Writing... The Midlands

Episodes

EpisodeTitleFirst
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01Jonathan Coe And Lee Child2021012720230506 (BBC7)
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Crime Writer Mark Billingham was born in The Midlands of England.

In the first of three programmes, he returns to the region that made him a writer to celebrate its literature both past and present.

Along the way Mark meets some of The Midlands' finest writing talent and browses the BBC archives.

Featuring:

* The Rotters' Club [12/11/2003] BBC Radio 4

* In the Studio: Lee Child [31/10/2017] BBC World Service

Crime Writer Mark Billingham goes back to his roots for a literary tour of the Midlands.

Crime Writer Mark Billingham goes back to his Midlands roots to celebrate its literature both past and present.

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02Benjamin Zephaniah And Matt Windle2021020320230513 (BBC7)
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Crime writer Mark Billingham was born in The Midlands of England.

In the second of three programmes, he's back in the region that made him a writer to celebrate its literature both past and present.

Along the way Mark meets some of The Midlands' finest writing talent and browses the BBC archives.

This time he meets ‘The Poet with a Punch', Matt Windle

Featuring:

* Only Artists: Iqbal Khan meets Benjamin Zephania [06/03/2019] BBC Radio 4

* Anita and Me [Ep. 5 15/04/1996] BBC Radio 4

Back to his roots - writer Mark Billingham continues his literary tour of the Midlands.

Crime Writer Mark Billingham goes back to his roots for a literary tour of the Midlands

Returning to his roots - crime writer Mark Billingham continues his literary tour of the Midlands.

[LISTEN NOW]

03Kit De Waal And The Shires2021021020230520 (BBC7)
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Crime writer Mark Billingham concludes his literary tour of the Midlands.

Crime Writer Mark Billingham goes back to his roots for a literary tour of the Midlands

Crime writer Mark Billingham was born in The Midlands of England.

In the last of three programmes, he's back in the region that made him a writer to celebrate its literature both past and present.

Along the way Mark meets some of The Midlands' finest writing talent and browses the BBC archives.

This time he meets the best-selling author of 'My Name is Leon', Kit De Waal, and visits the mystical Sarehole Mill, the inspiration for JRR Tolkein's Hobbiton.

Featured programmes from the BBC Archives:

* SHORTS: WRITING TEST – Adrift at the Athena [30/11/14] BBC Radio 4

* THE HOBBIT: The Musical [04/08/2012] BBC Radio 4

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in December 2019.

Returning to his roots - crime writer Mark Billingham concludes his literary tour of the Midlands.

[LISTEN NOW]

OMNI2019122820220611 (BBC7)Crime Writer Mark Billingham was born in the Midlands and for this showcase he's going back to the county that made him a writer to celebrate it's literature both past and present.

Along the way Mark meets some of the Midland's best writing talent. The best selling author of 'My Name is Leon', Kit De Waal, who has invaluable writing advice and a passionate defence of the Midlands accent and 'the poet with punch', Matt Windle who tells how poetry helped turn his life around and celebrates the vibrant Spoken Word scene in and around Birmingham.

Mark also visits literary landmarks from the personal, such as Kings' Heath Library where he fell in love with reading, to the mystical, Sarehole Mill, the inspiration for JRR Tolkein's Hobbiton.

Along the Way we hear the following programmes from the BBC Archives

* The Rotter's Club

* In The Studio - Lee Child (BBC World Service)

* Only Artists

* Adrift at the Athena

* Anita and Me

* The Hobbit, The Musical

Presented by Mark Billingham

Crime Writer Mark Billingham goes back to his roots for a literary tour of the Midlands.