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With Nicholas Sparks and Sir Antony Sher

Sir Antony Sher talks about his latest stage role and author Nicholas Sparks chats about his books which have sold almost 90 million copies.

This week, Graham's first guest of the day was American author Nicholas Sparks. He's sold almost 90 million copies of his 16 novels, and 'The Lucky One' starring Zac Efron is the seventh to have been made into a film. Nicholas used to sell pharmaceuticals before he became a full-time writer, and he explained how he has a strong interest in keeping fit, what it's like to work with Swedish film director Lasse Hallstr枚m and how when he's writing he always has one eye on how it might work as a film.

After 12, Sir Antony Sher popped into Studio 6C to chat about his latest stage role as Jacob Bindel in 'Travelling Light' at the National Theatre. He also spoke about his love of painting - which includes a self-portrait of all his stage roles, working with Billy Connolly on the film 'Mrs Brown', and his admiration for Paul Simon's album 'Graceland'.

In 'Grill Graham', "let's call him John" is having an affair with a married woman which has been going on for nearly 4 years. Apparently he's given her an ultimatum to leave her husband, or he'll walk away forever. The general consensus was that "John" should find the door. Then there was Sian in Leicester who was frustrated with her housemates and their quirks and horrible personal habits. Again, many thought she should also find the door!

This week's 'I Can't Believe It's Not Better' was the 1988 No. 1 "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" by Glenn "bad 80's hairdo" Medeiros, who apparently named his children Chord and Lyric. And golf fan, Alan Bradford from Hornchurch in Essex, impressed us with his story of getting a hole in one, before talking us through the rather sad story contained within The Carpenters' haunting 1971 Top. 20 hit 'Superstar'.

2 hours, 57 minutes

Music Played

  • Cheryl Cole - Call My Name

  • Jackie Wilson

    (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

    • Midnight Soul (Various Artists).
    • Music Club.
  • 'I Can't Believe It's Not Better' as chosen by Gillian Caswell in Sheldon

    • Glenn Medeiros

      Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You

      • LONDON.
  • The Musgraves

    Comfortable Shoes

    • Album Sampler.
    • Redhouse Records.
  • Radiohead

    No Surprises

  • Fun.

    We Are Young (feat. Janelle Mon谩e)

    • Warner Music.
  • Scouting for Girls

    This Ain't A Love Song

    • (CD Single).
    • Epic.
    • 1.
  • Sara Bareilles

    Love Song

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.
    • 1.
  • Rumer

    P.F. Sloan

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
    • 1.
  • Dan Hartman

    This Is It

    • The 70's: 1979 (Various Artists).
    • Time Life.
  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Love Will Set You Free

    • (CD Single).
    • Conehead.
    • 1.
  • Sparks

    This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us

    • Fantastic 70's (Various Artists).
    • Sony Tv/Columbia.
  • The choice of Nicholas Sparks

    • Mandy Moore

      Only Hope

  • Morten Harket

    Scared Of Heights

    • (CD Single).
    • Wrasse Records.
    • 3.
  • Toploader

    Dancing In The Moonlight

    • Onka's Big Moka - Toploader.
    • Sony Soho Square.
  • Coldplay & Rihanna

    Princess of China

    • Mylo Xyloto.
  • The 'Tune With A Tale' choice of Alan Bradford

    • Carpenters

      Superstar

  • Jamie Hartman

    Before I Close My Eyes

    • Promo single.
    • Flat Cap Records.
    • 1.
  • Cher

    Strong Enough

    • New Hits 99 (Various Artists).
    • Sony Music TV.
  • As chosen by Sir Antony Sher

    • Paul Simon

      Graceland

      • The Paul Simon Anthology (Disc 2).
      • Warner Bros.
      • 1.
  • Jennifer Lopez

    Dance Again

  • Billy Joel

    Uptown Girl

    • An Innocent Man.
    • CBS.

Broadcast

  • Sat 28 Apr 2012 10:00