Meeting Myself Coming Back

"Meeting Myself Coming Back" ,the series in which John Wilson takes key figures back in time through the archives returns with Alastair Campbell, former Labour spin doctor, as the first guest.

For almost a decade after Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party in 1994, Alastair Campbell was one of his most trusted advisors, serving as press secretary and then Downing Street director of Communications. Under his press management, the party went on to reinvent itself as New Labour and in 1997 won its first General Election for nearly 20 years.

But Campbell was also often embroiled in controversy, such as the alleged "sexing up" of the dossier that formed part of the basis for war with Iraq in 2003 .There were also accusations that he was too powerful.

So what was really going on behind the public moments?

John surprises Alastair with clips from his past, from his early days as a sports journalist in Devon to his time at the heart of Government and his subsequent activities as a mental health campaigner.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Alastair Campbell, former Labour spin doctor, meets his younger self in the BBC archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

"Meeting Myself Coming Back" ,the series in which John Wilson takes key figures back in time through the archives returns with Alastair Campbell, former Labour spin doctor, as the first guest.

For almost a decade after Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party in 1994, Alastair Campbell was one of his most trusted advisors, serving as press secretary and then Downing Street director of Communications. Under his press management, the party went on to reinvent itself as New Labour and in 1997 won its first General Election for nearly 20 years.

But Campbell was also often embroiled in controversy, such as the alleged "sexing up" of the dossier that formed part of the basis for war with Iraq in 2003 .There were also accusations that he was too powerful.

So what was really going on behind the public moments?

John surprises Alastair with clips from his past, from his early days as a sports journalist in Devon to his time at the heart of Government and his subsequent activities as a mental health campaigner.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Alastair Campbell, former Labour spin doctor, meets his younger self in the BBC archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

When Bob Geldof exploded onto the pop scene with 'The Boomtown Rats' in the 1970s, he quickly forged a reputation for being outspoken. This trait would stand him in good stead when he used his skill as an organiser and negotiator to persuade fellow musicians to sing for famine relief in Africa, first on the Band-Aid single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' and then for the subsequent Live Aid concert. It was to be the start of campaigning work which has lasted to the present day and brought him a knighthood, meetings with the world's leaders and recognition upon a global stage.

In the first programme of the new series of 'Meeting Myself Coming Back', Bob Geldof meets his younger self in the BBC archives in an experience which provokes both laughter and tears. At one point he becomes overwhelmed by reliving his first experience of being in Ethiopia and seeing the consequences of the famine for himself.

He hears his own career progression from opinonated rock star through to Live Aid organiser and world anti-poverty ambassador.

And he relives his reactions to personal tragedies like the death of his former wife, Paula Yates.

Revised Repeat.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

From Boomtown Rat to famine relief ambassador, Bob Geldof explores his life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive and use it as a basis for a re-examination of their lives.

Clare Short has spent her life in the public eye, never less than passionate and never short of opinions. From her first appearance as a community activist in the early 1980s, through to her announcement that she will be standing down as an MP at the next election, her career has always been controversial. What does she think now of her early causes: her opposition to Page 3 and support for the legalisation of cannabis? And what of those resignations? Was she really, as she claimed at the time, 'making a sacrifice to a higher purpose' by staying inside the Cabinet despite her opposition to the Iraq War?

As Clare meets herself coming back over nearly 30 years of sound recordings, is she proud, pleased, or driven, as she says she often is, to think, 'Oh, shut up Clare', for her insistance on always speaking up, even when staying quiet might be a wiser choice?

John Wilson takes Clare Short back through her life as captured in the BBC Archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive and use it as a basis for a re-examination of their lives.

Clare Short has spent her life in the public eye, never less than passionate and never short of opinions. From her first appearance as a community activist in the early 1980s, through to her announcement that she will be standing down as an MP at the next election, her career has always been controversial. What does she think now of her early causes: her opposition to Page 3 and support for the legalisation of cannabis? And what of those resignations? Was she really, as she claimed at the time, 'making a sacrifice to a higher purpose' by staying inside the Cabinet despite her opposition to the Iraq War?

As Clare meets herself coming back over nearly 30 years of sound recordings, is she proud, pleased, or driven, as she says she often is, to think, 'Oh, shut up Clare', for her insistance on always speaking up, even when staying quiet might be a wiser choice?

