Showing results by author "Holly Newson" in All Categories

Known for his deadpan humour and sarcasm, Jack Dee is a regular on our screens and airwaves. After his first ever stand-up, Jack Dee was encouraged to tour the circuit, and after winning the Best Stage Newcomer awards in 1991, Dee began to grace our screens with The Jack Dee Show. Since then, Dee has performed sell-out stand-up shows, written and starred in sitcoms such as Lead Balloon and hosted shows such as I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Have I Got News for You.

Robert Peston is the presenter of ITV's politics show, Peston, and has been ITV News' political editor since 2015, having previously worked as BBC's business editor for a decade. We spoke with Peston about his latest venture, a novel titled The Whistleblower, his first work of fiction. Holly Newson asked him about this foray into fiction and his everlasting interest in the world of politics, and heard which parts of the book are based on his own life.

Joining us at Audible Studios is author, journalist and screenwriter Sarfraz Manzoor. Manzoor was born in Pakistan and grew up in Luton, UK. Being raised in a Muslim family while attending a mainly white school, Manzoor was more than aware of his differences and was told that white people would never accept him.

Joining us at Audible Studios is Rosie Jones, British stand-up comedian, screen writer and children’s author. Having begun her career as a junior researcher for comedy panel shows, Jones realised she wanted to be the one telling the jokes, not just writing them. A couple of years on, and Jones is a regular on shows such as The Last Leg, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and across BBC Radio 4. Jones writes for sitcoms such as Netflix's Sex Education and launched her own podcast called Daddy Look at Me.

Cameron's global film making spans art, fashion, music, female empowerment and global warming and has worked with major international brands such as Nike, Adidas, Converse and YouTube. Growing up in the notorious cult, Children of God, has clearly not held her back. In fact, after leaving the cult, Cameron travelled across America to investigate other cults, ultimately leading to her memoir, Cult Following, which delves into her childhood in the Children of God and details Cameron’s road trips as she attempts to confront the trauma she faced as a child.

After nearly dying of septic shock after an emergency caesarean section, Candice Brathwaite started speaking about changes needed in the healthcare system when it comes to the treatment of black women, who are five times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. This experience, amongst other things, led to her first book, I Am Not Your Baby Mother, which went on to be a Sunday Times best seller. Brathwaite is also a regular on Lorraine on ITV, known for her on-point beauty and fashion advice, and is a Contributing Editor to Grazia.

After studying English at university, O'Leary had a successful career as a children's editor at the Penguin Random House publisher. Not enjoying living in London, O'Leary moved to the countryside and spent her daily commute working on her novel, The Flatshare. After its astounding success, O'Leary was able to achieve her dream of being a full time writer and released her second novel The Switch.

Joining us at Audible is Hollie McNish, the Ted Hughes Award-winning author and poet. Her latest collection, Slug, covers topics from birth to death, sex to sexism and many other everyday challenges we face in the 21st century. We'll be talking to Hollie McNish about her approach to poetry, what she’s most looking forward to about her next gig, and how she has come to feel comfortable discussing things that no one else does.

Gordon began her career in journalism, working for papers such as The Daily Telegraph. Alongside her journalistic career, Bryony has written several books which document her struggles with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction. Speaking out about mental health has given Gordon a new perspective and drive on the matter, prompting her to run the London marathon two years in a row for mental health charities and start a support group, 'Mental Health Mates'.

Joining us at Audible Studios is James Windust, writer, public speaker and model. Windust graduated from UCA Epsom with a degree in fashion management and marketing and within six months of their graduation was named as one of London's 1,000 most influential people by The Evening Standard. Windust is a freelance writer and has written pieces for British GQ, Gay Times, The Independent and many more. As well as being a writer, Windust is also a public speaker and has spoken at events for Tommy Hilfiger and TEDxLondonWomen.

Joining us at Audible is Alastair Campbell, British journalist, broadcaster and former political aide. Campbell's latest book, Living Better, takes an in-depth look at his lifelong battle with depression.

Magid, born in Somalia, came to Britain as a refugee in 1994. He grew up in Sheffield and completed a travelling gap year before studying at the University of Hull, where his foray into politics began, being elected as Students Union president. Entering the world of work, Magid was elected as a Green Party councillor on Sheffield City Council in 2016, and from 2018-2019 he served as lord mayor.

Thurlow was born and raised in Scotland and is a former Miss Edinburgh winner. After attending university in England and leaving with a First, Thurlow worked for four years with the Halo Trust in Explosive Ordnance Disposal: locating, de-arming and removing landmines that put lives and livelihoods at risk in former war zones. Thurlow found the work began to take a toll on her health and took a step back. At which point, she was approached to be a contestant on the reality TV show Love Island.

Joining us from home is post-doctoral research scientist Dr Tim Gregory, whose book Meteorite brings us not just the story of our planet, but the origins of the solar system in a comprehensible form. Dr Tim Gregory grew up in Yorkshire and has always had a fascination with science, mainly space and rocks.

Tyce, born and raised in Edinburgh, attended Oxford University to study English literature. She then completed a law conversion course at City University, going on to work as a criminal barrister for almost 10 years. After having difficulties juggling childcare for her young children alongside her demanding work life, Tyce decided to leave her job as a barrister. Tyce's desire to write was growing stronger as time passed, and with a manuscript or two on the go, she applied for an MA in creative writing at the University of East Anglia.

Born in Dublin, Dolan studied English at Trinity College, followed by a master's in Victorian literature at Oxford. Excerpts of Exciting Times have appeared in The Dublin Review and The Stinging Fly, but the book, which follows protagonist Ava and her relationships with Julian and Edith, can now be read and listened to in full - to great effect!

Joining us at Audible Studios is British political activist Sophie Walker, who was the founding leader of the Women's Equality Party in the United Kingdom. Her book, Five Rules for Rebellion, gives us advice on how to incorporate activism into our lives. Walker has appeared on UK media broadcasts, was listed as one of BBC's '100 Women' and named by The Evening Standard as one of the 'New Suffragettes'.

Hurwitz is a New York Times number one internationally best-selling author of 21 thrillers. His novels have won many literary awards and have been published in 32 languages worldwide. Hurwitz has written screenplays for major studios, including The Book of Henry, and written and produced television for various networks. Hurwitz's talents don't end there: he is also a New York Times best-selling comic book writer, having written the likes of Wolverine for Marvel, and Batman and Penguin for DC.

Goldsmith is mixed-race and was raised in London in the 1950s by a single white mother. Goldsmith was the first female - and only ever woman of colour - to be elected to the University of Leicester students' union. She founded Anona Development Consultancy in 1995, for which she works as an energiser, motivator and strategist in the not-for-profit sector. Goldsmith has worked with more than 100 different groups and organisations over five continents.

Page has always had a passion for writing and began at an early age. She studied fashion journalism and began work at The Guardian. As her career focused on writing, Page found little time to pursue her own writing and so made a career switch to marketing in order to make space for her own books. Page's second novel, The 24-Hour Cafe, has just published, and we chatted to her about the human tales she tells, her determination to write and why she loves having a pen pal.