One of the UK's leading radio producers, and Indie of the Year for 2012. Here are some of our prime cuts, archive blasts, slip-ups, bloopers and stop-in-your-tracks listener moments. We hope you enjoy them.
I'm officially a "Doctor of Lobsters"
"The world is your lobster," says Carly Daniels, Britain's leading expert on the snap-happy crustacean. Photo: Johnny Fenn.
18-3-2021 • 7 minuten, 3 seconden
Fasten Your Seatbelts .. it's P.J.Harvey
P.J.Harvey has recorded two new songs, together with the music for a new stage version of the classic movie All About Eve. John Wilson has been granted special back stage access for "Behind the Scenes" - and it's a Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4\. Tx 4pm on Monday 11th Feb 2019.
4-2-2019 • 5 minuten, 2 seconden
Barry from Watford on Steve Wright
Barry’s Lunch Club is the new radio comedy show from Whistledown. Staring Alex Lowe as the 82 year old Barry from Watford, it is a talking shop for the retired people of Britain. Here, Barry is on Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the afternoon talking about holidays, his wife Margaret and the new show.
28-4-2016 • 4 minuten, 52 seconden
An inspirational and brilliant communicator
We’re saddened hear of the death of historian and biographer Lisa Jardine. Here she is in one of her last interviews, talking about the scientist Leo Szilard, a friend of her father’s for a Whistledown documentary on the origins of the H-Bomb. The programme, "HG and the H Bomb" was presented by Samira Ahmed and broadcast on Radio 3 earlier this year.
26-10-2015 • 3 minuten, 44 seconden
The secrets of Burgess and Maclean
As Government papers are released, Radio 4's Cold War Confidential, produced by Whistledown, reveals how the British spy network failed to spot the traitors in their midst.
23-10-2015 • 4 minuten, 48 seconden
When Fats met Al
In 1927 - or thereabouts, a car pulled up outside a hotel in central Chicago. The pianist Fats Waller was bundled in the back ... or was he? Kurt Elling investigates one of the strangest footnotes in jazz in this extract from the forthcoming Radio 2 documentary.
#FatsWaller #AlCapone #Mob #chicago #KurtElling #Radio2
26-5-2015 • 3 minuten, 24 seconden
The Reunion: Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream
Sue MacGregor reunites cast and creatives to recall how director Peter Brook's revolutionary production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, set inside a brilliantly-lit white box, changed theatre and Shakespeare forever.
Sue MacGregor is joined by Peter Brook, designer Sally Jacobs and actors Sir Ben Kingsley (Demetrius), Sara Kestelman (Titania/Hippolyta), Frances de la Tour (Helena) and Barry Stanton (Snug).
(An extract from Radio 4's 'The Reunion: Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Originally broadcast on 08/05/15)
15-5-2015 • 7 minuten, 32 seconden
The Reunion: Far East Prisoners of War
The fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 led to the surrender of 67,000 British servicemen, the single largest capitulation in British military history.
While many were sent to forced labour projects such as the Thailand-Burma railway, many more were sent on "hell ships" across South-East Asia.
In this short extract, Bob Morrell remembers his "coffin duty" on the island of Ambon.
(This is an extract from Radio 4's 'The Reunion: Far East Prisoners of War', originally broadcast on 01/05/15.)
15-5-2015 • 2 minuten, 17 seconden
Women in Blue
Former senior police detective Jackie Malton - the inspiration for Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the TV series Prime Suspect – talks to retired and serving officers to explore whether the laddish canteen-culture and sexist attitudes among male police officers has really changed since the 70s and 80s, and whether the force has genuinely created a safe and equal environment for men and women to work in.
(An extract from 'Women in Blue', originally broadcast 20/04/15. This extract contains strong language.)
15-5-2015 • 8 minuten, 9 seconden
Radio Today interview with David Prest
Radio Today's Trevor Dann speaks to managing director of Whistledown, David Prest about the new RIGTrain scheme which aims to offer the skills required to expand the independent radio production sector, and to support the freelancers working in the industry.
