Mariella Frostrup meets children's author Allan Ahlberg; singer Kiki Dee; writer Nigel McCrery and artist Julie Brook.

Writer and former teacher Allan Ahlberg is the author of a series of classic children's picture books including Peepo!, Burglar Bill, Each Peach Pear Plum, and the Jolly Postman. The books were illustrated by his late wife Janet. In his new memoir he writes about his own childhood, growing up in the Black Country in the 1940s. The Bucket - Memories of an Inattentive Childhood is published by Viking.

Kiki Dee - born Pauline Matthews - is celebrating 50 years in the music business with a new album. Best remembered for the 1976 hit with Elton John, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, she was the first white British woman to be signed by Tamla Motown in 1970. Her new album A Place Where I can Go with Carmelo Luggeri is released on Spellbound Recordings.

Nigel McCrery is a former policeman and the creator of BBC television series Silent Witness and New Tricks. His new book, Silent Witnesses - A History of Forensic Science traces the development of scientific discoveries in criminal detection from fingerprinting to DNA. Silent Witnesses - A History of Forensic Science is published by Random House.

Julie Brook is a landscape artist. She takes inspiration for her drawings, paintings and sculptures from inhospitable and remote areas where she spends long stretches of time - often alone. Her latest exhibition Made, unmade features film of her at work digging and moving rocks and stones in the deserts of Libya and Namibia. Made, unmade is at the Wapping Hydraulic Power Station. Show less