Showing results by author "Holly Newson" in All Categories

Carr, best known for his dark one-liners and signature laugh, didn't begin life as a comedian. After studying social science and political science at Cambridge, he began working for fuel company Shell. While there, he began reading self-help books and, feeling miserable, decided to make a change - he gave up his job and learned how to write jokes, got his first gig as a stand-up and changed his life!

When life got in the way of Mortimer and Whitehouse's friendship, they found their connection dwindled to occasional catch ups and one-off phone calls. Then, conveniently, they were both diagnosed with heart disease! And they realised life is short, and they should spend it together, doing what they love: fishing. Following the success of their BBC series, Gone Fishing, Mortimer and Whitehouse have created an audiobook of the same name, which is their love letter to the joys of angling, and the simple wonder of just having a laugh with your mates.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk to us about his latest series, Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets, is the man himself, Stephen Fry. A comedian, actor, writer and more, Stephen has narrated the full collection of Sherlock Holmes for audiobook, was one-half of comic duo Fry and Laurie and is well known for his many years presenting QI. His list of accomplishments beyond this would far exceed the word count here! Now he lends his smarts and his voice to delving into the mysterious world of the Victorians in new series Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets.

Most noted for her work on erotic intelligence and her expertise on issues of infidelity, Esther Perel covers all in her frank and refreshing Audible Audio Shows series, which began in 2017 and listens in on couples talking through their problems in Esther’s therapy room. Esther Perel talks to us about the making of her podcast series with Audible, what she hopes listeners can gain from the intimate discussions and what she learns from her clients.

Joining us for a chat is the people's poet laureate, the punk performance poet, John Cooper Clarke, who is releasing his memoir I Wanna Be Yours. Clarke, born in Salford, is well known for his classic look of drainpipe jeans, wild black hair and sunglasses, whatever the weather, something which hasn't changed since the 1970s. Being inspired and encouraged by an English teacher at school, Clarke decided that he would make a living from poetry. He performed with many hugely successful bands, such as The Sex Pistols, Joy Division and New Order.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk about his latest book and autobiography, A Better Me, is lauded British singer, songwriter and record producer Gary Barlow. Best known as the lead singer of British boy band Take That and head judge of The X Factor UK from 2011-2013, Gary Barlow is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters, with 14 number one singles, 24 top 10 hits and three number one singles as a solo artist. Gary Barlow’s official autobiography, A Better Me, was published in October 2018.

When Covid struck and the country entered lockdown, Widdicombe and Beckett were stuck at home and the reality of parenting young children without the escape of work hit hard. They decided to start a podcast, Lockdown Parenting Hell, which meant they could go upstairs, leave the children for a while, and moan about the difficulties of being a dad, which over 2 million people a month started listening to! With the success of the podcast, Beckett and Widdicombe decided there was plenty they hadn’t covered that would make a great audiobook.

Joining us at Audible Studios is prominent stage and television actor David Tennant, who has narrated The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells for Audible Studios. The War of the Worlds depicts the arrival of an alien vessel on Horsell Common, in Woking. The initial genial interest in the Martians quickly turns to terror as they emerge with deadly heat rays and power beyond our control and comprehension. Their ruthless disregard for human life leaves humanity under threat of extinction. As the world crumbles, a lone man sets out across the wasteland to find his wife.

In his new book, The Fast 800, he gives recipes and meal plans to help you take your future health into your own hands. He gives scientific evidence for using intermittent fasting, tells of the power of time-restricted eating and confirms that 800 calories is the magic number for weight loss. If you can stick to 800 calories a few days a week, you will trigger desirable metabolic changes while still having enough calories to keep you sustained. We spoke about enduring diet myths that need busting, how fasting can help the brain and always trying things out on himself.

Alongside her academic position at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis at UCL, where her research into the patterns of human behaviour can apply to a huge range of social problems, Fry’s expertise has also led to the development of several BBC documentaries including City in the Sky and her long-running BBC Radio 4 show, The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry. Her latest book, Hello World, was published in September 2018.

Theroux began his career in America working on Michael Moore's TV Nation, and from this sprang his Weird Weekends (1998-2000) where Theroux spent time on porn sets, with swingers, body builders and white supremacists, to name but a few. Then came the hugely popular series When Louis Met..., in which Theroux spent time with the likes of Max Clifford, Chris Eubank and Jimmy Savile.

Picoult, born in New York, has published more than 26 novels and short stories, not including the several issues of Wonder Woman she wrote for DC Comics. Picoult has 40 million copies of her books in print, and they have been translated into 34 languages - to say she is a prolific writer would be an understatement, and she was awarded the New England Bookseller Award for fiction in 2003.

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 Studios is Katherine Ryan, Canadian comedian, actress, presenter and writer. Ryan moved to the UK in 2008 and began her career as a comedian with stand-up shows. Her debut television appearance was in 2012 on 8 Out of 10 Cats, and since then, she has been a regular on panel shows such as Mock the Week, Would I Lie To You and Have I Got News for You, as well as touring with her own stand-up routines. Ryan is also an actress, appearing in sitcoms such as Campus and Episodes.

Lily Bailey, mental health advocate, model and journalist, talks to us about the release of her debut audiobook, Because We Are Bad: OCD and a Girl Lost in Thought. A beautifully written and poignant memoir, it tracks Lily’s battle with a debilitating disorder in an astonishingly honest and intimate manner. In this interview, Lily refers back to a childhood plagued with fear and anxiety and what it was like to recall her experiences for the book. She is now a highly successful author and model, and we also take a look at her career goals and upcoming projects as well as examine the way OCD is portrayed in comparison to what the condition really is.

Joining us at a riverside London hotel is Dame Julie Andrews, DBE, an English actress, singer and author. She has now released her second memoir, Home Work. Born in Surrey in 1935, Andrews parents divorced and she originally lived with her father, then moved back to live with her mother and stepfather. Her stepfather was turbulent, but he sponsored her voice lessons, and from 1945 Andrews began performing with her mother and stepfather unbilled.

In his memoir Waypoints, Heughan digs into his Scottish heritage by hiking the West Highland Way, and along the journey he recounts the life and career events that have shaped him and his personal values. We spoke to Sam Heughan about the joys and trials of West Highland Way, his journey towards processing the absence of his dad, and how the creation of his Outlander family came at just the point he needed in his career.

Joining us at Audible Studios is Dan Abnett, British comic book writer and novelist, who has contributed to series for Marvel, DC Comics and Games Workshop's Black Library. Abnett is one of the Black Library's main authors, and certainly one of their best sellers. Writing within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Abnett has authored infamous series such as Horus Heresy, Gaunt's Ghosts and Eisenhorn. Abnett has also written prolifically for Marvel and DC, as well as 2000 AD.

Phelps-Roper married Chad Fjelland in 2016, and together they have a daughter. Phelps-Roper is no longer a practicing Christian. Since leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, Phelps-Roper has lobbied to overcome divisions and hatred between religious and political divides. In 2017 she presented a TED talk discussing her experiences of being raised within the church and about her journey towards leaving. This year, Megan Phelps-Roper has written a book, Unfollow, sharing her inside look at the church and the families within it.

Coming to prominence in the mid-'60s as the founder and lead singer of rock band The Who, Roger Daltrey has had an iconic career spanning more than 50 years. Famed for his stage presence and powerful voice, Roger has also carved a solo career as well as an acting one. His memoir, Roger Daltrey: Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite, was published in October 2018. Roger Daltrey talks to us about the time he was chucked out of The Who, making his own Fender guitar and discovering he had three more children after his 50th birthday.