Baroness Trumpington, David Adam, Pauline Butcher Bird, James Sawyer

04/23/14 • 42 min

Libby Purves meets Baroness Jean Trumpington; Pauline Butcher Bird, former secretary to Frank Zappa; science writer David Adam and James Sawyer of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

James Sawyer is director of disaster management at the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). He leads teams which respond to disasters around the world including the tsunami in Japan and the Haiti earthquake. In a BBC Two documentary, Vets in the Disaster Zone, James and his team travel to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan to try and save the lives of animals caught up in the crisis. Vets in the Disaster Zone is on BBC Two.

Baroness Jean Trumpington of Sandwich is a former Conservative Minister and one of the oldest members of the House of Lords. In her autobiography, Coming Up Trumps, she looks back over her remarkable life. She writes about her student days in Paris, working as a land girl on Lloyd George's farm, a stint in naval intelligence at Bletchley Park and her long career in politics. Coming Up Trumps is published by MacMillan.

David Adam is a science writer and editor at Nature magazine who has suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for 20 years. In his book, The Man Who Couldn't Stop, he attempts to understand the condition and his own experiences. He writes about the latest neurological research and recounts historical accounts of patients and their treatments. The Man Who Couldn't Stop - OCD and the True Story Of A Life Lost In Thought is published by Picador.

In 1967 Pauline Butcher Bird - a young English girl - met the unconventional, avant-garde rock star, Frank Zappa, while he was on a trip to London. Pauline followed him to Hollywood where she lived and worked in Zappa's house amid an entourage of musicians, freaks and other rock stars. Her memoir, Freak Out, has now been adapted into a radio play, Frank Zappa and Me for BBC Radio Four.

Paula McGinley.

Paula McGinley.

Previous Episode

Sir Roger Bannister, Prof Kevin Warwick, Rachael Stirling, Diana Darke

Libby Purves meets former athlete Sir Roger Bannister; professor of cybernetics Kevin Warwick; actor Rachael Stirling and writer Diana Darke.

Kevin Warwick is a professor of cybernetics and deputy vice-chancellor for research at the University of Coventry. Since 1998 he has been implanting computer chips into his body, some directly communicating with his nervous system. He was dubbed the world's first cyborg when he had a silicon chip implanted in his arm and is currently attempting to get ethical approval to have a chip implanted into his brain.

Sir Roger Bannister CBE is a former Olympic athlete who is best-known for being the first person to run the mile in under four minutes in 1954. In his new autobiography, Twin Tracks, Sir Roger tells the full story of the dedication and talent that led to his unprecedented achievement and of his professional life as a distinguished doctor and neurologist. Twin Tracks is published by Biteback.

Diana Darke is a writer and translator who has specialised in the Middle East for over 30 years. In 2005 she bought and restored a house in the heart of Damascus. In September 2012, as fighting intensified and millions were forced to flee their homes, she offered her house as a sanctuary to Syrian friends. Up to 40 people continue to find refuge there today. My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Revolution is published by Haus Publishing.

Actor Rachael Stirling is currently starring in Mike Bartlett's new play, An Intervention, about two friends who make very different decisions in life. Her acting credits range from The Bletchley Circle and Tipping the Velvet on television to theatre productions The Recruiting Officer and An Ideal Husband. Intervention is at the Watford Palace Theatre.

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Next Episode

Sir Richard Eyre, Andrew Fusek Peters, Abbie Ross, Peter Francis

Libby Purves is joined by writer Abbie Ross; director Sir Richard Eyre; poet and and wild swimmer Andrew Fusek Peters and Peter Francis, warden of Gladstone's Library.

In 1972 when Abbie Ross was two her cosmopolitan parents moved from London to rural Wales to lead an alternative lifestyle. In her book, Hippy Dinners, she recreates this childhood - in particular her parents' friendships with local hippies and their embarrassing taste for hummus, cheesecloth and yoga. Hippy Dinners - A memoir of a rural childhood is published by Transworld.

Sir Richard Eyre CBE is a director of theatre, film, television and opera who brings his latest production of The Pajama Game to London's West End. He started his career in regional theatre before becoming director of the National Theatre in 1987. He has directed numerous productions including Betty Blue Eyes, Quartermaine's Terms and Stephen Ward: The Musical. He won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Director for his production of Ibsen's Ghosts. His film and television credits include Notes on a Scandal; Iris; Henry IV Parts I and II and Tumbledown for which he won a BAFTA. The Pajama Game is at The Shaftesbury Theatre, London.

Andrew Fusek Peters is a poet and storyteller. His new book Dip - Wild Swims and Stories from the Borderlands is the story of his year of wild swimming in rivers, lakes, waterfalls and hidden pools. The book is an honest account of his recovery from a bout of severe depression and how swimming helped him regain a sense of purpose. Dip - Wild Swims and Stories from the Borderlands is published by Rider.

Peter Francis is an Anglican priest who became the warden of Gladstone's Library in 1997. Britain's only Prime Ministerial library, it was founded by the Victorian statesman himself and, following his death in 1898, became the national memorial to his life and work. Peter was instrumental in developing the Islamic Reading Room Project, a resource to nurture dialogue between Christians and Muslims.