13-3-2015 • 6 minuten, 16 seconden
The Reunion - Barings Bank Collapse
It's 20 years since a precocious trader brought Britain's oldest merchant bank to its knees. In this edition of The Reunion, Sue MacGregor brought together Nick Leeson and his former boss Peter Norris for the first time since the bank's spectacular demise in 1995. (An extract from 'The Reunion', first broadcast on 12/08/11)
27-2-2015 • 10 minuten, 3 seconden
John Waite's 'Face The Facts'
Radio 4's long-running programme 'Face The Facts' is coming to an end. Its presenter John Waite, the doyenne of dogged investigative journalism, was never afraid to confront less than salubrious characters face-to-face, an attitude that placed him in a particularly memorable radio encounter with a Mr Sage... (An extract from Radio 4's 'Feedback', aired on 27/02/15)
27-2-2015 • 6 minuten, 12 seconden
Malcolm X and the 'American Nightmare'
In post-Ferguson USA and on the 50th anniversary of his assassination, four unique voices from America consider the legacy of Malcolm X amidst the protests referred to as a “new Civil Rights Movement”. With Malcom X’s name and quotes used on placards and in chants, this programme explores the newly framed race problem in the States. (An extract from ‘Malcom X and the ‘American Nightmare’’, originally broadcast on Radio 4, 16/02/15)
20-2-2015 • 4 minuten, 25 seconden
A History of Britain in Numbers: Debt
UK debt currently stands at over one trillion pounds. But while that sum may seem vast beyond comprehension, Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, uses the historical numbers behind UK debt to suggest that we may not be in such a bad state after all. (An extract from BBC Radio 4's 'A History of Britain in Numbers: Debt', 24/02/15)
20-2-2015 • 4 minuten, 26 seconden
The Nun Who Nurtured Reggae
“She was sweet man…” She’s credited with nurturing the talents of many of the key players in Jamaican Reggae when the industry took off in the 1960′s. Jonathan Charles tells the story of Sister Mary Ignatius Davies in this extract from The Nun Who Nurtured Reggae.
13-2-2015 • 7 minuten, 51 seconden
The Real Life Fortitude ..
The Arctic town of Longyearbyen in the remote Svalbard archipelago is the basis for the TV series “Fortitude”. One of the town’s best loved characters is Kazem Ariaiwand, owner of the Red Polar bear, the most northerly kebab van in the world. In 2010, Whistledown’s Nick Maes tracked him down...
6-2-2015 • 6 minuten, 18 seconden
Alchemical Manchester
From politics to music, religion to transport, the defiant UK city of Manchester has always been a cutting edge driving force for change in the country's history. Author Jeanette Winterson ("Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit") takes us on a personal tour around the history of her home town, in this episode (third in a series of five) focusing on radical politics from the 1800's.
15-1-2015 • 3 minuten, 36 seconden
"Look out Gromit!"
National treasures Wallace and Gromit are the multi-Oscar, multi-BAFTA winning plasticine pair who swept to fame in the the 1980's, putting Bristol's Aardman animation company on the comedy world map. Sue MacGregor brings the creative geniuses behind this quintessentially British comedy duo together to talk all things Wensleydale, from Wigan to Hollywood's Dreamworks, in this Christmas edition of The Reunion.
15-1-2015 • 5 minuten, 19 seconden
Mipster Sisters
Mipsterz, or Muslim hipsters, are confronting cultural stereotypes and society expectations head on - in a hijab. How do they combine their glowing grades, Hijabi swagger and high aspirations with their beliefs and cultural expectations? #mipstersisters
15-1-2015 • 5 minuten, 40 seconden
Deadringers "does" The Reunion
It had to happen .. the team from Radio 4's Deadringers have finally done their take on The Reunion, as Sue MacGregor re-unites the Apostles!
1-9-2014 • 2 minuten, 10 seconden
"I was kind of shy .. we all were a bit"
Pulp's keyboard player Candida Doyle confesses all - erect nipples, performance anxiety, and being a woman at the centre of Britpop's best-loved band. Produced by Emma Jarvis.
