Love the Words: Recent Episodes
Peter Spafford / East Leeds FM
Peter Spafford, from East Leeds FM, presents his love of all things wordy in his weekly show Love The Words, featuring new creative writing from Leeds and beyond.
An Altogether Different Place is a powerfully emotive collection of poetry about caring for a partner with dementia written jointly by Hilary Robinson and Rachel Davies.
Poets Todd Murphy and Tom Priestley join LTW to debut and discuss their collaborative spoken word piece: The Male Loneliness Epidemic.
Woodhouse Ridge Action Group (WRAG) started in the 1980's. They talk about the green space in North Leeds that they love. Plus writer/zine maker Sam Jencks on his life and work in Salford.
The High Wolds Poetry Festival is an annual celebration of rural wordsmiths. Its director Sarah Mills talks to LTW. And a journalist on a national paper talks about his profession and the vital role of independent, fact-checked journalism in our world today.
As part of our international drive, two Czech poets, Ondrej Hrabal and Simon Leitgeb, plus Scots poet Colin McGuire with a brand new pamphlet titled Ultraviolet, perform Live in Chapel FM's radio theatre. Ondrej lives in Leeds' twin city Brno in the Czech Republic and organises the fascinating Inverze festival in Ostrava.
Leeds-born poet and creative writing facilitator Michelle Scally Clarke talks about her new project 'Division', plus Jaimes Lewis Moran, Seacroft poet, on his collection, Protest Poetry. Are we a divided city? How do we bridge the gaps? Is poetry a bridge?
Award winning plays from Script Yorkshire's 2025 radio-drama competition. Teabreak-length tales from three writers, and a brace of the best repeated from 2024.
Hannah Stone talks to Chris Cambell, a queer neurodivergent immigrant who believes in constant reinvention, endless curiosity, and helping people prioritise daily creativity. Chris is a slam champion, an experienced facilitator, has a book of poetry published by Broken Sleep Books, and is a two-time UK National Poetry Slam finalist.
The Skippko Research Team, with Prof.Peter Anderson from Leeds University and Matthew Bellwood, talk about Wish You Were Here, a fascinating oral history project about British tourism in Spain over the last 40 years.
Mick Jenkinson is a poet, songwriter, musician, and freelance arts practitioner. He runs Well Spoken, a monthly poetry evening at Doncaster Brewery. His latest poetry pamphlet, A Parliament of Apples, was published in 2026 by Sherwood Handcraft.
Patrick Lodge is an Irish-Welsh poet who lives in Yorkshire. He has read at festivals across Europe and the UK. His 4th collection, "There You Are", is published by Valley Press. He reads from the book and talks about identity, belonging, and home.
A Bright Room Called Day is a rarely staged play by Tony Kushner. Produced by Leeds Arts Centre, it follows a group of friends in 1930's Berlin navigating the rise of fascism. Director Marlowe talks about the play and the process of working with Tony Kushner to bring it to the Leeds stage.
Juleus Ghunta is a poet and editor whose poems have appeared in The Caribbean Writer, Wasafiri, Poetry Archive, and Chiron Review. He speaks from where he lives in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada about art, childhood trauma and education. Also: a feature from the Fall Into Place 'Solace' group.
It’s summer 1948 and Amba’s on the flight of her life. Yorkshire author/sheep farmer Stephanie Shields has just been awarded a gold medal for her new novel After Amba. She talks about the book and reflects on her writing thus far.
Stacy Garrop is a Chicago-based composer whose work, performed all over the world, centres on dramatic storytelling. She talks to LTW, with Tony Macaluso and Agnes Leonovicz, about her fabulous new project, Glorious Mahalia, with The Knonos Quartet and the voice of Studs Terkel.
A series of original sketches created by Fall Into Place Theatre on the theme of More In Common (than divides us). Fall Into Place uses creativity and fun to bring people together and is based in East Leeds.
Helped by some old statues, Leonard Cohen and Taking Back Sunday, Christopher R. Moore considers what it really means to let go. A Writing On Air 2026 highlight.
Maurice de Sausmarez was the artist and arts education visionary who presided over a golden fine art era in Leeds in the 1950's. Kerry Harker curated the current exhibition.
Joanna Jowett’s interdisciplinary practice includes performance, print, photography, writing and publishing. Richard Wilcocks is a poet and an expert on film adaptations of Bronte novels.
Pearls of The White Lizard, a story from Isabel Edain. Isabel's favourite weather is mist and her favourite colour is green. She lives in Leeds with 948 books and an ivy plant.
Two prominent West Yorkshire poets read from and talk about their new work: Julia Deakin, with 3 collections and a pamphlet to her name, and Tallulah Howarth whose first pamphlet An Alternative Xanadu is just out.
From Jamaica, of Jamaican and Venezuelan parentage, Shara McCallum is the author of seven books, published in the US & UK. Her latest collection Behold is published by Peepal Tree, April 2026. Here she reads from the book and talks about art and identity.
Typewriter Poet Molly Ovenden and fellow writers Tony Macaluso, Charlotte Carrick and Tallulah Howarth talk about crossing the threshold from solitary creating to public sharing.
Emily Zobel Marshall is a Leeds-based literary activist, poet and Professor of Postcolonial Literature. She researches Caribbean carnival and trickster folklore and has published several academic books and two poetry collections with Peepal Tree Press, Bath of Herbs (2023) and Other Wild (2025). Emily talks about mountains, grieving, and her current projects.
Leeds Arts Centre give us a blast of their innovative new production of Orwell's 1984, and editor Millie Lacey talks about the invaluable resource that is The State of The Arts online platform for arts and info in W. Yorkshire.
Love, betrayal, and the 1966 World Cup, in this atmospheric audio drama from Jacqueline Everett set in communist Hungary. One of the many highlights of Writing On Air 2026.
Children from All Saints Primary School in East End Park, Leeds, give us poetry, ideas and songs on the theme of Underground in this Love The Words Year 4 Special!
Four poets read from the latest Issue of Pennine Platform (winner of 'Best Cultural Promotion Publication' in the Northern Enterprise Awards 2025) read poems and talk about them with editor-in-chief Julia Deakin.
Timely satirical audio drama by Freya Jackson. It's all kicking off in the streets. But has it been minuted? This play was first broadcast as part of Writing On Air 2026.
