The Author Archive Podcast

There is huge interest in the latest Charles Spencer book, but he has written about his family before. They started as sheep farmers. They were successful! This conversation was recorded in the 90s at Althrop the Spencer family stately home. Interesting to hear his view , all those years ago , of his sister Diana. It was memorable to talk to the author in one of the grand rooms surrounded by portraits of his ancestors. The purpose of the interview was to promote his family history book that was about to be published.

There is a press story telling how Sir Rannulph Fiennes seems to have disappeared. Obviously I have no idea where he is. I remember him as a fascinating, engaging and memorable interviewee. In 2019 Sir Rannulph was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. A few years ago as part of the Cheltenham Literary festival I interviewed Sir Rannulph on stage at the Everyman Theatre about his family history book 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen'. I remember shaking hands - a non standard formality for him. He told me how he had to adopt a DIY approach to dealing with frost bite in his fingers. In this episode there's a conversation I had with Sir Rannulph later in a London studio, a chat with the legendary travel writer Eric Newby, and the life of the unforgettable adventurer Lucy Irvine. Lucy had replied to an advertisement in 1980 seeking a woman to spend a year on a desert island with a man she didn't know. This adventure became a film starring Oliver Reid. She tells me how she went on to write the story of another island dwelling family in her book Faraway. Memorable stories.

The American president now suggests that he is closely associated with Jesus. He has distributed pictures. He is performing Bible readings. Will he include the bits from Matthew 5:9? Blessed are the peacemakers? He declares that he has been saved by God to make his country great again, I find it impossible not to wonder about the precise nature of the deity that he professes to believe in. Are Donald and his advisers familiar with the writings that are the basis of his religion? This book by Catherine Nixey is terrific - its a revelation and it's now available in paperback format. Catherine has studied texts written around the same time as the writings we know as the gospels. Some of these ancient documents tell the story of the bible characters we are familiar with in a totally different way. Listen to Catherine talk about her research and you will be surprised ..... probably very surprised!! Every time I see a politician leaning in a faith direction I want to urge them to read this book!

Antonio Forcione is a brilliant guitar player. Antonio really likes to entertain and he is joined by comedian, singer and songwriter Boothby Graffoe. When we talked Antonio was in a museum in Rome and Boothby was in Portugal. I'm David Freeman and I was in Cheltenham. I saw the show last night - it was brilliant.

Joseph Millson is an author but he is also a stage actor. Currently he is starring in the hugely successful West End revival of Phantom of the Opera. He tells me about his first novel - Miller Rose Roberts. Who she is, what she does and the role of tinnitus in the story. Joseph is an entertainer.... great fun. Amongst other stories he describes how his dad became fused to a bass guitar. He didn't mean to!

Jeanette Winterson celebrates her 67th birthday on August 27th. This interview was recorded when Jeanette was a 20 something brand new literary force and a CD was cutting edge technology. I remember this conversation with huge affection. Mostly I would talk to an author for 20 minutes or so but this conversation is twice that. It was recorded in the spring of 1984 when 'Oranges are Not the Only Fruit' was first published. I was very fortunate because I was one of the very first broadcasters to interview Jeanette. I had been reading the book in bed the night before and was buzzing with enthusiasm for it when I met her. Hear the author talk about her life in religious Accrington and why she rejected the faith. A superb book!

This archive interview dates back to March 2014. Jim Lovelock was in his mid nineties. I was delighted to interview him. As I said at the time for me it was like meeting Elvis! He was energetic, effervescent and wise. His wife Sandy was in the front row and he shone with contentment. When the conversation started I had no idea we were going to end up talking about microwave ovens .... but we started discussing climate change. And then moved on to falling in love ! 2014 is not long ago but the full ferocity of the effect of the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hadn't really been felt in the way it has now. So what did Jim think?

It is five years since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan. Science is one of the many things they disapprove of. Religion is believed more than evident truth. All over the globe there are powerful politicians who have taken to denying scientific facts to further their own ambitions. This took another massive leap into the abyss when President Trump removed all the limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Not a solution to the problem - just a denial of its existence. Inconvenient scientific facts denied and dismissed. Unbelievable in our heating world There is a new book edited by Lawrence M.Krauss - The War on Science. Among the writers and scientists who have contributed chapters is Richard Dawkins. Professor Dawkins talked to me about his chapter.

The new war that is happening now and the the appalling inhumanity still happening in the world makes this conversation distressingly relevant. There is the thought that some people are less human then others. Some people in power seem to think that bombs and missiles provide an answer. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10th 1948. We now live in a world where the rights agreed in that document are widely ignored. Racial intolerance is on the march . The horrible spectre of antisemitism is looming over the news as is denial of the rights of Palestinians. As an American bishop recently said ..... immigrants and gay people are as valuable as everyone else. What would Sir Martin Gilbert make of the current situation? A good time to listen to the words of the late Sir Martin Gilbert. The name Winston Churchill has been used recently to score political points. Sir Martin Gilbert is known as Churchill's biographer, but also as the historian of the Holocaust. This conversation with David Freeman took place when his book Never Again was published. Sir Martin's thoughts on war are sadly relevant. Sir Martin died in 2015.

