Raised in an Irish Catholic family as one of nine siblings, Martin O'Neill was brought up with Gaelic football but he dreamt of becoming a professional English footballer. At 18, he was scouted by Nottingham Forest and quit his law degree to sign for the club. He went on to become an integral part of Brian Clough's legendary Nottingham Forest squad, winning back-to-back European Cups, and made history as the first Catholic player to captain Northern Ireland's national team. After hanging up his ...
Aug 09, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 198
A chance encounter with the director Lindsay Anderson changed Robin Askwith's life forever. It led to his first acting job, playing the schoolboy Keating in Anderson's film if.... which became one of the most popular British films of all time. If.... kickstarted Robin's incredible career that spans an extraordinary period of time. Over the past 50 years, he's appeared in everything from Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Canterbury Tales to the Confessions comedies to Inside No. 9, The Madame Blanc Myste...
Aug 01, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 197
James Graham is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter for TV and film. His plays include Ink, This House and Dear England, about the struggles and successes of England’s former football manager Gareth Southgate. His acclaimed TV dramas include Quiz and Sherwood, set in the north Nottinghamshire village where he grew up. James was born into the close-knit community of Kirkby-In-Ashfield and witnessed the deep and permanent divisions from the 1980s miners’ strikes. He wrote his first play w...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 196
"I had this inner feeling that something would happen to take me away from my mundane life". The first twenty years of Russell Watson's life were very ordinary. He grew up in Salford, left school at 16 with almost no qualifications and joined the government's Youth Training Scheme. By the age of 20, he was working on the shop floor of a factory, making nuts and bolts. He started singing in local pubs and working men's clubs after winning a local talent competition organised by Manchester Piccadi...
Jul 18, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 195
When Joe Pasquale was just seven years old, his mum was involved in a car accident that left her with concussion and epilepsy. She struggled to look after Joe and his three siblings and became severely depressed. Determined to try and fix things, Joe made it his mission to make her laugh every single day. Forty years on, he has become a staple in British comedy, bringing joy and laughter to millions. Tickets for his latest show, The New Normal, 40 Years of Cack! are available at joepasquale.com...
Jul 11, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 194
“I’m a Walter Mitty who’s actually done it.” Growing up in a tenement on the outskirts of Glasgow, Midge Ure dreamt of being a rock star, even though it seemed impossible for a working-class kid like him. But he had something special. At just 18, he got his first break as the guitarist for the pop band Slik and went on to be part of several influential bands in the 1970s and 80s, including Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy and Ultravox. Alongside Bob Geldof, he set up Band Aid, collaborating on the 1984 hit...
Jul 04, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 193
Nick Lowles is chief executive of HOPE not hate, the UK's largest anti-racism and anti-extremism movement. For the last 35 years, he has tirelessly fought against those who try to exploit frustrations, create divisions and pit groups against each other. Nick began his involvement with the anti-fascist movement as a student volunteer. He then worked for the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight before founding HOPE not hate in 2004. In his first ever interview about his life, Nick tells James why he'...
Jun 27, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 192
Actor and writer Sally Lindsay has always loved the spotlight. She made her TV debut aged 7 when her school choir performed their No.1 single There’s No One Quite Like Grandma on Top of the Pops. But it wasn’t until university that she realised she could make a career out of performing. Sally's gone on to star in hit TV shows such as Phoenix Nights, Coronation Street, Mount Pleasant and her latest project, The Madame Blanc Mysteries, which she also writes and produces. She tells James how she la...
Jun 21, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 191
Helen Lederer is a writer, actress and comedian. She began her career on the alternative comedy circuit, performing alongside many of today’s household names, and quickly landed roles in iconic sitcoms such as Absolutely Fabulous, Bottom and Girls on Top. Since then she’s appeared on TV and radio, written bestselling books and set up the Comedy Women in Print prize. Despite this, Helen admits she often struggles to believe in her own success. She tells James about her fascination with status and...