'In the derelict shell of what was once his family home, a dying man surveys the wreckage of his former life and drinks himself senseless'. But this is also a book that brims with hope and love. Stu Hennigan on his brand new novel.
What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? Voices from Leeds Domestic Violence Service reflect.
What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? Experts in the field discuss.
The People’s History of Leeds captures the story of the city through the voices of its citizens. Volume 1, published last week, includes stories from joyful Goths, Leeds United fans and many more.
Two young poets from West Yorkshire, Jacob Davies and Finny, are both gaining exciting reputations both locally and nationally. Poems and discussion from these passionate new voices.
Episode from a new poetry series on ELCR, Poetry Unseen, in which three poetry-heads present poems they like, and which the others don't know, for an in-the-moment, in-depth response, with Peter Spafford, James Fernie and Jaimes Lewis Moran.
Lateral G is an off-grid, travelling poet who lives on the road and writes about life, ageing and the strange things that happen in her weird world.
Storyteller Vickie Orton makes a happy return to Chapel FM to tell some seasonal stories and talk about her craft, honed after many years.
Love The Words hears from a group of visiting youth workers from Dortmund, Leeds' twin city in Germany. How are young people faring in Dortmund? And where can you get the best pizza in town? And which city has the tallest Christmas tree?
Young writers from Bishop Young Academy in East Leeds, with committed teacher Miss Abbott, share moving & powerful poetry on the theme of Threshold and talk about hope and friendship.
Powerful radio drama by Martin Riley with music by Jack Glover from last year's Writing On Air festival. A child with polio discovers his voice and presence in the world.
The Only High I Need is a new novel by Ria Tocsin out very soon. It's Darcy’s first story. Darcy's a recovering alcoholic and drug addict but, behind the addiction and bravado, she's a just a woman trying to survive. A funny, sad, shocking but cathartic read for anyone, providing useful resources for any readers who find themselves resonating with the story.
Erin and Josh grew up together in Yorkshire and now are on opposite sides of the globe. Can their love survive? Melanie Taylor talks about her new novel, Love Digitally, and tells us why the genre of Romance fiction matters. Plus an interview with Isabella Gellis, composer of The Devil's Den, a new opera with Morris Dancing at the heart of it.
A foretaste of Leeds City of Languages, a vibrant festival celebrating our languages and global connections, plus soundscapes from Czech artist based in Ostracva, Nela Bartova.
Poetry! Alan Smith has taught in universities & prisons. Now he's writing his own poetry. Jaimes Lewis Moran, Seacroft poet, reads from his brand new collection themed around hospitality. What is it about poetry? What can a poem do?
‘Eyes closed, deep inhale: the smell of freshly battered fish takes him back to his dad’s old shop’… Actor Rayyah McCaul on an evocative journey around Leeds with her father.
Michelle Heighway has won awards for her documentary making and photography. But now she's published her debut poetry collection, Step Into My Flow. Why poetry? Why now?
Peter Spafford's audio diary of his visit to Ostrava in Czechia (Sept 2025) where he was invited to read poetry & talk about the perception of Czech writing in the UK. Interviews with Czech writers & organisers plus music from Dalava, a Czech/Canadian band re-interpreting Moravian folksong.
Trevor Wishart is a composer based in York internationally known for his work with digital audio media. He has also written extensively about 'sonic art'. He talks about his work.
Julia Sherwood has, with her husband Peter, translated a number of Slovak & Czech works of fiction. She talks about the rise of modern Slovak literature in translation & the delicate art of translating.
Maz Sultan and three writers contributing to the upcoming collection of writing from Leeds, Manthology talk about this exciting new project and read their work. Poems from Joe Spivey, Huw Parlor and Paul Proctor and Maz Sultan.
The First Ever Yorkshire ThriddingsFest happens soon. A celebration of Yorkshire’s communities and their cultural heritage; poetry, folklore, Punjabi Dhol, Roma music. Learn more.
Writer Charlotte Carrick talks to young writers Seren Delahaye and Kiera Gibson about her writing journey, from The Writing Squad through Chapel FM to Emmerdale. If earning a living as a writer is challenging, where do you start, who advises and supports you along the way?
Adam Farrer talks about his critically acclaimed new book of essays, Broken Biscuits And Other Male Failures, published by Harper North. What do men really want? Or need? Adam's book Cold Fish Soup was the 2023 Readathon choice.
Poets Maia Elsner, Tallulah Howarth and Seren Delahaye discuss poetry and read their work. What does a young poet need? Is 'finding your mind' more important than finding your voice?
Todd Murphy is a writer living in East Leeds. He writes prose and poetry that twist the everyday into work that is tough, tender and often uncanny.
Created with the British Library, a radio documentary of oral history stories about growing up working in cornershops in Leeds, with music from Tower of Song.
Carol Atherton, author of Reading Lessons, Chapel FM's Readathon 2025 book, talks about the power of literature to change lives. Plus Leeds Lit Fest preview with Fiona Gell.
Rob Cowen talks about his critically acclaimed new book, The North Road: Walking London to Edinburgh through Nation, Time & Place', written over 10 years following Common Ground.
Yorkshire historian Catherine Warr has written a musical! She talks about it. And Diliana Stojanova is a Bulgarian poet living in Czechia and visiting Leeds. Diliana has a new poetry collection out in Japanese, Fiinnish and English.
Natalie Anastasia Davies talks about being Writer in Residence for Brimham Rocks, plus her moving poem about the experience. Plus Madeleine Wuidart on her late autism diagnosis, and moving spoken word from older members of the LGBTQ plus community in Creative Voices.
Carolyn, Judy & Carol from the University of the Third Age Writing For Pleasure Group read their work and talk about why writing, & listening to others read, makes them happy. Plus Other Tongue Mother Tongue, a multi-lingual publication from The Other Side of Hope, presented by Mike Baynham.
LTW is 300 episodes old! Peter Spafford and Agnes Leonovicz look back - and ahead, after a short mash of highlights, including poetry from Andrew McMillan, Helen Burke and Leeds East Academy.
With our global theme, Anna Aslanyan talks about her book on the delicate art of translation, Dancing on Ropes; and poet Linda France presents Ep 5 of the powerful In Our Element.
Comedy on the theme of Threshold from the fabulous Joyful Drama Group based at Heart in Headingley under the umbrella of Fall Into Place Theatre Company, Seacroft.
