Joining Stuart Maconie in our Salford studio are the comedians Frank Skinner and Rachael Fairburn. In Frank's latest stand up show '30 years of Dirt' he has his comedic eye firmly on the dirty joke, while Rachel Fairburn's showgirl finds her moving away from boozing and towards crystals - will it last?

Maxine Peake stars in Robin/Red/Breast at Manchester's Factory International. Based on John Bowen's cult TV play Robin Redbreast, Maxine plays Norah, a woman who has escaped the city for village life. But it is not exactly the idyll she dreamed off... The movement director is Imogen Knight, the writer is Daisy Johnson, and it is directed by Sarah Frankcom and features music from Gazelle Twin.

In her latest book the biographer and historian Kathryn Hughes tells the story of how we fell in love with cats, and illuminates the life of the man who did so much to change their image, the artist Louis Wain.

Music is from Willy Vlautin, novelist, songwriter and musician who was the lead singer in Richmond Fontaine. Willy also chats about his new novel 'The Horse', his most personal book yet, it examines the trials of a life on the road. And we also hear from BBC Introducing Rising Star Phoebe Green.

Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Jessica Treen

Stuart Maconie is joined by Sacha Lord who offers some Tales from the Dancefloor, Julie Hesmondhalgh talks about the impact of a single punch which is considered in a new play by James Graham at the Nottingham Playhouse. Dr Benji Waterhouse, a frontline NHS psychiatrist, discusses his new book You Don't Have to be Mad to Work Here and there's music and chat from Fairground Attraction and Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand.

The comedian Rhod Gilbert gave up touring and TV appearances last year when he got cancer. Now he's back - a newly focussed man - with a show called 'Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit', all about the big bitter diagnosis he had to swallow; the best-selling novelist Kathy Lette's latest book is called The Revenge Club and is based on a real life career setback - we want to hear all; Poet and stand up comic Luke Wright on managing to combine humour and pathos on the page and on the stage and 25 years on from her breakout role in Queer as Folk, the actor Carla Henry tells Stuart about her latest role in the gritty and prescient drama Sweat. Plus music from The Zutons and Bryony Jarman Pinto.

Stuart is joined by multi instrumentalist and singer of hits like Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant; comic-turned-author Natalie Haynes on putting the feminisim into Greek mythology; actress Adelayo Adedayo on her upcoming second series playing the rookie cop in the hit BBC police drama The Responder and Comedian Richard Herring on finding the humour in his testicular cancer diagnosis. Plus performance from the only band fronted by the poet laureate Simon Armitage - LYR and the soul singer Nectar Woode.

Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Olive Clancy

The astronaut Tim Peake joins Clive to talk about life on and off Earth, and he's joined by the acclaimed guitarist Phil Manzanera who tells us about the astonishing life he led en route to joining Roxy Music.

Helen Lederer discusses her new memoir and recalls formative days in The Comedy Store and Jess Fostekew talks footie in her new podcast.

We've music from Michele Stodart and Geejay.

Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Kevin Core

Stand up comic Al Murray on 30 years of his outspoken stage persona The Pub Landlord and his more recent side-hustle as a history podcaster; Actor Lesley Sharp on playing a spy in her high octane thriller set on a London to Beijing flight and called Red Eye; Historian Bettany Hughes on her new series of Treasures of the World, this time heading along the Silk Route to Estonia, Bulgaria, Georgia and beyond; Restauranteur Nisha Katona on giving up being a barrister only to end up being a judge - on the Great British Menu and Guy Chambers on co-writing some of pop's greatest hits like Angels and Milennium with Robbie Williams and getting back together to record with his band The Lemon Trees. Plus performance from rising stars of British Country The Wandering Hearts.

Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Olive Clancy

Ruby Wax defined an interview style which many of us now take for granted. She discusses her hugely popular books on mindfulness and her new book which sees her undertake a series of journeys designed to aid her recovery from depression. Paul Hartnoll of the dance act Orbital is another genre definer, looking back at the history of electronic music - and his soundtrack work - ahead of a new tour marking three decades since the seminal "green album". Anuvab Pal is one of India's top English speaking comics and has some words for Brits who think the Indian language is complicated but have no problem saying Siobhan. Jessica Gunning is known to a host of fans from the series The Outlaws, she talks to us about her role in the new, dark Netflix series Baby Reindeer. We've music from Nerina Pallot ahead of her Palladium show and singer songwriter Tiger Braun-White performs, telling us how he's done with session work... aged 19. Presented by Clive Anderson Produced by Kevin Core

Clive Anderson and Emma Freud are joined by Daniel Mays, Cush Jumbo, Janey Godley and Marc Wootton for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Ride and Georgia.

Clive Anderson and Sara Cox are joined by Gemma Whelan, Mark Watson, Shaznay Lewis and Mr Motivator for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from The Mary Wallopers and Sahra.

Clive Anderson and Bidisha Mamata are joined by Jonny Lee Miller, Ade Adepitan, Kimberley Chambers and Gary Stevenson for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Kat Eaton and Blondeting.

Clive Anderson and Arthur Smith are joined by Armistead Maupin, Ophelia Lovibond, Toheeb Jimoh and Emmanuel Sonubi for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Amelia Coburn.