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Shane Richie and 'H' from Line of Duty

Shane Richie chats to Zoe about his return to the West End stage. 'H' from Line of Duty calls into the show to talk about the reaction to his unveiling.

Shane Richie chats to Zoe about his return to the West End stage in the hugely celebrated musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. Shane has balanced a hugely successful forty year career between theatre, film & TV; and he has been a regular fixture on prime time television hosting such shows as Lucky Numbers, The Shane Richie Experience, Win, Lose or Draw, Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, Reflex and Win Your Wish List. Theatre credits include the London West End and Manchester production of Grease and One Flew over The Cuckoo’s Nest for a National tour. He starred in the musical Scrooge and in two American classics titled ‘Lone Star and ‘Private Wars’ at The Kings Head Theatre London.

'H' from Line of Duty, the most talked about character from one of the biggest TV shows from the last 10 years, calls in to talk to Zoe about being revealed as the 'Fourth Man'. He shares stories from the set of the show, working with Jed Mercurio, Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston. Plus what it's like living with one of the biggest secrets in television.

It’s The Why Workshop, and Zoe quizzes the QI Elves with more wonders and ponders, including your questions.

Along with Clare Runacres on news, Richie Anderson on travel and Mike Williams on sport, she and the team have the best start to your morning. With celeb guests, quizzes, headlines, tunes chosen by listeners, and more music that you can shake a glitterball at!

There's also a daily Pause For Thought and listeners on the line, as Zoe entertains the nation with fun for the family!

2 hours, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • The Isley Brothers

    Harvest For The World

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1976 (Various).
    • Premier.
  • Maroon 5

    Beautiful Mistakes (feat. Meghan Thee Stallion)

    • (CD Single).
    • Interscope Records.
  • Pet Shop Boys

    Always On My Mind

    • Pet Shop Boys - Discography.
    • Parlophone.
  • Little Mix

    Shout Out To My Ex

    • (CD Single).
    • SYCO.
  • James Taylor

    Your Smiling Face

    • James Taylor - Classic Songs.
    • CBS.
  • The Rolling Stones

    Jumpin' Jack Flash

    • The Rolling Stones - Remastered.
    • Abkco.
  • ²¹â€h²¹

    Take On Me

    • Fantastic 80's Disc 1 (Various Artis.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.
  • Lola Lennox

    Wherever You Go

    • (CD Single).
    • La Lennoxa Touring Inc/Humble Angel Records.
  • Craig David

    7 Days

    • Now 47 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Chaka Khan

    I'm Every Woman

    • NOW Boogie Nights - Disco Classics (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Gary Kemp

    Ahead Of The Game

    • INSOLO.
    • Columbia.
  • David Guetta

    Titanium (feat. Sia)

    • (CD Single).
    • Positiva.
  • Keith Urban

    Out The Cage (feat. Nile Rodgers & BRELAND)

    • The Speed Of Now Pt. 1.
    • Universal.
  • The Beach Boys

    I Get Around

    • The Best Of The Beach Boys (CD 1).
    • EMI.
  • John Parr

    St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)

    • Now 1985 - The Millennium Series.
    • EMI.
  • Years & Years

    Starstruck

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
  • Dodgy

    Good Enough

    • Now That's What I Call Music! 34 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Steps

    Deeper Shade Of Blue

    • Greatest Hits.
    • Jive.
  • Estelle

    American Boy (feat. Ye)

    • Now That's What I Call Music 70 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
    • 6.
  • Rag’n’Bone Man

    Anywhere Away from Here (feat. P!nk)

    • Life By Misadventure.
    • Best Laid Plans.
  • Mel & Kim

    Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)

    • Now 8 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • James Newman

    Embers

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG Rights Management (UK).
  • Four Tops

    Reach Out I'll Be There

    • No Greater Love (Various Artists).
    • Global Records & Tapes.
  • Paul Weller

    Shades Of Blue

    • Cosmic Fringes.
    • Polydor.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

Zoe, I loved hearing your conversation with Line of Duty’s Nigel Boyle earlier. I don’t remember feeling as captivated by a TV series since West Wing! Under the spell of AC-12’s hunt for bent coppers and organised crime, I joined the 13-million viewers for Sunday’s finale—pulse quickened, breath held, ready to find out who ‘H’ was and whether Arnott, Fleming and Hastings would still be standing by the end.

Ìý

What a response the episode got, though—some loving the ending, others getting the hashtag #disappointed trending as the credits rolled. Really,ÌýBuckellsÌýwas H? Really, after all that work and all those lives lost, the bad guys are going to see another day? As one person put it: “I wanted a proper ending with the bad guys brought to justice. We’re living through too much at present, we need that moral ending.â€

Ìý

For me, this desire for a ‘moral ending’ has been even more interesting than the finale itself. The sociologist Peter Berger once noted that all humans through time have hungered for hope—we need to believe that tomorrow will be better, that evil and suffering will one day be overcome. In addition, we hunger for justice—that those who cause evil and suffering will face their just deserts. A world where the bad guys win goes against everything we know the world should be. The desire for a happy ending to Line of Duty was a deeply human one.

Ìý

The question that fascinates me is why we have this innate hunger for hope and justice in the first place. Berger reckoned they’re signs that we’re not just material but religious beings—made to live in a world without evil or suffering, with a God who is good and just. That could put Sunday night in a new light. Maybe any disappointment felt was a sign we’ve been made for another world.Ìý

Ìý

I wouldÌýloveÌýto see a seventh series of Line of Duty. That would mean such a thrilling story wasn’t over! Until then, when real life bad guys win and my disappointment sets in, I’ll take a line from a famous prayer as my mantra: until God’s will is done ‘on earth as it is heaven’, there’s hope—because the story isn’t over.Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Broadcast

  • Wed 5 May 2021 06:30