Midweek: Diverse Conversation

Libby Purves meets playwright Mark Ravenhill who has written a new version of Voltaire's classic novel Candide for the RSC at Stratford-upon-Avon; Eleanor Stewart a former novice nun who became a midwife who tells her story in Kicking the Habit From Convent to Casualty in the 1960s; Barnaby Carder, known as Barn The Spoon, who makes wooden spoons which he sells in his East London shop and former soldier and now photographer and lecturer Stuart Griffiths who has written a book called Pigs Disco about his time in Northern Ireland.

Libby Purves meets actor and comedian Roy Hudd, writer David Harris-Gershon, campaigner Baroness Newlove and cruise ship chaplain Reverend Colin Still.

Libby Purves meets circus performers Alain and Antoine Carabinier; former police officer James Bannon; pianist James Rhodes and fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

Libby Purves meets singer Natalie Cole, actor Joan Shepard, columnist Liz Jones and comedian Tom Wrigglesworth.

Libby Purves meets author Mary Sheepshanks, surgeon Gino Strada, Ty Jeffries who is cabaret star Miss Hope Springs and James Bowen, author and recovered heroin addict who was saved by Bob the cat.

Libby Purves meets ex prisoner turned pig farmer Tracy Mackness;Death row defence lawyer turned art dealer Rhonda Long Sharp; Author and writer Elisa Segrave who found her mother's diaries which revealed her to be active at Bletchley Park and Bomber Command during the war and illustrator George Butler.

Libby Purves meets British/Tunisian film maker Claire Belhassine whose documentary film Papa Hedi tells the story of her grandfather Hedi Jouini; photo journalist and survivor of a Syrian shelling Paul Conroy who has written a book called Under the Wire - Marie Colvin's Final Assignment; Entrepreneur and film producer Douglas Villiers who has written his autobiography It's Only Rock 'n' Roll and finally composer and musician Errollyn Wallen MBE who recently won the Ivor Novello Award for Classical Music.

Mariella Frostrup meets mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, comedian and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax, writer Wendy Law-Yone and Ian Martin of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

Libby Purves meets singer/songwriter Cerys Matthews; Eve Branson, mum of Sir Richard; Margaret and Barry Mizen - the parents of Jimmy Mizen who was killed 5 years ago; and actor and writer Emma Decent.

Libby Purves meets ex tennis champion Jimmy Connors who has just pubished his autobiography The Outsider;journalist Damian Barr who writes in his autobiograpy Maggie and Me about growing up in Thatcher's Britain; director, doctor and comedian Jonathan Miller and Masterchef winner Natalie Coleman.

Libby Purves meets journalist turned novelist Liz Trenow who has written a book The Last Telegram based on her family's silk factory;comedian Hugh Dennis on his book Britty Britty Bang Bang which explores the changing image of Britain and Britishness; Carol Highton MBE who has campaigned against loan sharks as spiralling debt led to her son taking his own life, and David Watson who was one of three solo choristers who sang at the Queen's Coronation in 1953.

Libby Purves meets cook and entrepreneur Levi Roots, writer and artist Edwin Apps, Lydia Corbett - a muse of Picasso and co-founder of the Comedy Store, Don Ward.

Libby Purves is joined by Professor Brendan Walker who is an aeronautical engineer and tv presenter; Alan Johnson MP who is talking about his autobiography This Boy - A Memoir of a Childhood; blues singer and harmonica player Johnny Mars who also plays live.Finally we have actress and daughter of Dorothy Tutin Amanda Waring who is a campaigner for dignity and compassion in care and is appearing in her one woman show for the Love of Chocolate.

Libby Purves is joined by actor Brian Cox, adventurer Jason Lewis, artist Adela Jusic and singer June Tabor.

Libby Purves meets shoe designer Marc Hare, filmmaker Leslie Woodhead, choreographer Kate Prince and Howard Raymond, son of Paul, the King of Soho.