20 Questions With

20 Questions With Niki Segnit

Niki Segnit, the multi award-winning author of The Flavour Thesaurus, which has sold 250,000 copies, has brought out the sequel, The Flavour Thesaurus, More Flavours. In this episode of 20 Questions, Niki takes us on a mesmerising tour of the myriad flavours she experiments with in her new book. She mixes up the mostly plant-based ingredients to create exciting and mouth-watering combinations. How do chocolate and aubergine go together? Or papaya and lime? Why are seeds important and what can you do with spices? How might you use miso and what's the story behind tofu? Whether you enjoy cooking or simply love food, Niki's passion for her subject might just inspire you to try new things. 

20 Questions With Jonathan Agnew

Jonathan Agnew, known to cricket lovers around the world as Aggers, leads the BBC's Test Match Special coverage. As BBC Radio's cricket correspondent, he covers all the big stories involving the sport, and his voice is familiar to many millions. Here he talks about his own playing days, bowling to Sir Viv Richards, injuring people with his fast bowling, his move into journalism and commentary, and his famous 'leg-over' moment with the legendary Brian Johnston when the two couldn't stop laughing live on air. He addresses the issue of racism in the game, discusses the importance of impartiality as a BBC journalist, explains why he gave up his Twitter account, and goes into bat for Test matches. In his view, Tests are facing a breaking point, and he believes that administrators and players are 'lazy' in their preference for the T20 brand over the oldest form of the international game. He doesn't hold back. 

20 Questions With Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar played 50 Tests for England, he took 167 Test wickets, helped his country become the number one side in the world, became the first English spinner to take five wickets in an innings at the WACA ground in Perth, rescued an Ashes Test with the bat, hit Muttiah Muralitharan for six, got Sachin Tendulkar out for his first Test wicket and became a fans' favourite. Here he explains his art with the ball, reveals how he coped in high pressure situations, talks about mental health, gives his views on racism in cricket and society, and shares the advice the late, great Shane Warne gave him. 

20 Questions With Jon Culshaw

Jon Culshaw is one of Britain's best loved impressionists. Here he explains his art and impersonates Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, George Bush, George W Bush, Russell Crowe, Les Dawson, Frank Bruno, Chris Eubank, Sir Michael Caine, Ann Widdecombe, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jordan Peterson, actor Brian Cox and Professor Brian Cox.

20 Questions With Simon Sebag-Montefiore

Simon Sebag-Montefiore is a bestselling and prize-winning writer of history and fiction. The descendent of a famous Jewish family and friends with King Charles, he is married to Santa Montefiore, herself a bestselling author. Here Sebag-Montefiore discusses his new book, 'The World, A Family History', and offers his insights into the future of America, India, China and Britain, as well as looking back at some of the great historical characters, whose stories he tells with such relish. He gives his verdict on Charles III, reveals the process of his working life as a writer, and shares his passion for the past.

20 Questions With Martin Wolf CBE

Martin Wolf, whose parents both escaped the Nazis, is one of the most respected economists in the world. Having formerly worked at the World Bank, he is a multi award-winning journalist and the Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times. Here he gives his take on the rise of China and India, the challenge to the United States, the cost of living crisis in Britain, the economic effects of Brexit and the lessons to be learned from the debacle of the Liz Truss government. 

20 Questions With Adam Gopnik

Adam Gopnik is one of America's foremost writers. He's worked at The New Yorker for nearly four decades and won three National Magazine Awards as well as a George Polk Award. Here he discusses his 10th book, The Real Work, in which he investigates the art of mastery, and offers precious insights into his own craft of writing. 

20 Questions With The Astronomer Royal

Martin Rees - or Baron Rees of Ludlow - is one of the most distinguished scientists of his generation anywhere in the world. A former President of the Royal Society (2005-10) and Master of Trinity College Cambridge (2004-12), Martin is the 15th Astronomer Royal since the role was created in 1675. 
If you ever wonder whether there might be life out there somewhere; how a black hole the size of an atom can contain the mass of a large mountain; what happened before the Big Bang; whether we live in a multiverse; whether astronauts are a waste of money; how we can fix the looming problem of space 'pollution'; what the significance of exoplanets is, or what the future of human beings on Mars might look like, this podcast is for you.

20 Questions With Tracey Crouch MP

Why did the Conservative MP give up a dream job as Sports Minister? Why is she a Tory? Would she ever switch to Labour? What are her reflections on the issue of loneliness, something that can affect us all? What are her views on the crisis of small boats crossing the Channel? How did her experience of having cancer affect her outlook? What are her passions? Does she listen to her husband's BBC radio show? And is she friends with politicians across the aisle? Tracey Crouch is respected on both sides of the House of Commons. Here she shares her story. 
If you're in the UK and are affected by any of the things discussed in this podcast, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123.

20 Questions With Rosie Holt

Get a glimpse of the woman behind the brilliant satirist, Rosie Holt, who has a habit of going viral while pretending to be someone she isn't. What does she really think of the Tory government? How did she become an internet sensation? What was her childhood like? What sort of life does she lead outside work? And Rosie also explains why she thinks satire is important and reveals whether the MP she plays in her Twitter videos will survive a Labour government.