Charlie Higson - Apple Podcasts

Charlie Higson & Friends

Charlie Higson & Friends

Bauer Media

MAR 18

The Spies Who Invaded Suburbia | Former illegal spy Jack Barsky on years undercover

Jack Barsky was arguably one of the most successful and enduring of the "Illegals”. These were the Soviet and Russian operatives who seamlessly integrated into American society while covertly serving their handlers in Moscow. But as Jack started a family in his new country, the weight of his double life began to take its toll. Talking to actor and spy novelist Charlie Higson, Jack delves into his remarkable journey from Soviet KGB agent to devoted American family man, taking us inside his daring decision to fake his own death to escape his handlers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

41 min
11/19/2024

The Spy Who Putin Poisoned | Uncovering The Truth With Bellingcat

In a groundbreaking investigation into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, journalism group Bellingcat exposed previously unknown details of the Salisbury Poisonings that blew the case wide open. Journalist and Bellingcat founder Elliot Higgins and host Charlie Higson explore where the responsibility to protect covert operations ends and the public's right to be informed begins. Listen to The Spy Who ad-free on Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-spy-who now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

33 min
APR 15

The Spy Who Duped Hitler | Making a Musical out of Mincemeat

David Cumming, writer, actor, composer and originator of Operation Mincemeat: The Musical, transformed one of WWII’s most surreal tales—a corpse planted with fake intelligence to mislead the Nazis—into an all-singing, all-dancing West End sensation. Our host, Charlie Higson speaks to David about finding musical comedy in this unlikely wartime story, and balancing humour with the operation's darker truths. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

35 min
SEASON 7, EPISODE 5 BONUS

The Spy Who Started the Cold War | The Most Dangerous In History?

Why did Fuchs take such a huge gamble by sharing US nuclear secrets with the Soviets? Was Oppenheimer's fellow physicist seeking peace - or war? Charlie Higson talks to Frank Close, an author and physicist, about Fuchs' decision and its impact on the course of history. Listen to The Spy Who ad-free on Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-spy-who now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

32 min
FEB 18

The Spy Who Infiltrated Auschwitz | Pilecki’s Great-Grandson on the Man Behind the Mission

Krzysztof Kosior was thirty when he first felt ready to visit Auschwitz. But since childhood, he had heard stories of his great-grandfather’s time there, and of his journey from unknown soldier to one of Poland’s greatest heroes. Talking to actor and spy novelist Charlie Higson, Krzysztof reflects on his family’s memories of Witold, and on the surprising struggles of those with the Pilecki name. Plus he takes listeners inside what happened when Witold met Tomasz Serafinski, whose identity he used during his time in the camp. Have you got a spy story you’d like us to tell? Email your ideas to thespywho@wondery.com EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/spywhoTry it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

33 min
12/24/2024

The Spy Who Killed a Prime Minister | Lumumba's Grandson on Legacy, Loss and the Weight of a Name

Amory Lumumba was born long after the 1961 assassination of his grandfather. Yet the impact continues to ripple through his family today. Actor and spy novelist Charlie Higson speaks with Amory about the heavy responsibility of carrying the Lumumba name, and the enduring, inspirational legacy that Patrice Lumumba left behind. Plus, Amory tells Charlie why he's convinced the United States were involved in the killing. Listen to The Spy Who ad-free on Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-spy-who now. Have you got a spy story you’d like us to tell? Email your ideas to thespywho@wondery.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 min
06/09/2021

How to Be a Spy

Charlie Higson and Ben McIntyre talk about the facts and fictions of working in espionage. Having both encountered the recruitment process for the British Intelligence Services, they discuss the process of getting recruited or, as in both of their cases, not getting recruited. They go on to explore the history and traditions of this institution, which holds the position of a household name despite being an enigma to all those outside it.This episode was recorded at the Chalke Valley History Festival 2017. For information about this year's event, visit https://cvhf.org.uk/ © Granger Historical Picture Archive / Alamy Stock Photo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 1m
02/13/2023

Simon Day - Part 2

Charlie continues chatting to his fellow The Fast Show star Simon Day, and in this episode they talk about going to the opera, Keith Jarrett, Charlie's Fast Show rules, classical vs jazz, Brian Pern and much more! Series 2 of Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts originally broadcast on Scala Radio in January 2023. Scala Radio celebrates classical music in all its shapes and sizes, and presents include Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo and Penny Smith. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, on your smart speaker, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk.

