20 Questions With

20 Questions With Daniel Norcross

Test Match Special commentator Daniel Norcross sheds a tear as he describes his elevation from founder of internet cricket commentary provider, Test Match Sofa, to one of the BBC's best loved and most enduring products. He explains the joy of cricket, reveals the secrets of his trade, and makes the case for the longest form of the game. Whether or not you like the sport, Norcross shows that in the case of TMS's coverage, it's as much about the commentary as it is about the cricket. 

20 Questions With Omid Djalili

Multi award-winning comedian Omid Djalili on comedy, causing offence, making a difference, his solidarity with Iranian women, expressing himself on social media, his upcoming tour and the meaning of life. 
(In this episode, Djalili mentions comedian Louis CK, who expressed remorse for masturbating in front of women, but said that he had never revealed himself without first asking permission). 

20 Questions With Louis de Bernières

Louis de Bernières, author of novels including Captain Corelli's Mandolin, on the meaning of life. 

20 Questions With Guillem Balagué

One of football's best loved pundits, Guillem Balagué is the author of 10 books, including on Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona and Guardiola. Here he gives his verdict on the the greatest player of all time, how he fell out with Ronaldo, what he thinks of the foreign ownership of clubs, highlights the scourge of racism in the game, explains the difference between football in England and Spain, predicts who will win the Euros, offers support to Gareth Southgate, and reveals that his real passion is story-telling, not football. A rare insight into the man behind the headlines. 

20 Questions With Tom Kerridge

One of the very top names in British food, Tom Kerridge is the only chef in the country with a two Michelin star pub. He runs multiple establishments, writes cook books and fronts TV series. Here he reveals the secrets to his stardom, describes his journey from a working class, single-parent childhood, talks about his triumph over alcoholism and losing 12 stone in weight, recounts his experience of cooking for Liam Gallagher, and outlines why a happy work force is essential to a successful business. 

20 Questions With Kriss Akabusi

World Champion and Olympic silver medallist Kriss Akabusi reveals the trauma he experienced as a child and the impact that had on his rise to international stardom. Known for his infectious enthusiasm, he tells the story of the sadness he felt when his Nigerian parents left him behind in London as a boy so that he could experience a British education. He learned to play the clown to fit in and then the army and sport brought structure. The rest is athletics history, and Akabusi describes in charismatic detail the experience of anchoring the GB 4x400m men's relay team to gold in 1991. 

20 Questions With Steven Berkoff

A legend of stage and screen, Steven Berkoff is an actor, director and playwright, known for his roles in Bond, Beverley Hills Cop and Rambo as well as for having given his name to Berkovian theatre. Here he discusses his techniques, why theatre matters and why he's so passionate about his work. 

20 Questions With Professor David Howarth

How did the East India Company come about and how did it become the largest corporation in the world? How did the English compare to the Spanish and Dutch as a naval power, and how did they manage to gain a foothold in the Indian subcontinent? What were the obstacles to success, and what motivated the mercantile adventurers who risked their lives on the high seas? How did the British Empire in India emerge from the foundations set by the Company? And at what cost? How should we look back at our highly controversial colonial role on the global stage? Historian and Emeritus Professor David Howarth helps to answer these questions at a time when imperialism is under the spotlight like never before. Drawing on his book Adventurers: The Improbable Rise of the East India Company, he takes us back to the 17th and 18th centuries as the English began to establish themselves as a major world force. And he reveals the influence on his career of his own father, Tom Howarth, who was friends with Field Marshal Montgomery and won the Military Cross for bravery in World War II. What was it like being shown round Rommel's caravan by 'Monty' as a young boy?
An unmissable insight into the importance of history, which, as Howarth says, is very far from dead. 

20 Questions With World Cup winner Rocky Clark

Rochelle "Rocky" Clark won 137 caps for England, making her the second most capped player in the history of English rugby. She took part in four World Cups, winning one of them, and is an icon of the women's game. Here she reveals what it takes to reach the top, shares her highest bench press, discusses weight and fitness, gives her views on how to bridge the gap between the men's and women's games, reviews how the sport has changed since she began playing, and celebrates the progress made by girls and women in team sports. 

20 Questions With Hermione Norris

Star of Cold Feet, Spooks, Luther, Kingdom, Doctor Who and Silent Witness, Hermione Norris takes us behind the scenes of her craft, describes the differences between stage and screen, discusses the need for more female parts, reveals why the role of spy Ros Myers helped her as a new mum, and explains why she enjoys playing bad people.