´óÏó´«Ã½

Cathy is in conversation with author Kamila Shamsie who was raised in Pakistan but now calls London home. She talks about her childhood influences and her novel, Home Fire, which looks at the close ties within the family unit, who in this case are divided by romance, sex and Islamist fundamentalism.

Last week the curtain finally came down on Robert Mugabe's 37 years as Leader of Zimbabwe. Despite various attempts to oust him it was only until his position became untenable that he finally relinquished control. Former ´óÏó´«Ã½ East Africa correspondent Colin Blane and Minister of Gorbals Church Ian Galloway discuss the addictiveness of power, and why some leaders just won't let go.

On the 100th Anniversary of her death, we hear the remarkable story of one man's quest to keep the memory of Scottish medical pioneer, Elsie Inglis alive. Alan Cumming discovered that she's a national hero in Serbia and since then, has been trying to raise her status in her homeland.

The word Christmas "has lost all meaning for believers," according to Catholic Priest, Father Desmond O'Donnell. His solution is to urge Christians to use a different - more meaningful - word, and leave Christmas as a secular celebration.

Ahead of St Andrew's Day, Cathy explores what it's like to be a New Scot with Befriending Coordinator at The Welcoming Charity, Caitlin Rodgers and recent resident to Scotland, Taghrid Safwat.

Cathy has her reading habits explored and analysed by bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud, who prescribes the right novels to cure some of life's problems.