Remembering two giants of late 20th century culture

This week we have lost two of the people who were highly influential in shaping the face of modern Britain - Sir Terence Conran and Dame Diana Rigg.Designer, writer and retail giant Conran, who died aged 88, can...

Author and political activist Achmat Dangor dies aged 71

We are sad to hear that Achmat Dangor, the author, political activist and former CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation has died. He was 71.Dangor studied literature at Rhodes University and as an award winning writer was best...

Emma Barnett to be main presenter on BBC's Woman's Hour

When first Jenni Murray and then Jane Garvey announced they would stepping down as presenters of Woman's Hour the BBC knew it had a tough job on its hands.Finding suitable replacements for such experienced and much loved...

American TV viewers fall in love with Lucy Worsley

No surprise perhaps but American TV viewers have fallen head over heels in love with our very own Lucy Worsley.Her peaches and cream looks and ability to deliver extremely well informed but also highly entertaining facts about...

Strictly bosses taking no cha cha chances in show's Covid drama

How foolish of us to think that the annual flood of headlines in the run-up to Strictly Come Dancing might be a little challenged this year.Of course not. It clearly takes more than a global pandemic to de-rail the Strictly...

Robert Powell in classic TV from the eighties as Hannay lives again

We’re enjoying watching our friend and frequent collaborator, actor Robert Powell in the current re-0run of the 1988-89 TV series Hannay.It finds Powell reprising the role of Edwardian mining engineer turned crime-battling...

Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan: The story of civilization in 50 documents

It’s been fun reading and hearing about our friend and sometime Clive Conway Productions contributor, Peter Snow, promoting the new book he has penned with his wife Ann MacMillan. Treasures of World History: The Story Of...

Mungi Ngomane podcasts on the life-changing power of Ubuntu

Great news that the new Everyday Ubuntu podcast hosted by author and human rights campaigner Mungi Ngomane has officially launched.It follows the success of Mungi’s hugely successful book of the same name which explored the...

What's black and white and red all over? Ask Gyles

I say, I say, I say What’s Black and White and Red All Over? Well if you answered ‘an embarrassed penguin’ or ‘a newspaper’ you wouldn’t be wrong.But it’s also the title of Gyles Brandreth’s latest book - a fun-packed compendium...

Root out corruption or face the consequences warns Tutu Foundation

A stark warning has been issued by the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation that the ANC risks losing power unless alleged corruption over the current Covid-19 crisis can be rooted out.In a hard hitting statement, the...

Oxford Flute Summer School will be back for August 2021

For the first time since 1988 the highly regarded Oxford Flute Summer School was forced to postpone this August because of the Covid-19 pandemic.But never fear, plans for next year have already been lined up and OFSS is making...

End of an era: Julian Lloyd Webber steps down from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

It’s been a glorious five years but Julian Lloyd Webber will be stepping down from his role as principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire next month.The brilliant cellist and good friend of Clive Conway Productions took on...

Berkoff probes the manipulative and abusive evil of Harvey Weinstein

Good to see inimitable actor writer and director and sometime Clive Conway Productions speaker Steven Berkoff pitching in and doing what he does best - creating brilliant and sometimes outrageous work and then marketing it...

Trials that Trail - recital series celebrating anti-apartheid heroes

When Andrew Mlangeni, the last of the great South African freedom fighters jailed in the Rivonia Trials of 1963, died last month at the age of 95 it truly was the end of an era.Now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the ARCO...

Beyond the Fringe: catch up with the Edinburgh Literature Festival

Few places are reeling from the fallout of the pandemic like Edinburgh. The loss of this years Edinburgh Fringe has blasted a big coronavirus shaped hole in the city’s cultural calendar and sent shockwaves through the...

Rev Richard Coles' guide to life's rich tapestry

I am indebted to the Rev Richard Coles for reminding me through his ever-illuminating Twitter feed that last Thursday was the bicentenary of Sir George Grove, esteemed founder of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Coles,...

Ban on indoor performances is finally lifted

So finally indoor performances at theatres and arts venues are back on the agenda, but only with rigid Covid-safe precautions.At the weekend it was announced that lockdown measures were beung eased in theatres, music venues,...

Fundraiser for brilliant young South African violinist Jordan Brooks

Brilliant young South African musician Jordan Brooks performed a fund-raising concert online at the weekend. With tickets available until Wednesday, it is designed to help raise money for the talented 17-year-old violinist’s...

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