Scottish poet and writer Jackie Kay does her best to cheer up Muriel Gray with her Reasons To Be Cheerful in the third series of the popular programme. The concept behind Reasons To Be Cheerful is simple. Each week a guest presenter looks at some of the things about modern life that they believe are worth celebrating.

Jackie returns to her Scottish homeland to celebrate a few of the things that she believes make modern life better. The revival of home-baking is one of Jackie's big reasons. She visits her mum's Glasgow home to sample the baked goods of her neighbours. Jackie is joined by Catharine Brown, one of Scotland's best known cookery writers.

Jackie is delighted by the current boom in the publication of poetry pamphlets. Despite living in the age of e-publishing, poetry lovers are turning to this decidedly old fashioned form of communication. Jackie visits the Edinburgh Poetry Library to see their pamphlet collection and to meet Liz Lochhead, acclaimed poet and the current Scottish Makar, the national poet.

She celebrates what she sees as a revival in activism of young people. She is particularly delighted by imaginative campaigns like Football Beyond Borders, which uses soccer to break down barriers between people. It was set up and run by young people, including her son Matthew.

Jackie interviews Carol Craig, chief executive of the Centre for Confidence and Well-being in Glasgow. The innovative centre is dedicated to looking at ways of tackling pessimism in modern society.

Among Jackie's guests are Andy Furlong, Robyn Marsack and Jasper Kain. Along the way Jackie has to convince the broadcaster and writer Muriel Gray that there are things to cheer about.

Produced by Martin McNamara and Kim Normanton.
A Loftus Audio production for BBC Radio 4. Show less