John Wilson takes Clare Short back through her life as captured in the BBC Archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Clive James was seldom off our television screens in the 80s and 90s. His shows like Saturday Night Clive and Clive James on Television, featured clips of TV around the world and pioneered many techniques that we take for granted today.

But throughout this time, he was also writing memoirs, poems and critical essays. After leaving his native Australia, he began his career writing for literary magazines and later became the TV critic of The Observer.

This more serious side has often been overlooked because of his TV fame. But, having left TV presenting behind and now having been diagnosed with leukaemia, Clive is re-assessing his life and legacy.

In Meeting Myself Coming Back, Clive hears clips from moments in his life and discusses his reaction to them with John Wilson. We hear a recording from his student days in Cambridge performing a comic monologue at a college Smoker event. There are clips from early appearances on radio, in the company of the novelist Kingsley Amis and also his first attempts at writing and performing on television.

We also hear extracts from his TV shows of the 80s and 90s, when, in addition to his shows about television, he presented travel programmes and a series considering the nature and history of fame in the 20th century.

In an honest and penetrating look back at his life, Clive discusses his achievements, his past mistakes and his illness.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Critic, poet and TV personality Clive James meets his younger self in the sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Another chance to hear the audio memories of the writer, critic, TV personality and poet Clive James who died in November. This programme was first broadcast in 2012.

Clive James was seldom off our television screens in the 80s and 90s. His shows like Saturday Night Clive and Clive James on Television, featured clips of TV around the world and pioneered many techniques that we take for granted today.

But throughout this time, he was also writing memoirs, poems and critical essays. After leaving his native Australia, he began his career writing for literary magazines and later became the TV critic of The Observer.

This more serious side has often been overlooked because of his TV fame. But, having left TV presenting behind and now having been diagnosed with leukaemia, Clive is re-assessing his life and legacy.

In Meeting Myself Coming Back, Clive hears clips from moments in his life and discusses his reaction to them with John Wilson. We hear a recording from his student days in Cambridge performing a comic monologue at a college Smoker event. There are clips from early appearances on radio, in the company of the novelist Kingsley Amis and also his first attempts at writing and performing on television.

We also hear extracts from his TV shows of the 80s and 90s, when, in addition to his shows about television, he presented travel programmes and a series considering the nature and history of fame in the 20th century.

In an honest and penetrating look back at his life, Clive discusses his achievements, his past mistakes and his illness.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Critic, poet and TV personality Clive James meets his younger self in the sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes meets her younger self in the archives in conversation with John Wilson.

Kelly Holmes's double Gold medal win in the 800m and 1500m races at the 2004 Athens Olympics was the crowning point in her athletics career. But the journey to get there had been fraught with difficulty, with injuries and other setbacks along the way. She began racing while at school, but abandoned it to join the Army where she drove lorries and eventually became a PT instructor. But she was drawn back into running and she became an Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion with seven gold, eight silver and four bronze medals to her name.

John Wilson takes Kelly back through the archives to relive key moments from her life and career. We hear extracts ranging from her putting soldiers through their paces, to the diaries she kept as she trained for her first Olympics in Atlanta , the moment of her double Gold win and her involvement with bringing the Olympics to London in 2012. And we hear what was going on behind those recorded moments, as Kelly battled injury and self-harm to finally achieve her dreams.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Double Olympic gold-medallist Dame Kelly Holmes meets her younger self in the archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes meets her younger self in the archives in conversation with John Wilson.

Kelly Holmes's double Gold medal win in the 800m and 1500m races at the 2004 Athens Olympics was the crowning point in her athletics career. But the journey to get there had been fraught with difficulty, with injuries and other setbacks along the way. She began racing while at school, but abandoned it to join the Army where she drove lorries and eventually became a PT instructor. But she was drawn back into running and she became an Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion with seven gold, eight silver and four bronze medals to her name.

John Wilson takes Kelly back through the archives to relive key moments from her life and career. We hear extracts ranging from her putting soldiers through their paces, to the diaries she kept as she trained for her first Olympics in Atlanta , the moment of her double Gold win and her involvement with bringing the Olympics to London in 2012. And we hear what was going on behind those recorded moments, as Kelly battled injury and self-harm to finally achieve her dreams.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Double Olympic gold-medallist Dame Kelly Holmes meets her younger self in the archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From producing hit films like "Chariots of Fire" and "The Killing Fields" to work in education and a seat in the Lords, David Puttnam meets his younger self in the BBC sound archive and discusses his reaction to what he hears with John Wilson.

