and causes him to swear incessantly. The comedian and writer joins James O’Brien for a funny and thoughtful interview that looks at family, comedy and the line that divides the two. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Writer and now fellow podcaster Jon Ronson joins James for a remarkable interview that dives into some of the dark worlds his work inhabits, from public shaming to psychopaths, right up to internet porn revolution and the twisted journeys it took Jon on. Jon discusses his latest project The Butterfly Effect, as well as highlights from his spectacular body of work including The Psychopath Test, The...

Comedy legend Matt Lucas joins James O’Brien in a frank and candid interview to talk about the staggering success of Little Britain and the controversies it provokes today, the pain and pitfalls of his coming out, and how David Walliams helped him to accept his own sexuality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The one and only Eric Cantona joins James for a very special career-spanning interview in which we explore the life and mind of an icon. No stone is left unturned as King Eric takes us through his early life and career, his thoughts on the state of the Western world, and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Krishnan Guru-Murthy sits down with James O'Brien for an enlightening interview that discusses his life, the role of the media in modern Britain, how a lack of access to politicians could be sewing the seeds of a democratic crisis, and why he would be fired by Channel 4 if he gave his true opinion on Brexit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Browder is Vladimir Putin’s No. 1 enemy. Armed with a true life story cut straight from a bestselling thriller, listen as Bill grippingly recounts his tale from Red Notice in an extraordinary interview, which sees him placed on Interpol’s most-wanted list, exposing crime, corruption and conspiracy at the highest levels of the Kremlin, and rededicating his life to find justice for his friend a...

James sits down for an interview with writer and presenter June Sarpong to talk about the real meaning of diversity, beating the British class system, otherness, and how growing up on a predominantly white council estate helped bring her closer to people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our most ‘unfiltered’ interview so far, Lily Allen talks to James about the right-wing tabloids, phone hacking, women’s sexuality, Grenfell, and the Harvey Weinstein allegations, as well as her life growing up and making it in the music business. New episodes of Unfiltered come out every Tuesday. Subscribe at hyperurl.co/unfiltered Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James meets Armando Iannucci, the man behind The Day Today, I’m Alan Partridge, The Thick of It and Veep. In this career-spanning interview, Armando offers his astute observations of American and British politics through the lenses of Trump and Brexit, talks about his new film The Death of Stalin, working with Steve Coogan and Chris Morris, and how being a director nearly turned him into a dictato...

Robert Webb talks to James O’Brien about the problems with masculinity, losing loved ones, meeting David Mitchell, finding success with Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look, and how his difficult relationship with his dad affected him as a parent. Watch a video of this interview on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/QixnWfVwmskTo get a new episode of Unfiltered with James O'Brien every T...

In a startlingly frank interview, Alastair Campbell talks to James O'Brien about his battle with depression and alcoholism, his breakdown, suicidal thoughts and his admiration for Roy Keane (and how all these things are related).Watch a video of this interview on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/ONB-EkyZQzoTo get a new episode of Unfiltered with James O'Brien every Tuesday, subscribe at hyp...

In the first episode of our new longform interview series host James O'Brien is joined by Russell Brand for an under the skin discussion about life, love, addiction, recovery, and how becoming a dad has changed him. Watch a video of this interview on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/h7gnhFHsHdYTo get a new episode of Unfiltered with James O'Brien every Tuesday, subscribe at hyperurl.co/unfi...