大象传媒

Libby Purves is joined by actor and comedian Omid Djalili, former girl gang member, Chyna, travel journalist and writer Brian Jackman and folk musician Tim Edey.

Omid Djalili is an award-winning British-Iranian actor and comedian. He is currently starring in Joe Orton's play 'What the Butler Saw'. Omid has appeared in films including The Mummy, Gladiator, and The Infidel and on stage played the role of Fagin in Oliver! What the Butler Saw is at London's Vaudeville Theatre.

Writing under the pseudonym 'Chyna', the author gives a graphic account of life in a girl gang which she joined at the age of 12. Her gang of ten members operated in the estates of south London fighting, stealing and dealing drugs. Now 24, Chyna has turned her life around and works for the community charity 'foundation4 life' which helps young people extricate themselves from the grip of local gangs. 'How I escaped a Girl Gang' is published by Coronet.

Brian Jackman is a travel journalist and writer. He is the author, with Jonathan and Angie Scott, of 'The Marsh Lions,' which was originally published thirty years ago and has just been reissued. For five years the authors followed the Marsh pride of lions of the Masai Mara, painstakingly recording the daily drama of life and death on the African plains. The Marsh Lions - The Story of an African Pride is published by Bradt.

Tim Edey is a folk musician who started playing Irish folk music at the age of four. At this year's Radio 2 Folk Awards Tim won Musician of the Year and Best Duo (with Brendon Power) and is touring with the Chieftains later this year.

Producer: Paula McGinley.