Midnight Meets With Colin Murray

BBC Radio 5 Live

4.8 (40)
PERSONAL JOURNALS

Colin talks to interesting people with fascinating life stories. No rules, no soundbites, just in-depth conversations with some incredible people.

11/30/2023

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook

Ahead of their 50th anniversary tour, Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook chat to Colin Murray about their intense tour schedule, how they’ve improved their craft with time, their unlikely influences, the re-defining of ‘hit’ tracks, and what they think of Brit Pop. The pair also get into their most surreal moments and biggest mistakes of the last 50 years, and their favourite acts to support on tour, including Bon Jovi, REM and U2, plus performing with Dave Grohl and Elton John.

56 min
11/29/2023

Adam Kay

“It’s not thick skin, it’s scar tissue.” Doctor-turned-comedian and writer Adam Kay on why he left his medical career and if he’ll ever return to it, attitudes towards the NHS and its staff, his new-found passion of writing for children, and what he thinks of the TV adaptation of his best-selling book This Is Going To Hurt. Plus he waxes lyrical over the band he’s seen “more than his family”, Pulp!

50 min
11/16/2023

Dave Hemingway

Former Beautiful South and Housemartins member Dave Hemingway on being raised in the Hull bar scene, how The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper is responsible for his love of music, and his audition process to join The Housemartins (nobody believed him!) The pair also get into regional music scenes in Northern England, gigging with Oasis and Blur, and supporting REM at Glastonbury in the 1990s, and what it’s like touring the country again today as a self-funded band.

56 min
11/03/2023

Dom Joly

“I went straight out of a civil war and ended up hanging out with most of the current Tory cabinet… a very strange place to be”. Comedian and writer Dom Joly on his Lebanese heritage, geo-political comedy, and his dark sense of humour. Joly also discusses AI, being pigeon-holed, his infamous prank show Trigger Happy TV, and his new book The Conspiracy Tourist which saw him travel the globe to investigate and understand some of the world’s most dangerous and hilarious conspiracy theories in a ‘post-truth’ political space.

56 min
10/24/2023

Martin Fry

ABC frontman Martin Fry on his love of late footballer George Best, starting as a music journalist before finding success in performing, the music scene in Sheffield, seeing James Brown at a convention, recording with Smokey Robinson, and how his Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis aged 27 made him see a “different side to humanity”.

57 min
10/23/2023

Val McDermid

“A book is the most interactive form of entertainment there is”. Crime writer Val McDermid chats to Colin Murray about keeping her characters authentic, time management techniques, TV adaptations, imposter syndrome, using Scottish colloquialisms in her writing (her American publishers asked for a glossary!), judging the Booker Prize, and advice for budding writers. Oh, and getting a kiss from Blondie’s Debbie Harry!

55 min
09/27/2023

Howard Jones

Musician Howard Jones chats to Colin Murray about his Welsh heritage, migrating to Canada and how a near death experience involving vegetables gave him the courage to pursue a career in music.

56 min
09/20/2023

Rick Witter

Lead vocalist of Shed Seven, Rick Witter, chats to Colin Murray about fan connection and commitment, the band’s music getting better with age and experience, having agency in their art, and falling out with record labels.

57 min

See All (149)

4.8

out of 5

40 Ratings

Finding Embrace Again

08/15/2023

Conor in America

Affectionately known around our house as “Our Colly…” never fails to deliver an interview that gets you truly into the head of the guest. Just listened to the Danny McNamara interview with a massive smile on my face. It’s added a new depth to their music. I saw them in The Bowery Ballroom in New York in 2005 and it still sits as a top 5 gig.
It’s like sitting with mates for a chat

12/22/2019

Eryk Moz'

Colin Murray has a wonderful style with his guests. The interviews are relaxed and natural. The conversations cover a wider aspect of the interviewees thoughts than a typical interview. Hence the title of this review as it feels more like that I’m lounging in a sofa with Colin and the subject, we’re all there all chatting about stuff in general. Murray can lead the talks from covering the obvious questions without becoming a cliche. As well as going down paths giving more insight into the person I like the way Colin will sometimes briefly reflect on his personal life, however it’s not him bringing his ego into the conversation but genuinely illustrating a subject to get the interviewee to reflect on their aspects. It’s an enjoyable off the cuff style and one that I hope is maintained for many more series in the future
Yet another great show with Colin Murray

04/06/2018

(A)ndy

There is an inappropriate amount of great radio with Colin Murray. I love the casual and quirky feel of this show. The recording is a bit wonky at times, but that’s the nature of the recording environment and the trade off is great content and relaxed interviewees. Well produced too.
Make Me Want to Pop Round for a Cup’uh...

10/26/2017

jthanley

Colin does what few other “sports” interviewed can do, namely; get big names from a wide variety of different worlds to GENUINELY open up and share things about themselves and their journeys. It’s riveting stuff, always different, and one of the truly unique show in the genre. Good on ya, Colin!