Midweek - 16/06/2010

This week Libby Purves is joined by Sunita Kumar, Torquil Norman, Rick Astley and Martin Graham. Sunita Kumar was Mother Teresa's official spokesperson, close friend for thirty-two years and biographer. She is still spokesperson for the Missionaries of Charity. To mark the centenary of Mother Teresa's birth, an exhibition of forty portraits by herself and contemporary Indian artist M F Husain, will be launched at the V&A. The works will draw on the huge humanitarian efforts made by Mother Teresa in India and little known details of her life. The exhibition will travel to Kolkata in November. Sir Torquil Norman is the founder of Bluebird Toys, producing several well known brands including Polly Pocket. He also founded the Norman Trust, a charity for children and young people and after his retirement bought and refurbished the Roundhouse in London's Chalk Farm. His autobiography 'Kick the Tyres, Light the Fires' is published by Infinite Ideas. Rick Astley became one of the UK's most popular pop acts of the eighties. His debut single 'Never Gonna To Give You Up' went straight to No 1, remaining there for 5 weeks. However, in 1993, at the height of his fame he gave it all up and retired, disappearing from the public eye. He's now back with a new single 'Lights Out' and is also touring on the Here and Now tour featuring other acts from the eighties. Martin Graham, a former builder's mate-turned property developer, and his wife Lizzie set up the Longborough Festival Opera, putting on three new productions each summer in a purpose-built opera house in their back garden. This year they are putting on Die Walkure, Don Giovanni and Madame Butterfly. They are working towards a full production of Wagner's epic Ring cycle in 2013, the first private opera house to present a full Ring.