Jun 13, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 190
Danny Wallace is a bestselling author and broadcaster who loves nothing more than thinking up fun ideas and seeing how far he can take them. His first book, Join Me, tells the true story of how he he accidentally started a cult. His second book, Yes Man, describes what happened when he decided to say yes to everything - a story so compelling it was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey. Now he's delving into the world of conspiracies with his new book, Somebody Told Me. Danny tells J...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 189
Comedy legend Frank Skinner returns to Full Disclosure just days after he signed off his final Absolute Radio show, wrapping up an incredible 15 years. He tells James why he will always love radio, reveals the one regret that will stay with him forever and gives a refreshingly honest take on what it's really like to be famous. Frank is extending his critically acclaimed stand up tour show, 30 Years of Dirt, with an additional 24 dates across the UK this autumn. Tickets are available at frankskin...
May 30, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 188
One of the world’s most acclaimed, award-winning authors Salman Rushdie has spent the last thirty years with a death threat attached to his head. A threat that almost became a reality two years ago when he brutally stabbed 15 times by a stranger. Few people have come so close to death and lived to tell the story. Salman returns to Full Disclosure to tell James about the day he almost died and the aftermath that followed. Salman has written a deeply personal account of the brutal attack on his li...
May 23, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 187
Zeinab Badawi is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and the President of SOAS University of London. Born in Sudan, she has worked in the British media for several decades. She has recently published her first book which promises to reshape our understanding of Africa. Zeinab tells James what led her to write her instant Sunday Times bestseller, An African History of Africa .
May 16, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 186
Lancaster legend Julie Hesmondhalgh is an actor, writer and activist. She's best known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street in what started as a short-term punchline and turned into a 16 year career. Since leaving the cobbles, Julie has gone on to star multiple dramas including Broadchurch, Happy Valley and more recently, Mr Bates vs The Post Office. She’s recently joined the cast of the world premiere of James Graham’s new play Punch, about the power of forgiveness. Tickets for Punch...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 185
Angela Hartnett is a Michelin starred chef, restaurateur and podcast host. After studying for a history degree, she began working in a local pub before joining Gordon Ramsay at his first restaurant, Aubergine. She worked with Gordon for 17 years before deciding to go it alone. She now runs several restaurants of her own including the Michelin-starred Murano in Mayfair. Angela's podcast, Dish from Waitrose, is available on all podcast providers.
May 02, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 184
In 2010 Caroline Lucas made history when she was elected as the MP for Brighton Pavilion, becoming the first Green Party candidate to enter Parliament. She has increased her majority at every election since and served as the Green leader twice. In her 14 years in Westminster, Caroline has used her platform to put environmental and equality issues on the political agenda. Her latest book, Another England sets out how we can reclaim England's national story from Brexit cheerleaders and the radical...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 183
In 2011 Bassem Youssef was a little-known heart surgeon in Cairo. A year later, he was hosting his own political satire TV show, Al-Bernameg, drawing in 30 million weekly viewers as he made fun of the Egyptian regime. Bassem's comedy was groundbreaking but it proved too controversial to remain on air. In 2014 he was forced to move to United States, where he has since had to work to re-establish his career in a new language. Now, he's back in the news thanks to an explosive interview with Piers M...
Apr 18, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 182
"The best ideas don't come from the boardroom, the best ideas come from the frontline." James Timpson is the chief executive of Timpson, a family-run business known for its key cutting and watch repair services. James does business differently. His unconventional leadership style has raised eyebrows - but it works. Since taking over Timpson, he has grown the business to over 2,000 stores by developing new ideas, giving ex-prisoners a second chance and putting his employees first. He has publishe...
Apr 11, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 181
Bryony Gordon is a bestselling author, mental health campaigner and founder of Mental Health Mates. She has been a columnist for the Telegraph for over twenty years where she has written honestly and openly about her experiences of mental illness and addictions. Her latest book, Mad Woman details her experiences of OCD, binge eating and the endless battle to stay sober. Bryony tells James about the realities of living with dark, intrusive thoughts and how exercise became her salvation.
Apr 05, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 180
Growing up, Justin Welby thought his home life was normal. It wasn't until he was a teenager that he realised being brought up by an abusive, alcoholic father was anything but. He found faith and the love of God as a student at Cambridge, bringing with it a sense of peace and security. He graduated and then spent 11 years working in the oil industry. From such unlikely beginnings, Justin Welby’s faith became his life. He was ordained a priest in 1993 and has been the Archbishop of Canterbury sin...
