With Great Pleasure
Series bringing fresh insight into lives through literature, in which guest presenters pick readings from their favourite pieces of poetry and prose
With Great Pleasure - Adrian Mitchell
Adrian Mitchell entertains an audience when he introduces some of his favourite literature to illustrate a happy life as poet, playwright and general mischief maker.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Anna Raeburn
Broadcaster and journalist Anna Raeburn is joined on stage at the Hay Festival by Diana Quick and Richard Mitchley in a selection of some of her favourite pieces of writing.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Anthony Howard
Journalist and political commentator Anthony Howard chooses some of his favourite pieces of writing. The pieces are read by Nigel Anthony and Eleanor Bron.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Anthony Minghella
As a tribute to director Anthony Minghella who died recently, another chance to hear him discuss his favourite pieces of writing. Readers include Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Ben Fogle
Writer and adventurer Ben Fogle chooses some of the pieces of writing which have influenced him. The readers are Michael Simkins and Eleanor David.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Brian Patten
Poet Brian Patten chooses pieces of writing which have been inspirational to him in his work and his life. Readers are Christian Rodska and Alison Reid.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Carmen Callil
In a programme recorded at the Hay Literary Festival, writer and publisher Carmen Callil presents her selection of favourite pieces. Readers are Diana Quick and Richard Mitchley.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Catherine Bott
Classical singer and broadcaster Catherine Bott shows how writers as diverse as JM Coetzee and Joyce Grenfell have attempted to convey what music means in words.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Clive Stafford Smith
Lawyer and human rights activist and Clive Stafford Smith, founder of the pressure group Reprieve, chooses a selection of the writing which has inspired, amused or uplifted him.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Dame Jacqueline Wilson
Children's author Dame Jacqueline Wilson shares her love of literature with anecdotes and a choice of readings.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Diana Athill
Guest performers select their favourite pieces of writing. Literary editor and memoirist Diana Athill shares the rich pickings of a life spent among books.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Diana Quick
Actress Diana Quick chooses some favourite pieces of writing. Her readers are her long-time partner Bill Nighy and their daughter Mary.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Dominic Dromgoole
Guest performers select their favourite pieces of writing. Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, shares his passion for poetry and prose.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Fay Weldon
Novelist Fay Weldon introduces a programme of some of her favourite pieces of writing. The readers are Pippa Haywood and Peter Marinker.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Grayson Perry
Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry presents a selection of the written influences on his life and work. The readers are Michael Simkins and Eleanor David.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman introduces a selection of the poetry and prose which has inspired her through her long career. The pieces are read by Eleanor David, Nickolas Grace and Honor herself.
Details
With Great Pleasure - James Lovelock
Crusading environmental scientist James Lovelock, author of the Gaia theory of life on Earth, reveals some of his favourite pieces of prose and poetry.
Details
With Great Pleasure - James Naughtie
Political journalist and Today programme presenter James Naughtie shares some of his favourite pieces of writing with an audience.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Joanne Harris
Novelist Joanne Harris shares her love of great writing, including Molesworth and science fiction. Plus the radio version of a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Jude Kelly
Jude Kelly, artistic director of London's refurbished Southbank Centre, uses literary extracts to argue the case for the central role of creativity and the arts in society.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Julie Welch
Sports writer Julie Welch chooses a selection of writing which illustrates one of the main themes of her life so far - feet. The readers are Dominic Jephcott and Stella Gonet.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Kate Humble
Wildlife presenter Kate Humble shares some favourite pieces of writing with an audience. The readers are John Telfer and Rosie Cavliero.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Les Dennis
Les Dennis introduces an eclectic selection of readings reflecting some of the ups and downs of his personal and professional life. Readers are Christopher Cazenove and Jodie McNee.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Lynne Truss
Lynne Truss revisits the early literary passions which would shape her as a writer. Actors Helen Atkinson Wood, Philip Franks and Peter Marinker join her to entertain an audience.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Mark Kermode
Film critic Mark Kermode selects some haunting fiction, including extracts from William Peter Blatty's novel The Exorcist and F Scott Fitzgerald's American classic The Great Gatsby.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Martha Kearney
Martha Kearney chooses pieces of writing which have a special meaning for her, either personally or in her work as a broadcaster. Readers are Niamh Cusack and David Morrissey.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Michael Morpugo
Children's writer Michael Morpurgo takes a literary journey through his life, with pieces of prose and poetry read by Alison Reid and Christian Rodska.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Paul Gambaccini
Paul Gambaccini invites an audience to share some of his favourite pieces of writing. The readers are John Guerrasio, Kathryn Akin and Philip Rosch.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Richard Briers
Richard Briers chooses some of his favourite performance pieces for an entertaining half hour with his daughter Lucy Briers and his old friend Peter Egan.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Robert Webb
Comedian Robert Webb presents a selection of his favourite prose and poetry in a special edition recorded at the University of Bedfordshire.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Robert Webb
Comedian Robert Webb plunders his bookshelves to present a selection of his favourite prose and poetry in a special edition recorded at the University of Bedfordshire.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Sir Alan Ayckbourn
Playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn asserts the importance of humour and laughter in his choice of literary extracts. The readers are Amanda Root and Jon Strickland.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Sir John Major
Former prime minister Sir John Major chooses some of the pieces of writing which have sustained, inspired and entertained him. The readers are Nigel Anthony and Lucy Briers.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Stuart Maconie
Writer and DJ Stuart Maconie presents a selection of favourite verse and prose illustrating some personal memories, in front of an audience at the Latitude Festival.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Tony Benn
Tony Benn presents some of the pieces of prose and poetry which have helped shape his personal philosophy. Readers are Saffron Burrows, Jim Findley and Carl Prekopp.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Vivienne Westwood
Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood chooses some of the pieces of writing which inspire her, from Alice in Wonderland to Bertrand Russell.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Will Hutton
Guest performers select their favourite pieces of writing. Will Hutton, chief executive of the Work Foundation, shares his admiration for JM Keynes, Dickens and Umberto Eco.
Details
With Great Pleasure - With Great Pleasure at Christmas
A very special festive edition in which Alan Titchmarsh revels in some of his favourite pieces of prose and poetry with the help of Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.
Details
With Great Pleasure - With Great Pleasure at Christmas
A special festive edition in which Terry Pratchett revels in his favourite pieces of writing with the help of Helen Atkinson Wood, Michael Fenton Stevens and Michael Maloney.
Details
With Great Pleasure - With Great Pleasure at Christmas
Political journalist and Today programme presenter James Naughtie shares some of the pieces of prose and verse which have entertained and inspired him over the years.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Zeinab Badawi
TV presenter Zeinab Badawi presents her selection of favourite pieces of writing, ranging from Virgil to The Tale of Custard the Dragon.
Details
With Great Pleasure - Zoe Ball
DJ Zoe Ball shares some of her favourite pieces of writing with a live audience. The readers are Hattie Morahan and Blake Ritson, with a guest appearance by Johnny Ball.
Details