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Anton du Beke; Stephanie Hirst

Suzy Klein and Aasmah Mir are joined by Strictly Come Dancing's Anton du Beke; DJ Stephanie Hirst, formerly Simon, describes why she made the decision to live as a woman.

Anton du Beke of Strictly Come Dancing joins Aasmah Mir and Suzy Klein.

Anton has been with Strictly from the beginning, having famously partnered Ann Widdecombe, Nancy Dell'Olio, and most recently Judy Murray. As he is about to go on tour with his dance partner, Erin Boag, he explains how he became involved in ballroom dancing and why his favourite dance is the Foxtrot.

The poet Mr. Gee shares seasonal poems.

The award winning broadcaster Stephanie Hirst, formerly Simon Hirst, describes her lifelong passion for radio, her musical influences, the events that have led her to change gender and live as a woman, and how her family have supported her.

Vicki Brewer shares the story of her favourite Christmas present - a personalised board game from her daughter and son in law, in which the content was tailored to stories from the family's life.

JP Devlin meets John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, lead singer of the iconic 1970s punk band The Sex Pistols. John talks frankly about Christmas, his childhood illness, trains and his relationship with his parents.

Glyn Johns talks about his career as a sound engineer/producer with bands from The Rolling Stones and The Eagles to The Who and Led Zeppelin.

And Grayson Perry shares his Inheritance Tracks: It's Not Unusual by Tom Jones and I'd Rather Ride Around With You by Reba McIntyre.

Anton and Erin's new production That's Entertainment is on a nationwide tour from 22 January - 29 March 2015.

Sound Man, by Glyn Johns, is published by Blue Rider Press.

Anger is an Energy: My Life Uncensored by John Lydon

Grayson Perry: Who Are You? can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery until 15 March 2015.

Produced by Louise Corley.

Available now

1 hour, 28 minutes

Last on

Sat 27 Dec 2014 09:00

A Snowflake鈥檚 Path by Mr Gee

If I could place all life's Winter Sorrows,
As far away from my tomorrows,
To see a snowflake's path that follows,
Beyond the melting point of time,

I'd construct a cave of childish wonder,
And place it safe from Life's cruel thunder,
For Stormy weather has no place among the,
World of make-believe & rhyme,

The fondest memories of yester-year,
Comfort me with their festive cheer,
Suddenly their faces magically appear,
As my mind recounts their fate,

Devilish grins & innocent glances,
Raiding the fridge & taking chances,
Being forced to dance with drunken Aunties,
And this Steve McQueen still hasn't managed to escape,

I wish to relive those precious moments,
Overseas phone-calls sounding Golden,
Cheating at monopoly & getting told off,
Even though the banker always smiles,

There's much to be said of December's tonic,
As we wind down the old year's promise,
Beyond the rush of midnight shoppers,
We'll find a place where the stillness lies,

For survival's grace is but for the few,
And not all dreams, will they come true,
Tinsel-towns have darker hues,
So our greatest gift is life,

If I could replace all my Winter Sorrows,
I'd float in the sun-rays of tomorrow,
For a snowflake's path is merely borrowed,
Its path is yet to be defined.

(c) Mr Gee

Our Music

Our Music

If our music be just,
A combination of notes,
Painstakingly chosen,
To emotionally evoke,

Can our values be kind
Of an arrangement of thoughts,
Orchestrated into laws,
Pipes of Peace, Drums of War,

So to whose tune shall we dance?
Shall we make love & romance?
Do our lives compose melodies?
Or ride the rhythms of chance?

But what if the quiet voice is too loud?
Does it poison the sound?

The discord caused by this chord,
Amplifies the silence of frowns,

So pity the song that鈥檚 unsung,
Too scared to venture past the lungs,
Whose acoustics know no audience,
Whose plectrum knows no strum,

Pity the voice that鈥檚 unheard,
An eternal stranger to the world,
Forever held back by pleasant pauses,
Who act as a jailer to its words,

Pity the thought never travelled,
Or met with ridicule & challenge,
Embracing panoramic camera lenses,
To capture views from different angles,

Pity the symphony unwritten,
Never to be relished by the living,
The bridges never built,
The olive branches never given,

So yes, our music may be just,
A simple combination of notes,
It's also a simple combination of fear,
A simple combination of hope.聽聽

漏 Mr Gee

Studio Photo

Studio Photo

Anton du Beke, Suzy Klein, Stephanie Hirst, Glyn Johns, Mr. Gee, Aasmah Mir

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Aasmah Mir
Presenter Suzy Klein
Interviewed Guest Anton Du Beke
Interviewed Guest Stephanie Hirst
Interviewed Guest Mr Gee
Interviewed Guest Vicki Brewer
Interviewed Guest John Lydon
Interviewed Guest JP Devlin
Interviewed Guest Glyn Johns
Interviewed Guest Grayson Perry
Producer Louise Corley

Broadcast

  • Sat 27 Dec 2014 09:00

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