Joe Boyd is a man about music, record producer, a film producer and author. He arrived in London in 1964 with Muddy Waters and a host of blues musicians who played to sold out UK audiences when they were unappreciated in their US homeland. In England Joe Boyd is remembered as a producer associated with Fairport Convention, particularly the ground breaking album Liege and Lief. Classic songs from the record are still in Fairport's repertoire and will be played at the Cropredy festival. In this conversation he talks about Nick Drake, Paul Simon, The Incredible String Band, Paul Butterfield, MIke Bloomfield and the enduring power of real music. A thought provoking podcast.

Kind of Blue is the most successful jazz LP ever made. It was recorded over two sessions in New York in 1959 and is still revered as a masterpiece. The session was lead by Miles Davis who was born 100 years ago. Ashley Kahn told David Freeman the story behind a historic music event.

Simon Nicol was one of the founder members of Fairport Convention in 1967. Fifty nine years ago. He talks about being a member of the ground breaking Folk Rock band who still draw a capacity crowd at the Cropredy Festival. The thoughts and memories of a musician who started his career in the legendary flower power hippie 'Summer of Love'. Times have changed!

David Sedaris now fills arenas with enthusiastic fans but when I interviewed him in 2000 he was almost unknown. His book 'Me Talk Pretty One Day ' was just published. There is a new collection of Sedaris writing just published - this conversation gives context and back story.

Harry talks to me about his book which tells of the harsh life lived by gladiators, but also extends to the ideas and philosophies that defined Roman life. This is not fiction. It's an account written using evidence from the time. A gripping read. Some of the events told are hideous to us, but we have to remember that not that long ago our ancestors flocked to public executions. In some places in our 'civilised ' world watching men fight in a cage is still viewed as entertainment. Plus ca change.

It is very easy to get very troubled by the current US administration . Who could have predicted that the American Vice President would have thought it part of his task to question the Pope's understanding of theology? Who could have predicted that Donald Trump would think it a good idea to read parts of the Bible to the nation? Have they redefined god in their own image? It seems that the current American administration is behaving in even more wild emotionally driven vindictive ways. This gripping and shocking book tells the story of the radical conservative movement shaping Donald Trump's agenda and how it threatens freedoms, values and democracy. Since this conversation was recorded the situation has got much worse.

Sir Anthony Seldon has written about a 1,300 kilometre walk he took across Europe from Southern France, through Austria and the Czech Republic finally reaching his destination, Auschwitz in Poland. On the journey he seeks out inspiring stories of the lives of 'figures of light'. As he tells me , while he was walking through places associated with fascism and the second world war he was well aware of the worrying state of global politics in the 21st century. The Path of LIght is now available as a paperback.

Steve Ashley played a gig to a hometown Cheltenham crowd on June 26th 2026. It was a triumph. Steve has had a long illustrious career in music and political activism. This conversation was recorded in November 2025, a few months before his 80th birthday. His passions, enthusiasms and commitment remain undimmed. In this informal interview Steve tells of his influences and motivation. He clearly has a lot of fight and lyricism left! A very entertaining musician and stimulating conversationalist.

Racism is on the rise. Misogyny is on the rise. These awful social trends remind me of what Nina Simone said to me. She was the victim of cruel prejudice. She was angry. Nina Simone was born on February 21st 1933. There has been news recently of a plan to buy Nina Simone's childhood home in Tryon North Carolina and make it into a museum celebrating the life and work of the girl who was born Eunice Waymon. I interviewed Nina in December 1998 just before her last ever show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She was talking to me for a programme on the radio station Jazz fm, which would promote the concert. Nina had a reputation for being a tricky interviewee but on the day she was delightful and during the conversation she was eager to give her views on sexism, racism and feminism. After the interview I was asked to introduce Nina on stage at the Albert Hall. It was a memorable day.

When 'Entitled ' was published last year it caused quite a stir, changed the lives of the Duke and Duchess of York for ever .... and became a number one bestseller. The new paperback of Entitled contains a whole chapter of new information and chronicles what has happened in a tumultuous year. Andrew Lownie predicts that there is more information to come. The story continues ...... A gripping conversation.

Doubles is a powerful compact story, a novella. The protagonist is a 12 year old girl who finds comfort and security in numbers and maths. It takes place in 1968 in an institution for troubled youth. The novella explores how the 'good' girl, over a period of six months, turns into a delinquent. The conversation with Dr Gold is thoughtful, passionate and engaging. Doubles is a short book that stays with you for a long time!