Gruff Rhys, Brigid Keenan, Richard Kerridge, Corey Baker

05/07/14 • 41 min

Libby Purves is joined by writer and journalist Bridget Keenan; singer and songwriter Gruff Rhys; dancer and choreographer Corey Baker and nature writer Richard Kerridge.

Brigid Keenan gave up a career as a fashion journalist to become the wife of a diplomat, living in Nepal, Ethiopia, Syria, the Gambia and Azerbaijan. In her latest book, Packing Up, the couple are posted to Kazakhstan and they are facing their biggest adventure so far - the prospect of retirement. Packing Up - Further Adventures of a Trailing Spouse is published by Bloomsbury.

Gruff Rhys is a singer and songwriter who performs solo and with several bands including Super Furry Animals. His latest project, American Interior, was inspired by a trip across the US to retrace the steps of his distant relative John Evans. Evans left Snowdonia in 1792 to find a mythical Welsh-speaking Native American tribe, the Madogwys. Gruff has produced an album, film, book and app and will be performing songs from the album at The Brighton Festival and at the Soho Theatre.

Corey Baker is a dancer and choreographer from New Zealand. He is international resident choreographer for this year's International Dance Festival in Birmingham. He is working with members of the public and professional dancers on a piece called A Haka Day Out based on the traditional Maori war dance.

Richard Kerridge is a nature writer and leads the MA in creative writing at Bath Spa University. As a child he loved to encounter wild creatures such as newts, lizards and marsh frogs. In his book Cold Blood - part natural history guide, part memoir - he writes about our relationship with nature. Cold Blood - Adventures with Reptiles and Amphibians is published in hardback by Chatto and Windus.

Libby Purves is joined by writer and journalist Bridget Keenan; singer and songwriter Gruff Rhys; dancer and choreographer Corey Baker and nature writer Richard Kerridge.

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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.

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Tony Hatch, Le Gateau Chocolat, Bob Shepton, Barb Stegemann

Libby Purves meets songwriter Tony Hatch; cabaret performer Le Gateau Chocolat; adventurer Bob Shepton and entrepreneur Barb Stegemann.

Le Gateau Chocolat is a cabaret performer from Nigeria. His latest show, Black, is a portrait of his loves, fears and personal battle with depression. Le Gateau Chocolat has sung for the Queen as part of the Jubilee Flotilla and performed around the world with La Soirée and Le Clique. His solo show has been staged at the Sydney Opera House. Black is at the Soho Theatre, London.

Bob Shepton is an ordained minister in the Church of England who now spends much of his time sailing into the Arctic region and climbing mountains. He has sailed approximately 130,000 miles and made over 100 first ascents. Bob has received the Piolet d'Or mountaineering award; the Blue Water Medal; the Tilman Medal and was Yachtsman of the Year in 2013. His autobiography Addicted to Adventure - Between Rocks and Cold Places is published by Adlard Coles Nautical.

Tony Hatch is a songwriter and record producer. He wrote many of the era-defining songs of the 1960s including Downtown and Don't Sleep in the Subway for Petula Clark. He also wrote the themes for television series such as Crossroads, Emmerdale and Neighbours. In the Seventies he was a judge on the ITV talent show, New Faces. His work is being celebrated at his Life In Song concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

Barb Stegemann is the Canadian CEO of the 7 Virtues perfume brand - a range of fragrances made from flowers and other essences farmed on land where there is conflict or devastation. Barb formed the company after her best friend was seriously wounded in Afghanistan in 2006. She works with local suppliers who supply the essential oils for her perfume. In 2010 Barb pitched and landed a venture capital deal on Canada's version of Dragons' Den.

Producer: Paula McGinley.