Back Story

One of the most trailblazing tours of all time, Jeff Wayne’s musical version of ‘The War of The Worlds’ -  returns to arenas throughout the UK in 2022. Based on HG Wells’ classic Victorian story, The War of The Worlds remains a firm favourite to millions around the world.  In 2006, the tour was considered a cutting-edge production with 6 trucks filled to the brim. In 2022, marking a momentous 16 years of touring, the production will be up to 12 trucks including a stack of new special effects that will challenge and excite the senses for audiences of all ages, all set to Jeff’s iconic score. The Composer and driving force behind the show, Jeff Wayne, joins us on today's show. Support the show

Originally from Bristol, Justin has worked in a variety of social work and youth work settings for over 25 years. Most recently before joining the charity in 2010, he worked for the largest children’s charity in the UK. Previous to this, he worked in a range of local authority roles; most latterly at senior management level within a metropolitan borough council in the West Midlands. He has also served as a church Pastor and is a passionate advocate for justice and authentic leadership. The guys talk about first dates, getting dumped, honeymoons, an incident with the Turkish police plus Justin's new book, Just Leadership.Support the show

John Oates is one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The American Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the prestigious BMI Icon Award as well as numerous American Music, MTV awards, and multiple Grammy nominations.Since forming his creative partnership with Daryl Hall in the early 1970s, they have gone on to record 21 albums, which have sold over 80 million units, making them the most successful duo in rock history. They have scored 10 number one records, over 20 Top 40 hits, and have toured the world for decades. Their involvement in the original “Live Aid” concert and the groundbreaking “We Are The World” charity recording have further established them as legendary artists, who have personally and through their music, stood the test of time.It's a great chat as the guys discuss John's early days, meeting Daryl Hall in 1967, songwriting, playing Live Aid and his charity work with Feeding America.Support the show

On the show this week we chat with Matt Goss,  the British musical icon who after 10 years living and working in Las Vegas, thousands of shows and hundreds of thousands of happy fans, has decided to come home to the UK and release new music.Goss will still be based some of the time in Los Angeles, his home (alongside Las Vegas) for almost three decades. But his focus looking ahead is more on working and performing in the UK, the place that rocket-powered the teenage Goss, his twin Luke and their Eighties band Bros to the top of the charts, cultural phenomenon status and a headline gig at Wembley Stadium – a feat that made Goss the youngest male ever to headline the legendary venue, a record he still holds today. Matt will be releasing a new solo record called 'The Beautiful Unknown' on November 19th and the lead single, 'Somewhere To Fall' is out now. Watch the official video hereIt's a fascinating chat about life, fame, celebrity, lunch with Princess Diana and a whole lot more. It even gets quite emotional at the end. Support the show

Jonathan Veira is an internationally acclaimed bass baritone opera singer, who’s performed across the globe with various companies including Glyndebourne, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and The Royal Danish Opera Company. His performances in operatic comedy roles have thrilled audiences at home and abroad but JV sings much more than opera alone. This multi-skilled entertainer with a range as big as his heart and character has performed across the globe to great reviews both in opera and in his own one-man show. He's also well known in the Christian community for his Christian and gospel albums. There’s no doubt about it, he’s a very funny and supremely talented guy and in this double length podcast the guys chat about JV meeting his wife, Sue, winning a competition which launched his operatic career, debilitating illness in 1989, recovery and playing Falstaff in Copenhagen through to his recent kidney transplant. You won't want to miss a second.Support the show

Richard Gamble is the visionary behind the colossal project to build the Eternal Wall – a monumental piece of public art revealing a million personal prayers - the largest database of hope stories in the world. Having the idea back in 2004, for the past five years Richard has shared the incredible concept all around the UK, rallying people in the belief that one individual’s answered prayer can be another person’s hope. The guys talk about a near-death experience, becoming a Christian, raising money for the Eternal Wall, chopping down a tree plus more answered prayers. The guys talk about a near death experience as a five year-old, answered prayers as a child and adult, chopping down a pear tree and fundraising for the Eternal Wall.Support the show

Warren Furman is best known for his role of Ace on Gladiators from 1996 to 2000. After leaving school at 16 years old Warren became an apprentice sign maker.He then joined his fathers roofing business before having a go at modelling and bodybuilding. In 1996, Warren beat 60 other hopefuls for a place on the hit Saturday night TV show Gladiators, and Ace was born. The guys talk about growing up in Harlow, Essex and losing his younger brother, school days and training down the gym and his big break on Gladiators. Despite the fame and fortune Warren was searching for something more and he explains how he became a committed Christian. Awooga!Support the show

