An Audience with John Sergeant, presented in association with Clive Conway Productions. 

Join John Sergeant for an evening of humorous and thought-provoking conversations filled with anecdotes and recollections about his experiences throughout his career. 

John is the former Chief Political Correspondent for the BBC from 1992 to 2000 and ITN's Political Editor from 2000 until 2002. 

Many people will remember John as one of Britain's most popular and respected broadcasters and authors. His award-winning career as a political journalist has been as lengthy as it has been successful and has seen him interview big political hitters like Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and Tony Blair.

In recent years though John has returned to his first love of light entertainment and can be seen regularly on programmes like The One Show, Have I Got News For You, QI, Room 101, and the News Quiz, and of course, there were those appearances on Strictly. 

Indeed Sergeant’s two left feet approach to the arts of the ballroom consistently found him at the bottom of the judge's scoreboard but the public loved him and he retrained week after week. He finally left the show in Week 10 saying: "The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me, that would be a joke too far.”

More recently there have been well-received documentaries as well including John Sergeant's Tourist Trail, Tracks of Empire - about the Indian Railways, and Britain's First Photo Album about the pioneering photography of Francis Frith.

Widely respected as the voice of Test Match Special ‘Blowers’, Henry Blofeld brings his wit and wisdom to the stage once again.

Henry’s keen to stress though that it’s not all cricket, in fact, most of it isn’t and that every show is different. So, even if you’ve been before you can be sure that it’ll never be the same twice. “If you think you’re going to learn how to play a forward defensive, you’ll be sadly disappointed.”

Instead, the talk is based, in the loosest sense, on Henry’s life story, although there’s time for as many after-dinner anecdotes and meandering digressions as there is in a Test Match Special rain break.

The show itself is very tongue-in-cheek and Henry spends a lot of time poking fun at himself and subjects veer from intergalactic travel to horticulture to mountaineering. Audiences are always sure of an evening of great tales from this quintessential Englishman.

Production Company: Clive Conway Productions Ltd.

Robert Powell and actress Liza Goddard (who gave the definitive performance of Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice on BBC TV) bring you Jane Austen’s world…

‘For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn.’ (Pride and Prejudice)

No writer, with the exception of Shakespeare, stands higher in public esteem and affection than Jane Austen. This celebration is for those who have always loved her, and for those who would like to know more about the enigmatic and shadowy figure behind the popular image of bonnets, tea and gentility.

Jane Austen continues to fascinate us because she reveals human nature with all its delicious quirks and foibles.   From the rumbustious delights of her juvenile works to the extraordinary explosion of vitality in her last and uncompleted novel, Sanditon, we take you on a colourful and revealing journey through the life and works of this most paradoxical and bewitching author.

With flautist Clive Conway and pianist Christine Croshaw

Widely respected as the voice of Test Match Special ‘Blowers’, Henry Blofeld brings his wit and wisdom to the stage once again.

Henry’s keen to stress though that it’s not all cricket, in fact, most of it isn’t and that every show is different. So, even if you’ve been before you can be sure that it’ll never be the same twice. “If you think you’re going to learn how to play a forward defensive, you’ll be sadly disappointed.”

Instead, the talk is based, in the loosest sense, on Henry’s life story, although there’s time for as many after-dinner anecdotes and meandering digressions as there is in a Test Match Special rain break.

The show itself is very tongue-in-cheek and Henry spends a lot of time poking fun at himself and subjects veer from intergalactic travel to horticulture to mountaineering. Audiences are always sure of an evening of great tales from this quintessential Englishman.

Production Company: Clive Conway Productions Ltd.

Martin is widely regarded as one of the most respected figures in football with a career spanning more than 50 years. A double European Cup winner and key part of Brian Clough's legendary Nottingham Forest team in the '70s and early '80s, he represented Northern Ireland more than 60 times and led them to the 1982 World Cup. As a manager he took Leicester City to two League Cups, Celtic to seven trophies, and Republic of Ireland to the 2016 European Championships.

In his autobiography, On Days Like These, Martin tells the story of his extraordinary life for the first time. From his upbringing in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and thoughts of being a lawyer, to being spotted by Nottingham Forest and moving to England. He speaks openly about the decision to retire as a player, and making the transition to manager, and takes us behind the scenes of his rise to the top.

Matthew is an English radio and television presenter, commentator, producer, writer and author in his own right. His previous interviews include Sir Michael Caine, John Cleese, Eddie Jones, Sir Alastair Cook, Nicola Benedetti, David Suchet, Jo Brand, Anish Kapoor, Ian McEwan, Rick Stein and Sir Simon Schama. He has also written for national newspapers and hosts the '20 Questions With' podcast series.

An Audience with John Sergeant, presented in association with Clive Conway Productions. 

