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Amanda Prowse, Landscape Photographer of the Year and The Railway Children

Claudia talks to Amanda Prowse about her latest book and finds out who the Landscape Photographer of the Year is.

Debut author Jessie Burton talks about the huge success of her novel The Miniaturist and Vanessa Feltz visits the set of The Railway Children.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Fri 12 Dec 2014 22:00

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Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell

Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell

Claudia is joined by Olivia Jacobs, the director and Toby Mitchell, creative producer of the Olivier Award nominated production "Room On The Broom".

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Room on The Broom runs from now until 11th Januarh 2015, at the Lyric Theatre, London.

Amanda Prowse

Amanda Prowse

Amanda ProwseÌýquit her job as a management consultant, began writing full time and she's never looked back! Mother of two, a soldier's wife and now author with five novels under her belt Amanda joins Claudia to talk about her latest novel..

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"Christmas For One" is published by Head Of Zeus and is out now.

Camilla Long with the film review

Camilla Long with the film review

1. The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Lee Pace, Christopher Lee, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis

This final battle brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo's frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide: unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies is out now rated 12A


2. TinkerBell And The Legend Of The Neverbeast

Director: Steve Loter
Cast: Lucy Liu, Mae Whitman, Pamela Adlon, Raven-Symoné, Megan Hilty, Angela Bartys

Fun and talented animal fairy Fawn believes you can't judge a book by its cover, or an animal by its fangs, so she befriends a huge and mysterious creature known as the NeverBeast. While Tink and her friends aren't so sure about this scary addition to Pixie Hollow, the elite Scout Fairies set out to capture the monster before he destroys their home. Fawn must trust her heart and take a leap of faith if she hopes to save the NeverBeast.

TinkerBell And The Legend Of The Neverbeast is rated U


3. Electricity

Director: Bryn Higgins
Cast: Agyness Deyn, Lenora Crichlow, Christian Cooke, Paul Anderson, Tom Georgeson, Alice Lowe, Ben Batt, Saffron Coomber, Millie Taylforth, Jake Gibbons

An astonishing journey seen through the eyes of a young woman whose epilepsy brings extraordinary hallucinations as she searches for her lost brother.

Electricity is rated 15

4. Hercules 3D

Director: Brett Ratner
Cast: Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), John Hurt, Ian McShane

Long ago a tormented soul named Hercules walked the earth. Being the son of Zeus was a curse. He received nothing but suffering his entire life because of it. After twelve arduous tasks and the loss of his family, he turned his back on the gods finding his only solace in the heat of battle. Over the years he forged an alliance with six other like minded rogues. Their only bond was their love of battle and the presence of death. This motley crew never questions where, why or for whom they fight, just the amount paid for their bloody labour. Now the King of Thrace has hired these mercenaries to train his men to become the greatest army of all time. The realisation of how far they have fallen hits them hard. They must train the army to be as ruthless and blood thirsty as they have become.

Hercules 3D is out now on DVD.

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The Railway Children

This month sees the return of a very popular show, which originally ran at London's Waterloo Station in 2010. Next week, The Railway Children opens again for another run, this time at Kings Cross Station in London. We sent Radio 2 presenter, and fan, Vanessa Feltz down to talk to some of the cast in rehearsals.

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The Railways Children previews from next week - Tuesday 16th December and runs until 1st March at Kings Cross Station.

Jessie Burton

Jessie Burton

Most of us will remember the huge success of EL James' "Fifty Shades Of Grey" the ebook that took the world by storm, but this year has seen the rise of another debut author, whose first novel "The Miniaturist"Ìýhas gone from strength to strength. It was, until earlier this week, the fastest sellingÌýdebut since "50 Shades..." and the author Jessie Burton joins Claudia in the studio.

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The Minaturist is published by Picador.Ìý

Charlie Waite and Mark Littlejohn

Charlie Waite and Mark Littlejohn

A rather stunning coffee table book has just been published containing beautiful prints of the winning and commended entries of the 2014 Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. Both books, and awards celebrate the United Kingdom's most beautiful and dramatic scenery through the work of the nation's best amateur and professional photographers.

Joining Claudia is the founder of the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards, Charlie Waite, and the winner of this years awards Mark Littlejohn.

All the winning and commended entries from the 2014 Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards will be on display for free, on the Mezzainine at London Waterloo station until 31st January 2015.

Alex Heminsley with the book review

Alex Heminsley with the book review

Fiction: Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

Girl Online is the debut romance novel by YouTube phenomenon Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella.

Penny has a secret. Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family - and the panic attacks she's suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love - and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny's cover - and her closest friendship - forever.

Girl Online is out now published by Penguin Books.


Non-Fiction: Tove Jansson: Work And Love" by Tuula Karjalainen

An illustrated biography of one of the most unique and beloved children's authors of the 20th century, the creator of the Moomins. Tove Jansson led a long, colourful and productive life, impacting significantly the political, social and cultural history of 20th-century Finland. And while millions of children have grown up with Little My, Snufkin, Moomintroll and the many creatures of Moominvalley, the life of Jansson - daughter, friend and companion - is more touching still. This book weaves together the myriad qualities of a painter, author, illustrator, scriptwriter and lyricist from fraught beginnings through fame, war and heartbreak and ultimately to a peaceful end.

Tove Jansson: Work And Love" by Tuula Karjalainen is out now published by Particular Books.

Classic: Cookbook Book

Featuring 125 seminal cookbooks from the last 100 years, Cookbook Book is a celebration of the world's most beautiful, influential and informative cookbooks

Cookbook Book is out now published by Phaidon Press.

Broadcast

  • Fri 12 Dec 2014 22:00