Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

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From The Vault: Steve Coogan Oct 26, 2023

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James has been looking back at some of his all-time favourite guests on Full Disclosure. He's dug deep into the vault and plucked out an episode that really stands out. It's a classic with one of his very first guests, the comedian and actor Steve Coogan.

Steve Coogan is such a private individual for someone who's so incredibly well-known. He rarely does interviews. James waited 25 years to get one with him. So when it happened in 2019, James was both incredibly nervous and incredibly excited. Steve talks about everything from his early life in Manchester, the creation of Alan Partridge and conquering Hollywood.

Tim Peake Oct 19, 2023

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In 2008, Tim Peake answered an advert from the European Space Agency looking for astronauts. Six years later he became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and carry out a spacewalk.

But Tim didn't always want to be an astronaut. As a child, he fell in love with flying and pursued a career in aviation. He progressed from the school Cadet Corps to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and then into the Army Air Corps. By the time Tim retired from the British Army as a major, he was regarded as a highly talented, hugely professional pilot. Just the kind of person the European Space Agency was looking for.

After his six-month space mission, Tim returned to the UK to work and engage students in STEM. This year, he became the European Space Agency's first honorary STEM ambassador. He has also written several best-selling books and hosted a TV series about space.

Tim Peake’s latest book Space: The Human Story is out now published by Penguin. For more info visit: https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/239553/tim-peake

Mary Beard Oct 12, 2023

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Arguably the world’s most famous classicist, Mary Beard has an incredible talent for making ancient history engaging for everyone. Her fascination with the past began at the age of five. During a visit to the British Museum, she saw a slice of ancient Egyptian cake on display and was thrilled when a curator opened the case and got it out for her. For nearly forty years, she was a Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge before retiring in 2022. She’s also a TV and radio presenter, classics editor for the Times Literacy Supplement and has written numerous books on classical history and culture. Her latest book, Emperor of Rome, is out now.

Susie Dent Oct 05, 2023

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Lexicographer, etymologist and Queen of Countdown’s Dictionary Corner, Susie Dent has always been fascinated by words. As a child, she would read the labels of shampoo bottles at bath time, marvelling at the fact they were written in a different language. She studied modern languages at Oxford University before getting a job at Oxford University Press. She made her first appearance on Channel 4’s Countdown in 1992. Since then, she has appeared in more than 8,000 episodes and is the longest serving member of the current on-air team. Susie has also written several books including her latest, Interesting Stories About Curious Words and Roots of Happiness.

Naomi Klein Sep 28, 2023

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Over the past twenty-five years, Naomi Klein has charted and documented our politics and culture with a series of bestselling-books from No Logo to The Shock Doctrine. She’s known as one of the most influential left-wing voices of our time. But she wasn’t always this politically active. As a teenager, she resented being dragged along to demonstrations by her activist parents and rebelled by being normal. It all changed when she went to university. There, she began to challenge the status quo through her writing. Her latest book, Doppelganger, is her most personal one yet. In it, she explores the world of conspiracy theories, drawing from her own experiences with mistaken identity.

Gabby Logan Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Broadcasting legend, podcaster and former gymnast for Wales and Great Britain, Gabby Logan is a force to be reckoned with. She started her broadcasting career as a student at Metro Radio in Newcastle. She's gone on to become one of Britain's best loved sports presenters, hosting high-profile events including the Olympics, Premiership football and the most recently, the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Gabby's podcast, The Mid Point is available to listen to now on Global Player.

https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42KsTe/

Clive Myrie Sep 14, 2023

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He's one of the most recognisable faces on British television, covering some of the biggest stories of our time. BBC News presenter and Mastermind host, Clive Myrie grew up in Bolton - the son of Windrush generation parents - with dreams of becoming a journalist. He studied law at university but ended up accepting a position on the BBC's journalism trainee scheme. He's gone on report from more than 90 different countries including war zones in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently, Ukraine. Clive's memoir, Everything is Everything reflects on how being black has affected his perspectives of issues he's encountered in his thirty years reporting the news.

Sebastian Faulks Sep 07, 2023

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Novelist Sebastian Faulks has the rare quality of being both literary and popular. He’s best known for his historical novels set in France, and in particular, Birdsong, adapted for the screen and starring Eddie Redmayne. Now for the first time Faulks has ventured into the future - but not very far - setting his latest novel from 2030, beginning with an experiment at an IVF clinic which challenges ethical boundaries. His 16th novel, The Seventh Son is out now.

Mark Gatiss Aug 31, 2023

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Few of us realise the dreams we have as 8-year-olds, but actor, screenwriter and director Mark Gatiss, obsessed with horror, Dr Who and Sherlock Holmes as a child, has managed to incorporate his early passions into his professional life. Now a grown-up with an astonishing catalogue of work, Gatiss no longer pursues the macabre with adolescent fervour, but a darkness continues to run through even the most camp and comedic additions to his oeuvre. From December 2023 he'll be starring in The Motive and the Cue at the Noel Coward Theatre whilst directing The Unfriend at Wyndham’s Theatre next door. Tickets available now.

Dawn Butler Aug 24, 2023

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Dawn Butler was the first black woman to speak at the despatch box in the House of Commons. But as a young person it had not once occurred to her to go into politics. In this episode, Dawn explains how an injustice she experienced at primary school triggered a series of events, encouraging her to confront wrongs where she sees them, even within her own ranks. Her book, A Purposeful Life is out now.

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