Loose Ends - 07/08/2010

Peter Curran and guests with an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. Peter is joined by the historian, presenter and author Simon Schama. He covers everything from bolognese sauce to grape scissors, from Obama to The Osbornes in his latest collection of musings 'Scribble, Scribble, Scribble'. With a BAFTA winning performance in The Thick of It and acclaimed roles in I'm Alan Partridge and Nighty Night, Rebecca Front is in the new BBC Two sitcom Grandma's House. She plays the mother of Simon Amstell who decides to give up his presenting career in the search of something more meaningful. Front man of Flaming Stars, journalist and author Max Decharne gives us The Hipster's Guide to Rockabilly with his book new book 'A Rocket in Your Pocket'. Nikki Bedi is on interview duties this week with her guest, the actor Rafe Spall. He's recently been seen as a Desperate Romantic and now takes the lead as hapless sports journalist Pete in Channel 4's latest sitcom 'Pete versus Life'. Stand up comes from Ireland's Neil Delamere. He's huge in his native land and making a big impression in the UK. Neil Delamere tops off a run at London's Soho Theatre and performs the comedy honours on Loose Ends. There's music from indie five-piece Mystery Jets. They've come a long way since their beginnings on Eel Pie Island when the original line up included lead singer Blaine Harrison's dad. They had a brief sojourn in Berlin and return with their third album 'Serotonin'. And from Sunderland singer-songwriter Lucas Renney. Lucas is the former lead singer and guitarist of John Peel favourites The Golden Virgins but is now concentrating on a solo career and performs 'She Gives Me The Chills' from his debut album 'Strange Glory'. Producer: Cathie Mahoney.