Steve Hewlett, Jamie Andrew, Ayo, Philip Walling

04/02/14 • 42 min

Libby Purves meets ventriloquist Steve Hewlett; mountaineer Jamie Andrew; singer and songwriter Ayo and former sheep farmer turned barrister Philip Walling.

Steve Hewlett is a comedian and ventriloquist. A ventriloquist since the age of 12, his dummies include Arthur Lager; Simon Cowell and Sinitta and a lamb called Lamb Shank. In 2006 he became the new voice of Archie Andrews - at one time the nation's favourite dummy whose radio programme, Educating Archie, attracted 15m listeners in the 1950s. Steve is touring the UK with his show Thinking Inside The Box.

Jamie Andrew is a mountaineer who lost his hands and feet to frostbite after being stranded in a blizzard in the Alps 15 years ago. His close friend and climbing partner died on the mountain. With the help of physiotherapy and prosthetics Jamie learned how to walk again and returned to mountaineering. The documentary The Limbless Mountaineer follows Jamie's progress as he attempts to climb the Matterhorn. The Limbless Mountaineer is broadcast on Channel 5.

Ayo Ogunmakin is a singer and songwriter. Born in Cologne to a Nigerian father and Romanian Gypsy mother, her childhood was spent in foster homes after her parents divorced and her mother became a heroin addict. Her father, a part time DJ, introduced Ayo to music from an early age. Her new album Ticket To The World is released on Wrasse Records.

Philip Walling is a former sheep farmer who worked as barrister for over 30 years. In his new book, Counting Sheep, he pays homage to his farming roots. The book focuses on the role of sheep in the history of the British countryside and Philip writes about some of the 60 native breeds that thrive in the UK, exploring their past and future. Counting Sheep - A Celebration of the Pastoral Heritage of Britain is published by Profile Books.

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Libby Purves meets ventriloquist Steve Hewlett; mountaineer Jamie Andrew; singer and songwriter Ayo and former sheep farmer turned barrister Philip Walling.

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Previous Episode

Gary Morecombe, Rebecca Gowers, Sara Ishaq, Mike McCartney

Libby Purves meets Gary Morecambe, son of Eric; novelist Rebecca Gowers; filmmaker Sara Ishaq and photographer and musician Mike McCartney.

Gary Morecambe is the son of the legendary comedian Eric Morecombe. To mark the 30th anniversary of Eric's death the play The Man What Brought Us Sunshine - Morecambe, starring Bob Golding as Eric, is on tour. Gary is the author of a series of books about his father and a biography of Cary Grant. The Man What Brought Us Sunshine - Morecambe is touring the UK.

Rebecca Gowers is a novelist and the great grand-daughter of Sir Ernest Gowers, a leading civil servant and author of Plain Words - A Guide to the Use of English. Rebecca has revised and edited the first publication - originally written as a language handbook for civil servants. In this new edition she celebrates the original text and modernises Sir Ernest's advice. Plain Words - A Guide to the Use of English is published by Particular Books.

Sara Ishaq is a Yemeni-Scottish filmmaker. Her new film, The Mulberry House, documents her return to Yemen in 2011 10 years after she left - ready to face her past and reconnect with her long-severed roots. She returns to find her family and country teetering on the brink of a revolution. The Mulberry House is being shown as part of this year's Human Rights Watch Film Festival in London.

Mike 'McGear' McCartney is a musician and photographer who is touring the UK with his one-man show Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll (I Wish!). The show chronicles his life through the photographs he's taken along the way. Born and brought up in Liverpool, Mike became part of the comedy, poetry and music trio The Scaffold which became an integral part of the 60's Merseybeat era. Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll (I wish!) is touring the UK.

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Next Episode

Eric Carter, Ray Cooney, Cambridge Jones, Eve Ferret

Libby Purves meets cabaret performer Eve Ferret, World War Two Hurricane pilot Eric Carter, director and playwright Ray Cooney and photographer Cambridge Jones.

Eve Ferret is a cabaret performer. She first performed at the Blitz club in London in the late 70s and early 80s and appeared in the film Absolute Beginners with David Bowie. After a 30 year gap from performing, she is back with a new show Ferret Up the Arts at the Arts Theatre in London. Her first album (as yet unnamed) is also about to be released. She also starts her Don't Be So Shellfish tour of British seaside towns in April. Ferret Up the Arts is at the Arts Theatre, London

Eric Carter is the sole survivor of 81 Squadron, a Royal Air Force fighter squadron which took part in a secret mission to the Soviet Union in June 1941. The mission, code named Force Benedict, was initiated to defend the port of Murmansk which was the country's only port not under Nazi occupation. RAF Wing 151 - comprising 81 and 154 Squadrons - had a range of objectives which included teaching Russian pilots to fly Hurricanes, escorting Russian bombers over German lines and flying numerous patrols against the Luftwaffe. Eric's book, Force Benedict, written with Antony Loveless, is published by Hodder & Stoughton.

Ray Cooney is a writer, director and actor. His play, Two Into One about a philandering MP is currently at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Ray's theatrical career began as a boy actor in 1946 before he went into repertory theatre and joined the Brian Rix Company at the Whitehall Theatre. His writing career includes the hits Move Over Mrs Markham, Run For Your Wife, Out of Order for which he won an Olivier Award. Two Into One is at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Cambridge Jones is a photographer whose subjects have included several Prime Ministers, members of the Royal Family, Hollywood celebrities and rock stars. His latest exhibition, 26 Characters, at the Story Museum in Oxford features many of Britain's best loved writers and storytellers transforming themselves into their favourite character from a childhood book. Participants include Julia Donaldson, Shirley Hughes, Terry Pratchett and Malorie Blackman. 26 Characters is at the Story Museum in Oxford.

Producer: Annette Wells.