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Saturday Live: Charles Spencer

12/09/2020

Charles Spencer

BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Live, Charles Spencer

GB Paralympian Sophie Carrigill and the inheritance tracks of soul singer Ruby Turner.

Historian and Earl Charles Spencer, Paralympian Sophie Carrigill, singer Ruby Turner, Louis Bird on his father who was lost at sea and museum fan Rachel Morris.

Richard Coles and Shaun Keaveny are joined by Charles Spencer.  Charles has a few hats – as Earl Spencer he is the custodian of Althorp house in Northamptonshire; he is the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales; he is the Queen’s godson; but also he is a respected author of history books – his latest tells the events of almost 900 years ago involving a dramatic shipwreck which changed the course of history – the story is, as he describes it, a mash up of Titanic and Game of Thrones with a bit of Sliding Doors thrown in.

We also have Sophie Carrigill who is co-captain of Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball team.  A decade ago at the age of 16, Sophie Carrigill was caught in a life-threatening car accident which paralysed her from the waist down, now she has just re-started group training for the 2021 Paralympics. 

Louis Bird’s dad was record breaking pacific rower Peter Bird, who was attempting another crossing when he disappeared in the middle of the pacific ocean when Louis was 4 years old.  Now 28, Louis has looked into his Dad's story, completed a mammoth row himself and made a documentary about coming to terms with his father's death.  

As a Museum curator Rachel Morris advised museums on how to design exhibitions and make the most of their artefacts. But it was only when she decided to look at the hoard of family letters and random possessions that had been stashed under her own bed that she put together a museum of her own family life story and confronted some painful memories.

We have your thank you, and the inheritance tracks of soul superstar Ruby Turner who chooses chooses Aretha Franklin, Don't play that song for me and Gladys Knight, A licence to kill.

Producer: Corinna Jones

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