Henry Moeran presents reaction to India beating Australia to reach the Champions Trophy final. He’s alongside England World Cup winner Alex Hartley and TMS commentator Aatif Nawaz for analysis of India’s win in Dubai. Former Australia ODI & T20 captain Aaron Finch gives his thoughts on the Aussies’ loss. Hear from both captains, Rohit Sharma and St…

Stuart Maconie is looking on the bright side this week with Dave Gorman who thinks that 'Modern Life is Goodish'. In the latest installment of his TV series, Dave Gorman is back with his trusty powerpoint as he falls down rabbit holes but always with a smile on his face -ish. And just to balance out all that positivity we've got natural worrier Ang…

Simon Mann presents reaction to England’s defeat to South Africa from Karachi which means their Champions Trophy campaign ends without them winning a game. For the final time as England captain, Jos Buttler gives his thoughts on the loss. As does South Africa captain Aiden Markram. England bowler Chris Woakes, former England allrounder Vic Marks, a…

As Jos Buttler steps down as England limited overs captain, we hear from him and coach Brendon McCullum.Plus, Simon Mann is joined by Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks, who has known Buttler since he was a teenager.By BBC Radio 5 Live

After England crash out of the Champions Trophy, Henry Moeran and the TMS team ask just what’s going wrong at the moment. Across the men’s and women’s teams, England have lost 16 out of the 17 games they’ve played in 2025. Is it an attitude problem? An image problem? Captaincy? Or is there more to it than that? Henry is joined by World Cup winner A…

Simon Mann is joined by Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks to analyse England’s group stage exit from the Champions Trophy, after losing to Afghanistan by 8 runs in Lahore. We’ll hear from England captain Jos Buttler, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott, as well as player of the match Ibrahim Zadran. Make sure you’re subscribed to TMS wherever you listen to…

Jonathan Agnew presents a special episode looking at the ongoing off-field controversy surrounding Afghanistan cricket. We’ll hear from England captain Jos Buttler, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott and director of the MCC Foundation Sarah Fane. We’ll also hear from the BBC’s Jo Currie, who’s made a documentary on Afghanistan’s women’s cricketers wh…

Henry Moeran presents reaction as Virat Kohli hits his fifty-first ODI century as India pile pressure on Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, with the host nation’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages dangling by a thread. In Lahore, Jonathan Agnew and Simon Mann assess England’s tournament hopes after a defeat to Australia in their first game…

Simon Mann is with former England allrounder Vic Marks, the BBC’s chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew and former England batter Dawid Malan for reaction to England's defeat to Australia in their Champions Trophy opener in Lahore. England captain Jos Buttler gives his thoughts on the loss, as does Ben Duckett despite a record-breaking innings o…

Stuart Maconie is joined by the 41st best stand up ever to talk about his new tour 'Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf', and by Philippa Dunne who plays Anne in the school gates sitcom 'Motherland'. Anne is back in the spinoff series 'Amandaland', focusing on Anne's glamorous best friend Amanda. Aysha Kala tells us how she nailed the accent to play Saima …

Mark Chapman is joined by former England international Steven Finn, and the Southern Brave and Sussex fast bowler Tymal Mills to preview the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai. They look at England’s form coming into the tournament and the criticism Brendan McCullum’s side have received over the amount of training they did in India. We also get…

Jack Docherty has entertained audiences in eight series of BBC Scotland’s mockumentary police show Scot Squad, as Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson. He returns to our screens in new spin-off The Chief. Writer Kirsty Logan has written on witches, mermaids, and motherhood. Her latest collection of dark tales of love and desire is No & Other Love S…

Kevin Clifton entertained the nation for years on Strictly, now he can often be found treading the boards instead – and is currently starring in Chicago as it tours the country. Poet and former Scots Makar Liz Lochhead talks about her collection of poems A Handsel ahead of her appearance at the Winter Words Festival in Pitlochry. Coinneach MacLeod,…

Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by the BBC’s Sports Editor Dan Roan, Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt & TMS commentator Daniel Norcross to analyse ‘The Hundred’ team sales. We’ll hear from ECB Director of Business Operations Vikram Banerjee, as well as Southern Brave & Sussex fast bowler Tymal Mills. We’ll also be answering some of the questions yo…

Natural history presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan’s new book In The Hide is a look back at some of his greatest adventures across the world, from Mumbai to Mongolia. In 2015 Mhairi Black became the youngest MP elected to the House of Commons since the 1800s. After stepping down at the 2024 General Election, she turned her mind to her tell-all…

Clive Anderson celebrates Scotland’s Bard with a special Loose Ends Burns Supper. Comedian Susie McCabe is back with her new show Best Behaviour. The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award-winner and host of the smash-hit podcast Here Comes The Guillotine is headed for Glasgow Comedy Festival. Meredith Brook stars in new BBC ALBA drama An t-Eilean …