28 min
04/26/2021

Bob Mortimer - Part 1

Bob Mortimer – one half of legendary comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer, and star of ‘Would I Lie to You?’ and ‘Gone Fishing’ – joins Charlie to chat about music, song lyrics, his favourite ever film, going to the opera, recovering from heart surgery, working with Paul Whitehouse, the similarities between fly-fishing and classical music – and plenty more besides. This episode features an extract from the Prelude of Bach’s Cello Suite No.2, played by David Kenedy, used with permission from Signum recordings and available here: https://signumrecords.com/product/j-s-bach-six-solo-cello-suites/SIGCD091/ The extract of Verdi’s Otello was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Colin Davis, available on the London Symphony Orchestra’s own label, LSO Live: https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/products/verdi-otello. The Halle Orchestra and Mark Elder were playing Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, available to buy at halle.co.uk. Finally we heard a clip from ‘Vide Cor Meum’ from Hannibal by Patrick Cassidy and Hans Zimmer, performed by the Lyndhurst Orchestra under Gavin Greenaway, and the soloists were Danielle de Niese and Bruno Lazzaretti.

36 min
05/03/2021

Bob Mortimer - Part 2

Bob Mortimer, one half of legendary comedy duo Reeves & Mortimer, chats to Charlie about the music from ‘Gone Fishing’, writing his autobiography, being such a good liar in ‘Would I Lie to You?’, sexy classical music and more. Episode 4 of the Charlie Higson and Friends podcast features an extract of ‘Alternate Repetitions’ by Laurent Dury, followed by ‘In Paradisum’ from Faure’s Requiem, performed by the LSO Chamber Ensemble and Tenebrae, available on the London Symphony Orchestra’s own label, LSO Live. The episode also includes a short clip of the orchestral version of Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by David Bedford.

25 min
04/19/2021

Paul Whitehouse - Part 1

Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse chat about their Fast Show comedy creations Ted and Ralph, their long-standing friendship, “pink rock”, pub quizzes, bat-eared listeners and more, as well as sharing some of their favourite classical music. This episode features an extract of the Altar Dance and Heavenly Pavane by Vaughan Williams, performed by the Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder, available at https://www.halle.co.uk/. The clip from The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky was performed by the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Yuri Temirkanov, and the finale of Dvorak’s Symphony No.9 was performed by the Chineke! orchestra conducted by Kevin John Edusei – and both extracts were used with permission from Signum records, available at https://signumrecords.com/. This episode also featured clips of the main theme from Jaws, composed and conducted by John Williams, and we heard Maria Callas and the Theatre of La Scala Milan performing ‘Vissi d’Arte’ by Puccini. The Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts were originally broadcast as a series on Scala Radio in April 2021. Scala Radio is a classical music and entertainment station broadcasting across the UK on DAB digital radio, smart speaker, SKY TV channel 0216, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk

30 min
01/30/2023

Harry Enfield - Episode 1

Charlie chats to the comedian, actor, writer and director Harry Enfield. In this episode, Harry reminisces about meeting Charlie - or 'Switch' - for the first time, and they talk about their early days in comedy and getting their breaks in TV. Series 2 of Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts originally broadcast on Scala Radio in January 2023. Scala Radio celebrates classical music in all its shapes and sizes, and presents include Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo and Penny Smith. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, on your smart speaker, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk.

35 min
02/13/2023

Simon Day - Part 1

Charlie's friend in this episode is his fellow The Fast Show star Simon Day. They chat about Competitive Dad, being a mockney, how they met, working with John Thomson and Caroline Aherne and classical music including the composers Ennio Morricone and The Sherman Brothers. Series 2 of Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts originally broadcast on Scala Radio in January 2023. Scala Radio celebrates classical music in all its shapes and sizes, and presents include Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo and Penny Smith. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, on your smart speaker, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk.

25 min
01/30/2023

Harry Enfield - Episode 2

In the second part of Charlie's conversation with the comedian, actor, writer and director Harry Enfield, they discuss classical music, the 'Women Know Your Limits' sketch, Gerard Hoffnung, smug music, parental advice and making 'Harry Enfield's Guide to Opera'. This episode of Charlie Higson and Friends featured an extract of The Soldiers Chorus taken from Il Travatore by Verdi, performed by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra with the Budapest Festival Chorus conducted by Will Humburg. This recording is licensed courtesy of Naxos Music UK Ltd and is available to buy from Naxos.com. Series 2 of Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts originally broadcast on Scala Radio in January 2023. Scala Radio celebrates classical music in all its shapes and sizes, and presents include Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo and Penny Smith. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, on your smart speaker, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk.

26 min
02/06/2023

Lucy Porter - Part 1

Charlie meets the comedian and actor Lucy Porter about comics (the kind you read), getting into classical music and getting into stand-up. Lucy tells Charlie about her first job working for Caroline Aherne at Granada TV and booking guests for the Mrs Merton Show, and they talk about using music to drift off to sleep. Series 2 of Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts originally broadcast on Scala Radio in January 2023. Scala Radio celebrates classical music in all its shapes and sizes, and presents include Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo and Penny Smith. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, on your smart speaker, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk.