David Puttnam was a convert to the power of film as a youngster, attending regular screenings at his local cinema. As a young man he got his first experiences of using images to give out a message at the advertising agency Collett Dickenson Pearce. It was there that he forged associations with people such as Alan Parker with whom he would later collaborate on films like "Midnight Express", "Melody" and "Bugsy Malone".

"Chariots of Fire" and "The Killing Fields" made him one of the most famous producers in the business and he was eventually asked to run Columbia Pictures, becoming the first ever British head of a Hollywood studio. But he resigned after only a year and returned home. He continued to make films but also campaigned for the environment and forged a new career in education.

In the first in a new series of "Meeting Myself Coming Back", John Wilson takes Lord Puttnam through his life through the BBC Sound archives. Among the extracts he hears are his first television interview on the set of "Melody", his triumph with "Chariots of Fire", a return to the Killing Fields and a surprise clip of one of his advertising accounts.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

David Puttnam, the former film producer, meets his younger self in the BBC sound archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble - now Lord Trimble- meets his younger self in the sound archives and discusses his reaction with John Wilson.

From civil servant and law student to one of the key players in the Good Friday Agreement and now a Conservative peer, the career of David Trimble has been hugely eventful. He began his political career as a member of the hardline Vanguard party, backing its leader William Craig. When it disbanded in the 1970s, it seemed as if he might be out in the political wilderness for good.

But he joined the Ulster Unionist Party, became an MP and ultimately went on to lead his party. In 1998 he won the Nobel Peace Prize together with the SDLP's John Hume for his attempts to bring stability to Northern Ireland through the historic Good Friday Agreement.

But arguments over IRA decommissioning of its weapons threatened the peace process. David Trimble continually faced criticism from within his own party and other Unionists for selling out to the Republicans and in 2005 he lost his Westminster seat.

In conversation with John Wilson, Lord Trimble revisits key moments in his career and discusses their significance. We hear his earliest success as a law student, memories of his mentor from the Vanguard party, the machinations that led to the Good Friday Agreement and his thoughts on pursuing peace.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble meets his younger self in the archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From "That's Life" to ChildLine and beyond, broadcaster Esther Rantzen examines her younger self in the BBC Sound archives and discusses her reaction with John Wilson.

Esther Rantzen became a fixture on people's televisions as the face of "That's Life", the consumer journalism television programme which ran for over 20 years. But she began her career in the BBC doing spot effects for drama productions and gained gradual on-screen exposure on "Braden's Week" and "Nationwide". She made several landmark films examining stillbirth and dying and her campaigns for victims of child abuse led to the formation of ChildLine.

Among the clips that she hears from the archives are an early written sketch from "That Was the Week That Was", one of her first reports from "Nationwide", the very first edition of "That's Life" and an extract from a little-known encounter with the sculptor Fiore de Henriquez who made a sculpture of the head of Esther and her new baby Emily.

Esther also discusses her relationship with her late husband Desmond Wilcox, the formation of ChildLine and her decision to stand as an independent MP.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Broadcaster Esther Rantzen meets her younger self via the BBC Archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From "That's Life" to ChildLine and beyond, broadcaster Esther Rantzen examines her younger self in the BBC Sound archives and discusses her reaction with John Wilson.

Esther Rantzen became a fixture on people's televisions as the face of "That's Life", the consumer journalism television programme which ran for over 20 years. But she began her career in the BBC doing spot effects for drama productions and gained gradual on-screen exposure on "Braden's Week" and "Nationwide". She made several landmark films examining stillbirth and dying and her campaigns for victims of child abuse led to the formation of ChildLine.

Among the clips that she hears from the archives are an early written sketch from "That Was the Week That Was", one of her first reports from "Nationwide", the very first edition of "That's Life" and an extract from a little-known encounter with the sculptor Fiore de Henriquez who made a sculpture of the head of Esther and her new baby Emily.