20-6-2014 • 7 minuten, 20 seconden
Robert Capa on D-Day
The recent D-Day anniversary reminds us of the story of how Robert Capa took the image which defined the day, recalled here in this 2013 Radio 3 essay by Hilary Roberts of the Imperial War Museum, produced by Brian McCluskey for Whistledown.
12-6-2014 • 13 minuten, 35 seconden
David and the Gorillas
Sir David Attenborough and his cameraman Martin Saunders recall their encounter with the gorillas of Rwanda while filming the 1979 BBC TV series Life on Earth. As recalled in The Reunion on BBC Radio 4.
23-4-2014 • 6 minuten, 54 seconden
"It's like Brecht on the run"
Mehmet Ergen is best known to UK theatre audiences as Artistic Director of London's Arcola Theatre, but his pioneering work in Hackney is only half the story. We follow him to Istanbul, post Gezi Park and post Arab Spring, caught between the Syrian conflict and EU aspirations; an emerging economy with freedom of speech still in jeopardy. Kirsty McQuire produces for Whistledown. The programme aired on Radio 4 on April 3rd 2013.
17-4-2014 • 9 minuten
Andie MacDowell and her Four Weddings moment
Twenty years on, Andie MacDowell remembers the making of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” for Radio 4’s The Reunion. In this extended extract from the programme, she talks about Richard Curtis’ script, her co-star Hugh Grant, and that last cheesy scene in the rain.
15-4-2014 • 5 minuten, 5 seconden
All things transient are but a parable....
In this extract from BBC Radio 4's Something Understood, Samira Ahmed explores the role of transience in our lives. Anthony Denselow is the producer for Whistledown.
10-4-2014 • 7 minuten, 26 seconden
Looking back: The Miners Strike
Ex-miners meet a former police officer and a Government Minister in this sparky edition of Radio 4's The Reunion, produced by Jerome Lyte for Whistledown.
10-4-2014 • 4 minuten, 6 seconden
Everyone, even the young soldier, listens to Johnny Cash
Whistledown producer Deborah Dudgeon talks to Irish broadcaster Sean Moncrieff about the making of her programme "My War, My Playlist".
25-2-2014 • 8 minuten, 25 seconden
Playlists at War
The ipod is the No 1 bit of kit to ease the boredom in Afghanistan. Coincidentally it was launched by Apple in the same month as the start of the war in 2001. Whistledown's Deborah Dudgeon has made a really insightful programme for the BBC World Service called "My War, My Playlist". She's spoken to those who have served about the music that keeps them going on their tours of duty. Jo Fidgen is the narrator.
21-2-2014 • 8 minuten, 20 seconden
Iggy Pop meets William Burroughs
Never mind the anatomy of a car crash.. Iggy Pop introduces BBC Radio 4 listeners to his hero William Burroughs in this Whistledown special feature. Colin McNulty produced this one, which meant spending time in Mr Pop's holiday cottage in Miami. The long version is on the Radio 4 website for a limited period.
18-2-2014 • 11 minuten, 25 seconden
Cash in a Bag at Sochi '14
Robin Lustig investigates the claims of corruption and kickbacks
that have dogged Sochi's Winter Olympic journey.
Hear more in "The Road to Sochi" on Radio 4
this Friday at 11am, or on BBC World Service
on Saturday.
29-1-2014 • 6 minuten, 11 seconden
Pete Seeger talks to Studs Terkel
A lovely interview with Pete Seeger who will be much missed.
This taken from the Radio 4 series "Old Stubborn Guts",
presented by Studs Terkel and produced by
David Prest in 1998.
28-1-2014 • 7 minuten, 17 seconden
When Gorbachev met Thatcher
An extract from Radio 4's UK Confidential,
produced by Whistledown, in which Margaret
Thatcher meets Mikhail Gorbachev for the
very first time. The 1984 papers reveal what
really went on. Presenter Martha Kearney,
Producer Deborah Dudgeon. Taking part: Lords
Kinnock, Lawson and Armstrong.
