Midweek - 19/01/2011

This week Libby Purves is joined by David M Lutken, Lee Mack, David Threlfall and Janet Street-Porter. David M Lutken is an American actor and writer. He is the co-writer (with Nick Corley) and the star of a new musical, 'Woody Sez', about Woody Guthrie, who according to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was "the original folk hero; a man who, in the Thirties and Forties, transformed the folk ballad into a vehicle for social protest and observation, and paved the way for the likes of Bob Dylan". 'Woody Sez - the Life and Music of Woody Guthrie' is at the Arts Theatre, London. Lee Mack is a writer and comedian who has established himself as one of the UK's biggest comedy stars. The last twelve months alone have seen him extend his 2010 national tour 'Going Out' twice, return as resident team captain on TV's 'Would I Lie To You?' and he now returns to BBC One with the award-winning sitcom 'Not Going Out' for a fourth series. David Threlfall is the acclaimed actor probably best known for playing Frank, the head of the Gallagher clan, in the critically acclaimed Channel Four drama Shameless, created by Paul Abbott. Set on Manchester's Chatsworth estate, it charts the rollercoaster lives and loves of the dysfunctional Gallagher family. An 8th series of 'Shameless' is on Channel Four. Janet Street-Porter is the writer and journalist, former editor of the Independent on Sunday and TV executive, who has had a successful career in the media spanning nearly forty years. In her latest book Don't Let the B*****ds Get You Down (published by Quadrille), she gives her advice on everything from how to survive in the recession and how to cut the crap and live life by your own rules.