Mariella Meets

You might know my special guest today as the pint-waving Brexiteer known as the pub landlord, but that hardly scratches the surface of his list of achievements. He’s a comedian, writer, podcaster, one-time political candidate and historian.His latest project is a documentary series called ‘Why Does Everyone Hate the British Empire?’ where he travels to Jamaica, Australia, South Africa and India - pairing up with local comedians - to explore the legacy of empire. I caught up with Al Murray earlier and outed his big secret - that he studied history at university - so wasn’t exactly wading in in a total state of ignorance… 

In 2010, the BBC voted him the fourth-best guitarist of the last 30 years while NME honoured him with their "Godlike Genius" award.His new book ‘Marr’s Guitars’ tells the story of his life through his guitar collection - alongside a new “best-of” album featuring two brand new singles.I caught up with Johnny Marr earlier, and asked whether 4th best guitarist of the last 30 years is being damned with faint praise or if the godlike genius award makes up for it… 

Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae looks back upon her three critically acclaimed albums and discusses her new 'art' album Black Rainbows.

Rick Astley has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and his songs from the 80s have more than a billion views on YouTube. The singer is back with a bang with his new album called ‘Are we there yet?’.

One of the most outstanding contemporary authors of our generation and talented TED talker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie joins to speak about her new conquest in literature: Children's books. As a feminist speaker and writer she is used to covering contentious topics but wrote her latest book ‘Mama’s sleeping scarf’ for her daughter.

Lord Blunkett was Britain's youngest councillor, and in 1997 became the first blind cabinet minister. He has struggled with childhood poverty and was told his best chance in life was to become a piano tuner yet became education secretary under Tony Blair - and is continuing to fight for education.

The nation's PE teacher talks about giving free signs-ups to teachers for The Body Coach app, the difficulties he experienced during childhood and whether he supports home-schooling. Plus, he dives into whether he will be moving his family across the pond.

Professor Green joins Mariella to reflect on his childhood and how he found tranquillity through music despite his struggles with mental health. Professor Green is a mental health advocate and patron of the suicide prevention charity CALM, and speaks about how poverty can worsen mental health conditions.

Duran Duran's Andy Taylor is back with a banging single and a new album to boot, despite his ongoing battle with cancer. We discuss why staying alive is a full time business and how its healed old musical wounds.