Inheritance Tracks

BBC Radio 4

Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.

  • 6 minutes 19 seconds
    DJ Spoony

    Jonathan Joseph, DJ Spoony to his friends, is someone who spends his life selecting music – and has just taken over the late-night slot on Radio 2.

    Born in Hackney in the early 1970s to British West Indian parents, he loved music from an early age and quickly moved from underground pirate radio stations in the 90's before bringing garage music to Radio 1.

    At Christmas he revealed that he’d recently undergone emergency surgery for a bleed on the brain. He says music helped him recover.

    So what then has he chosen as his Inheritance Tracks.

    Inherited: Time is the Master by John Holt Pass on: Gabriel by Roy Davis Jr.

    Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell

    25 January 2025, 11:54 am
  • 6 minutes 1 second
    Eve Myles

    The double BAFTA Cymru winning Welsh actor Eve Myles was born to a Scottish father and a Welsh mother and grew up in Powys.

    Choosing three films from the video shop on a Saturday and watching them on repeat all week is how young Eve fell in love with the possibilities and escapism of acting.

    Her compelling role in Keeping Faith saw her not only having to learn Welsh, act alongside her real-life husband, but most importantly it inspired a trend for bright yellow waterproof coats.

    Her latest drama, The Crow Girl, is executive produced by Slash, but there's no Guns N' Roses in her Inheritance Tracks then.

    Inherited: Pearl's a Singer by Elkie Brooks Passed on: Faith's Song by Amy Wadge

    Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell

    18 January 2025, 1:45 pm
  • 6 minutes 44 seconds
    Alice Roberts

    Professor Alice Roberts is an anatomist, broadcaster and author famous for making science accessible and captivating.

    Initially she wanted to be a doctor and studied medicine and anatomy at Cardiff University and developed an interest in biological anthropology, looking at what ancient skeletons can tell us about human evolution…getting human remains to give up their secrets.

    The clavicle is her favourite bone in the body...but what else can we learn about Alice Roberts from unearthing her Inheritance Tracks?

    Inherited: A Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum Passed on: Girl from Mars by Ash

    Producer: Ben Mitchell

    (This episode is a repeat from 15th June 2019)

    11 January 2025, 10:56 am
  • 6 minutes 24 seconds
    Russell Howard

    Russell Howard is a familiar face on television having hosted Russell Howard's Good News and The Russell Howard Hour, and has been a regular on Mock the Week. He is now of the UK’s most successful comedians, and there’s not a panel show worth its salt that he hasn’t been on over the years, each won benefitting from his unique perspective.

    Born and raised in Somerset, he studied economics at university before starting to write for BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 4. And Russell Howard presents his brand-new stand-up special, Russell Howard Live at The London Palladium, as an exclusive global stream on the 15th of January at 8pm which will then be available On Demand.

    We asked him for his inheritance tracks.

    Inherited: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman Pass on: The Picture by Loudon Wainwright III

    Producer: Ribika Moktan

    4 January 2025, 11:23 am
  • 7 minutes 9 seconds
    Josh Widdicombe

    Josh Widdicombe is a comedian who many will know from his hit parenting podcast with Rob Beckett – and as one of panellists on Channel 4’s The Last Leg.

    Raised in a small village on Dartmoor, his love of all things Devon, Plymouth Argyle and the 90’s has informed much of his work – and his new tour is sure to be steeped to perfection.

    Before becoming a comedian he worked as a bookseller, in a petrol station, and as a sports journalist. And much like Danny Dyer, he found out that he too was related to Royalty on ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and Elizabeth the first no less.

    He’s set to hit the Strictly dancefloor this Christmas for their festive special – so make sure there’s some room around you to chachacha along to his Inheritance Tracks.

    Inherited: All Things Must Pass by George Harrison Passed on: Mis‐Shapes by Pulp

    Producer: Ben Mitchell and Minnie Harrop

    21 December 2024, 11:33 am
  • 6 minutes 22 seconds
    Alex James

    Alex James became famous as the bassist in Blur, indie rock icons who helped define the sound of English guitar music in the 1990’s.

    Born in Bournemouth and now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and five children, Alex discovered a love of farming, and in particular, cheese, during a quiet period in Blur’s history. The cheese he produces is award winning, among them Blue Monday and Good Queen Maude.

