18/01/2012

This week Libby Purves is joined by Antony Woodward, Sandy Gall, Nick Coleman and Rosie Wilby.

Antony Woodward is a writer and amateur microlight pilot. Fifteen years ago he took part in the Round Britain Rally, a three day competition flying in flimsy machines around the UK. He crashed and almost killed himself. Having stopped flying for years, Antony attempts to enter the rally again - and face his fears for a BBC Two documentary, Wonderland: The Real Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.

Sandy Gall is a journalist, broadcaster and former ITN news presenter. Sandy has been visiting Afghanistan for the last thirty years and has made three documentaries about the country during the Soviet invasion. With his wife he set up the Sandy Gall Afghanistan Appeal charity which provides support to people who have lost limbs in combat. He is the author of War Against The Taliban Why It All Went Wrong In Afghanistan.

Nick Coleman is a writer and music journalist. Music had been an integral part of his life for as long as he could remember, but Sudden Neurosensory Hearing Loss changed that irrevocably. Unable to enjoy his greatest passion in life he tries to restore his ability not only to hear but to think about and feel music again. He tells his story in his book 'The Train in the Night: A Story of Music and Loss'.

Rosie Wilby is a musician turned comedian who looks back at the emotional rollercoaster of chasing stardom at the height of Britpop in 'How (not) to make it in Britpop' - as part of National Storytelling Week.

Producer: Paula McGinley.