Olivia Mulligan is a poet & children's author. Passionate about sharing uplifting material with others, she performs her poetry on stage, runs poetry workshops for adults and children, & is BBC Radio York's Poet Laureate.
Laura is a musician, poet & artist inspired by the connection between humans & the landscape, neurodiversity and biodiversity. She reads from her new illustrated collection, As The Flow Cries, and plays some tunes on fiddle and gouzouki.
Musician Nicky Bray talks about her love of languages & the work she does to support language assistants from abroad working in Yorkshire schools, plus Francesca Butler on the challenge of directing Jean Genet's rarely performed The Maids for Leeds Arts Centre.
James Wraith is a 23 year old student of Linguistics and a passionate advocate for Yorkshire dialect. He talks here about the richness of local language and why we should nurture our 'native twang'.
Leeds/Dortmund citizen Geoff Tranter talks about the shared history of Leeds & German city Dortmund & the value of city twinning. Plus street artist Stewy on his new wall portrait of poet Tony Harrison at Chapel FM.
Poetry magazine Pennine Platform has a flourishing subscriber list and international reach. Four poets from the current Issue read and discuss their contributions to this issue with editor Julia Deakin, and select their favourite pieces by other poets.
Barry Strickland-Hodge is the writer of ten books and numerous articles about medicine and pharmacology. He's also an expert on Nicholas Culpeper and his classic Complete Herbal. Here he talks about being an Apothecary, about herbalism, about silence and tears.
John Irving Clarke spends lengthy periods gazing out of windows, convinced that Hemingway's "one true sentence" lies out there somewhere. He has a new collection of stories out, How The Northern Light Gets In. John was a co-founder of the legendary Red Shed Readings in Wakefield.
Lottie Sadd is a Leeds-based interdisciplinary composer-performer and workshop facilitator. She talks about her practice in sound, voice, and text.
Spike Marshall talks about directing the hard-hitting drama 'Hangmen' by Martin McDonagh for Leeds Arts Centre, opening Feb 26th at The Carriageworks. What's it about? And how does this play sit more generally within McDonagh's film and stage writing?
First heard in Writing On Air, an exclusive soundscape tour of the derelict Victorian church in Leeds which will one day be transformed into The National Poetry Centre. With Tony Macaluso, Jaimes Lewis Moran, Lenny Flint, Giulio Macaluso and members of the NPC team.
The eighth wonder of the world. In Doncaster. Buried forever. The true saga of the legendary Sand House, dramatised for radio by Peter Spafford and directed by Olwen May. Sand House was first produced as a stage play for Cast, Doncaster in 2018. This audio version is an independent production by The Sand House Charity.
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the fascinating and moving story of how Len Biran’s refugee father used his wits to keep his Polish Jewish family safe through World War 2.
A gifted musician re-lives the time he contracted polio as a child. His recovery is dependent on finding his newfound power as The King of Sound. Uplifting drama for Writing On Air 2024, by Martin Riley and Jack Glover, plus Nobody Tells You It Drops When You Stop Chasing. Josh's gambling addiction has cost him his livelihood and his home life. Recovery’s going well. Until it isn’t. Impactful audio drama by Sam Lawrence.
Elite triathletes Becky and Natalie are prepared to give everything to be World No.1. But what if this affects their health forever? Riveting drama about sport and friendship by Jacky Burton, first broadcast as part of Writing On Air 2024.
Faye Marshall is a poet and nurse. She talks about the privilege of working in palliative care, its impact on her life and writing, and the flourishing poetry scene in South Leeds.
Fiona Goh is the Director of the SI Leeds Literary Prize, a biennial award for unpublished fiction by Black and Asian women based in the UK. She talks about the prize which in 2024 celebrates its 10th year.
Poet and GP Emma Storr interviews Dr.Gavin Francis about his best-selling book, Recovery. Do we give ourselves enough time to get over things? Whatever happened to 'convalescence'?
Vic is a writer and therapist working throughout Yorkshire with groups and individuals. She talks about her love for the work she does, how it has evolved and about the influence on her work of her pioneering father.
A soundpoem from Writing On Air 2023 by Gareth Rhodes about seasonal and climate change in a Leeds garden.
Poet Alex Callaghan talks about the experience of editing and compiling Ey Up 3 and working with Written Off Publishing, as well as the fabulous Bone Down.
As a forerunner for International Men's Day 2024, Jaimes Lewis Moran presents poetry, prose, and reflection on the subject of fathers, first broadcast in Writing On Air 2023.
The People's History of Leeds: Tom Bailey talks about this exciting new project gathering stories about Leeds and its people.
In anticipation of Writing On Air 2024, another chance to hear about the ground-breaking national organisation Prison Radio and why their work is a lifeline for its listeners.
Eleanor May Blackburn is a 27 year old neurodivergent, disabled, queer actor/writer/theatre-maker/poet from Sheffield. The tour of her show Does My Fanny Look Big In This? tours next year and includes a date at The Crucible in her home town. In this LTW episode, Eleanor discusses, with elegance & humour, sex education, sex slang, and the nature of consent.
Winning short dramas from Script Yorkshire's 5th annual radio drama competition, with the winners from last year, all recorded at Chapel FM. Comedy, spookiness and suspense. Chapel FM is very happy to partner up with SY on this project every year.
Keith Fenton, co-founder and presenter of the podcast Poets Talking Bollocks, talks bollocks to LTW about this ambitious audio project mapping the northern open mic scene.
Catherine Staples talks to LTW from Massachusetts, USA, about Vert, her beautiful new poetry collection, an elegy for her beloved brother Paul Calello. Can poetry help us grieve? https://www.amazon.com/Vert-Poems-Catherine-Staples/dp/0881469211
Rob Cowen's book Common Ground (2015) radically broke with the 'nature writing' genre. Here, in this final LTW of Season 6 (returning in September) Rob talks about The Heeding, his moving collection of lockdown poems.
Young writers from Leeds East return to read new work, plus Ethel, Maddy and Maffo from Mafwa Theatre on their lively & uplifting Kuluhenna Drama group for women.
A 3-item LTW: Orb present their mini-bus-dramas, plus another chance to hear Melissa Wuidart Phillips' story 'Found', and an interview with the wise & extraordinary Philip Harvey.
