Midweek - 08/07/2009

Lively and diverse conversation with Libby Purves and guests Patina Miller, Paddy Lyons, David Crystal and Griff Rhys Jones. Patina Miller is the American actress who is currently making her West End debut playing the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier in the new musical comedy Sister Act. Born and raised in South Carolina, Patina's previous credits include the critically-acclaimed 2008 production of Hair in New York. The role of Deloris was made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie of the same name. Sister Act is at the London Palladium. In the early 1960s, after a Jesuit schooling, military service and management training with Unilever, Paddy Lyons renounced the world and became a Cistercian Monk. In his memoir, Try a Little Lowliness, he tells of his years in the Cistercian Order on Caldey Island in the Bristol Channel. In later years he trained as a social worker, married and worked as a journalist for the Financial Times. Try A Little Lowliness: Memoir of a Cistercian Novice is published by Gracewing. David Crystal is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor and author of over 100 books. He has been at the forefront of the field of linguistics, making a significant contribution to its development, pioneering new areas from clinical to internet linguistics. His book Just a Phrase I'm Going Through: My Life in Language, published by Routledge, is part autobiography, part introduction to this fascinating and ever-evolving field. Griff Rhys Jones is an actor and comedian. He is presenting a new five-part series, Rivers, for BBC One, in which he explores how rivers have influenced, nurtured and powered our lives throughout history. From the powerful torrents of Scotland to the flatlands of East Anglia, Griff barges, canoes, swims, walks and sails his way along this often hidden network which has been the lifeblood of the country. Rivers is broadcast on BBC One, and there is also a book to accompany the series published by Hodder.