Esther also discusses her relationship with her late husband Desmond Wilcox, the formation of ChildLine and her decision to stand as an independent MP.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Broadcaster Esther Rantzen meets her younger self via the BBC Archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

In the final programme in the series 'Meeting Myself Coming Back', Germaine Greer relives key moments from her life and career in conversation with John Wilson. She discusses her role in the development of feminist thought and reflects on her life through the decades.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

The feminist and scholar Germaine Greer meets her younger self in the BBC's Sound Archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Ian Hislop, satirist and Editor of "Private Eye" magazine, meets his younger self in the sound archives in conversation with John Wilson

Ian Hislop has been called the most sued man in Britain, keeping lawyers busy with a steady stream of writs from those whose public and private failings have been exposed in the pages of Private Eye. He became the magazine's youngest editor at the age of just 26 in 1986, and 35 years later is still in charge. He's also become well-known through his appearances as a team captain on the comedy quiz show "Have I Got News For You".

In this programme, where the guests don't know what they're going to hear, John takes Ian back through a variety of archives to trace how his life and career have developed. We hear the young Ian on stage in a school production of "Oliver" , get a glimpse of his early forays into standup comedy. hear how he planned to avoid libel writs as the new Editor of Private Eye and how that plan was scuppered with regular appearances in court and a record damages award against the magazine to Sonia Sutcliffe, the wife of the Yorkshire Ripper.

Ian and John also discuss his role on "Have I Got News For You", his thoughts on press freedom and regulation and his career as documentary-maker and dramatist.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Private Eye editor and satirist Ian Hislop meets his younger self in the BBC archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Ian Hislop, satirist and Editor of "Private Eye" magazine, meets his younger self in the sound archives in conversation with John Wilson

Ian Hislop has been called the most sued man in Britain, keeping lawyers busy with a steady stream of writs from those whose public and private failings have been exposed in the pages of Private Eye. He became the magazine's youngest editor at the age of just 26 in 1986, and 35 years later is still in charge. He's also become well-known through his appearances as a team captain on the comedy quiz show "Have I Got News For You".

In this programme, where the guests don't know what they're going to hear, John takes Ian back through a variety of archives to trace how his life and career have developed. We hear the young Ian on stage in a school production of "Oliver" , get a glimpse of his early forays into standup comedy. hear how he planned to avoid libel writs as the new Editor of Private Eye and how that plan was scuppered with regular appearances in court and a record damages award against the magazine to Sonia Sutcliffe, the wife of the Yorkshire Ripper.

Ian and John also discuss his role on "Have I Got News For You", his thoughts on press freedom and regulation and his career as documentary-maker and dramatist.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

Private Eye editor and satirist Ian Hislop meets his younger self in the BBC archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

In the second programme in the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back", Janet Street-Porter takes a look back at her younger self through the BBC Sound archives. In conversation with John Wilson, she re-examines her career, beginning as a newspaper journalist and then moving into radio and television and reflects on the highs and lows of her career.

Janet Street-Porter's career has been bound up with media from her earliest days writing for papers and then as a young presenter on LBC radio. Her work on TV programmes like Network 7 and later the BBC's Def II strand has ensured that she'll always be associated with "Yoof TV". Her distinctive voice and looks have been parodied over the decades and she's often been vilified in the press for taking television downmarket. Her attempt to launch Live TV ended with her resignation after only a few months. But she's always bounced back in another guise, as a newspaper editor, a TV personality and a rambler.

In this programme Janet re-examines her past life and meets her younger self, analysing how she's changed and developed over the decades.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Janet Street-Porter relives key moments in her career through the BBC Sound Archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

In the second programme in the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back", Janet Street-Porter takes a look back at her younger self through the BBC Sound archives. In conversation with John Wilson, she re-examines her career, beginning as a newspaper journalist and then moving into radio and television and reflects on the highs and lows of her career.

Janet Street-Porter's career has been bound up with media from her earliest days writing for papers and then as a young presenter on LBC radio. Her work on TV programmes like Network 7 and later the BBC's Def II strand has ensured that she'll always be associated with "Yoof TV". Her distinctive voice and looks have been parodied over the decades and she's often been vilified in the press for taking television downmarket. Her attempt to launch Live TV ended with her resignation after only a few months. But she's always bounced back in another guise, as a newspaper editor, a TV personality and a rambler.

In this programme Janet re-examines her past life and meets her younger self, analysing how she's changed and developed over the decades.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Janet Street-Porter relives key moments in her career through the BBC Sound Archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Journalist Kate Adie reflects on her life and career, as revealed in excerpts from the BBC archives - from local radio shifts to the frontline of international crises.