Originally broadcast 03.01.14
7-1-2014 • 10 minuten, 21 seconden
The Fast Show v The Reunion
A fast show taster of Radio 4's The Reunion.
We gather Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson,
John Thomson, Arabella Weir and Simon Day.
Catch the complete programme on
Christmas Day at 10pm.
20-12-2013 • 6 minuten, 5 seconden
How the Phonograph Helped win the Great War
Radio historian and lecturer Tim Crook
reveals some of the gems from his collection
of WW1 propaganda phonograph cylinders.
12-12-2013 • 3 minuten, 19 seconden
A Day of Days
Whistledown's Patrick Sykes has produced this lovely
sound portrait of this year's Durham Miner's Gala.
27-11-2013 • 14 minuten, 46 seconden
Britain in Stats
Andrew Dilnot's 10 part Whistledown series
looks at The History of Britain in Numbers.
Here's a preview on The Today programme.
18-11-2013 • 6 minuten, 13 seconden
Remembering John Cole
Sad to hear about the death of former BBC Political Editor
John Cole. Here's one of his sterling performances,
holding his own with Tony Benn and Shirley Williams
in an episode of The Reunion recalling Harold Wilson's
brave decision to hold a European referendum in 1975.
8-11-2013 • 6 minuten, 12 seconden
Human v. Computer Poetry Slam
Reckon you can tell when a poem has been
computer-generated? Have a go…
(Answer in Radio 4's Something Understood
on Radio 4, Nov 10th).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03gtnng
7-11-2013 • 1 minuut, 2 seconden
Happy Birthday Hank Marvin!
It's Hank Marvin's birthday. So here from the Whistledown
Archives is a gem of an interview with a 2013 re-edit
and re-mix. Hank talks about his love for the Fender
Stratocaster that became his trademark with The Shadows.
Bend that Tremelo arm Hank.
29-10-2013 • 6 minuten, 31 seconden
"You Rang M'Lady?"
The wonderful David Graham - the voice of Parker
from Thunderbirds dropped into the Whistledown
studios a few days ago. We asked him about the
time Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson
took him for lunch....
12-9-2013 • 3 minuten, 6 seconden
Radio Jersey on The Reunion
Series Producer David Prest talks to Chris Stone
of Radio Jersey about recording The Reunion
on the German occupation of the island during
World War II.
11-9-2013 • 6 minuten, 41 seconden
Handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald
Former Dallas homicide detective James Leavelle recalls
the shocking moment when Lee Harvey Oswald
was shot by Jack Ruby, just two days after the
assassination of JFK in November 1963.
James, now 93, was the man in the white hat
handcuffed to Oswald as he was taken to
the County Jail.
He's amongst the people taking part in the special 100th edition of The Reunion recorded in Dallas. BBC Radio 4, Sunday September 1st.
26-6-2013 • 6 minuten, 22 seconden
The Best Bits of Radio 4's Feedback
Roger Bolton and some of the best bits of
Feedback from the recent past.
A new series starts on June 14th.
1-6-2013 • 13 minuten, 53 seconden
The Reunion
It's very nice to be quoted: A couple of recent mentions
for The Reunion. Stephen Woolley on Loose Ends
talking about being inspired by hearing the girl strikers
from Dagenham, and Naomi Alderman on our recent
Hutton gathering.
1-6-2013 • 2 minuten, 36 seconden
The Reunion - The Hutton row revisited
Ten years on, Greg Dyke and Andrew Gilligan
of the BBC lock horns with Defence Minister
Geoff Hoon and No 10 spokesman Tom Kelly
over the Government's 2003 decision to go to
war with Iraq. It's an explosive edition of
Radio 4's The Reunion.
3-5-2013 • 2 minuten, 42 seconden
Kevin Ayres
And now - something from our hippy archives.
Here's Kevin Ayres of Soft Machine talking
about living in Deya, Majorca in a programme
for Radio 4 in 1992.
Sad to hear that Kevin died this week.
