Richard Coles and Nikki Bedi are joined by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Writing for three decades, his first published poem was in 1987 whilst he was working in his day job as a probation officer, a job he followed his father into. A geography graduate who is still based in his home county of Yorkshire, how did he end up a member of the Royal household?

Vick Hope is a TV and radio presenter known for her work on the Capital Breakfast Show, I’m a Celebrity Daily Drop and as one of the new presenters on Radio 1’s Life Hacks. She joins us.

We are also joined by journalist Catherine Mayer, whose musician husband, Andy Gill from the band Gang of Four, suddenly took ill and died in February 2020. Just 41 days before, her mother Anne had lost her beloved husband John. United in their grief, the two women navigated grief and love together.

In June 1987, listener Philip Price and two friends were trapped at the summit of Mont Blanc for nine days with barely any water, food or heating. He recounts his experience and their eventual rescue by the Chamonix Mountain rescue team.

Skin from Skunk Anansie chooses her Inheritance Tracks: Stevie Wonder’s Pastime Paradise and Nina Simone singing Strange Fruit. And we have your thank yous.

Producer: Corinna Jones
Editor: Eleanor Garland