Join John Sergeant for an evening of humorous and thought-provoking conversations filled with anecdotes and recollections about his experiences throughout his career. 

John is the former Chief Political Correspondent for the BBC from 1992 to 2000 and ITN's Political Editor from 2000 until 2002. 

Many people will remember John as one of Britain's most popular and respected broadcasters and authors. His award-winning career as a political journalist has been as lengthy as it has been successful and has seen him interview big political hitters like Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and Tony Blair.

In recent years though John has returned to his first love of light entertainment and can be seen regularly on programmes like The One Show, Have I Got News For You, QI, Room 101, and the News Quiz, and of course, there were those appearances on Strictly. 

Indeed Sergeant’s two left feet approach to the arts of the ballroom consistently found him at the bottom of the judge's scoreboard but the public loved him and he retrained week after week. He finally left the show in Week 10 saying: "The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me, that would be a joke too far.”

More recently there have been well-received documentaries as well including John Sergeant's Tourist Trail, Tracks of Empire - about the Indian Railways, and Britain's First Photo Album about the pioneering photography of Francis Frith.

A brief cultural history of the world through architecture. Buildings give people a sense of identity and pride - particularly historic buildings and treasure houses such as museums and cities such as York and Richmond. These all suggest longevity and continuity and civilised virtues. 

It is for these reasons that historic buildings and museums are highly valued and it is also for these reasons that they are attacked by forces that want to undermine a people’s pride, identity, sense of independence and will to fight. We saw this is recent years in Islamic State’s attacks on ancient sites in Iraq – such as Nimrud and Hatra and in Syria – notably Palmyra. 

This talk will be about why history and culture, particularly architecture,  matter, and why we have to fight for what is important. Examples of inspirational architecture explored will include locations in Yorkshire - notably York, Richmond and Fountains Abbey. The consequences of the brutal collision between culture, conflict and politics will be illustrated by reference to what is currently happening in Ukraine as well as the attacks on Palmyra and in Iraq.

There will be a focus on the wonders that survive but will argue that survival in many cases depends on our vigilance.   With travel now more difficult, there needs to be a determination to keep memory alive. When a building or place is forgotten by the public its loss becomes easier. 

Such talks can help banish forgetfulness or lethargy, that can prove fatal and play a part in the battle to save history, memory and architectural beauty.

Often described as the compère beyond compare, but before becoming a fully-fledged playwright, panellist, performer and stalwart of the Edinburgh Festival, Arthur worked as a road sweeper, dustman, market researcher, teacher and advertised chicken burgers in supermarkets dressed as a fox.

A career in comedy was the only one that could follow a build up like that. He was one of many stand-up performers on the alternative comedy scene in the Eighties.

Twenty years on he still performs in much the same manner, perhaps ironically, he now describes himself as a "semi-professional" comedian.

To BBC radio and TV audiences, his career has been split between appearing on top quiz shows and fronting the funny section in Loose Ends. On TV, he's been a regular Grumpy Old Man and Countdown wordsmith.

His plays include the award-winning An Evening with Gary Lineker, My Summer with Des and The Bed Show. He has presented Radio 4’s Excess Baggage and Radio 2’s The Smith Lectures and is a regular guest on Loose Ends. He describes himself as Radio 4’s “bit of rough”.

One of the best-loved and most versatile opera stars of the last 40 years, Sir Willard White's illustrious career has taken him to the most prestigious opera houses and concert halls throughout the world.

Now audiences have the opportunity to share an evening with Sir Willard as he reminisces about his life on stage & screen and sings some of the songs that have been important to him from the Nat King Cole of his youth in Jamaica, through the first truly complete recording of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in 1976 to the songs that made the Bass-Baritone singer Paul Robeson famous in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Sir Willard will be accompanied by the Kymaera guitar duo comprising Shane Hill and Simon James who have been performing together for over twenty years. Highlights of the partnership which features guitarists Shane Hill and Simon James have included appearing with the classical vocal legend Maria Ewing as well as the late UK jazz vocal legend Frank Holder.

Join Britain’s most popular soprano for a delightful evening of song, reminiscences and chat. Accompanied by, and in conversation with, Anna Tilbrook, Lesley's behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes will give audiences a unique insight into her life on the stage.

As well as performing on the opera and concert stage both in the UK and internationally, Lesley has recently returned to English National Opera for the world premiere production of Nico Muhly’s Marnie.

Last spring she appeared with WNO in another world premiere creating the role of Emcee in Rhonda Rips It Up!, based on the life of suffragette Margaret Haig Thomas (Lady Rhondda) and the autumn saw Lesley make her acting debut in a revised version of Patrick Barlow’s play, The Messiah for the National Theatre of Brent, on tour and in the West End. This spring she is creating another new role in ENO’s world premiere of Iain Bell’s opera, Jack the Ripper at the Coliseum…

As well as performing on the opera and concert stage, both in the UK and internationally, Lesley has recently starred in Carousel and The Sound of Music and appeared on television shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Loose Women.She has also performed with artists as diverse as Michael Ball, Renee Fleming, Andrea Bocelli, Bryn Terfel and Lily Savage.

