Nicholas Hopton – former UK Ambassador to Iran, Qatar, Yemen, and Libya – reveals how his diplomatic skills have come in handy as he’s breathed new life into a run-down olive farm in a little-known area of Tuscany.  Encounters with wild boar, leaky pipes, colourful local characters, attempts at olive oil production and wading through Italian bureaucracy are all part of Nick’s beautifully written and witty memoir, Maremma Mia. Nick talks about the privilege of serving as British Ambassador to Iran at a sensitive time, rebuilding trust on the back of the nuclear agreement, and living in numerous countries with his family, including France, Italy and Morocco, during his prestigious 35-year career at the Foreign Office.       

Avalanche Search and Rescue expert Caroline Elliott shares some of her life-saving missions in the mountains. She was the first British woman to join the French Fire and Rescue Specialist Mountain Unit as a dog handler, with retriever Fjord by her side, and the first to qualify in all disciplines for the elite French ski patrol. Every second counts when saving lives – teamwork and communication are key. Caroline translates valuable lessons learned in often harsh, hostile mountain conditions to corporate and everyday life.       

As Lauren Child celebrates 25 years of writing and illustrating her much-loved Charlie and Lola children’s books, we chat at her London studio about everything from libraries, art galleries, dolls houses and writers’ block to growing up in the seventies.  Lauren has worked with UNESCO in places like Mongolia - where she adopted her daughter from - and was Children’s Laureate. I Am Wishing Every Minute for Christmas is out now. Lauren laughs when she reveals she started writing it 20 years ago and apologies to her US agent for making her wait 10 million 512 thousand minutes!    

ITV/Lorraine producer and breast cancer survivor Helen Addis MBE on ‘making noise’ with her Change & Check Campaign which has saved lives and earned her the MBE.  TV star Davina McCall has just revealed she has breast cancer and has caught it early thanks to seeing the campaign’s stickers. Helen documented her gruelling treatment for aggressive grade 3 cancer to emphasise the importance of early diagnosis.  The campaign has taken her to Downing Street to lobby the Government, her choir has performed for the King, and she’s pushing for her posters and stickers to be displayed throughout the NHS.  

The founder of 2wish, Rhian Mannings MBE, caught the world’s attention when Prince William joined her for a cup of tea in her kitchen in Cardiff to discuss her experience of suicide and find out more about its devastating impact. The future King was overcome with emotion at one point as Rhian spoke openly about the double tragedy of her 33-year-old husband Paul unexpectedly taking his own life five days after the couple lost their one-year-old baby, George. No berevement help was available as she navigated their devastating loss.  Rhian set up 2wish in Paul and George's honour, to provide a lifeline for those who suffer the sudden loss of a child or young person. The chat with Prince William coincided with the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Royal Foundation pledging £1 million to launch The National Suicide Prevention Network and World Mental Health Day.   

Deaf actor, comedian and podcaster Samantha Baines takes us on her fascinating life journey – from acting in some of Britain’s top dramas, working with stars like John Lithgow, Channing Tatum and Miriam Margolyes; creating an award-winning podcast out of her divorce to the challenges of stand-up comedy. She’s a passionate champion and advocate for the deaf and disabled communities - diagnosed as deaf when she was 29, and more recently with ADHD. Sam has written a best-seller - Living with Hearing Loss and Deafness – to help people own their deafness, as well as children’s books featuring deaf lead characters. She explains why she wouldn’t give her deafness away and how she’s learned to love being one of the 18 million people in the UK with hearing loss.      

Founder of The Good Grief Trust Linda Magistris OBE has shared her vision for ensuring everyone who is bereaved finds the help and hope they need during a conversation with HRH the Prince of Wales at her investiture at Windsor Castle.  Linda started the charity nine years ago after struggling to find the support she needed when her partner, BAFTA-winning director Graham Theakston, died aged 62. In our updated Convex Conversation, Linda explains how interested Prince William was in the work the charity does and her aim to have signposting cards in NHS hospitals, schools, universities, GP surgeries etc to ensure no one in the UK faces grief alone. The charity unites more than 1,000 bereavement organisations under one umbrella.  The Good Grief Trust supporters Greg Wise and Dame Penelope Wilton Linda and her partner Graham Theakston

