Main content

Simon Armitage

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, broadcaster Vick Hope, Catherine Mayer on the loss of her husband Andy Gill, a listener stuck for 9 days on Mont Blanc and Skin's Inheritance Tracks.

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鈥檓 a Celebrity Daily Drop and as one of the new presenters on Radio 1鈥檚 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鈥檚 Pastime Paradise and Nina Simone singing Strange Fruit. And we have your thank yous.

Producer: Corinna Jones
Editor: Eleanor Garland

Available now

1 hour, 27 minutes

Last on

Sat 9 Jan 2021 09:00

Broadcast

  • Sat 9 Jan 2021 09:00

Meet Nikki

Meet Nikki

Meet the Saturday Live presenter

How to contact us

How to contact us

Get in touch with your stories via email, phone or social media

Podcast