Midweek: Diverse Conversation

This week Libby Purves meets Travis Meinolf, an 'action weaver' who travels the world engaging communities in interactive weaving; Vernon Rapley, Director of Security at the V&A who formerly led the Metropolitan Police's Art and Antiques Unit; Professor Lewis Wolpert is a developmental biologist and octagenarian whose new book, 'You're Looking Very Well' explores the scientific and social implications of getting old.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Ben Goddard who is currently playing Jerry Lee Lewis in the musical 'Million Dollar Quartet'; Dame Catherine, a Benedictine Nun who co-founded the Benedictine Nuns of Holy Trinity Monastery, East Hendred; Jeff Pearce, who went from the Liverpool slums to self-made millionaire without being able to read or write and has now written his autobiography, 'A Pocketful of Holes and Dreams'; and Children's dramatist David Wood, who's latest work is the play of 'Goodnight Mister Tom'.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Jean-Marie Akkerman, founder of Cirque Nova, the only circus in the world working specifically with people with disabilities; theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh talking about his new musical 'Betty Blue Eyes'; Katie Piper, badly scared after a horrific acid attack destroyed her face, on a new four-part documentary for Channel 4, 'Katie: My Beautiful Friends' in which she meets others coping with disfigurement; and Laura Lee is the CEO of Maggie's Centres, which gives support to anyone affected by cancer in buildings designed by top architects. The designs are currently featured in an exhibition at the V&A.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Clarence B Jones who was the co-author of the 'I Have a Dream' speech and a close confidant to Martin Luther King himself; Carodoc King is a leading literary agent who has written a memoir, 'Problem Child', in which he tells of his childhood growing up in the 1950s in a large and eccentric family in Essex; and Yangzom Brauen's grandmother was one of Tibet's youngest nuns, who escaped the Chinese invasion of her country with her young family.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of the Supremes who is on 20 date UK tour; actor Larry Lamb of Eastenders and Gavin and Stacey fame on his memoir 'Mummy's Boy'; born in Zimbabwe, Siza Mtimbiri's family was devastated by HIV/AIDS. He has founded a charity called 'Hope Academy and Medical Center' that will bring education and health care to communities in rural Zimbabwe; and Arthur Jeffes, whose father Simon founded the Penguin Cafe Orchestra in the 70s but died in 1997. Arthur has reformed the band and will be touring in May.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Eva Petulengro, one of the last generation of true Romany gypsies who has written a book 'The Girl in the Painted Caravan' telling of her childhood on the road; Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian doctor and infertility expert who witnessed the deaths of his three daughters and neice when their home in Gaza was shelled; Rebecca Peyton is the sister of Kate Peyton, the BBC producer who was shot dead in Mogadishu, Somalia, on assignment; and Mark Todd, Chief Executive of Ocean Youth Trust South which takes over 450 young people sailing each year, two thirds from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds.

This week Sian Williams is joined by Shaun Foggett, the UK's answer to 'Crocodile Dundee'; Andrew Barrow is author of the book 'Animal Magic' much of which is based around his brother Jonathan, who died in a car crash aged 22, leaving a manuscript of a novel in which he prophesised his own death; Magsie Hamilton-Little, author of 'Dancing with Darkness' which tells of how her life changed after witnessing the carnage of the 7/7 London bus bomb; and actor David Morrissey who is about to star in the BBC One drama 'South Riding'.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Fiona Stanford, author of 'Don't Say Goodbye', which is the story of the men and women who are left behind when their partners go to war; Mark Henderson, who was kidnapped in the Columbian jungle talks about his film 'My Kidnapper' in which he travels back to confront his kidnapper; Anglican priest Father Ray on Channel 4's 'First Cut' film which follows him as he shares a personal secret with his congregation: that he is gay; and theatre producer and impressario Raymond Gubbay on his latest production of 'Madam Butterfly' at the Royal Albert Hall.

This week Libby Purves is joined by actor Sophie Thompson on her role in the play Clybourne Park; Patrick Cockburn, Iraq correspondent for the Independent who has written a book with his son Henry, who suffers from Schizophrenia, 'Henry's Demons'; Kevin Skelton on his book 'Sent By An Angel' which tells of how, after the death of his wife in the Omagh bombing, he and his family rebuilt their lives; and Fred Sirieix, can currently been seen in BBC Two's Michel Roux's Service, training and mentoring eight young people for a career in front-of-house.

This week Libby Purves is joined by photographer Bran Symondson, also an Army Reservist, talking about an exhibition of his photographs of the Afghan National Police at Idea Generation gallery; former nurse Joan Woodcock on her book 'Matron Knows Best - the true story of a 1960s NHS nurse'; actor Greg Hicks, who is playing King Lear in the RSC Roundhouse season; and sculptor Phillip King on his exhibition of fifty years of his work at Flowers Galleries.

This week Libby Purves is joined by David M Lutken, Lee Mack, David Threlfall and Janet Street-Porter.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Lorraine Pascale, a former model turned baker and patissiere; Wilbert Rideau, a former prisoner on death row who went on to edit the award-winning prison magazine; the double Olympic gold medal athlete Dame Kelly Holmes; and pianist and composer Stephen Hough.

This week Libby Purves is joined by John Sergeant, Rufus Sewell, Wasfi Kani and Tom Pey.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Gordon Buchanan, Les Persaud, Reece Shearsmith and Vicki Amedume.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Jamelia, Boyd Clack, Elisabeth Parry and Jamelia.