Kate shares her reactions in conversation with John Wilson.

Producer: Ella-mai Robey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

Journalist Kate Adie meets her younger self in the BBC sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Journalist Kate Adie reflects on her life and career, as revealed in excerpts from the BBC archives - from local radio shifts to the frontline of international crises.

Kate shares her reactions in conversation with John Wilson.

Producer: Ella-mai Robey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

Journalist Kate Adie meets her younger self in the BBC sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From debut novelist to outspoken critic, the writer Martin Amis meets his younger self in the BBC sound archive and discusses his reaction to what he hears with John Wilson.

Martin Amis achieved success at a young age. His debut novel "The Rachel Papers", written in his 20s, won the same prize that had been awarded to his father Kingsley Amis. His success as a writer has continued with novels including "Money" and "London Fields" and collections of journalism and essays.

But the real life of Martin Amis has prompted as many headlines as his fiction. With stories about his earnings, his teeth, and more recently his views on Islam and elderly people, his name has regularly appeared in the papers and his opinions have often been controversial.

In the first of a new series of "Meeting Myself Coming Back", Martin Amis hears clips from key moments in his life and discusses his reaction to them with John Wilson. In an honest and penetrating look back at his career, he discusses his achievements and his mistakes.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

The writer Martin Amis meets his younger self in the BBC sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From her influential government reports which led to changes in special education and to the establishment of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, to her career as an academic, author and mother of five, the philosopher Baroness Mary Warnock meets her younger self in the BBC sound archive and discusses her reaction to what she hears with John Wilson.

Producer: Marya Burgess

Philosopher and policy maker Mary Warnock meets her younger self in the BBC sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From her influential government reports which led to changes in special education and to the establishment of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, to her career as an academic, author and mother of five, the philosopher Baroness Mary Warnock meets her younger self in the BBC sound archive and discusses her reaction to what she hears with John Wilson.

Producer: Marya Burgess

Philosopher and policy maker Mary Warnock meets her younger self in the BBC sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive and use it as a basis for a re-examination of their lives.

Michael Grade reflects on the soundtrack to his life drawn through over 30 years of the BBC sound archives.

From his earliest job as a sports writer on the Daily Mirror to his varied career as controller of BBC One, chief executive of Channel 4 and now in charge of ITV, his life has been a very public one. Coming from a showbusiness family, with an agent for a father and uncles Lew Grade and Bernard Delfont in theatre and television, Grade has seen at first hand how the language of variety and vaudeville can work.

In his six-year career at the Daily Mirror, as 'Mike Grade', he had a sports column and learned how to work with the press. His move into TV came in the 1970s, and from the 1980s he was a major player in BBC television, becoming controller of BBC One.

He hears the sound archive of his life and ponders what he has learned and how he has developed, from his earliest writings to his return to the BBC in 2004 and his subsequent move to ITV.

Michael Grade, in conversation with John Wilson, replays his own sound archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive and use it as a basis for a re-examination of their lives.

Michael Grade reflects on the soundtrack to his life drawn through over 30 years of the BBC sound archives.

From his earliest job as a sports writer on the Daily Mirror to his varied career as controller of BBC One, chief executive of Channel 4 and now in charge of ITV, his life has been a very public one. Coming from a showbusiness family, with an agent for a father and uncles Lew Grade and Bernard Delfont in theatre and television, Grade has seen at first hand how the language of variety and vaudeville can work.

In his six-year career at the Daily Mirror, as 'Mike Grade', he had a sports column and learned how to work with the press. His move into TV came in the 1970s, and from the 1980s he was a major player in BBC television, becoming controller of BBC One.

He hears the sound archive of his life and ponders what he has learned and how he has developed, from his earliest writings to his return to the BBC in 2004 and his subsequent move to ITV.

Michael Grade, in conversation with John Wilson, replays his own sound archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

In the 1970s he won a reputation as a maverick when he took up the mace in the House of Commons after being enraged at the Labour Party's voting tactics. He began the 1980s with a rousing speech to the Conservative Party Conference reminding members about the rights of ethnic minorities, but he ended the decade on the backbenches after walking out of a Cabinet meeting and resigning over the Westland Affair. In 1990 he challenged Margaret Thatcher for the party leadership. She eventually resigned, but Heseltine did not succeed her.