    His latest book is Over the Rainbow, recounting how Blur staged their comeback and surprised everyone, even themselves.

    But will his Inheritance Tracks surprise us?

    Inherited: Good King Wenceslas sung by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge Passed on: Rasputin by Boney M.

    Producer: Ben Mitchell and Lowri Rhiannon-Morgan

    14 December 2024, 11:51 am
  • 6 minutes 12 seconds
    Mackenzie Crook

    After working at Pizza Hut in his twenties, Mackenzie Crook suddenly shot to fame playing the hapless paper salesman Gareth Keenan in the smash-hit BBC comedy “The Office”

    Since then, he’s starred in blockbuster franchises including Pirates of the Caribbean and Game of Thrones, as well as Shakespeare, Dickens and his beloved Worzel Gummidge.

    He also created, directed and starred in the charming comedy-drama Detectorists, playing one half of an eccentric metal-detecting duo, alongside Toby Jones, which prompted Mackenzie to take up the hobby and search for real-life treasure.

    So – headphones on – let's start scanning – and see what we can uncover among Mackenzie Crook’s Inheritance Tracks...

    Inherited: Big Yellow taxi by Joni Mitchell Passed on: River Man by Nick Drake

    Producers: Ben Mitchell and Anna Bailey

    7 December 2024, 11:11 am
  • 6 minutes 34 seconds
    Katarina Johnson-Thompson

    Two-time World Champion heptathlete, British record holder and Olympic medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson, known affectionately as KJT, first came to international prominence at the 2012 London Olympics, where she competed as a teenager.

    She grew up in Liverpool with an English mother who was a dancer and a TV production assistant father from The Bahamas - and music was always part of her life...alongside a clear affinity for athletics.

    So what then will she choose for her Inheritance Tracks?

    Inherited: Little Ole Wine Drinker by Dean Martin Passed on: Proud Mary by Tina turner

    Producers: Ben Mitchell and Minnie Harrop

    30 November 2024, 11:35 am
  • 6 minutes 51 seconds
    Luke Evans

    Luke Evans says growing up in the South Wales valleys was tough at times. He was an only child in a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses, bullied at school both for his religion – and for being gay.

    But, that quiet boy from the valleys who tried to blend into the background is now a huge international star. He shot to fame on the West End stage in the early 2000s – with roles in Rent, Miss Saigon and Les Mis. Since then, he’s acted in Hollywood blockbusters like Beauty and the Beast, Fast & Furious Six and The Hobbit.

    Now in his mid-forties, Luke says he is happy, fulfilled and looking forward – so what songs has he chosen as his Inheritance Tracks.

    Inherited: Saturday Night at the Movies by The Drifters Passed on: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack

    Producer: Ben Mitchell

    23 November 2024, 11:26 am
  • 6 minutes 27 seconds
    Ellie Taylor

    Ellie Taylor is a comedian, actor, writer, award winning podcaster, host of Bake Off the Professionals and a reluctant mother - according to her book.

    You’ll probably have caught her being clever and funny on any number of TV panel shows, here on Radio 4, and as Sassy Collins on Ted Lasso.

    She’s about to take part in a celebrity Gladiators special and is going out on tour after four years.

    We asked her to take a break from writing punchlines and share her Inheritance Tracks with us.

    Inherited: Piano Man by Billy Joel Passed on: Sunflower Man by The Waifs

    Producer: Ben Mitchell

    16 November 2024, 11:13 am
  • 6 minutes 16 seconds
    Kate Humble

    Kate Humble has presented the majestic Animal Park from Longleat for more than two decades.

    As a champion of the environment and rural affairs, she’s been the president of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and founded Humble by Nature, a rural skills centre based at her farm here in Wales.

    But when she’s not frolicking in the fields or mucking out meerkats Kate unwinds at home, often in the kitchen, creating recipes for her latest book.

    I don’t know about you, but a bit of Beethoven always beats the boredom out of a bolognas...I wonder if Kate’s the same?

    Inherited: Suzanne by Leonard Cohen Passed on: Ain't got no / I got life by Nina Simone

    Producer: Ben Mitchell

    9 November 2024, 7:41 pm
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