Highlights from Anyone's a Green Thumb, an audio installation about green spaces & urban gardens in Leeds, feat. Orb (Knaresborough), The Lincoln Greeners (Mafwa Theatre) and others. This installation was part of Chapel FM's Home From Home 2024 project in which all our available spaces at Chapel FM Arts Centre were animated by a range of sound, theatre, and music created by participants.
Cast members with director Ben Hopwood from Leeds Arts Centre's brand new 'urban' production of A Midsummer Night's Dream talk about the joy and zest of Shakespeare.
Gareth E. Rees talks about Car Park Life, his epic exploration of Britain's neglected retail car parks, the book chosen for the Chapel FM/Leeds Lit Fest Readathon 2024.
Artist/poet Jamie Scrutton on naturism, being proud as a multi-form artist, and his book The Vision of Storytelling, plus Chris Berry on the inaugural Aberford Literature Festival.
Poet Lydia Kennaway talks with fellow poet Emma Storr about Sh@nty, her fascinating collaboration with folk musician Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, and reads poems about betrayal, loss, and recovery.
Ben Eaton of Invisible Flock talks about the company's recent piece This is a Forest for Leeds 2023 & the importance of sound in their acclaimed work.
A sound art documentary about Moon Palace, a social sculpture/working observatory touring with Leeds 2023 Year of Culture, plus poetry and refections on the blue spaces in our city from the Canals & Rivers Trust.
Following his death last week, another chance to hear my friend & mentor Dave Price OBE talking about his life's work in music & radical progressive education.
Rommi Smith talks movingly about writing the libretto of Cusp, with music by Roderick Williams, a piece about grief and grieving, for the Royal Festival Hall & The Bach Choir.
Sean Street, poet, talks about and reads from his new collection, Running Out of Time, published by Shoestring Press. Sean was the UK's first ever Professor of Radio and has written extensively about sound and the history of sound.
Poet Emma Storr reads from her new collection The Year of Two Winters and talks about the influence of her mother, writer Catherine Storr, author of the extraordinary and disturbing novel, Marianne Dreams.
A preview of the amazing Leeds International African Arts Festival 2024 (July 6-12) and blistering new writing from young writers at Leeds East Academy.
Comedy from the Joyful Drama Group based at Heart, Headingley, & another chance to hear the astounding Billy Myers voice all characters in Gareth Rhodes' Interviews Through History.
Rachel Vernelle from Leeds Arts Centre talks about the theatre company's new production of Caryl Churchill's radical play Escaped Alone, and Zodwa Nyoni on her new musical with Testament, Chisholm for President.
A tribute by Jimmy Andrex & friends in words and music to Alec Clegg, a West Riding education pioneer whose largely forgotten legacy could save us from cultural poverty.
Composer, punk rocker, mayor, teacher and so much more. Tony Macaluso talks to Phillip Bimstein who shares stories and examples of his many music compositions that weave in oral history voices.
David Harmer was in the original line up of Circus of Poets. His most recent book for children was published in 2021. Stu Hennigan, who came into Chapel FM for a meeting one week early, serendipitously joins David for a chat about writing for, and by, children.
'Part threnody, part celebration of friendship' , Hannah Stone talks about her moving new poetry collection, The Invisible Worm, and reads from it. In the midst of grief, is there a place for hope and healing?
Safiyyar Umar is a published writer based in Leeds and still in her teens. She talks about her debut dystopian novel, The Heart Crusher. Plus a repeat of the gripping Flight 93 by Caroline Noh.
Will Carr from Book Trust talks about their recent move to Leeds & the work they do with children and reading throughout the UK, as well as his own career in literature.
Poet & Performer Rose Condo returns to LTW to talk about her brand new show How To Starve An Artist and why we all need the nutrition of art in our lives, plus intimate relationships for older people - A Difficult Conversation - & Raavi, River of Two Punjabs, a beautiful meditation on time, water and the artificial boundaries humans create.
Four poets published in Pennine Platform Issue 94 read poems from the latest edition of this long-established poetry journal and talk to editor Julia Deakin.
Players of non-mainstream sports in Leeds speak eloquently about what they love doing. Unsung Sports was a Leeds 2023 giving voice to players, organisers and supporters of lesser known sports through poetry, song, film and photography.
Tim Brookes helps run a food bank and Getting Gobby in the Lobby spoken word night. He talks about the provenance of, and reads poems, from his new pamphlet Keep Taking 6 Away from 100. Tim speaks movingly of his recovery from serious illness and the role poetry has played in creating his new life.
Vivid highlights of Writing On Air '23 from Sparkle Menzies and other younger contributors to the festival, plus a moving story from Dortmund writer Linn Schiffmann about first love and summer.
Julie Walker works as a bibliotherapist using the written word – song lyrics, poetry, prose in creative ways to engage with people experiencing mental health issues. She tells us about Words for Wellbeing.
Sneaky preview of a ground-breaking report about the literature ecology of Leeds commissioned from New Writing North by Leeds City Council. What have we got already? What do we need more of?
Alex De Little is a sonic artist & researcher with bases in Leeds and London, UK. His practice encompasses installation, composition, performance and workshops. He talks about the extraordinary range of his work and about his recent artist residency in Bali.
Colin Speakman is a Yorkshire historian, poet, and passionate advocate for the North of England. Here he talks about the power of dialect and his plans for a big Yorkshire festival next year.
Poet and novelist Mark Connors talks about his and Gill Connors' new Yaffle's Nest initiative, and about what's he writing himself when he's not making it happen for other writers!
Spike Marshall talks about Rope, Patrick Hamilton's dark play that he directs for Leeds Arts Centre, plus a compelling short audio drama by Seki Lynch.
Vickie Orton tells a story, Jaimes Lewis Moran talks about his new poetry collection, Mechanism, & Oz Hardwick chats about Making A Difference, a selection of Neurodiverse Poets.
At last! The special radio version of Save Our Stories, Chapel FM's community play, staged earlier in 2023 as part of our Home From Home project. SEA.CORP have plans to develop and 'improve' Seacroft. Will they succeed?
Jamie Bloom's debut poetry collection, Change & Rage, is out now. He talks about managing iconic music venues like The Rainbow Theatre, meeting Marvin Gaye, and finding peace.
Writers from the WordPlay group led by Barney Bardsley return to LTW with poems & pieces on the theme of Missing, which is incidentally the theme of Writing On Air this year, Nov 24-Dec2.