As Editor-in Chief, journalist George Webster helped conceive CNN Style, working in the dynamic world of global media, until he discovered a passion for functional mushrooms and the fascinating fungi kingdom.  Describing himself as an amateur mycologist, George turned entrepreneur. Frustrated by the seeming lack of high-quality mushroom supplements on the market, he founded The Functional Mushroom Company. George takes us on a journey which began more than a billion years ago, sharing stories from the discovery of fungi in space to the well-documented health benefits of intriguing ancient species like lion’s mane, chaga, turkey tail, cordyceps and reishi.   To find out more about George and his supplements go to: https://thefunctionalmushroom.co    

Former Sky Sports presenter and Yorkshireman Dave Clark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when his children were just seven and four, but he continued to host live sport for another decade.  Dave is credited with transforming darts, helping to make it the second most popular sport on Sky, taking the World Championships from a strip club on the A13 to Ally Pally where a million pints were supped! Dave's father also suffered with the neurological condition and tragically took his own life when Dave was 18. His dad’s struggles have played a huge big part in Dave’s determination to live positively & raise more than half a million pounds for research. Dave hosts the podcast 2 Parkies in a Pod with his friend Kuhan to help others cope with the challenges.    .  Dave with his 2 Parkies in a Pod co-host Kuhan .   Dave and Ruby

Acclaimed children’s author Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE recalls being captivated by watching Much Ado About Nothing, aged just seven, sitting in the cheap seats with his brother in the gods of Shakespeare’s Stratford theatre.  Michael believes all children should see Shakespeare and enjoy the magnificent tales the Bard re-told for everyone. His latest book – More Tales from Shakespeare – re-tells eight plays for a new generation. With more than 150 books to his name, Michael talks about his knighthood, the fireside chat which inspired his classic War Horse, and the charity, Farms for City Children, which he co-founded with his wife Clare 50 years ago, giving inner city kids the chance to experience life on a farm.                                                                                Lady Clare Morpurgo MBE

Tech/AI journalist Lara Lewington reveals how technology and AI can save our health - and our lives - and unravels some of the myths and fears. Lara says the biggest positive change is coming in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.  Lara has travelled all over the world interviewing longevity experts, scientists and doctors - often testing out the latest tech herself - for documentaries and her new book, Hacking Humanity.  She’s met characters like 103-year-old Mildred who lives disease-free in a Blue Zone near LA, and American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson who’s going to extremes to reverse his biological age. But Lara's passion lies in how cutting-edge science, powered by AI, can help us all live better.    Lara with a 3D printed model of her brain, created for her BBC documentary Mind Over Matter Lara in California with tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, exploring his extreme regime to reverse his biological age 103-year-old Mildred chats to Lara about life in a Blue Zone near LA A tortuous moment during the shoot for Lara’s longevity show

Natalie Queiroz MBE shares her story of survival and determination to make a difference after being stabbed 24 times with a carving knife in a frenzied nine-minute assault whilst eight months pregnant. She recounts the moment she realised her hooded attacker was her partner Bob – the love of her life – and father of her unborn child. He’s now in prison for attempted murder. Natalie’s life changed in many ways that afternoon. She’s become a victims advocate for West Midlands Police, speaks to murderers and gang members serving time in category A prisons, is a trained specialist in youth violence helping youngsters find a better path, and through it all retains an extraordinary sense of humour and grace.    Natalie receiving the MBE for services to young people & the prevention of knife crime Natalie with her former partner Babur Karamat Raja (Bob), now serving time for her attempted murder Natalie with baby Leah after the stabbing *Leah's name has been changed to protect her identity   Babur Karamat Raja (Bob) photographed by West Midlands Police

Former Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police Neil Basu talks candidly about serving in Counter Terror when the threat level against Britain was at its highest since the Northern Ireland troubles of the ‘70s.  In part two of our special, Neil quotes Dickens when he describes those seven years as “the best of times and the worst of times”, liaising closely with MI5 to stop terrorists attacking the UK. Neil reveals more stories from his book Turmoil - an extraordinary insight into serving in the biggest police force in the UK – and what he misses about being ‘in the room’ at the heart of policing.    Neil Basu photographed by Antonio Olmos at the Old Bailey

Neil Basu - former Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police - retired as the most senior officer of colour in the UK, dedicated to a service that has a problem with race and, according to the Casey Review, remains institutionally racist.  As a mixed-race detective, he stuck with it through bombings, murders, kidnaps, extortion and during his time running counter terrorism, working closely with MI5 to foil 29 plots against Britain.  Neil shares eye-opening and, at times, uncomfortable stories from his new book Turmoil, which he describes as a love letter to policing - a vocation which defined him for decades. It's a deeply personal account of what it was like to serve for the biggest police force in the UK and the toll it ultimately took on his career, family and mind.       Neil Basu photographed by Antonio Olmos at the Old Bailey  

