Private Passions

Poet and writer Helen Mort shares her musical passions with Michael Berkeley.
Helen Mort writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction, much of it steeped in nature. Her prize-winning memoir, A Line Above the Sky, speaks vividly about the dangers of her beloved rock climbing, and how motherhood changed her outlook. Her work also draws on the landscapes of the Peak District, near where she grew up, and on local history, including the 1984 miners’ strike. She is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She talks to Michael about her writing, running and climbing, and also how creating poetry helped her following the traumatic experience of being the victim of deep-fake pornographic images. Her music choices include tracks by Vaughan Williams, Chopin, Prokofiev and Charles Mingus.
Presented by Michael Berkeley.
Produced by Graham Rogers.

Michael Gove, Lord Gove, has been one of the most prominent figures in British politics over the past two decades.
As a Conservative MP, he held senior Cabinet roles, including Education Secretary, Justice Secretary and Environment Secretary. He's served under four Prime Ministers and twice put his hat in the ring to become Conservative Party leader himself.
After almost two decades as an MP, he stood down in 2024 and entered the House of Lords last year. He also became the editor of the Spectator magazine, returning to journalism, which was his career before entering politics.
His musical choices include works by Shostakovich, Schubert and John Adams.
Presenter: Michael Berkeley
Producer: Clare Walker

After working as a chef for 30 years, Louise Kennedy changed course and became a writer.
Her first novel Trespasses enjoyed the kind of success every author dreams of. It won widespread acclaim and prizes, including best debut novel at the British Book Awards in 2023. It was also adapted as a drama series for Channel 4.
Louise was born in Belfast, and her writing draws on the world she grew up in: Trespasses is set in the 1970s and focuses on a love affair across the religious divide between a young Catholic teacher and a married Protestant lawyer.
Her most recent book, Stations, is set in the 1980s and is inspired by the young people who left Ireland to look for a new life in London – a path Louise herself followed.
Her musical passions include Mozart, Bach and Charlie Parker.
Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Clare Walker

Eric Idle has been making audiences around the world laugh for nearly 60 years. As a member of the legendary Monty Python group, he helped redefine British television comedy – followed by three highly successful original Python films.
Eric also wrote numerous songs for the Pythons, including Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, which has become highly popular at British funerals.
He also created and co-wrote the hit stage musical Spamalot, which brought the anarchic Monty Python spirit to Broadway, the West End and beyond.
His most recent book is called Idle in Provence: A Brief History of Thyme. It’s a memoir focusing on his house in southern France - originally a crumbling stone ruin, now a lifelong retreat and source of inspiration.
His musical passions include works by Elgar, Haydn and Dvorak.
Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Clare Walker

Elif Shafak is a best-selling writer who is as happy telling a story from the point of view of a fig tree or a water droplet as a fellow human being.
She began writing in her native Turkish and now writes in English, and her 13 novels have been translated into dozens of languages. Her books cross continents and centuries. Her novel There Are Rivers in the Sky moves from ancient Mesopotamia to 21st-century London, and she loves uncovering forgotten histories and giving voices to the silenced.
In her most recent book, In One Brief Moment All Eternity, she tells the story of the great French writer Gustave Flaubert, author of Madame Bovary, from the perspective of the women, both real and imagined, who influenced him.
Elif is also a passionate campaigner for books and freedom of expression, and is the President of the Royal Society of Literature.
Her musical passions include Rachmaninov, Chopin and Hildegard of Bingen.
Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Clare Walker