In this first LTW of Season 5, poet Ian Duhig previews Contains Strong Language, the UK's premier poetry & performance festival which storms into Leeds later this month, and talks about the hidden histories of Leeds.
Poets Linn Schiffman, Thorsten Trelenberg, Calvin Kleeman from Leeds' sister city Dortmund join Leeds poet Dalton Harrison for poetry and discussion. Poetry breaks borders.
Historian and film maker Catherine Warr talks about her brand new book on Yorkshire history, plus a feature about the amazing bellringers at St.James' Church, Seacroft. They're looking for new members!
Bradford-based Fox and Windmill is the first UK independent publishing company for British South Asian Writers. Co-founder Habiba Desai tells their remarkable story.
Maddie Morris won BBC Radio 2's Young Folk Award and now 'leads the next generation of socially conscious songwriters' (Jim Moray). Maddie plays Live for LTW and talks about a fascinating new commission with Mind The Gap Theatre Company.
Two contrasting highlights from Writing On Air 2022: Grandma's Kitchen by Jaspreet Mander and No Place by Jimmy Andrex. Look out for Writing On Air 2023 in late November/early December.
Young writers from Leeds East Academy make their debut on LTW reading & talking about their own work and the books they're reading, plus Irene Lofthouse remembering her characterful Irish Mum with with and affection.
Seacroft writer & lecturer Geraldine Beattie talks about how books can make a home, whoever you are & wherever you live. Geraldine's passion for literature of all kinds shines through her every sentence.
Four poets from Issue 93 of Pennine Platform read and discuss their contributions to this long-lived & well-loved poetry title with poet and editor Julia Deakin.
Volunteers on the brand new community newspaper East Side Story tell the remarkable story of its growing success, plus Zoe Freedman on directing Leeds Arts Centre's new production, Chicken Soup, at Carriageworks Theatre.
What is Community Psychology? LTW follows a conference in Leeds. Plus young theatregoers Oliver and Amos interview Lord of The Flies actor Jason Battersby. And anarchic storytelling from veteran Leeds playwright Martin Riley.
Poets Ian Harker, William Thirsk-Gaskill and Joe Williams, with Irene Lofthouse, take us on a whirlwind poetry tour of Leeds. Hilarious, irreverent and surreal.
John Baron, of the W. Leeds Dispatch, talks about the power of good local journalism in the age of Twitter. Plus Barber B and Seki Lynch on their co-written play coming soon to venues in Leeds supported by the marvellous Space 2.
Another chance to hear the poem sequence 150 Words As I Wait For A Tree To Grow Back by Pamela Crowe, first broadcast as part of Writing On Air 2022, as was dark drama There Was A Man by Neil Rathmell.
Garry Lyons, writer of the play Blow Down, talks to a live audience about writing oral history drama, with playwright Mary Cooper and oral historian Tony Macaluso.
Rach Horner, a Leeds playwright writing about myth, feminism and queerness, introduces their radio drama Gentle Things, produced by Rocket Box Theatre Company.
Charlotte Eichler talks about her new poetry collection, Swimming Between Islands, published by Carcanet. And Sharena Lee Satti of The National Literacy Trust on an exciting new initiative for young writers in W.Yorkshire.
Writer David Price, Assistant Headteacher Elizabeth Powell, and theatre makers Fran Cairns & Naomi Roxby Wardle discuss culture change in Education. What are the challenges of Education in the UK at the moment? Is reform possible and what models exist?
WordPlay, a group of Leeds-based writers working with Barney Bardsley, bring us a lyrical evocation of the sea in prose and poetry, with original music by Chris Benstead.
Tower of Song celebrates its 10th birthday with this retrospective from Nicky and Carl. Tower of Song is Leeds' fabulous regular night for songwriters who meet every month to share new songs written to a theme and style. A unique forum for new songwriting!
A Special LTW: Adam Farrer talks about Cold Fish Soup, his award-winning memoir set in Withernsea which, with Leeds Lit Fest, we're reading all night at The Readathon, 25th Feb.
Enya Lucas directs Leeds Arts Centre's new production, Scarborough, by Fiona Evans. She talks to LTW about this controversial and thought-provocative new play. Plus writer Bethany Rivers on ways that creative writing can work with grief.
Chijoke Ojukwu talks about a ground-breaking community initiative in Harehills, Leeds, plus our resident storyteller Vickie Orton live and in action with a haunting story about love and sorrow.
Matt Black, poet, on his piquant and poignant work-in-progress examining the tensions among siblings as they care collectively for an elderly parent. With a guest appearance from Charlie.
A Walk In The Park (Pt 2), a sonic stroll through Roundhay Park with A Quiet Word and storyteller Matthew Bellwood, funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, to mark 150 years of the Park.
A Walk In The Park (Pt 1), a sonic stroll through Roundhay Park, Leeds, in high summer with A Quiet Word, celebrating the Parks's 150th birthday in a project supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund. Roundhay played a vital role for Loiners in the pandemic. Here visitors, poets, and Friends of Roundhay volunteers talk about their favourite spots, alongside historical notes from urban geographer Rachel Unsworth.
Episode 200 of LTW, with 2 VERY contrasting pieces: a Radio Panto from ELDA (East Leeds Dramatic Arts) and The Future, It's a Fix by Caroline Noh, featuring the young people of Chapel FM's Next Generation scheme, plus poet Jaimes Lewis Moran.
Chapel FM resident storyteller Vickie Orton makes a very welcome return to ELFM to tell us two magical tales, including The Pedlar of Swaffham.
Simon Treen, of the podcast Working Hours about people in Leeds and their working lives, talks why he does it and what he's learning. Jo Brandon, poet, on her new collaboration with a composer.
Blind teenager becomes a poet after being mentored in jail by famous murderer. Incredible but true tale made into a best-selling graphic novel. This is the story, with Tony Macaluso and Matt Rizzo.
Rachael Unsworth is an urban geographer and founder of the fantastic Leeds City Walking Tours. Here she talks about her passion for the story of Leeds and showing how 'change is expressed in the city landscape'.
Sally Jenkinson, poet, reads from her brand new collection Pantomime Horse, Russian Doll, Egg, about the experience of giving birth.
Marg Greenwood talks about her delightful travelogue Return to Muck, and poet Susan Darlington reads from her visceral new chapbook Never Wear White.
