MUMBELIEVABLE with Sonia Beldom

Danny Clarke is a British Garden Designer who shot to fame in 2015 as BBC’s Instant Gardener aged 58. When he branded himself “The Black Gardener” everything went crazy and he was in demand and discovered as an emerging television star. He has also graced our screens with a host of popular garden makeover shows and horticultural advice. In 2019, he joined the ITV ‘This Morning’ team presenting colourful and creative garden transformations. Danny is now a member of Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden team, the current season being televised on ITV. November 2021 saw Danny co-present a unique garden makeover show on 5Star/Channel 5, Filthy Garden SOS.Despite a troubled childhood with a difficult mother who used to beat him and subject him to emotional abuse, Danny is committed to help bring change and harmony to young people and disadvantaged communities by encouraging them into horticulture ana into a good relationship with our planet. His father came to England aged 20 and spent a lot of time away from his young family while on active duty and leave. He also runs his own bespoke garden design company, the Black Gardener and co-directs CIC Grow 2 Know, who are committed to bringing horticulture to young people and disadvantaged communities. His story is a bittersweet tale of a child who grew up convinced his mother didn’t love him, never having his birthdays celebrated or his parents telling him they were proud of him. But all this has shaped him into a strong, caring grandfather and business man who inspires everyone he meets.00.0    00.00 Introduction to Danny Clark and his gardening journey02.51 The Impact of gardening on mental health06.05 Reflection on family and dhildhood trauma12.13 Understanding maternal relationships and their complicated links17.49 The journey of forgiveness and acceptance24.06 Legacy and lessons from motherhood

Martine Croxall is a journalist and TV news presenter, currently working for the BBC. Her tenure at the beeb has not been without incident. She was suspended for 11 days for an impartiality review after a comment she made about Boris Johnson withdrawing from the Conservative party leadership contest being "very exciting". She was reinstated but later, along with a number of other journalists, was axed from her presenting job. She sued the BBC for discrimination on a number of grounds and she's back on the air. Sonia finds out about Martine's background and the influence of her parents but particularly her mother.

In this deeply moving and personal episode, Sonia Beldom interviews Andrew Pierce, a journalist and political pundit, about his latest book, 'Finding Margaret, Solving the Mystery of My Birth Mother.' Pierce shares his heart-wrenching journey of being adopted by his loving mum, Betty, while also uncovering the story of his birth mother, Margaret, an Irish nurse. The conversation delves into the challenges of adoption, the quest for identity, and the emotional reunions that shaped Andrew's understanding of family and heritage. This episode offers a poignant look at the extraordinary lives of the two women who made Andrew who he is today.00:00 Introduction and Personal Background00:35 Introducing Andrew Pierce and His Book01:08 Andrew's Adoption Story02:49 Margaret's Struggles and Sacrifices05:11 Discovering the Truth About Margaret06:49 The Search for Margaret10:03 Reuniting with Margaret16:00 Reflecting on Family and Identity21:25 A Letter Published in the Daily Mirror22:15 Family Reactions and Emotional Impact24:14 Career Beginnings and Family Support26:15 Reflections on Adoption and Family Bonds30:07 Traits and Characteristics from Both Mothers32:50 Memorable Moments and Final Thoughts

In this episode of 'Mumbelievable,' host Sonia welcomes renowned jazz singer Ian Shaw to share heartfelt and humorous stories about his mother, Megan. From her life in North Wales and her eccentric ways to her struggle with agoraphobia, Ian's recounting of his childhood is both touching and amusing. The episode delves into Megan's influence on Ian's musical journey, her remarkable red hair, and her battle with agoraphobia. Ian talks about how his mother's unique character had a profound impact on his life and career. The episode wraps up with Sonia's 'Mini Mum Survey,' where Ian reflects on the funniest, most cringe-worthy, and most admirable aspects of his mum. Ian was born in St Asaph in North Wales and took his music degree at the University of London. His career in performance began in the 1980s on the alternative cabaret circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary and Jo Brand. At the same time, he was playing in piano bars and at festivals in London and throughout Europe. He is the host of International Ronnie Scott's Radio.00:00 Introduction to Mumbelievable Podcast00:42 Guest Introduction: Ian Shaw01:46 Ian Shaw's Mother: Megan's Story02:16 Musical Family Background03:29 Eccentricities and Agoraphobia05:04 Food Memories and Eating Disorders06:26 Neighbourhood Characters and Childhood Memories08:48 Unfulfilled Talents and Rejection Letters14:23 Funny Misunderstandings and Mix-ups16:25 Funny Group Names and TV Concepts17:02 Memories of Barbara Windsor17:59 Mother's Agoraphobia and Support21:06 Post-War Generational Issues25:06 Cherished Memories and Voices29:26 Mini Mum Survey31:44 Conclusion and Farewell

David Baddiel's latest book is all about his family and much of the narrative concerns his Mumbelievable mother. You possibly won't believe some of the stories about her but they're true. Sonia shares mum stories with David - two women who were in some ways similar but in reality poles apart. This is a must listen!In this episode of Mumbelievable, host Sonia Beldom talks with comedian, author, and television presenter David Baddiel about his new book "My Family: The Memoir" They dive into the quirky and often embarrassing antics of their mothers, sharing stories that are both hilarious and poignant. David recounts his mother's obsession with golf memorabilia and her affair with a collector, revealing the complexity of her character and the unusual upbringing he experienced. They also discuss the challenges and joys of having eccentric, transgressive mothers and how these relationships shaped their lives. Sonia and David celebrate the vivid, flawed, and ultimately lovable personalities of their mums, weaving humour and heartfelt moments into their conversation.00:00 Introduction to Mumbelievable podcast00:27 Meet David Baddiel: A Comedian's Tale01:44 Embarrassing Mum Stories02:07 The Truth About Family Dynamics07:20 The Golf Obsession and David White10:31 A Mother's Fantasies and Realities14:27 The Impact of Trauma and War22:20 Reflections on a Flawed but Beloved Mother22:40 The Complexity of Maternal Love23:32 A Mother's Eccentricities and Love24:25 The Impact of a Mother's Actions25:11 Family Dynamics and Mental Health27:38 Parental Neglect and Personal Growth31:15 Humour as a Coping Mechanism33:49 Exploring Maternal Sexuality37:55 The Blurred Lines of Truth and Fiction44:38 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Zebedee Soanes, was born in Lowestoft in Suffolk. Zeb is a British radio presenter, you’ll recognise the voice, who hosts the weekday evening music show Relaxing Evenings with Zeb Soanes on Classic FM. He was previously a newsreader and continuity announcer on BBC Radio 4. He presents live concerts, specialising in narrated orchestral work. He’s also published the children’s book series Gaspard the Fox.

Judi Spiers, the amazing broadcaster on tv and radio (currently Boom Radio), has a whole raft of stories to share with Sonia about her mum. From the Buckingham Palace garden party story to the Passover recipe she demonstrated on Judi's tv show, Judi is clearly a chip of the old block!

Frank Allen was a leading light, well actually, bass guitar with the 60s super group, The Searchers - 6 Top 10 Hits including 3 No1s. His mum never had a record player so she didn't buy any of his records and she didn't actually go to see him play. Nevertheless, she was a supportive mum even though she thought leaving his job at Penguin Books was a bit of a risk.