New York Magazine/Vogue journalist Jon Gluck was living the dream at 38 - married, loving his first New York apartment and enjoying his baby daughter.  But, after a minor, innocuous slip on a patch of ice, he was devastated to be diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood cancer and given just 18 months to 3 years to live.  22 years on and counting, Jon has written a searingly honest account of his survival. 'An Exercise in Uncertainty – A Memoir of Illness and Hope’ documents how he’s beaten the odds and, more broadly, offers some gems on how to cope with uncertainly of any kind.   

At 5.44am on May 15th, 17-year-old Emma Schwerin from Montana reached the summit of Mount Everest with her dad, Sam, and earned not one, but three world records!  She’s the youngest American female ever to summit Everest, as well as Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and the youngest woman in the world to conquer the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent.  Emma – who describes herself as ‘a fierce 4ft 11’ – says climbing the notoriously dangerous Icefall on Everest, she repeated the quote 'if it wasn't scary, it wouldn't be big enough' to conquer her fear. Her aim is to inspire other young girls and women to dream big and show that anything is possible with grit, hard work and determination. Just moments away from conquering Mount Everest - the last of the Seven Summits   Emma climbing Mount Everest in her 8,000m suit   Emma becomes youngest American woman to summit Mount Vinson in Antarctica, standing with her dad Sam   Climbing the most challenging mountain, Denali in North America              

Cian Adams and his brother Jordan have a gene mutation which means they will almost certainly develop devastating symptoms of a rare form of frontotemporal dementia in their 40s. The same gene robbed them of their mum, Geraldine, when she was just 52, as well as their aunt, nana and other relatives. Known as the FTD Brothers, Cian and Jordan take on epic running challenges – including a 903-mile run from John o’ Groats to Land’s End in 2024 - to raise £1 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK of which they’re ambassadors.  Helen talks to 24-year-old Cian about the family turmoil of seeing his mum suffering when he was a young boy and how he copes with the knowledge of what the future likely holds for him. He’s joined on the podcast by his girlfriend, Helen Jolly, who’s studying for a PhD in Dementia at Oxford University and gives an insight into the science behind this cruel disease.    Cian & Jordan’s mum, Geraldine.  

There’s a small square of the Arctic – 3 metres by 3 metres - behind the UK Research Station in Svalbard, which Encounter Edu Founder & former teacher Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop calls his own. Huddled in sub-zero temperatures on the ice, he’s spent hours there, broadcasting to more than 150,000 children from 57 countries, sharing the magical northernmost region of the Earth with them, bringing scientists’ work to life and inspiring young minds to understand our planet. Encounter Edu produces live lessons for schools on some of our most pressing global issues - climate change, ocean health, the refugee crisis, Ai, and unites students living with conflict with classrooms around the world. The Encounter Edu team has reached more than 24 million youngsters in 91 countries.    UK Arctic Research Station, Svalbard      

When 18-year-old Arsenal & England star Myles Lewis-Skelly showed serious potential on the pitch as a young lad, his mum Marcia experienced how confusing and lonely the world of youth football can be, and realised she needed expert knowledge for their journey ahead.  So, she studied for a Masters in Football Business and took agency exams, before setting up No1Fan.club – the UK’s first platform to help parents navigate the intricacies of the football industry, from grassroots and academy to Premier League. Marcia and her team run workshops, one-on-one sessions and talks. Myles made history in March, becoming the youngest player to score on his England debut, and has had a ground-breaking season at Arsenal. He’s very proud of No1Fan.club and wants other children to experience the support and guidance he feels grateful to have.   

David Lowe was outed on TikTok as the composer of some of TV's most iconic music when his 'how I created the BBC News themes' post to mark the 25th anniversary went viral!  He's the man behind the opening music for programmes like The One Show, Panorama, Grand Designs and BBC Countryfile, as well as top TV ads. And he arranged a special version of Chariots of Fire by Vangelis for the 2012 Olympic medal ceremony when Andy Murray took gold in the tennis.  David shows Helen how he builds the tracks, loved by millions of viewers. He's composed our new music for The Convex Conversation with guitarist James Nisbet, who plays for artists like Kylie Minogue & Belinda Carlisle, and West End trumpet player Jim Lynch on flugelhorn live in the studio.