Wayne Sleep, Ben Miller, Rosalind Eleazar, Lou Conran, The Lottery Winners, Stuart Maconie

Wayne Sleep, Ben Miller, Rosalind Eleazar and Lou Conran join Stuart Maconie for this week's Loose Ends, with music from The Lottery Winners.

Dance icon Wayne Sleep waltzes in to tell us stories of his life - all detailed in his new autobiography, Just Different. Tales of his friendships with Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, David Hockney and fellow ballet legend Rudolph Nureyev intermingle with insights into his working-class upbringing and the difficulties of trying to make it as the shortest principal dancer ever to get into the Royal Ballet. Told he would always have to spin twice as fast and jump twice as high to succeed, Stuart hears all about the trials, tribulations and backstage gossip that make up Wayne’s world.

With notable appearances in Slow Horses, Howards End, Rellik and the Personal History Of David Copperfield, as well as striding such prestigious stages as the Royal Court and the National Theatre, Rosalind Eleazar is set to return to the small screen this New Year. Starring in the Netflix production of Harlan Coben’s Missing You, filmed across the north west of England, she’s here to tell us all about her new role as Detective Kat Donovan. Award-winning comedian and writer Lou Conran has been storming stages up and down the country since 2005 with her innate brand of sharp wit and honest and open humour. 2025 will see her twenty year anniversary as a performer and off the back of a sold out UK tour, she’s about to embark on a tour of New Zealand, and joins Stuart to tell us about the year ahead.

The actor and comedian Ben Miller is of course known for The Armstrong & Miller Show, the Johnny English and Paddington films, Death in Paradise, Bridgerton - but over recent years has turned his hand to writing children’s books. From his Elf series to the recent The Night I Met Father Christmas, he joins Stuart to talk about his new character – Robin Hood…aged 10¾. And we’ll hear all about his new TV series Austin which will be on our screens in 2025.

Robbie Williams, Noel Gallagher, Boy George, Shaun Ryder and Frank Turner are just some of the huge names The Lottery Winners have in their phonebook. Formed in the mining town of Leigh 15 years ago, The Lottery Winners set out to work the UK gig circuit and perfect their now acclaimed stagecraft. And it all paid off when their last album went to No.1 in the UK. Their fourth original album KOKO is due out in February with a tour closely following…and another one with Robbie Williams following that! They join Loose Ends to play two songs - Superpower and Worry.

Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Elizabeth Foster Production Co-ordinator: Lydia Depledge-Miller