Welsh singer Tom Jones will feature in a new series of BBC's In My Own Words
The series takes a closer look into some of the UK's leading creative minds including musicians, comedians, artists and authors, as they recount stories from their careers and lives.
Made up of single films, the BBC Arts episodes include personal testimonies and archived footage to explore their passions and the influencing factors that shaped their lives.
Sir Tom, best known for hits like It's Not Unusual and Delilah, will revisit places that shaped his life, including the first house he ever owned.
He said: 'Taking the time to look back at some of the extraordinary things that have happened in my life for In My Own Words has been really enjoyable and thought-provoking.
'Some of the archive I'd not seen before and watching snippets of those past times, places, styles and struggles brought home how lucky I am.
'Being able to spend the day in the first house I ever owned brought back so many memories… I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as I did making it.'
British thriller writer and journalist Forsyth, who wrote The Odessa File and The Dogs Of War, also joins the line-up – recounting his career from being the youngest RAF pilot to a foreign correspondent, BBC reporter and MI6 informant.
He said: 'Having spent my career telling other people's stories, I now find myself in the unusual position of subject rather than storyteller.
'It has reminded me of the incredible luck I have had, the fork in the road moments, and the deep gratitude I feel for having been part of it.'
McDermid, who is best known for her novels that follow the psychological profiler Dr Tony Hill, will also be seen opening up about the real-life inspirations behind her novels.
She said: 'I'm so accustomed to living my life forwards — the next book, the next festival, the next gig, the next holiday — so this opportunity to look back was a welcome change. It recalled people and places with an unexpected vividness that I hope communicates itself to the viewers.'
The series will also feature artists Cornelia Parker, known for her contemporary installations, and Yinka Shonibare who is known for exploring the likes of cultural identity through his art.
Shonibare said: 'I found seeing the images of my past life amusing, surprising and emotional. The past is never quite as one imagines it to be.'
Mark Bell, commissioning editor for BBC Arts, said: 'In My Own Words shows us the myriad paths that the creative life can follow – from a farming childhood to conceptual art, cold war journalism to blockbuster thriller writing, the Welsh Valleys to superstardom – and the remarkable combination of talent and tenacity that goes into making art.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Iconic BBC presenter leaves job at Premier League after nine years and posts emotional message
FAN favourite football presenter Manish Bhasin has announced he is leaving his job at the Premier League after nine years. Bhasin, 49, has been on fans' screens for over two decades and is known by many as the face of the BBC's defunct Football League Show. Advertisement 3 Manish Bhasin has announced his next career move Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Bhasin, pictured with Premier League CEO Richard Masters, has been working at Premier League productions for nine years Credit: Getty But for the last nine years he has fronted up matchday coverage of Premier League action for Premier League Productions - the league's official broadcast outlet. But the Leicester-born presenter and journalist has now revealed he is ready for a new chapter in an emotional statement announcing his exit. He wrote on X: "After 9 years of hosting for the Premier League official global match coverage, sadly the time has come to move on. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL "I've loved every second. A big thanks to the production team and the on-screen pundits who made the job so enjoyable. "Time now to write the next chapter…" Bhasin is one of many familiar faces that are leaving their roles this summer as the landscape of football coverage is set for a shakeup ahead of the new season. Sky Sports announced last week that Advertisement Most read in Sport Breaking Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Included in that mass change is the likes of Meanwhile Gary Lineker tears up as he bids emotional farewell to iconic Match of the Day after controversial BBC axe However, Lineker won't be stepping away from football highlights completely. Advertisement It was announced today that his podcast The Rest Is Football, which he co-hosts alongside Alan Shearer and 3 Gary Lineker has left the BBC Credit: PA
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Clothing sale will be 'largest Princess Diana auction ever'
An auction featuring more than 200 items will be the "largest Princess Diana auction ever", according to its director. Julien's Auctions' Princess Diana's Style And A Royal Collection live sale will take place in California on Thursday 26 June and will include clothing worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, with the aim of celebrating her style and preserving her legacy. Items include a silk floral printed day dress designed by Bellville Sassoon, estimated to fetch between 200,000 and 300,000 US dollars, and an embroidered evening gown, designed by Catherine Walker, with the same estimated selling price. Martin Nolan, co-founder of Julien's Auctions, told the PA news agency: "This is the largest Princess Diana auction ever. Diana herself did an auction in 1997 to raise money for charity, sadly two months before we tragically lost Diana. "So now we have over 100 items representing her amazing life and her career, and of course, she's the mum of the future king of England, Prince William, so we have really iconic outfits. "Diana was a style icon, she knew what to wear, when to wear it, what was appropriate, she knew how to send a message by what she was wearing. "She was very shy, but she knew by the items of clothing, it became sort of her uniform if you will and, of course, with all the amazing power suits you see behind me, the message she sent. "She knew how to dress when she went on a royal visit to Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates, and when she was going to a hospital, she knew to wear bright colours that sick children would feel that she was likeable, huggable, approachable, and she brought hope wherever she went." Up for auction will be a collection of clothes and artefacts from British royal history, including items that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and other members of the royal family, some dating as far back as the 19th century. Nolan said the market for items relating to Diana had increased thanks to Netflix series The Crown. He said: " The Crown certainly has introduced Diana to a whole new younger generation, and they relate to her and they love her, and they love her style, they love her innocence, they love her sense of fun. "They love her messaging, and they love what she had to live through, the challenges she had to deal with, and she overcame them all, and so it's a success story. "Sad ending, of course, but like the younger generation loved that, and that's why Diana's prices have been impacted so much and are increasing more and more." Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed a number of items of clothing for Diana, including her wedding dress, said: "When Diana first came to us for all of these dresses, she didn't have a lot of ideas of her own, because fashion wasn't her number one subject. "She didn't really take much of an interest in it, and we were very lucky to have been involved with her at the beginning, when she was developing her own style. "And then over the years, you could see her being more and more confident in what she was wearing and knowing her own style, so we were very lucky to have been there in the formative years." Julien's Auctions held a sale of Diana's items last year, billed as the most extensive collection of Diana's personal belongings since 1997. The auction house previously sold one of Diana's gowns for 1.14 million US dollars and a pair of her shoes for 390,000 US dollars. The live auction will take place at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, California, in the US, on Thursday 26 June.