This year the Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue celebrates 40 years together. Not only is the band going strong – so is the marriage bringing together its lead vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh. They both join Nihal Arthanayake to reflect on four decades of music-making. Paul McKenna’s career has taken him from radio DJ to stage hypnotist…

Loose Ends is in Hebden Bridge this week, a town made famous by the BBC drama Happy Valley, but you might also recognise the place and its glorious scenery from Last Tango in Halifax, Gentleman Jack or The Gallow's Pole. Clive will talk to local resident and bestselling novelist Joanne Harris, maybe best known for Chocolat which was adapted into an…

Alex Hartley & Kate Cross have a final catch-up before the Women’s Ashes get underway. Kate gives an injury update with the first game right around the corner, and they discuss why women should play more Test cricket. Vote for No Balls in the Sport Podcast Awards 2025 – we’re nominated for THREE categories, and it only takes a minute to vote: Best …

Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look ahead to the Women’s Ashes which starts in Sydney which week. They discuss who the star performers might be, and what the mentality is inside the England camp after a dominant tour in South Africa. Plus, Alex has some WAshes predictions. Listen to every ball of the Women’s Ashes from Australia on BBC Sounds, or via th…

We review another absorbing Test as Australia won by six wickets at the SCG to take the series against India 3-1 and reclaim the Border Gavaskar series for the first time in over a decade. We get analysis from Alison Mitchell, former Australia coach Darren Lehmann and former Australia bowler Stuart Clark. Isa Guha speaks with player of the match Sc…

Loose Ends is kicking off the year with a special recording at the Salford Lad's Club. If your New Year's resolution is to listen to music we've got you covered as Stuart Maconie will be joined by Stockport's finest, Blossoms, performing songs from their fourth UK number one album 'Gary'. We also have the powerhouse vocals of Rowetta, who will also…

Henry Moeran is alongside the BBC’s chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew and TMS statistician Andy Zaltzman to look ahead to England’s Men’s 2025. With a home Test series against India and the Ashes down under at the end of the year, it could prove to be a pivotal year for Ben Stokes as captain.By BBC Radio 5 Live

Wayne Sleep, Ben Miller, Rosalind Eleazar and Lou Conran join Stuart Maconie for this week's Loose Ends, with music from The Lottery Winners. Dance icon Wayne Sleep waltzes in to tell us stories of his life - all detailed in his new autobiography, Just Different. Tales of his friendships with Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, David Hockney and fello…

Henry Moeran is alongside commentator Dan Norcross & TMS statistician Andy Zaltzman pick their global cricketing awards for 2024 - the Full Tosscars. Which India bowler has had an incredible year? Which English batter(s) gets nominated for worst shot of the year? And which side goes home with the best win of the year?…

2024 is going to be a memorable year for Joe Root. He became England’s highest ever run scorer, and overtook Sir Alastair Cook’s Test century record for England too, but how did that feel and how did he get there? In his own words, along with England captain Ben Stokes and friend & longtime teammate Jimmy Anderson, he talks us through his incredibl…

It's a glorious fusion of nostalgia, tinsel and song this week in a show recorded with an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre. Clive talks to punk princess Toyah Willcox about her Xmas Party tour with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and a blistering year that's seen her perform at Glastonbury, take part in Strictly Come Dancing and join the cast …

Alex Hartley and Kate Cross have a festive catch up after Kate’s return from South Africa. They discuss Kate’s back injury which meant she hardly played in South Africa and the road to recovery ahead of next month’s Ashes series in Australia. They also reflect on England’s success in all formats across the series which served as good preparation be…

Stuart Maconie is joined in the Salford studio by Sheffield's finest, Richard Hawley, playing tracks from his latest album 'In This City They Call You Love', and by comedian and podcaster Cariad Lloyd on her Christmas book for children, The Christmas Wish-tastrophe. Seema Pankhania is on a quest to cook the national dish from every country around t…

Loose Ends this week is a masterclass in the many ways human beings find to laugh: the writer and comic Jenny Eclair started her career as a punk performance poet, who created her stage name to chime with the band she joined - Cathy le Creme and the Rumbabas. But as we learn in her new memoir, she knew as a small child called Jenny Hargreaves that …

It’s been 10 years since the death of former Australia player Phillip Hughes. The 25 year old passed away after being struck on the neck by a short ball during a Sheffield Shield match. It was a tragedy which sent shock waves across the cricketing world and the anniversary is being marked with commemorations throughout Australia. In a special tribu…

Alex Hartley & Kate Cross discuss England’s dominant displays in England’s T20 series win against South Africa Women, and how the tour is great preparation ahead of the Women’s Ashes next month. Plus, they ask you for your best cricketing look-alikes after Jacob Bethell was likened to… Pat Butcher. [email protected] Listen to every game of E…

Author and historian Charles Spencer has written many books including The White Ship, To Catch A King and A Very Private School, and now finds himself down a Rabbit Hole – along with his fellow trivia hunters Cat Jarman and Richard Coles - in their podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives. Digging into the past and uncovering weird and wonderful stories,…