Ian Henderson has lived with his family in Manchester since 2001. For the first six years he and his wife pioneered a youth community project in what was at the time the most deprived ward in the UK. Ian then joined the Message Trust’s leadership team as an executive Director. In 2014 he left the Message to start Naked Truth & Visible. The guys talk about Ian's 10 failed driving tests, moving his young family to the worst area in the UK, wetting himself aged 17, being run over and his work as boss of a porn recovery charity. Support the show

Pete Greig is the founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement, Senior leader of Emmaus Road Church in Guildford, and a best-selling author. Pete is also an Ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, a visiting lecturer for St Mellitus Theological College, and one of the founders of the Wildfires festival. We talk about his love for Portsmouth FC, his wife, Sammy, getting sick, a streaking incident in France, hearing some devastating news in Hong Kong and living on a barge these days. We also talk about coping with unanswered prayer and Pete's advice for those holding on for a miracle.Support the show

Suzie Kennedy is an English actress who is best known for her work as a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. She’s impersonated Monroe in several television commercials for Pepsi, Citroën, Guinness, Iberia Airlines, and others.[1] She also played Monroe in the 2003 Revealed episode "Who Killed Marilyn Monroe?"[2] and Monroe's 2014 episode of Autopsy, as well as films such as Me and Marilyn (2009),[3][4] JFK: Seven Days That Made a President (2013), The Theory of Everything (2014), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). She has appeared as herself on television series such as The Alan Titchmarsh Show, The Weakest Link,[5] Come Dine with Me,[6] Party Wars,[7] Pet Nation,[8] and The Chase.Steve and Suzy talk about her career, wearing Marilyn's actual clothes, overdosing on tic tacs , meeting American stand-up and presenter, Dave Chappelle, plus Stephen Fry, dangerous moments on set and so much more.Support the show

Guinness world record holder English comedian, Tim Vine transports his audiences into a world of silliness, laughter and good clean family fun. He is known for his trademark quick-fire style wit and stand-up comedy. Tim’s the author of joke books, has appeared in a number of TV sitcoms, variety shows and game shows and was also a finalist on 'Let's Dance for Comic Relief’. He has released a handful of stand-up DVDs and is a pretty handy darts player too. We chat about Tim starting out in comedy, winning a runner bean competition, watching Jaws in a dinghy, an embarrassing moment at a Lido, the go cart his dad built him plus putting together new material. I even share with Tim some maths magic. Support the show

Tommy Cannon is a veteran British comedian along with the late great Bobby Ball, became one of the UK's best loved double act, Cannon & Ball. Starting out as singers they soon turned to comedy, then variety shows before the primetime Cannon & Ball Show which attracted a massive audience of over 20million viewers each week on their ITV show during the 1980's. Tommy chats about losing Bobby last year, their first pantomime with Charlie Drake, appearing on This Is Your Life, meeting the Queen plus their stint in the hit ITV show, Last Laugh in Vegas. It's a heartwarming listen.  Support the show

From winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2016 to entertaining royalty, magician Richard Jones has performed for celebrities, the monarchy and everyone in-between. However, his favourite shows are a far cry from the Royal Variety Performance. Having joined the military in his teens, Richard continues to support the British Army through his magic act, by touring warzones and performing to troops. The guys talk winning BGT, making a surprise visit to Afghanistan to entertain the troops, falling off a stage, pulling Prince William on stage to help with a trick plus being part of the Queens Birthday Parade.Support the show

Andy Flannagan is a Luton-based, Irish singer-songwriter who was previously a hospital doctor but whose proudest moment as an Irishman was captaining England’s Barmy Army during the Ashes in Australia. As well as all the bigger festivals and events, he has also made regular appearances on radio 2 and radio 5live, alongside various BBC regional stations. He has appeared on ‘The Big Breakfast’ and 4thought on Channel 4. Over the last 9 years his music has also been a staple on Christian radio stations UCB, Cross Rhythms and Premier. His campaigning song writing dragged him into the political arena, so he can often be found engaging with MPs around Parliament. The guys talk about an incident at the hospital, the impact of George Verwer, leaving medicine, an embarrassing blind date, plus a recent Zoom gathering.Support the show

On today's show Steve chats with Alistair Burt, a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Bedfordshire from 2001 until 2019. Alistair  was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State then Minister of State at the Department of Social Security from 1992 to 1997, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 2010 to 2013. He was also Minister of State at the Department of Health from May 2015 to July 2016. First elected as a Conservative, Burt had the Conservative whip removed on 3 September 2019. On 29 October he was one of ten Conservative MPs to have the whip restored.[3] He retired at the 2019 general election.[4]In this fascinating interview the guys discuss his many years in Parliament, fellowship and friendship at Westminster an embarrassing night in a prison cell that almost scuppered his political aspirations, his greatest achievement in politics plus getting sacked, a recent heart attack scare plus new challenges. Support the show