Dalton Harrison reads from his new poetry collection The Boy Behind The Wall. Plus Jaimes Lewis Moran on his new book, Sea Words, and an interview with children contributing to The World Re-Imagined, an amazing arts project in the city.
Leeds poets Caitlin McKenna, Elijah East, and Poppy Jennings talk about the burgeoning new and diverse poetry scene in Leeds, fronted by Leeds Poetry Festival and other fabulous recently established events.
Leyla Josephine, poet, is performing at Chapel FM Oct 29th 2022 as part of her national tour. Here she talks about her new book and the range of work she does in education and community. Plus Mags Grinnell from LS14 Trust, Seacroft, East Leeds, on the challenges of communication.
By way of a trailer for the Home theme of Writing On Air 2022 (Nov 23-27), women from the Italian and Caribbean communities in Harehills, Leeds, tell their extraordinary stories of arriving - and staying - in Britain in the 1950's.
Pennine Platform is one of the north’s longest established and best-beloved poetry titles, in print for over 50 years. Writers from Issue 91 read and chat with editor Julia Deakin.
Suhaimymah Manzoor-Khan is a writer, poet, educator and activist. In this LTW of the new season, she talks about her work to Peter Spafford and her residency at Leeds Playhouse.
As part of the Peepal Tree Press residency at Chapel FM's Local Writers' Library, Bermudian writer Angela Barry talks about her powerful new novel, The Drowned Forest.
As part of Peepal Tree Press's residency at Chapel FM, poet Samantha Thornhill speaks from Trinidad about her scintillating new collection, The Animated Universe.
Ira Mathur is an Indian-born writer and journalist living in Trinidad. Here she talks about her new novel with Peepal Tree Press, Love The Dark Days, a powerful book about 'accrued intergenerational damage between mothers and daughters in post-colonial worlds'. Chapel FM is delighted to be hosting Peepal Tree Press as our first Publisher in Residence.
Stu Hennigan talks about Ghost Signs, a blistering first-hand account of delivering essential food and medicines in Leeds during the first months of the pandemic. Warning: With echoes of The Road To Wigan Pier, Stu's readings tell a shocking story of poverty in our city.
Lesley Sharp from Script Yorkshire, this region's fantastic script development organisation, introduces four brand new short radio dramas by Yorkshire writers, recorded at Chapel FM and edited by Rosie Parsons.
Tom Juniper is an autistic, non-binary performance poet based in South Yorkshire, interviewed here by Juwairia and Henry for our ELFM's regular show Disabled Table. Plus 2 startling radio dramas from Script Yorkshire.
Another chance to hear a programme from the late poet Helen Burke with Phil Pattinson: their tribute to the words and music of Jimi Hendrix. Helen was much loved at Chapel FM and East Leeds FM. Our local writers library is named in honour of her.
Covid 19. Lockdowns. What actually happened? While we were dealing with it, we didn’t have time to process it. So, Chapel FM asked Jimmy Andrex to try.
Older people from a group formed by Age UK Leeds at Chapel FM present highlights from their Writing For Radio course, plus Venice, a short story by Melissa Wuidart Phillips.
Two punchy short plays from Script Yorkshire directed by Stefan Escreet, plus two episodes in Bob McBurney's charming Sgt.Grimshaw series.
Three American experts discuss the literature of Chicago in respect to a ground-breaking new book, Chicago: A Literary History. Expect lively mentions of Nelson Algren, Gwendolyn Brooks, Carl Sandberg, Studs Terkel.
Leyla Josephine (poet, screenwriter, facilitator) talks about her work, plus the final extended episode of In Our Element with poet Linda France.
Writer David Napthine interrogates Jerusalem: the city, the idea, the metaphor, the poem, the song, with poet Lydia Kennaway, researcher and creator of Leeds Black History Walk Joe Williams, and writer, politician, actor Roger Harington.
Writers in Barney Bardsley's WordPlay workshop read their work themed around Darkness and Light, plus an interview with Seacroft poet Jaimes Lewis Moran about his forthcoming collection of poetry, Sea Words.
Ep 2 of Sgt.Grimshaw by Bob McBurney, Ep 9 of In Our Element, and the first two short plays in a series from Script Yorkshire with more to follow.
Episode 8 of In Our Element with Linda France; Molly Magrath from The Leeds Library on digital lit; and the very first Sgt. Grimshaw story from Bob McBurney.
Poet Emma Storr and photographer Bob Hamilton talk about their sumptuous new collaboration (poetry and images of Yorkshire) , Offcumdens, with Lydia Kennaway; plus Pamela Crowe on 23Press, a community publishing project for Leeds 2023.
Argentinian writer and poet Liliana Lukin, on a brief visit to Leeds, talks about her writing life, plus Episode 7 of In Our Element with Linda France.
James Nash reads from Heart Stones, his new sonnet collection; Ep 6 of In Our Element, and Fiona Gell on Leeds Lit Fest 2022.
In memory of Prof. James Law, Huddersfield speech and language researcher Jacqueline Gaile talks about the power that speech gives us and what can be done by therapists to help children whose speech does not develop.
Translator Anna Aslanyan talks about her new book on the delicate art of translation, Dancing on Ropes; and poet Linda France presents Ep 5 of the powerful In Our Element.
Episode 4 of the powerful In Our Element (a poet's response to climate change) with Linda France, and Leeds playwright/actor Vanessa Rosenthal talks about her fascinating new memoir, A Life in Stages, themed around the idea of identity and its importance to a writing life.
Episode 3 of In Our Element with Linda France, a poet's enquiry into climate change; and Professor Jennifer Richards talks about the impact of Sir Thomas Nashe on language, in memory of her colleague Professor James Law who died last year.
Episode 2 of the Sonderbug series produced with New Writing North 'In Our Element' with Linda France, A Poet's Response to Climate Change, plus Emma Wright of the fabulous Emma Press.
Philippa Geering talks about Sonderbug, her audio production company; Ann from Cards or Die on this fascinating Leeds company that uses board games in all kinds of community and education settings; plus Episode 1 of In Our Element, A Poet's Response to Climate Change, with poet Linda France in association with New Writing North and Newcastle University - a Sonderbug production.
