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21/02/2016

Actor David McCallum talks to Richard Holloway about his life and why he has now turned to writing.

Actor David McCallum made his name as Russian agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E, becoming a pin-up for a generation and went on to star in The Invisible Man and Sapphire and Steel. Retirement doesn't seem to be tempting him - for over a decade he's played 'Ducky', Dr. Mallard on the American police drama NCIS. David McCallum talks to Richard about his life and why he's now turned to writing.

Boycotting - refusing to buy or handle goods as a punishment or protest - is a form of political protest with a long tradition. Last week it became the subject of a fierce debate when the Westminster Government announced a crackdown on public bodies in England and Wales for boycotting countries or companies they deemed unethical. But how effective is boycotting? Or do we do it just to let off steam? Richard explores the issue with Professor Alison Phipps, University of Glasgow, human rights activist Reverend Iain Whyte, and Daniella Peled from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting.

In the late 60s and early 70s Nick Hedges was given a unique assignment - to tour the country taking photographs of Britain's urban poor and the rotting houses they lived in. Nick's photographs helped to galvanise politicians and civic leaders into a radical response to the situation; and massive programmes of slum clearance got underway all over Britain. Nick discusses what it was like then and whether we have learned any lessons since.

Saying a prayer caused quite a stir recently when the Church of England took to social media to pray for Richard Dawkins' recovery from a stroke. Alison Phipps, Reverend Iain Whyte, and Dr Neil Thin, University of Edinburgh, look at the etiquette of prayer and what it brings to our lives.

How many children receive their state education in a language that is not their mother tongue? This is the focus of 'The Colours of the Alphabet', a documentary that premieres at the Glasgow Film Festival. It follows three Zambian children and their families over a period of a year as they go to primary school for the first time. Producer Nick Higgins explains why it's such an important subject.

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Feb 2016 10:00

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Broadcast

  • Sun 21 Feb 2016 10:00