19/10/2011

This week Libby Purves is joined by Gloria Elliott, Des Bishop, Michael Morpurgo and Stanley Jackson. Gloria Elliott is the Chief Executive of the Noise Abatement Society. Her father, John Connell founded the society in 1959 when he realised that there was no authority to turn to about noise complaints, that noise was in his words, ' the forgotten pollutant'. The Noise Abatement Society are collaborating with 'Sounding Brighton' for Brighton & Hove White Night where a series of sonic artworks, produced especially for the occasion, will challenge notions of sound in public spaces. Des Bishop is a stand-up comedian. His book 'My Dad Was Nearly James Bond' tells the story of his dad who, as a model and actor in the sixties, nearly became James Bond, but gave it all up to raise a family. For years, Des had wanted to write a show about his dad, and when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2009, the insights that emerged during his dad's illness triggered his stand up show and now the book. 'My Dad Was Nearly James Bond' is published by Penguin. Michael Morpurgo is the children's author of books including War Horse and Private Peaceful. This month, the National Army Museum is launching its largest exhibition to date, War Horse: Fact & Fiction. The exhibition explores Michael Morpurgo's book to tell the real-life stories of horses in war and how they have shaped history from the Charge of the Light-brigade to the present-day. Stanley Jackson is a celebrity booker. Through his company, Performing Artistes, he hires famous people for corporate events. In his book 'Get Me A Celebrity' he gives advice on how to write a well-crafted speech and discusses the role of agents and the crucial role of TV exposure. 'Get Me A Celebrity' is published by Ecademy Press. Producer: Chris Paling.