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kieran Molloy vows to make Galway a boxing capital ahead of Pearse Stadium bout
Kieran Molloy has vowed to make Kaisee Benjamin wish he did his homework when the pair clash at Pearse Stadium in Galway on 28 June. Molloy is unbeaten in 11 professional fights, and not only does he want to become a world champion, but he wants to take his county along for the ride. The 26-year-old flew in from London on Tuesday morning, where he trains with Charlie Beat, and went straight to the home of Galway GAA. He will be the headline act of the first event to be held at the Salthill stadium, and as he walked around the pitch and up the steps of the main stand, it was obvious that the enormity of the occasion was hitting him. The Oughterard man told the Irish Mirror: "I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid. "I've been here for many big football and hurling matches. I've got a few great mates playing football now for Galway, Matthew Tierney and Johnny Heaney, they'd all be local lads from where I'm from, so I know what the atmosphere and the crowds are like here. "It's just huge now to be able to bring it back to the West of Ireland and have a first ever outdoor stadium. "This has been my vision. I really do believe that Galway can become an active hub for Irish boxing. We're making history with this show alone. "They've always had shows in Belfast and Dublin, and Galway's been missing out on all that. But on 28 June, people are going to set it for real and it's going to be very exciting. I think everyone is going to get right behind it. "It's brilliant to be able to bring a different sport to this venue." It was typical Galway weather for the press conference, a cold wind blowing and showers of rain. Indeed, Molloy's opponent Benjamin started to shiver as the fighters sat down to talk about the upcoming fight. And the Englishman, a former British title challenger, could be forgiven for wishing he were elsewhere as he revealed that he is on baby alert. "My last couple of fights haven't been my past, as I had stuff going on outside of the ring. But I have got that all sorted now. "I have a little girl on the way. The due date is the day after the fight, so I've got my wife eating prunes, dates and pineapples, everything to get it out earlier." He added: "I'm doing it for her, my unborn child. I'm doing it for her future and my future. "It's all or nothing for me." Experienced campaigner Benjamin (18-4-1) raised some eyebrows when he said that he had never seen Molloy in the ring. Asked how highly he rated the Galway man, he said: "To be honest, I've never seen him box. You might think I am being a bit naive, but that's the way I do things." Molloy was quick to respond to this revelation, saying, "Fairy play Kaisee for stepping in as the last seven or eight opponents have all pulled out for one reason or another, but I would recommend that you get studying before 28 June or you could be in big trouble!" The fight night is stacked with a brilliant undercard, including the likes of Belfast's Sean McComb, Westmeath's Joe Ward, and Hughie Fury, the cousin of heavyweight king Tyson, and a late addition to the bill. But there is no doubt that Molloy, who was joined at Pearse Stadium by a host of family and friends, will bring the star attraction as he looks to inspire a new generation of Galway boxers. He said: "When I started off boxing in the Oughterard Club, I was five years old, but I had dreams to fight here. "That's where it all started for me, and the great coaching I received, and all the fans travelling up and down the country, around Europe and around the world to watch me fight, it's all preparation for these nights, and I'm going to grab this with both hands. "I think everybody's in for a shock about how much noise this place is actually going to make on the night. "It's going to build a massive platform for Galway boxing. "In Belfast, you've got your Lewis Crockers and your Michael Conlons, in Dublin you've got your Katie Taylors, and in Galway it's going to be the Kieran Molloy show. We're going to build it massive."
