Firstly, please sign-up to the Radio Days Book Club podcast on Spotify (or any other podcast provider.) We have a recent studio interview with Andy McGrath, discussing his biography of Tadej Pogacar; the recording of my Kettering show with BBC Radio 2 breakfast vicar Dave Tomlinson (he took two of the great train robbers’ funerals; he tells us how that went. And so on); an archive interview with Matt Spiro about the recent history of French football – a fascinating insight into France’s often turbulent national identity, seen through the prism of the national football team.

Plus author Tom Benjamin on his Bologna-set crime fiction, the gay mafia who ran 60s music – and an hour of Matt Rendell and me discussing things we never get round to in our live shows. Plus Nick Lowe, The Jam, the history of British cycling and an epic Greek travelogue. A broad church.

Now: live shows: we start on 1 October in Lyme Regis with former ITV Tour de France commentator Matt Rendell, one of ten confirmed dates with Matt over the winter, with more tbc. The Gosforth show is SOLD OUT (maybe a couple of single seats left; sue me). Lots of new venues on the itinerary, plus returns to Worcester, Aberdeen and Edinburgh (as well as Gosforth.)

Carlton Kirby’s live shows begin in Newbury on 27 October, with our evening postponed from the heatwave, when it was deemed TOO DANGEROUS for us to play. We have eight confirmed shows with Carlton and more tbc. Note, the Jersey show is really sold out, except for three single seats and, as I write, there are only two seats left in Lincoln.

We have two shows with Pat Nevin, in Stamford and Carlisle, with more to come. Always a great night – our sell-out shows in Newcastle and York re-confirmed that Pat’s standing in the game goes beyond the tribal loyalties of the clubs he played for (although it’s always a surprise how many Chelsea fans there are, living far from SW6).

Also – I am hosting a one-off show with John Altman on Thursday 22 October at the JW3 Centre in Hampstead NW3. I did a run of shows with John back in 2023 – see artwork, left, for some of the insane range of people John has worked with as arranger, composer and musician. Yes, really Jimi Hendrix; yes, really Nick Drake – but also Amy Winehouse. Incredible. John will be telling stories from his career BUT ALSO illustrating them with live music on the piano. It’s is going to be a tremendous evening, so please consider joining us!

I am always looking for new venues and towns and guests, so, y’know, feel free to make suggestions.

Of course, I will have some special shows coming up to the 2027 Tour de France’s visit to the UK and I am also talking to 1) more potential music guests and 2) venues that might be at home to mini-seasons/festivals.

More soon!

Duncan