Confessions with Giles Fraser - UnHerd

Giles chats with Israeli chef, food writer and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi about ham sandwiches, swapping 'futile' academia for cooking, and being a poster boy for Israeli-Palestinian harmony.

In our Holy Week special, Giles talks to composer and conductor Sir James MacMillan about Scottish sectarianism, joining the Communist Party, and why composing is like having a photo developed. ___ Sir James MacMillan is one of the most successful composers of his generation, achieving international acclaim. His music has been programmed worldwide by orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, as well as being commissioned for Pope Benedict XVI's 2010 state visit to the UK. He is heavily influenced by his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, and his social and political conscience.

Giles chats with novelist and columnist Lionel Shriver about growing up in a deeply religious family, living in Belfast during the Troubles, and Britain's great divide.

Giles talks to the author Margaret Drabble about family secrets, coping with depression and unwittingly writing feminist literature.

Giles Fraser talks to broadcaster and politico Iain Dale about growing up on a farm, coming out as gay, his love of politics and how Brexit is driving us mad.

Giles Fraser talks to journalist and campaigner Marina Cantacuzino about founding The Forgiveness Project, the power of stories, channelling her anger and losing her brother at a young age.

Giles speaks to Alan Rusbridger, former Guardian editor and Principal of Oxford University's Lady Margaret Hall, about his thrifty family, battling fake news and the fate of journalism.

In the first of Confessions Season 2, Oxford's Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, Marcus du Sautoy, talks to Giles Fraser about being terrible at sums, his love of music and whether code will develop consciousness.

In the last of this season's Confessions, journalist and life-long provocateur Melanie Phillips joins Giles for a revealing discussion about falling into journalism, rediscovering Judaism and her perennial self-doubt.

Giles Fraser talks to distinguished human rights lawyer Helena Kennedy QC about growing up in Glasgow's tenements, living her faith, gender discrimination, and how the law has failed the working class.

Giles Fraser talks to academic and writer Jacqueline Rose about growing up in a family with ghosts, transgenerational trauma, Israel as a moral project and the ferocious pressure of motherhood.

Giles Fraser talks to Director of Faith Matters Fiyaz Mughal about founding Tell MAMA, the scale of Islamophobia, and why Saudi Wahhabism has ripped the heart out of Islam.

Giles Fraser talks to educator and writer Claire Fox about growing up Catholic, life in the Revolutionary Communist Party, her passion to reanimate the public square and why she's positive about the state of democracy.

Giles Fraser talks to writer and philosopher Sir Roger Scruton about the importance of faith and family, finding Conservatism, humanity in architecture, and being a class traitor.

Giles Fraser talks to political theorist and Blue Labour founder Lord Glasman about Judaism, Brexit, and why his philosophy was a love letter to his parents.