16/11/2011

This week Libby Purves is joined by Gareth Malone, Stella Duffy, Reginald D Hunter and Jessica Douglas-Home. Choirmaster Gareth Malone returns with the fourth series of the RTS and BAFTA award-winning series. This time he goes to Devon, to Chivenor barracks, to work with the forces community from the time the battalion is deployed to their homecoming. His task is to work for six months with the wives - and try to give them a voice and to unite them - and the base - through the power of song. The Choir: Military Voices is on BBC Two. Stella Duffy is the novelist and playwright. She is directing 'TaniwhaThames', a new play about home and belonging, the inspiration coming from her two most beloved places - London and New Zealand. She was born in London but moved with her family to a small town in New Zealand when she was five. TaniwhaThames, written and devised by the theatre company, Shaky Isles, is at Ovalhouse Theatre, South London. Reginald D. Hunter is the American born, stand-up comedian, known on the UK comedy circuit as one of its most distinctive and controversal performers, often dealing with the issues of race which he feels is important. His DVD, Reginald D Hunter LIVE has just been released and he is currently on tour with 'Sometimes even the devil tells the truth'. Jessica Douglas-Home's 23 year old grandmother, Lilah Wingfield travelled to India in 1911 for the great Delhi Durbar, when George V had himself crowned Emperor of India with enormous pomp. Her book, 'A Glimpse of Empire', based on diaries and photographs of her grandmothers', is published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Durbar. There are also two exhibitions of Lilah's photographs in Dehli and at Indar Pasricha Fine Arts in Connaught Street, London W1. A Glimpse of Empire is published by Michael Russell. Producer: Lucinda Montefiore.