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Headlines from the Headliners

Radio 5 Live presents Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake, a space to listen to interesting, in-depth conversations with some of the biggest names across entertainment, sport, culture and politics.

This year on Headliners, we’ve heard star-studded interviews, laugh-out-loud moments and in-depth conversations. From pop icons to Olympians… These are some of the best Headliner interviews of 2024.

Trevor who?

Sir Trevor McDonald on being mistaken for the wrong Trevor

Sir Trevor McDonald is asked if he's ever been mistaken for the wrong Trevor.

Broadcaster and journalist Sir Trevor McDonald joined Nihal to discuss politics, cricket and a surprise chat with DJ Trevor Nelson…

Radio 2 presenter Nelson asked Sir Trevor: “There’s no way we should be mistaken for each other, but have you ever been mistaken for me?”

Nelson described the multiple occasions people have mistakenly addressed him as Sir Trevor McDonald - but to his surprise, Sir Trevor admitted he gets mistaken for the DJ “all the time”.

“It happens all the time, so much so, I’ve stopped correcting them now,” said Sir Trevor.

“Trevor Nelson, not a bad name, not a bad career- I’ll take it!".

‘There’s something unique about the psychology of a rower’

2024's summer of sport featured the spectacular Paris Olympics. Four-time Olympian Helen Glover gave us all insight into what makes a successful rower…

There鈥檚 definitely a unique kind of person who chooses that life, it鈥檚 probably addictive"

“There’s something unique about the psychology of a rower,” she said.

Helen described the preparation that goes into the seven-minute race: “it’s a lot of base training, two and three hour rows… training three times every single day for four years”.

She admitted, “there’s definitely a unique kind of person who chooses that life - it’s probably addictive”.

Stewart Lee on the challenges facing entry into the arts

Discussing the challenges of working in the arts industry, comedian Stewart Lee reflected on his early career: “You could spend your 20s living in squats or cheap rent and doing cash in hand jobs, whilst making your art and getting better at it,” he said.

Stewart told Nihal it’s “sad” that artists today have to “hit the ground running because everything’s expensive”.

He says Keir Starmer needs to create an “economic situation where people can afford to live and have interests”.

“You can’t have people forming bands or trying to be a certain kind of stand-up, if everyday you’re worried about how they’re going to pay the rent”.

Cush Jumbo: ‘It’s confusing cause your dad is your hero’

Cush Jumbo on watching her father stopped and searched

The actor opens up about seeing her dad stopped and searched.

Actor and writer, Cush Jumbo, reveals to Nihal what it was like as a child to witness her dad being searched by the police, despite them being “law-abiding people”.

She describes him as a “very loving, very emotional, very playful” father, which caused her much confusion in seeing him stopped by the authorities at such a young age.

Jumbo’s raw and honest discussion provokes questions about racism in the UK, explored in this moving and impactful interview.

Craig David on being starstruck: “This is some kind of wild dream”.

Craig David on the music icons that have watched him perform

Craig David talks to Nihal about being starstruck at 18 by J-Lo, Beyonce and Stevie Wonder

Imagine being 18 and playing in front of Stevie Wonder, J-Lo and Beyonce…

Craig David talks to Nihal about being starstruck by the music icons he spotted watching him perform in the crowd.

“This is some kind of wild dream.”

Dawn O’ Porter says the death of her mother made her ‘fearless’

Dawn O' Porter says the death of her mother made her 'fearless'

Dawn shares how her mothers death has impacted her attitude to life

The bestselling writer, Dawn O’ Porter, has been often described as “fearless” throughout her career. But this title hasn’t stemmed from nothing.

She shares with Nihal how her mothers death has impacted her attitude to life, causing her to feel like she was always “running out of time”.

“[I] came from a tiny island, got myself to London, somehow got myself on the television, got the book deals…. You have to be fearless to make those things happen.”

Could a grown up Inbetweeners work?

James Buckley- Could a grown up Inbetweeners work?

James and Nihal discuss whether an Inbetweeners reunion could be on the cards.

Actor and co-host of the podcast, At 成人快手 With The Buckleys, James Buckley and wife Clair joined Nihal to talk about family, love and the idea of an Inbetweeners reunion…

I wouldn鈥檛 want to spoil this thing which I鈥檓 both really proud of and something people really loved鈥�

“Could a grown-up Inbetweeners work?” - Nihal asked

James responded by saying he has “mixed feelings on this everyday… we’d have such a fun, great time doing it”.

“I wouldn’t want to spoil this thing which I’m both really proud of and something people really loved.”

Buckley admitted it would be the most “profitable thing” he could do - he said - “would it be irresponsible of me to turn this down cause I’m too scared?”

“I love the Inbetweeners, it’s not a decision I’d take lightly,” he said.

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