In the second programme of the series 'Meeting Myself Coming Back', Lord Heseltine listens back to his younger self in conversation with John Wilson. He talks frankly about the mace incident and relives the moment when he walked out of Cabinet. He discusses whether he could have been persuaded to return if his departure had not been witnessed by a cameraman outside Number 10. He also talks about the moment when Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister and he knew that his chances of becoming Conservative leader were at an end.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Michael Heseltine relives his life in sound through the BBC archives with John Wilson.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

"Mr Howard, did you threaten to overrule him.. I note you are not answering the question.. did you threaten to overrule him..."

Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, is a brave man, confronting his own media archive in this week's MEETING MYSELF COMING BACK. Surely by now he has tired of hearing himself being Paxmaned in 1997 - that same question asked over and over. But Howard's political career was merely stalled by the grilling, not stopped. Having lost out to William Hague in the 1997 leadership election - scuppered, some think, by Ann Widdecombe's remark that there was 'something of the night about him' - the Conservative Party would turn to him again as a leader in 2003.

Lord Howard relives his most memorable time in Prime Minister's Questions, confronting Tony Blair on university top-up fees.
"Let's make it clear Mr Speaker. This grammar school boy is not going to take any lessons from that public school boy there..!" But was this killer blow actually that grammar school boy's line?
He confesses to presenter John Wilson, "I think George may have possibly come up with it....." George Osborne being one of two advisors helping him prepare for PMQ's that day, the other being a fresh faced David Cameron - neither famous for their grammar school credentials.

From tales of strip bars in Los Angeles, to the moving tale of hearing about his wife's delivery of their daughter, whilst in the midst of a heated road enquiry, Lord Howard takes time to reflect on the highs, lows and blows of his long career, including an extraordinary moment when, during a visit to West Berlin 1963, he chanced upon J.F. Kennedy, making his famous speech, and saw 'the weight of the world resting on the slim young shoulders'.

Producer : Sara Jane Hall.

Michael Howard and Jeremy Paxman meet again as Lord Howard reflects on 50 years of archive

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From his early days in the army to his leadership of the Liberal Democrats, Paddy Ashdown - now Lord Ashdown- has been a singular political figure. He arrived in Westminster as a Liberal but soon his party voted for a merger with the SDP. He led the newly named Liberal Democrats for 11 years and then worked in Bosnia, trying to repair the damage that the war had done.

In this interview he meets his younger self at key moments from the sound archive and discusses his reactions with John Wilson. We hear his memories of serving in the Marines and also hear extracts from his first major speech at the Liberal Party Conference when he warned of the dangers of Cruise missiles.

There are highly emotional moments as well, when Paddy recounts the horrors of the scenes he saw in Bosnia in 1992.

And the programme comes up to the present with a consideration of what the Coalition and the recent local elections have meant for the Liberal Democrats.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown meets his younger self in the sound archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From rookie MP to Liberal Democrats leader, from the Royal Marines to high office in Bosnia, Paddy Ashdown relives his life from the archives in a frank and sometimes emotional conversation with John Wilson

From his early days in the army to his leadership of the Liberal Democrats, Paddy Ashdown - now Lord Ashdown- has been a singular political figure. He arrived in Westminster as a Liberal but soon his party voted for a merger with the SDP. He led the newly named Liberal Democrats for 11 years and then worked in Bosnia, trying to repair the damage that the war had done.

In this interview he meets his younger self at key moments from the sound archive and discusses his reactions with John Wilson. We hear his memories of serving in the Marines and also hear extracts from his first major speech at the Liberal Party Conference when he warned of the dangers of Cruise missiles.

There are highly emotional moments as well, when Paddy recounts the horrors of the scenes he saw in Bosnia in 1992.

And the programme comes up to the present with a consideration of what the Coalition and the recent local elections have meant for the Liberal Democrats.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown meets his younger self in the sound archive.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From Labour PR supremo to cabinet minister and peer, and dubbed "Prince of Darkness" along the way, Peter Mandelson reflects on his life in sound through the BBC archives. In the first programme of the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back" where guests replay the sound archive of their life, he talks to John Wilson about his career, hears recordings of his younger self and discusses how he has changed over the decades.