Songwriter, pianist, singer Ric Neale talks about, and plays tracks from, his fab new record, Connected Disconnected. From what seeds do songs break out? Joy, grief, tunes, harmonies, they're all in here - from a lucid advocate of the well-turned song.
Director/Writer Tess Seddon on her musical at Leeds Playhouse, poems from Christine Bousfield, Jack on the eve of his 98th birthday, and a message from Eleanor Snare.
Juleus Ghunta talks to LTW from Jamaica about his moving new illustrated book for young people about childhood trauma and reading; plus Leeds poet Susan Darlington with her powerful new collection about pain and healing, Traumatropic Heart.
Sean Street is a writer, poet, and the UK's first ever Professor of Radio. Sean talks about his life in sound and his delicate, passionate new poetry collection, The Sound Recordist.
Nigel Stone talks to a panel of comic afficionados, including Jared from the world-famous OK Comics in Leeds, Tony Macaluso, Johann (14), and Peter Spafford, about comics: where have we been, whence are we going?
Womb Stories: Words and sounds from Charlotte Carrick and Holly Early; the Ilkley young poet Ella Sanderson, as featured recently on BBC Radio 4; and writer/artist Jamie Scrutton on his new powerful new graphic art/memoir.
Poet and artist Pamela Crowe reflects on finding your voice and hitting the creative stride; plus Melissa Wuidart Phillips with a brand new story.
Phoebe Caldwell on her new book Out to Grass (challenging images of ageing), new work by Chris Fernie and Roz Kendall, plus a Balkan sound collage.
Seacroft poet Jaimes Lewis Moran talks about being a poet with autism, plus Eleanor Snare with the first in her series of meditations on art and life.
In the first LTW of the new season, poet and historian Keith Fenton reads poems and talks sport. Do sports books stand up as literature? CLR James, Arthur Hopcraft... What are his big recommendations?
An interview with Sara Lee, Artistic Director of the amazing Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons), the UK charity that sends musicians into prisons for week-long residencies, plus a story about Old Boney from Martin Riley; and the poet James Nash on Leeds and Life and much much more.
An interview with innovative theatre producer Deborah Dickinson, currently with Mind The Gap and her own production company On The Wire, plus the Tenter Hook project; Boff Whalley on walking and singing, plus Matthew H.Stoppard, Grace Darbyshire and more...
Poet Seni Seneviratne conjures up her family's past in Holbeck, Leeds, plus The Writing Squad under lockdown and Otley Folk Festival online.
In depth interview with theatre director Alan Lyddiard, Artistic Director of The Performance Ensemble, about the vital place of older performers and creatives in our culture.
In depth interview with Alan Lyddiard, Artistic Director of The Performance Ensemble, about his long and committed history as a theatre director. Alan talks passionately about the place of older people in our culture.
Francois Matarasso reflects on a life in community arts and on his major book about socially-engaged arts, A Restless Art; plus a new virus-inspired book by Joe Williams, and poet Malika Booker explores Chapeltown - and a Radio Free Kinsley episode to boot!
Writer and Artistic Director of The Writing Squad, Steve Dearden, talks about how the Squad are responding to the pandemic, and about his flying; Leeds storyteller Matthew Bellwood with an eerie tale, plus young poet Maya Allen with a powerful piece about identity and race.
Angles of Light: writer Juleus Ghunta introduces Caribbean poets reading their own work in this 100th LTW; a fascinating collection with music chosen by the writers.
It's July 2020: After the government’s announcement of a £1.5billion for the arts, what do we want: recovery or revolution? Plus Emma Storr, Pam Line, Keith Fenton, The Writing Squad, and more.
Interview with South Yorkshire poet and dramatist Matt Black, plus new monologues from emerging writers in the north of England introduced by Writing Squad graduate and scriptwriter Charlotte Carrick.
New Found Fiction podcast presented by Steve Clarkson, Anzir Boodoo with his extraordinary rendition of Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti, and scurrilous Radio Free Kinsley Ep 7 from Jimmy Andrex & friends!
Tanya Shadrick talks about her forthcoming memoir 'The Cure For Sleep' and about late-waking, renewal, and staying alive.
Melissa Wuidart Phillips reads her short fiction 'Trinket', plus Part 2 of Sonic Stops from Better Songs Productions on the history of music in Leeds, commissioned by Music:Leeds.
In this 150th episode, singer, choir-whisperer Em Whitfield Brooks talks about change, presence, & her work in Voice; Joe Williams on his new poetry collection.
Verity Britton and Rosie Parsons from Better Songs present Part I of Sonic Stops, their recent commission from Music Leeds for Abbey House Museum.
Singer, choir-whisperer, life coach Em Whitfield Brooks talks about change, 'presence', & her work in Voice; plus Joe Williams on his new poetry collection, The Taking Part.
Andrew McMillan, winner of The Guardian First Book Award for his first collection physical, talks about Pandemonium, his visceral new collection with Cape - & reminisces about Chapel FM.
A piratical love-story from Melissa Wuidart Phillips, the final Pandemical from Jimmy Andrex, & an archive Wordybirds.
Rob Cowen talks to Peter Spafford about his extraordinary new book The Heeding, out later this month. The Heeding, illustrated by Nick Hayes (The Book of Trespass), is a moving meld of autobiography, pandemic journal, nature observation, prophecy, remedy.
Brian Williams talks about his two new novels, a Luddite drama from Calderdale and a rite of passage story set in the sizzling summer of ’76.
Presenters and writers D3 and Sarah talk about Loudspeaker, a brand new monthly words show on ELFM, plus 2 highlights of Writing On Air 2021: Blend, a bittersweet meditation on make up and makeovers by Charlotte Carrick and Lydia Allison, and dystopian radio drama The Future is Already Here by James Fernie.
In our mini-series of interviews about Voice, Zelino Modesto talks about the art of listening, his own work with voice, and his fascinating podcast 'https://www.whyilisten.online/ (Why I Listen)’, plus a vintage Wordybirds episode.
The Weight of Smoke by Peter Spafford: song settings of poems by Sir Walter Raleigh, conflicted explorer, imperialist, poet, politician, played by Spafford and Dave Bowie Jnr, with interlinking poems and text by Peter Spafford read by Pam Hilton and Owain Shaw. Plus ep 8 of Jimmy Andrex's Covid journal in verse, The Pandemical, plus a vintage ep of Wordybirds from the pandemic summer of 2020.