Anna Tilbrook is one of Britain’s most exciting pianists, with a considerable reputation in song recitals and chamber music. She made her debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1999 and has since become a regular performer at Europe’s major concert halls and festivals, as well as coaching regularly for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

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Widely respected as the voice of Test Match Special ‘Blowers’, Henry Blofeld brings his wit and wisdom to the stage once again.

Henry’s keen to stress though that it’s not all cricket, in fact, most of it isn’t and that every show is different. So, even if you’ve been before you can be sure that it’ll never be the same twice. “If you think you’re going to learn how to play a forward defensive, you’ll be sadly disappointed.”

Instead, the talk is based, in the loosest sense, on Henry’s life story, although there’s time for as many after-dinner anecdotes and meandering digressions as there is in a Test Match Special rain break.

The show itself is very tongue-in-cheek and Henry spends a lot of time poking fun at himself and subjects veer from intergalactic travel to horticulture to mountaineering. Audiences are always sure of an evening of great tales from this quintessential Englishman.

Production Company: Clive Conway Productions Ltd.

Ian McEwan is the critically acclaimed author of seventeen novels and two short story collections.

His first published work, a collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award. His novels include The Child in Time, which won the 1987 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award; The Cement Garden; Enduring Love; Amsterdam, which won the 1998 Booker Prize; Atonement; Saturday; On Chesil Beach; Solar; Sweet Tooth; The Children Act; Nutshell; and Machines Like Me, which was a number-one bestseller.  And his latest book is described as 'Epic, mesmerising and deeply humane, Lessons is a chronicle for our times – a powerful meditation on history and humanity told through the prism of one man's lifetime.

Atonement, Enduring Love, The Children Act, and On Chesil Beach have all been adapted for the big screen.

'McEwan is one of the most accomplished craftsmen of plot and prose.' - New York Times

'A true master.' - Daily Telegraph

Presented in association with Clive Conway Productions.

Ian McEwan is the critically acclaimed author of seventeen novels and two short story collections.

His first published work, a collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award. His novels include The Child in Time, which won the 1987 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award; The Cement Garden; Enduring Love; Amsterdam, which won the 1998 Booker Prize; Atonement; Saturday; On Chesil Beach; Solar; Sweet Tooth; The Children Act; Nutshell; and Machines Like Me, which was a number-one bestseller.  And his latest book is described as 'Epic, mesmerising and deeply humane, Lessons is a chronicle for our times – a powerful meditation on history and humanity told through the prism of one man's lifetime.

Atonement, Enduring Love, The Children Act, and On Chesil Beach have all been adapted for the big screen.

'McEwan is one of the most accomplished craftsmen of plot and prose.' - New York Times

'A true master.' - Daily Telegraph

Presented in association with Clive Conway Productions.

Often described as the compère beyond compare, but before becoming a fully-fledged playwright, panellist, performer and stalwart of the Edinburgh Festival, Arthur worked as a road sweeper, dustman, market researcher, teacher and advertised chicken burgers in supermarkets dressed as a fox.

A career in comedy was the only one that could follow a build up like that. He was one of many stand-up performers on the alternative comedy scene in the Eighties.

Twenty years on he still performs in much the same manner, perhaps ironically, he now describes himself as a "semi-professional" comedian.

To BBC radio and TV audiences, his career has been split between appearing on top quiz shows and fronting the funny section in Loose Ends. On TV, he's been a regular Grumpy Old Man and Countdown wordsmith.

His plays include the award-winning An Evening with Gary Lineker, My Summer with Des and The Bed Show. He has presented Radio 4’s Excess Baggage and Radio 2’s The Smith Lectures and is a regular guest on Loose Ends. He describes himself as Radio 4’s “bit of rough”.

Widely respected as the voice of Test Match Special ‘Blowers’, Henry Blofeld brings his wit and wisdom to the stage once again.

Henry’s keen to stress though that it’s not all cricket, in fact, most of it isn’t and that every show is different. So, even if you’ve been before you can be sure that it’ll never be the same twice. “If you think you’re going to learn how to play a forward defensive, you’ll be sadly disappointed.”

Instead, the talk is based, in the loosest sense, on Henry’s life story, although there’s time for as many after-dinner anecdotes and meandering digressions as there is in a Test Match Special rain break.

The show itself is very tongue-in-cheek and Henry spends a lot of time poking fun at himself and subjects veer from intergalactic travel to horticulture to mountaineering. Audiences are always sure of an evening of great tales from this quintessential Englishman.

Production Company: Clive Conway Productions Ltd.