Simon Parkes, the interviewer, is alive and well.
The producer was David Prest
22-2-2013 • 2 minuten, 53 seconden
Michael Winner - at a cinema near you!
The legendary film director and bon viveur Michael Winner
was a regular contributor to many Whistledown programmes
over the years. There've been plenty of tributes in recent days
- but here he is reminiscing about his love of film trailers
in a 2009 programme for Radio 4 called,
"Never Before in the History of Motion Pictures".
Patrick Humphries is the presenter,
and Katrina Fallon the producer.
28-1-2013 • 3 minuten, 32 seconden
Lunar Eavesdropping
Who knew that talking into space could be such fun?
A lovely extract from Rose de Larrabeiti's
stunning radio piece "Space Ham"
a Between the Ears feature for BBC Radio 3.
Sound Design by Caroline Devine.
28-1-2013 • 8 minuten, 5 seconden
CMJ and Tony Greig on The Reunion
The world of cricket has lost two of its most
respected figures in the last week.
Commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins
and the former England captain Tony Greig.
Here they are in 2009 on Radio 4's The Reunion
recalling the impact of Aussie media
tycoon Kerry Packer on the game in the 1970's.
7-1-2013 • 7 minuten
Ravi Shankar 1920-2012
A few years ago - we made an 80th birthday tribute
to Ravi Shankar for Radio 4.
Terence Stamp was the presenter.
Here's a short extract.
12-12-2012 • 9 minuten, 57 seconden
Barry Humphries on Elisabeth Murdoch
Dame Elisabeth - head of the Murdoch clan
died this week at the ripe old age of 103.
We couldn't resist digging this one out of our archives.
Here's Barry Humphries recalling meeting her a few
years ago. Colin McNulty is the producer.
9-12-2012 • 2 minuten, 6 seconden
GI John
John Lucic served in Britain during World War II,
and met his wife Peggy here.
He was one of the wonderful contributors
to our BBC Radio 4 series G.I. Britain.
Recorded earlier this year in Cleveland,
here's the full interview he did for us with Colin McNulty ..
16-11-2012 • 9 minuten, 58 seconden
Here is the Chicken Forecast ...
A Radio 4 Feedback listener "Dinah Shore"
sent us this .. and the adorable
Dilly Barlow did the honours. Enjoy.
12-10-2012 • 2 minuten, 15 seconden
Travel writer Adele Evans on Renoir's Champagne trail
A great friend of Whistledown, the travel writer Adele Evans
passed away last week. Here is a piece she recorded
for us in 2003 about Renoir's connections to the Champagne
region of France.
2-10-2012 • 4 minuten, 23 seconden
Sue MacGregor talks to Wogan about life, and Radio 4's "The Reunion"
BBC Radio 4
The Reunion
Sue MacGregor
Terry Wogan
17-9-2012 • 7 minuten, 16 seconden
David Cameron loves Morrissey
As Johnny Marr promises to reform The Smiths
if Cameron stands down - here's one from the Whistledown
Archives which proves how much DC really loves Morrissey.
It was recorded for a documentary in 2007 -
when Cameron was still dreaming of No10 - but
never made it into the final programme.
We love his suggestion for the Smiths lyric that will sit
on his desk - anyone know if it's there?
Contact Whistledown for re-broadcast rights. #coalition #davidcameron #morrissey
27-4-2012 • 6 minuten, 4 seconden
Davy Jones meets John Waite
In the late 60's, radio reporter John Waite was hitch-hiking around California. He was spotted by a fellow Brit in a convertible who picked him up and gave him a ride. 40 years on in 2009, they met again. RIP Davy Jones #DavyJones #JohnWaite #TheMonkees
5-3-2012 • 4 minuten, 57 seconden
Dr John and Sue MacGregor
Blues legend Dr John talks movingly to Sue MacGregor
about Hurricane Katrina for The Reunion.
A Prime Cut from Whistledown Productions.
#SueMacgregor #TheReunion #DrJohn #HurricaneKatrina