Mar 28, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 179
It's 40 years since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won gold at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Around 24 million people turned on their TVs to watch the Nottingham duo make history on the ice rink. It was the moment that changed Jayne and Chris' lives forever. Since then, they have won multiple World Championships, sold out international tours and become the faces of ITV's hit show Dancing on Ice. Tickets for their last ever UK tour, Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance, are available at www....
Mar 22, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 178
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf became interested in politics when he was just 16, believing it was the best way to make meaningful change. He joined the SNP whilst studying politics at the University of Glasgow and by 26, had become one of the youngest MSPs to enter Holyrood. Humza has gone to make history as the first Muslim leader of any Western democracy, as well as Scotland's youngest leader. He joins James to discuss the state of UK politics, Scottish independence and why he believe...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 177
Lawyer, businesswoman, campaigner and the first female Muslim UK cabinet minister. Baroness Warsi has broken glass ceilings throughout her career and tirelessly campaigned against Islamophobia within both society and the Conservative party. She joins James to discuss why she believes she's in a toxic relationship with the Conservative party and which cabinet minister is to blame for taking the party away from its conservative values and turning it towards the far-right. Sayeeda hosts a brand-new...
Mar 07, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 176
At 21 years old, Gary Stevenson joined Citibank as its youngest trader. Three years later, he became the bank's most profitable trader by betting on the collapse of the economy. He went from living in his parents' two-bed terrace in east London to earning millions. But it didn't feel right to make money betting on disasters. So, he quit, leaving his dream job in the City to campaign on the issue of wealth inequality. He tells James why our obsession with money is destroying the things that matte...
Mar 01, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 175
U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders is the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history. He joins James to discuss social inequality, the dangers of corporate media in both the UK and America and why he is determined to stop Donald Trump from getting back in the White House. Bernie Sanders’ book, It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism is available to buy now.
Feb 22, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 174
Jason Watkins has become one of Britain’s most sought after actors. His breakout role came in the 2014 ITV drama, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies which won him a BAFTA for Best Actor. He’s also had roles in Doctor Who, the Nativity, Trollied, The Crown and Line of Duty. Jason tells James about his early ambitions to become a PE teacher, why he turned to acting and he reflects on the moments that have shaped his life and career.
Feb 15, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 173
Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey has been a carer for most of his life. First for his mum, who died of cancer when he was just 15. Then for his Nana and now, he and his wife Emily care for their disabled son John. Ed could be furious at the world – but he’s not. Instead, he has spent his political career standing up for carers and fighting for investment in the NHS and social care. Ed tells James how his personal experiences have shaped his politics and why he’s committed to making real cha...
Feb 09, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 172
This interview truly stands out. Dame Sheila Hancock is one of the most respected actors and writers of our time. She became a household name in the 1960s in the BBC sitcom The Rag Trade. Since then she has starred in everything from Carry on Cleo, the award-winning Cabaret, The Sixth Commandment and Edie. Now at 91, Dame Sheila sits down with James to look back on her life. From being a wartime evacuee who joined a gang to dealing with stage fright, being nominated for a Tony in her Broadway de...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 171
It's 18 years since James Blunt released his hit single, You’re Beautiful which reached No.1 around the world. It helped James's debut album, Back to Bedlam sell 12 million copies and become the UK’s best-selling album of the 2000s. But his global success was met with an immediate backlash that saw him ridiculed by the press and pop establishment. James responded to his critics by moving to Ibiza, where he partied hard and joined Twitter. Since Back to Bedlam, he has released a further successio...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 170
Nick Wallis was presenting the breakfast show for BBC Radio Surrey in 2010 when he was contacted by a listener with a story he’s been investigating ever since. Nick helped expose one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history – the Post Office Horizon IT scandal that has devastated the lives of hundreds of innocent hardworking people across the country. His work has been published in Private Eye and broadcast on BBC Panorama, The One Show and BBC Radio 4. It is also the basis of ...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 169