Elspeth Morrison, Voice Coach, on her work on accent and identity with actors, newsreaders and podcasters, plus Wordybirds with Steph Shields.
Love The Words: Steve Clarkson talks about new Found Fiction projects, Irene Lofthouse on 26 Characters, fiction from P.J.Quinn, and a good old-fashioned monologue from Keith Fenton.
Photographic artist Carolyn Mendelsohn talks about her extraordinary images, plus drama from Jane Oakshott, and Stanley Holloway’s Sam Small read by Keith Fenton.
A special celebration of Yorkshire Day 2020 from Leeds Town Hall featuring a special lockdown performance by organist Darius Battiwalla and conversations about the Town Hall with Darius, local historians, and visitors to this iconic building.
Gallipoli, a radio drama about war and the evergreen dream of a peaceful world, presented by Generation Squad, the drama group at Fall Into Place Theatre plus a new work by Jimmy Andrex.
TORRENT. Fear stalks Alice when she realises her home isn’t a place of safety. Discover how she escapes her trauma, finds friendship again and begins to build a new life. Tough drama from Peter Aveyard and Irene Lofthouse. Strong language and content.
Matt Nicholson talks about his new poetry collection with Yaffle Press, Small Havocs, and Jimmy Andrex presents an acerbic but humane retrospective on 1970’s TV lodestone, Stars on Sunday.
LTW features an extended report on Live Little Stories for Leeds, a summer festival featuring young people's theatre companies in Leeds, plus Look Closer, ep 2 of the new Found Fiction podcast.
Love The Words. Playwright Emma Adams talks about her journey in writing, her experience of lockdown - and a new musical!
In fond memory of Geoff (Mohe) Reiss who died last month, we broadcast two of his Voice of Reason stories from Writing on Air 2019, Aladdin snd Sleeping Beauty.
Look Closer, the 3rd Found Fiction podcast, plus Church Going 2020, Jimmy Andrex's wry and moving meditation on Larkin's poem of the same name.
Andy Craven-Griffiths talks passionately about writing with young people, plus Madness with Jimmy Andrex, and music from Alex Rushfirth.
For Black History Month, another chance to hear Studio 12 young writers with Khadijah Ibrahiim. Plus fiction from Pam Wilson and John Hepworth.
Found Fiction interviews Rose Condo, Peter interviews Simon Widdop about Poet from The Black Lagoon, plus Jimmy Andrew and Stanley Holloway. Variety or What?
Artist/educator Eleanor Snare talks about Root & Branch, a project which taps the world of trees to inspire creativity; writer Christina Longden on her residency with Kirklees Libraries.
David Price OBE, writer, educator, talks about his new book The Power of Us. Written at white heat during the pandemic.
Adrian Sinclair talks in depth about art, activism, and the intriguing Fellowship of Questions; a foretaste of Alex Rushfirth’s fantastic new album, plus a story from James Fernie.
Graham Browning from the duo Fowl talks about their new album out today, plus new work from writers in Word Play working with Barney Bardsley.
Steve Clarkson talks to spoken word artist Taiwo Ogunyinka in the Found Fiction podcast; plus voice experts Louise Gibbs and Jane Oakshott on World Voice Day and finding our voice.
Zelino Modesto talks to Maggi Stratford about her voice work with the Trans Community & the relationship between Voice and Identity, plus Jimmy’s regular Pandemical. Check out Zelino's regular podcast https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/why-i-listen-zelino-modesto-e5Mz3a1m7tR/ (Why I Listen.)
Writer Beverley Ward talks about her writing life, poet Mike Farren on his new pamphlet Smithereens, and Jimmy Andrex’s 5th Pandemical.
Found Fiction's Steve Clarkson with artist Verite Hunter, Jimmy’s Weekly Pandemical, powerful poems from Stuart Pickford, and a mystery taster for Writing On Air 2021 Part 1 (Laura Potts meets Lady Chatterly).
Billy Baggins, a narrative poem in medieval verse set in Seacroft by Jimmy Andrex commissioned by Leeds Lit & Phil, plus writing by Chapel FM’s young Associate Writers on the theme of Vision.
A preview of the third Leeds Lit Fest, writer and director Parvez Qadir, Jimmy Andrex’s Pandemical, poetry from David Annwn, Julia Deakin and fiction from Roz Kendall.
Young people from Chapel FM interview Verity Watts of Better Songs, Swan Song’s collaboration with Funeral Director Full Circle, plus poets Judith Willson and Tim Brookes.
Jade Wright on magazine Beyond Words, a radio drama from Ed Foster Rocketman, Becky Cherriman on her commission from The Cultural Institute and Jimmy Andrex's Translation on Trial.
Making theatre during lockdown with the exciting new company Hitcher Encounters, musician Alex Rushfirth on his new single End Times and the Found Fiction podcast.
BBC location engineer Kiffa Roberts talk about reporting from Grenfell, Syria, Belfast and other locations around the world; Jimmy Andrex’s shares his "Translation on Trial" and the full life of Half Moon Books.
Burns Night 2021: guest host James Fernie and friends celebrating the great Scottish poet Robert Burns with music, stories, verse, haggis and more.
Interview with artist Lydia Catterall, part two of Jimmy Andrex on Translation, plus short fiction from Jac Gaile.
Jem Stuart on his new poetry collection, http://jimmyandrex.com (Jimmy Andrex): the perils of translation, https://foundfiction.org (Found Fiction) with artist Rae Bedford.
Special Edition in which all the Six Line Poems created b writers from Leeds and beyond submitted for the "Poem in a Box" during the Covid lockdown Christmas season are read on air.
Found Fiction interviews the poet https://joewilliams.co.uk (Joe Williams), http://standfast.uk (Dalton Harrison) talks about TransVerse, poems from Stuart Pickford.
Interview with actor and historian Joe Williams, plus fiction from Stefan Grieve, poems from Tanya Nightingale read by Pam Wilson, and a chat with poet Adekola.
Young ELFM writers, poet Anne Caldwell on her new prose poetry collection Alice and The North, plus poetry/fiction from Tanya Nightingale and John Hepworth.
Ellie Harrison of The Grief Series talks about art, death and celebration, plus Steph Shields on her debut novel about the Timble witches, The Strange Woman.
Found Fiction podcast talks to Akeem Balogun, new writing from young ELFM writers, fiction from Pam Hilton.