Lord Mandelson grew up with Labour in his blood - his grandfather was the Labour cabinet minister Herbert Morrison. After university and early jobs, he became first the party's Director of Campaigns and Communications and then MP for Hartlepool. After Labour's 1997 General Election victory, he served in Tony Blair's cabinet but was forced to resign twice - once over a home loan and the second over the Hinduja passport affair. After a move to Brussels as EU Trade Commissioner, a surprise request by the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown saw him given a cabinet post for an unprecedented third time, serving this time as a Peer in the House of Lords.

In this programme, John Wilson takes Lord Mandelson through the sound archive of his life from his earliest appearance in the 1970s up to the Labour's 2010 election defeat. We hear about his role as a moderniser of the Labour Party, his work in Government and his very public resignations.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Labour's Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson looks back at his life via the sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

From Labour PR supremo to cabinet minister and peer, and dubbed "Prince of Darkness" along the way, Peter Mandelson reflects on his life in sound through the BBC archives. In the first programme of the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back" where guests replay the sound archive of their life, he talks to John Wilson about his career, hears recordings of his younger self and discusses how he has changed over the decades.

Lord Mandelson grew up with Labour in his blood - his grandfather was the Labour cabinet minister Herbert Morrison. After university and early jobs, he became first the party's Director of Campaigns and Communications and then MP for Hartlepool. After Labour's 1997 General Election victory, he served in Tony Blair's cabinet but was forced to resign twice - once over a home loan and the second over the Hinduja passport affair. After a move to Brussels as EU Trade Commissioner, a surprise request by the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown saw him given a cabinet post for an unprecedented third time, serving this time as a Peer in the House of Lords.

In this programme, John Wilson takes Lord Mandelson through the sound archive of his life from his earliest appearance in the 1970s up to the Labour's 2010 election defeat. We hear about his role as a moderniser of the Labour Party, his work in Government and his very public resignations.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Labour's Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson looks back at his life via the sound archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Being close to Dr King during the troubled years of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement was just one of the formative experiences for the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Here he gets the chance to listen back to his younger self, recall his thoughts at the time, and apply the self-knowledge that comes from distance.

Other episodes in his life include addressing the first black political rally; negotiating with President Saddam Hussein of Iraq over hostages; running twice for President of the USA; witnessing the swearing in of the first black President; and most recently defending one of America's most controversial black icons, Michael Jackson.

Producers: Emma Kingsley and Sara Jane Hall (SNF).

Witness to the murder of Martin Luther King - the Reverend Jesse Jackson's life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Witness to the murder of Martin Luther King; the first African-American to make a significant bid for the US Presidency: in a new series on BBC Radio 4, the Reverend Jesse Jackson joins presenter John Wilson to reflect on the soundtrack to his life, drawn from a half century of BBC archive.

Being close to Dr King during the troubled years of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement was just one of the formative experiences for the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Here he gets the chance to listen back to his younger self, recall his thoughts at the time, and apply the self-knowledge that comes from distance.

Other episodes in his life include addressing the first black political rally; negotiating with President Saddam Hussein of Iraq over hostages; running twice for President of the USA; witnessing the swearing in of the first black President; and most recently defending one of America's most controversial black icons, Michael Jackson.

Producers: Emma Kingsley and Sara Jane Hall (SNF).

Witness to the murder of Martin Luther King - the Reverend Jesse Jackson's life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Witness to the murder of Martin Luther King; the first African-American to make a significant bid for the US Presidency: in a new series on BBC Radio 4, the Reverend Jesse Jackson joins presenter John Wilson to reflect on the soundtrack to his life, drawn from a half century of BBC archive.

Being close to Dr King during the troubled years of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement was just one of the formative experiences for the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Here he gets the chance to listen back to his younger self, recall his thoughts at the time, and apply the self-knowledge that comes from distance.

Other episodes in his life include addressing the first black political rally; negotiating with President Saddam Hussein of Iraq over hostages; running twice for President of the USA; witnessing the swearing in of the first black President; and most recently defending one of America's most controversial black icons, Michael Jackson.

Producers: Emma Kingsley and Sara Jane Hall (SNF).

Witness to the murder of Martin Luther King - the Reverend Jesse Jackson's life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

He begins by hearing his 21- year old self running the influential Student Magazine from a basement in London and relives the way he created Virgin Records as a cut price mail order enterprise. He also hears the sound archive from 1984 when he announced the setting up of Virgin Atlantic with only one plane. We hear his memories of his daring exploits in hot air balloons and at sea and his thoughts on escaping death by a whisker.

