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Carey Mulligan, Amanda Holden, Josh Groban, Theo Randall

Chris gets that Friday feeling going with his special guests Carey Mulligan, Amanda Holden, Theo Randall and Josh Groban, who performs live in the studio!

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 Apr 2015 06:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Music Played

  • R.E.M.

    Losing My Religion

    • R.E.M. - Out Of Time.
    • Warner Bros.

  • The Proclaimers

    You Built Me Up

    • (CD Single).
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 001.

  • Lynyrd Skynyrd

    Sweet ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Alabama

    • The All Time Greatest Rock Songs ....
    • Columbia.

  • Supergrass

    Alright

    • The Best Pub Jukebox In The World (V).
    • Virgin.

  • Pilot

    Magic

    • 25 Years Of Rock'n'Roll Vol.2 (1974).
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Meghan Trainor

    Dear Future Husband

    • Title.
    • Sony Music.
    • 001.

  • George Harrison

    My Sweet Lord

    • All Things Must Pass.
    • EMI.
    • 4.

  • Kylie Minogue

    Spinning Around

    • Now 46 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Roy Orbison

    Penny Arcade

  • Roy Orbison

    Penny Arcade

  • Robbie Williams

    Candy

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
    • 1.

  • Madonna

    Ghost Town

    • Rebel Heart.
    • Interscope.

  • Donna Summer

    On The Radio

    • And Then She Kissed Me Vol.1 (Various.
    • Debutante.

  • David Essex

    Gonna Make You A Star

    • 70's Number Ones Vol 3.
    • Old Gold.

  • Morecambe & Wise

    Bring Me Sunshine

    • Summer Holiday (Various Artists).
    • Sony Music.

  • Pratt & McClain

    Happy Days

    • Television's Greatest Hits Volume 3 70s & 80s.
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.

  • Mumford & Sons

    Believe

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.

  • Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

    The Lady Is A Tramp

    • Duets II.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.

  • FM

    Shape I'm In

    • Heroes and Villians.
    • Frontiers Records.
    • 1.

  • Chic

    I'll Be There (feat. Nile Rodgers)

    • It's About Time.
    • Virgin EMI Records.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

Abdul-Rehman Malik, journalist and broadcaster

In my grandmother’s house, Chris, there was a framed photograph that showed a row of freshly made clay pots drying in the sun. My father took that picture on one of his many backpacking adventures.

At the time, he was attending university in the heart of one of Pakistan’s teeming cities. The unpretentious image of handmade pots reminded him of a far less complicated place, with a gentler pace of life. Β He tinted the image by hand and titled it β€œFar From the Madding Crowd”.

Now as I’m sure Carey can tell us, there’s a lot of drama that can happen far from madding crowds, but even I - an unrepentant city slicker - always found the simplicity of the image compelling.

My friend Jolene lived far away from every kind of crowd, madding or not. She grew up on Canada’s vast prairies. Her closest neighbour was 5 miles away.

We first met – of all places – on Broadway. We were attending an international gathering of high school students in New York, and the organisers took us out to a rather lacklustre musical. I truly wish that Josh Groban had been singing that night.

Jolene and I sat together – and I forgot how bad the show was. I wish I could say it was love, but it was something else. As different as we were – she confessed that she was a devout Catholic who’d never met a Muslim before – being teenagers was all we needed. We were kindred spirits negotiating the angst of our young lives.

The Prophet Muhammad compared the company of a friend to being with a seller of musk. In the course of friendship, he said, either you will be given some perfume as a gift or you'll buy some. At the very least you'll always enjoy a most pleasant scent.

For many years after, we wrote letters to each other. I am sure we shared more with each other than we might have with friends we saw everyday. She was in turns kind and astute. I regret we lost touch, but the perfume of that friendship has remained.

I’d like to think that God guides us to certain people when we need them most. Whether in crowds or far from them, I pray I’m always open to the possibility of such encounters. Wherever you are Jolene – thank you.

Abdul-Rehman contemplates the beauty of friendship and chance.

Broadcast

  • Fri 17 Apr 2015 06:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.