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BBC Radio 4


A frank look behind the scenes with broadcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover as guests from Radio, TV and podcasting share stories they probably shouldn't. Released every Friday.


Fortunately... with Fi and Jane

This week, after five years and over 250 episodes, Fi Glover and Jane Garvey present the final Fortunately...with Fi and Jane podcast. 

Their last guest is the broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd, star of BBC Radio 5 Live, ceremonial commentator and 'first lady' of Fighting Talk. Eleanor reveals that she may have been the first person to discover the potential of our dynamic duo, and also recalls sharing an anaesthetists' table with Jane. Alongside Eleanor, Fi and Jane pick some listener emails and reflect a little on their meandering podcast journey. 

Thanks for listening.

253. 99% of the Time You've Been Really Good Company: The Last Episode, with Eleanor Oldroyd

Fi and Jane welcome the actor David Harewood this week on the Fortunately Podcast. The star of stage and screen discusses his book 'Maybe I Don't Belong Here: A Memoir of Race, Identity, Breakdown and Recovery', which includes his experience of psychosis. He also offers his opinion of a reading by Fi and helps Jane with her pronunciation. Alongside their chat with David, Jane reveals the last time she rode a bike and Fi's Larry the Cat conspiracy is debunked.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

252. Vole Sightings and CIA Directors, with David Harewood

This week on Fortunately, Fi and Jane are joined by the writer Abi Morgan. Abi's work includes TV dramas like The Split and The Hour as well as films such Suffragette and The Iron Lady. She speaks to Fi and Jane about her recent book This Is Not A Pity Memoir, tracing a tragic and unpredictable change in her family circumstances. Outside their chat with Abi, Jane is doing a bit of long term digestion and Fi has some tips when it comes to booking a certain loose cannon national treasure.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

251. Hospitality Bunkers and Emotional Hiccups, with Abi Morgan

This week on the podcast Fi and Jane are visited by writer and broadcaster Danny Robins, host of the upcoming series The Witch Farm. The man behind hits such as The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny discusses his latest ghostly exploration, which heads inside 'Britain's most haunted house'. Danny helps Fi and Jane with their own supernatural encounters, including a presence in Fi's childhood home and Jane's spooky moment at the Tower of London. Before their guest appears, Jane perks Fi up after some sad news and there's praise for the PR behind a certain leafy green.

The Witch Farm begins Monday 17th October and you can subscribe on BBC Sounds.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

250. The Chilly Reality of Contactless Payments, with Danny Robins

Fi and Jane catch up on Fi's frozen shoulder, Jane's latest golfing triumphs, and discuss their decision to leave the BBC. They're also joined by journalist and television presenter for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Ranvir Singh as she embarks on fronting new ITV quiz show 'Riddiculous'.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

249. Deep Breathing and Riddles, with Ranvir Singh

Fi and Jane are joined by the broadcaster Julian Worricker. The voice of The World Tonight on Radio 4 and Weekend on the World Service chats to two of his fellow former 5Live colleagues. Their conversation includes insights on lichen varieties across the UK, a masterclass on verbal interception and rumination on the next Eurovision. Outside Julian's appearance there is a moment of understanding about Martin Clunes and Jane is full of golfing bravado. (I'm a bot).

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

248. You Jump in When They Breathe in, With Julian Worricker

The Fortunately podcast this week welcomes legendary broadcaster and DJ Trevor Nelson. Trevor currently can be heard on BBC Radio 2 Mon -Thurs 10pm 12am and 1Xtra Sundays 11am. Trevor talks to Fi and Jane about getting established on the DJ circuit, his time on pirate radio and the trials of covering Pop Master. Before Trevor logs on there's undiscovered security tags, mind-changing staircases and ghostly Prime Ministers.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

247. Three Paying Punters, with Trevor Nelson

This week on the podcast, Fi Glover and Jane Garvey take a moment to reflect on events and hear from listeners on their experiences. Fi and Jane reveal slightly odd situation they were in when they learnt of the death of the Queen and share their thoughts on the last few days' viewing. Listener missives come from international classrooms, the anti-curtsy campaign office, cardboard cutting piles and pun-heavy feline establishments.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

246. Opaque Tights and Oboe Hotlines, with Your Emails

This episode was recorded before the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

This week on the Fortunately Podcast, Fi Glover and Jane Garvey are joined by the Today Programme's Justin Webb. Justin discusses his memoir The Gift of Radio, about growing up in unusual circumstances and how society has changed over the decades. Justin also offers some insight on helming the Radio 4 institution and how to get your shirt fixed at a fancy hotel. Before Justin there's Cat Cafe analysis and afterwards some guidance on sending off a sample.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

245. Being a Conduit and Converting Fahrenheit, with Justin Webb

This week on Fortunately, Fi and Jane welcome along the writer Louise O'Neill. The Irish author joins Fi and Jane to discuss her latest book Idol, exploring the worlds of online influencers and complicated female friendships. Louise also attempts to work out if she is related to Jane, thinks about the biggest influencers in her life and talks Fi and Jane through an RTE broadcast tradition. Before Louise logs on there's Balloon Debates, Fi remembers a date that didn't work out and Jane has had enough of hard boiled eggs.

Get in touch: fortunately.podcast@bbc.co.uk

244. Angeluses and Places for Guff, with Louise O'Neill

Fi and Jane venture back out to the BBC Pizza and their guest this week is the journalist and broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer.

They talk Brexit, Feminism, dreamy Greek Finance Ministers, whether sausage rolls are worth it and they go head to head in a running-order off.

Plus there's a new way to wear your cardigan and a recommendation of which church to visit if you are in Herefordshire.

112. Trailing Spouses with Julia Hartley-Brewer

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