Richard Branson also relives the episode when one of his planes flew into Baghdad airport in to bring out the British hostages held by Saddam Hussain after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. He talks about the eerie stillness of the deserted airport, the tension of waiting and the relief when the hostages finally came on board.

We also hear his thoughts on doing business, taking knocks, political affiliation, plans for space travel and paying tax.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

The entrepreneur and creator of the Virgin empire reflects on life via the BBC archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

The first programme in the new series of 'Meeting Myself Coming Back', the series in which leading public figures explore their lives through the BBC archives, features Sir Richard Branson in conversation with John Wilson. From his early days as the founder of Student magazine, to the creation of the Virgin record business and expansion into a global empire, Richard Branson has been an icon of entrepreneurship. In this interview, he meets his younger self from the sound archive and discusses his reactions with John Wilson.

He begins by hearing his 21- year old self running the influential Student Magazine from a basement in London and relives the way he created Virgin Records as a cut price mail order enterprise. He also hears the sound archive from 1984 when he announced the setting up of Virgin Atlantic with only one plane. We hear his memories of his daring exploits in hot air balloons and at sea and his thoughts on escaping death by a whisker.

Richard Branson also relives the episode when one of his planes flew into Baghdad airport in to bring out the British hostages held by Saddam Hussain after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. He talks about the eerie stillness of the deserted airport, the tension of waiting and the relief when the hostages finally came on board.

We also hear his thoughts on doing business, taking knocks, political affiliation, plans for space travel and paying tax.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

The entrepreneur and creator of the Virgin empire reflects on life via the BBC archives.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Another chance to hear the audio memories of the writer, director and comedy performer Sir Jonathan Miller who died in November. This programme was first broadcast in 2010.

He became famous as a member of the Beyond the Fringe cast and went on to present television programmes and direct opera and theatre productions around the world. Now, in the last of the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back", Sir Jonathan Miller explores his life and work through the BBC Sound archive. In conversation with John Wilson, he looks back at his younger self and discusses the ways in which he has changed and developed.

Revered as a polymath, Jonathan Miller's life has taken in medical studies at university, comedy performing and television presenting with series like "The Body in Question". Throughout his career there has been a tension between his medical career and his reputation as a satirist and director. In this programme he explores the pull of the two worlds upon him and the guilt that he still feels at having abandoned his work as a doctor.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

From Beyond the Fringe to atheism, Sir Jonathan Miller relives his life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Another chance to hear the audio memories of the writer, director and comedy performer Sir Jonathan Miller who died in November. This programme was first broadcast in 2010.

He became famous as a member of the Beyond the Fringe cast and went on to present television programmes and direct opera and theatre productions around the world. Now, in the last of the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back", Sir Jonathan Miller explores his life and work through the BBC Sound archive. In conversation with John Wilson, he looks back at his younger self and discusses the ways in which he has changed and developed.

Revered as a polymath, Jonathan Miller's life has taken in medical studies at university, comedy performing and television presenting with series like "The Body in Question". Throughout his career there has been a tension between his medical career and his reputation as a satirist and director. In this programme he explores the pull of the two worlds upon him and the guilt that he still feels at having abandoned his work as a doctor.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

From Beyond the Fringe to atheism, Sir Jonathan Miller relives his life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive

Another chance to hear the audio memories of the writer, director and comedy performer Sir Jonathan Miller who died in November. This programme was first broadcast in 2010.

He became famous as a member of the Beyond the Fringe cast and went on to present television programmes and direct opera and theatre productions around the world. Now, in the last of the series "Meeting Myself Coming Back", Sir Jonathan Miller explores his life and work through the BBC Sound archive. In conversation with John Wilson, he looks back at his younger self and discusses the ways in which he has changed and developed.

Revered as a polymath, Jonathan Miller's life has taken in medical studies at university, comedy performing and television presenting with series like "The Body in Question". Throughout his career there has been a tension between his medical career and his reputation as a satirist and director. In this programme he explores the pull of the two worlds upon him and the guilt that he still feels at having abandoned his work as a doctor.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

From Beyond the Fringe to atheism, Sir Jonathan Miller relives his life in sound.

High-profile figures, in conversation with John Wilson, replay their own sound archive