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David Walliams and Mark Gatiss

Mark Gatiss chats to Zoe about writing and starring in his stage adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol', and David Walliams discusses his children's book 'Gangsta Granny Strikes Again'.

Mark Gatiss chats to Zoe about writing and starring in his theatre adaption of Dickens鈥 classic winter ghost story 'A Christmas Carol', at the Alexandra Palace Theatre. Mark is an actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, and novelist. He鈥檚 also a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen, and his work includes writing-for and acting-in the television series 'Doctor Who', 'Sherlock', and 'Dracula'.

David Walliams discusses his new children's book 'Gangsta Granny Strikes Again', the mystery adventure sequel to his bestselling book 'Gangsta Granny', which was published eight years ago, has since sold almost two million copies and has been turned into a 麻豆约拍 film, a musical stage play, and a theme-park ride. David has revolutionised reading for children and has become one of the most influential children's writers today. Since the publication of his first children's book, 'The Boy in the Dress', in 2008, David has seen unprecedented growth with global sales exceeding 45 million copies, and his books translated into 55 languages. Collectively across his titles, David has celebrated 70 weeks (non-consecutive) at number one in the overall book charts and more than 200 weeks (non-consecutive) at number one in the Children's charts - an achievement no other children's writer has reached.

Along with Adam Porter on news, Richie Anderson on travel and Mike Williams on sport, Zoe and the team have the best start to your morning.

There's also a Pause For Thought from Remona Aly and your calls, texts, emails and voice notes as Zoe entertains the nation with fun for the family!

2 hours, 59 minutes

Music Played

  • Pharrell Williams

    Happy

    • (CD Single).
    • RCA.
  • Westlife

    Starlight

    • Wild Dreams.
    • Warner Music.
  • Quincy Jones

    Ai No Corrida (feat. Dune)

    • Hits Of 1981 & 1982 (Various Artists.
    • Polydor.
  • The Weeknd

    Blinding Lights

    • (CD Single).
    • Universal Republic Records.
    • 1.
  • Elbow Bones & The Racketeers

    A Night In New York

    • More Greatest Hits Of 80's (Various).
    • Disky.
  • Elton John & Charlie Puth

    After All

    • The Lockdown Sessions.
    • Virgin EMI Records.
  • Jennifer Lopez

    Ain't It Funny

    • (CD Single).
    • Epic/Sony.
  • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

    The Tears Of A Clown

    • Motown: The Ultimate Hits Collection (Various Artists).
    • Motown.
  • Lizzo

    Juice

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
  • Ian Dury & the Blockheads

    Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

    • Fantastic 70's (Various Artists).
    • Sony Tv/Columbia.
  • Adele

    Easy On Me

    • 30.
    • Columbia.
  • Keane

    This Is The Last Time

    • (CD Single).
    • Universal Island.
  • Ronan Keating

    Heyday

    • Songs From 麻豆约拍.
    • Decca.
  • Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey

    Together In Electric Dreams

    • Our Friends Electric (Various Artists.
    • Telstar.
  • Ed Sheeran

    Overpass Graffiti

    • = Equals.
    • Asylum.
  • Gina G

    Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit

    • Now 34 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Bee Gees

    Night Fever

    • Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits.
    • Polydor.
  • Rod Stewart

    I Can't Imagine

    • The Tears Of Hercules.
    • East West.
  • Pet Shop Boys

    Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

    • SMASH - The Singles 1985-2020.
    • Rhino.
  • Mark Morrison

    Return Of The Mack

    • (CD Single).
    • WEA.
  • Prince

    Alphabet St.

    • 4Ever.
    • Paisley Park.
  • Lenny Kravitz

    Are You Gonna Go My Way

    • (CD Single).
    • Virgin.
  • Counting Crows

    Mr. Jones

    • (CD Single).
    • Geffen.
  • Diana Ross

    I Still Believe

    • Thank You.
    • Decca.
  • The Drifters

    Saturday Night At The Movies

    • Very Best Of Ben E.King & The Drifters.
    • Global Television.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

I鈥檓 someone who鈥檚 always been afraid of heights, but last week I found myself three thousand feet high in a hot air balloon with 16 strangers, feeling the wobble in my feet and a thump in听my heart.听I had finally managed to go on holiday to Cappadocia in Turkey, a region known for its otherworldly rock formations which resemble fairy chimneys.听My friend and I got up well before dawn had cracked, bleary eyed, excited, nervous, to make our way to a valley where the hot air balloons looked like sleeping giants being stirred from their slumber.听

I climbed, rather gracelessly into the basket, anxiously uttered a 鈥楤ismillah鈥- 鈥業n the name of Allah鈥, and we began our ascent into the sky. There was no turning back.听The higher we went, the more I clutched my friend, but the sheer majesty of the landscape spread out beneath me folded my fears into a new feeling of liberation. I鈥檇 pushed myself out of my comfort zone 鈥 a place I have clung to throughout life.听Risk taking is not my forte, because it brims with uncertainty and potential pain. I鈥檝e dodged the risk of rejection by never telling that guy I liked him, I鈥檝e avoided the risk of failure, by not pitching an idea to an editor in case they won鈥檛 take it on.

Prophet Muhammad, when he first received the divine revelation in the year 610, felt fear too. He knew that the status quo of the oppressive pagan Arab society he lived in would make his mission nigh impossible. But he faced the uncertainty, and revolutionised the whole of society in 23 years.听A society is too big for me to take on, but I can start a revolution in me.听I believe fear, if听tackled right, grows you. It expands your horizon, it helps you build up through each challenge. But first I need to break down the barriers in me.听The Persian Sufi female poet, Mahsati Ganjavi, knew this in 12th听century, 鈥淥n this journey鈥, she wrote, 鈥淚 found the problem听to be myself.听When I went beyond myself,听the pathway finally opened.鈥澨齀鈥檒l try to take risks more often, whether in hot air balloons or with my feet on the ground, I鈥檒l turn fear into a key, opening myself to new adventures.

Broadcast

  • Thu 18 Nov 2021 06:30