Loose Ends embraces the great outdoors this week at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Stuart talks to festival patron and bestselling writer Robert Macfarlane about his "mountain DNA" and unusual walking snack. Broadcaster and writer Louise Minchin loves a mountain too. Having put aside the extreme working practice of rising at 3am for Breakfast TV she…

Alex Hartley & Kate Cross look ahead to England’s tour of South Africa with Kate in the ODI and Test squad. She discusses how she’s been preparing for the series having had six weeks away from cricket. They speak to a listener who has named their puppy after one of them, and have you named a pet after someone famous? [email protected]…

Alex Hartley & Kate Cross talk about how Kate’s preparation has gone as she gets ready to head to South Africa for England’s ODIs and Test. They discuss the tent which has been built at England’s High Performance Centre to help players acclimatise to pitch conditions around the world, as well as more of your stories on naming pets after sport stars…

Clive Anderson is joined by actor Shazad Latif, who stars as Nemo in 'Nautilus', a new ten part TV series based on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Latif's TV credits include Spooks, The Pursuit of Love and Toast of London, where he played the fan favourite Clem Fandango. And he's also joined by Michael Cumming, who directed Latif in thr…

The comedian and actor John Bishop is about to head off on a tour celebrating 25 years in stand up - a quarter century since he took to the stage on a whim and ended up one of the UK's favourite stars. The explorer Lucy Shepherd is more likely to be found fighting off venomous spiders than hecklers. For her latest TV series she's embarked on a neve…

Monty Python star and king of the travel documentary Michael Palin has just published the fourth volume of his best-selling diaries. In 'There and Back' he covers the years 1999-2009. He joins Clive to talk about how the 21st Century has treated him. The actor and Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine is soon to return to our screens in the second se…

Loose Ends is at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and Stuart Maconie is joined by Harriet Walter, who has played many roles at the RSC in Stratford and has just published 'She Speaks!', a book imagining what Shakespeare's women might have said if they'd been given half a chance. John Douglas Thompson is one of America's finest classical ac…

Jonathan Agnew speaks to former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz. Now splitting her time between cricket commentary and dentistry, Mumtaz talks about the struggles of not being allowed to play cricket as a child, the opportunities for women in cricket now compared to when she was growing up, and how she'll be straight back to her dental practice once …

Stuart is joined in the Loose Ends Salford Studio by comedian, musican, actor and Strictly winner Bill Bailey. His new book is 'My Animals, and Other Animals: A memoir of sorts'. It's the story of his life through the creatures who have meant something to him, and a celebration of how animals bring us joy. The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, ta…

Henry Moeran is joined by England bowler Tash Farrant and Daniel Norcross to look ahead to the Women's T20 World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand in Dubai.By BBC Radio 5 Live

The poet Pam Ayres, author of Oh, I wish I'd looked after Me Teeth - which was voted one of the UK's top ten comic verses - joins Clive to discuss almost half a century of writing and a new volume of her collected works - Doggedly Onwards. Dawn O'Porter was once the journalist behind documentaries on topics from extreme dieting to poligamy and even…

Kevin Howells is alongside Surrey correspondent Mark Church to speak to former Surrey Director of Cricket Alec Stewart. They discuss Stewart’s legacy as he moves into a new role with Surrey, as well as his thoughts on the long-term future of the County Championship and howDan Worrall was his “best signing” at the club…

Jonathan Agnew and the TMS team share memories of the astonishing England tour to Pakistan in 2022. England won the first series they’d played in Pakistan in 17 years, becoming the first side to complete a 3 nil victory with some record breaking batting and outstanding bowling. Aggers is joined by Simon Mann, Andy Zaltzman, Aatif Nawaz and Alex Har…

Stuart Maconie presents Loose Ends from the North Cornwall Book Festival in St Endellion. He is joined by Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle and Tim Smit, and there's music from the multi-instrumentalist Angeline Morrison. Patrick Gale is the author of the Emmy award-winning BBC drama Man in an Orange Shirt and novels including A Place Called Win…

Nihal Arthanayake presents Loose Ends from the third annual Morecambe Poetry Festival. He's joined by Henry Normal. Henry is a writer, poet, TV and film producer who has been involved with many of our most loved comedies, such as The Mrs Merton Show, The Royal Family, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge. He's a prolific poet, and his latest collect…

It's finally here! Kate and Alex take on umpires Anna Harris and Sue Redfern in the first No Balls Players-Umpires golf day. But who will come out on top? Kate also tells us about second part of England's white-ball tour of Ireland and her feelings now her stint as captain has finished.By BBC Radio 5 Live

From Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. Richard Armitage’s CV is already packed with roles, including a string of stellar acting credits in the likes of The Hobbit, North and South, Robin Hood, and Spooks. Now he’s added author to the list with his debut novel Geneva. Ambrose Parry is not one writer but two – it's the penname of in…