Sophie Willan on Home

Which sounds transport you home? Lemn is joined by BAFTA award-winning writer, actor, comedian and creator of the BBC’s Alma’s Not Normal, Sophie Willan, to ask this question. Together, they listen to stand-out recordings from the British Library Sound Archive (see credits below) to investigate what home means to us.

From Sophie’s thoughts on Lancashire phrases disappearing, to her memories of growing up in the care system, to a forgotten love of George Formby, the archive inspires a fascinating conversation.

This episode includes historical interviews that express the language and opinions of people recorded at that time.

Recordings in the episode in order of appearance:

A selection of phrases from the British Library’s The Evolving English WordBank. This is a collection of words and phrases, contributed by visitors to the Library’s Evolving English exhibition in 2010/11 who were asked to submit a word or phrase they felt was somehow ‘special’ in their variety of English.

1 - Barmpot - someone who’s very silly (Glasgow)

British Library shelfmark: C1442/1118

2 - Get the messages - to go shopping (Northern Ireland, County Down)

British Library shelfmark: C1442/05498

3 - As wick as a flea - as bright as a button (Oldham, Lancashire) and Dead Hook - a villain (Oldham, Lancashire)

British Library shelfmark: C1442/6017

A conversation about adoption between Swazi and her youngest son Khushbir. The recording was made as part of the Listening Project for the BBC in 2017 © BBC.

British Library shelfmark: C1500/1394/01

An interview with Joe Baxter speaking in 1992 about Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne and the area’s redevelopment in the 1970s with the construction of the Byker Wall. This was recorded by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums and was digitised as part of the Unlocking our Sound Heritage project.

British Library shelfmark: UTWAM011/3

Sally Poole remembering her childhood in Kent as captured by the BBC in 1999 © BBC, recorded as part of the Millennium Memory Bank.

British Library shelfmark: C900/07623

A conversation recorded in 1978 between two women, Maureen and Pam, shortly after moving into high rise council houses in London. This interview is from a radio series created by the Inner London Education Authority and the BBC. It was found in the London Metropolitan Archives and was digitised as part of the Unlocking our Sound Heritage project.

British Library shelfmark: ULMA005/13

Ilkley Moor baht'at recorded by the BBC in 1940

British Library shelfmark: C604/111 C1-9