31 min
04/19/2021

Paul Whitehouse - Part 2

In the second part of Charlie’s chat with his best and oldest friend, The Fast Show co-creator Paul Whitehouse, the friends talk about music snobbery, Match of the Day, John Lydon, going to the opera in a shorts and T-shirt, lockdown locks – and DJ Mike Smash also makes an appearance. The podcast features an extract of ‘Torna a Surriento’ by Ernesto de Curtis, performed by Luciano Pavarotti and the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentina. We also heard a clip of ‘Off Side’ by Barry Stoller, better known as the Match of the Day theme, followed by part of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra & Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, available on the London Symphony Orchestra’s own label, LSO Live: https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/. Paul chose an extract of Louis Farrakhan’s live performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and the final extract was from ‘Going to Sleep’ from Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs, performed by Jessye Norman and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. The Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts were originally broadcast as a series on Scala Radio in April 2021. Scala Radio is a classical music and entertainment station broadcasting across the UK on DAB digital radio, smart speaker, SKY TV channel 0216, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk

28 min
01/23/2023

Armando Iannucci - Part 1

Charlie Higson & Friends returns - and his first friend is the satirist, writer, producer and director Armando Iannucci. They chat about getting into classical music and their early careers in comedy. Armando tells us how local radio brought him into comedy and the influences behind On The Hour. Series 2 of Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts originally broadcast on Scala Radio in January 2023. Scala Radio celebrates classical music in all its shapes and sizes, and presents include Mark Kermode, Simon Mayo, Penny Smith and Richard Allinson. It broadcasts across the UK on DAB digital radio, on your smart speaker, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk.

38 min
05/31/2021

Vic Reeves - Part 2

In the second part of Charlie's chat with Vic Reeves, the Jim/Vic/Chin name discussion continues, with both Vic and Charlie adding more names to the pile. Vic describes his first ever comedy gig and the creation of 'Vic Reeves', and he picks more musical favourites, including the classical music equivalent of a Black Sabbath track and the saddest piece of classical music ever written. This episode features extracts from Shostakovich’s Symphony No.8, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Gianandrea Noseda, available on the London Symphony Orchestra’s own label, LSO Live: https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/. We also heard the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink, performing Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and later we heard the LPO, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, with part of the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony Number 5. Both recordings available to buy at lpo.org.uk. The other clip was from Vaughan Williams’ Norfolk Rhapsody No.1, performed by the Halle Orchestra and Sir Mark Elder, taken from an album called English Landscapes which is available at halle.co.uk

25 min
05/10/2021

Arabella Weir - Part 1

Charlie’s joined by fellow The Fast Show star, the comedian and actress Arabella Weir. She tells Charlie about classical music snobbery, going to an opera when she was 8 years old, becoming a ‘benchmark’ or a ‘ledge’, hanging out with Meryl Streep and more. This episode of Charlie Higson and Friends featured a clip of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, performed by Alexandra Dariescu and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by Schubert’s Piano Sonata No.21, played by Llyr Williams. Both extracts are taken from albums released on Signum Records, and are available to buy at signumrecords.com. A little later we heard a bit of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21, starring Yeol Eum Son and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. That’s available on Onyx records – find out more at onyxclassics.com The Charlie Higson and Friends podcasts were originally broadcast as a series on Scala Radio in April 2021. Scala Radio is a classical music and entertainment station broadcasting across the UK on DAB digital radio, smart speaker, SKY TV channel 0216, the Scala Radio app and online at scalaradio.co.uk

33 min
05/17/2021

Arabella Weir - Part 2

In the second part of Charlie’s chat with actress, writer and comedian Arabella Weir, the two friends chat about playing their The Fast Show characters such as Doreen and Colin Hunt, and Katie and Johnny Nice Painter. Arabella recalls nearly ruining a sketch during The Fast Show live show, shares her love of classic musicals and gives tips about voiceover work. They pick the sexiest pieces of classical music and discuss creative productivity during lockdown, John Carpenter films and more. The episode featured a clip of Dido’s Lament from Dido and Aeneas by Purcell, performed by the Armonico Consort and taken from an album released on Signum Records, available to buy at signumrecords.com. That was followed by a clip from the 3rd movement of Brahms Symphony Number 3 conducted by Vladimir Jurowski and an extract from the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s Symphony Number 9, conducted by Klaus Tennstedt. Both were taken from recordings by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and available to buy at lpo.org.uk

36 min

Charlie Higson on Apple