26/10/2011

This week Libby Purves is joined by Richard Rycroft, Sir Terry Wogan, Matt Croucher and Sona Jobarteh. After a long career in the police force, Richard Rycroft became an actor and also a stand-up comedian. He says that the two roles of policeman and actor are quite similar, but his only frustration as an actor is that no one will cast him as a policeman - he's just not convincing in that role apparently! He is appearing as the CEO in the improvisational show, 'The Office Party' which is running at London's Pleasance Theatre. Sir Terry Wogan has been a radio and TV broadcaster since the sixties, first in Ireland and then the BBC. He retired from his Radio 2 show 'Wake Up to Wogan' in 2009, which boasted a regular eight million listeners, including the TOGS - Terry's Old Geezers and Gals. His book, 'Wogan's Ireland', which was also a BBC series, recalls his memories of Ireland, from the politics to the personal. 'Wogan's Ireland' is published by Simon & Schuster. Matt Croucher GC joined the Royal Marines aged sixteen. He served in Iraq and in Afghanistan, where in 2007 he was awarded the George Cross when he jumped on a live grenade to protect his men in Afghanistan. Now an ambassador for the Royal British Legion, he has written the book 'The Royal British Legion: 90 Years of Heroes - the official 90th anniversary tribute', which is published by Collins. Sona Jobarteh is the first female Kora virtuoso from the prestigious West African Jobarteh Griot family, coming from a long line of hereditary musicians. She is also a singer, producer, film composer and multi-instrumentalist and is the granddaughter of the master Griot Amadu Bansang Jobarteh. She is performing at the Nour Festival at Leighton House Museum, London W14. Her latest CD 'FASIYA' is out on West African Guild Records. Producer: Chris Paling.