Without Warning And Only Sometimes, By Kit De Waal

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

I Will Die

20220815

The author of My Name Is Leon reads her memoir of an unpredictable childhood in 1960s Birmingham.

Kit de Waal's childhood was dominated by weekly visits to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mother's commitment to its millenarian doctrine, along with her father's dreams of returning home to St Kitts. Kit and her resilient siblings found themselves caught between the three cultures of their Irish mother, their Caribbean father and 1960s Birmingham. An erratic and unpredictable home life was followed by a period of hard living and crisis before books found Kit out and gave her new direction.

Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022.

Photo credit: Sarah Lee

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Memoir of an unpredictable childhood, written and read by the author of My Name Is Leon.

The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.

Hallelujah

20220816

The acclaimed author of My Name Is Leon continues to read from her memoir about her unpredictable childhood in 1960s Birmingham. Today, she is in a quandary when her childhood desire to sing the Hallelujah chorus brings her into conflict with her Jehovah's Witness upbringing and the forbidden.

Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022.

Photo credit: Sarah Lee

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

De Waal's childhood wish to sing the Hallelujah chorus proves confrontational.

The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.

Hunger

20220817

Acclaimed author Kit de Waal reads from her memoir about her childhood. Today, a new car is the cause of tears and further chaos at home. Meanwhile, among the Jehovah's Witnesses events take an unexpected turn when sex is up for discussion.

Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

In Kit de Waal's childhood memoir, a new car leads to tears and chaos at home.

The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.

A Reckoning

20220818

Acclaimed novelist Kit de Waal continues to read from her childhood memoir. Today, the acrimony between her parents worsens, but new opportunities also open up for Kit.

Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022.

Photo credit: Sarah Lee

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

In the acclaimed author's childhood memoir, acrimony between her parents worsens.

The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.

Reading

20220819

The acclaimed author of My Name Is Leon reads from her childhood memoir. Today, Kit de Waal finds answers in unexpected places after leaving home, and living through two unsettling and anxious years.

Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

In her memoir, de Waal has left home, but life has taken a dark and anxious turn.

The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	I Will Die	20220815	The author of My Name Is Leon reads her memoir of an unpredictable childhood in 1960s Birmingham. Kit de Waal's childhood was dominated by weekly visits to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mother's commitment to its millenarian doctrine, along with her father's dreams of returning home to St Kitts. Kit and her resilient siblings found themselves caught between the three cultures of their Irish mother, their Caribbean father and 1960s Birmingham. An erratic and unpredictable home life was followed by a period of hard living and crisis before books found Kit out and gave her new direction. Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022. Photo credit: Sarah Lee Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Memoir of an unpredictable childhood, written and read by the author of My Name Is Leon. The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.
02	Hallelujah	20220816	The acclaimed author of My Name Is Leon continues to read from her memoir about her unpredictable childhood in 1960s Birmingham. Today, she is in a quandary when her childhood desire to sing the Hallelujah chorus brings her into conflict with her Jehovah's Witness upbringing and the forbidden. Kit de Waal's childhood was dominated by weekly visits to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mother's commitment to its millenarian doctrine, along with her father's dreams of returning home to St Kitts. Kit and her resilient siblings found themselves caught between the three cultures of their Irish mother, their Caribbean father and 1960s Birmingham. An erratic and unpredictable home life was followed by a period of hard living and crisis before books found Kit out and gave her new direction. Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022. Photo credit: Sarah Lee Abridged by Julian Wilkinson De Waal's childhood wish to sing the Hallelujah chorus proves confrontational. The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.
03	Hunger	20220817	Acclaimed author Kit de Waal reads from her memoir about her childhood. Today, a new car is the cause of tears and further chaos at home. Meanwhile, among the Jehovah's Witnesses events take an unexpected turn when sex is up for discussion. Kit de Waal's childhood was dominated by weekly visits to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mother's commitment to its millenarian doctrine, along with her father's dreams of returning home to St Kitts. Kit and her resilient siblings found themselves caught between the three cultures of their Irish mother, their Caribbean father and 1960s Birmingham. An erratic and unpredictable home life was followed by a period of hard living and crisis before books found Kit out and gave her new direction. Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson In Kit de Waal's childhood memoir, a new car leads to tears and chaos at home. The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.
04	A Reckoning	20220818	Acclaimed novelist Kit de Waal continues to read from her childhood memoir. Today, the acrimony between her parents worsens, but new opportunities also open up for Kit. Kit de Waal's childhood was dominated by weekly visits to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mother's commitment to its millenarian doctrine, along with her father's dreams of returning home to St Kitts. Kit and her resilient siblings found themselves caught between the three cultures of their Irish mother, their Caribbean father and 1960s Birmingham. An erratic and unpredictable home life was followed by a period of hard living and crisis before books found Kit out and gave her new direction. Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022. Photo credit: Sarah Lee Abridged by Julian Wilkinson In the acclaimed author's childhood memoir, acrimony between her parents worsens. The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.
05	Reading	20220819	The acclaimed author of My Name Is Leon reads from her childhood memoir. Today, Kit de Waal finds answers in unexpected places after leaving home, and living through two unsettling and anxious years. Kit de Waal's childhood was dominated by weekly visits to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and her mother's commitment to its millenarian doctrine, along with her father's dreams of returning home to St Kitts. Kit and her resilient siblings found themselves caught between the three cultures of their Irish mother, their Caribbean father and 1960s Birmingham. An erratic and unpredictable home life was followed by a period of hard living and crisis before books found Kit out and gave her new direction. Kit de Waal is the author of the acclaimed novel My Name Is Leon, which was adapted into a one-hour film for BBC 1 in 2022. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson In her memoir, de Waal has left home, but life has taken a dark and anxious turn. The memoir of an unpredictable childhood from the author of My Name Is Leon.