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PODCAST · music

Inheritance Tracks

by BBC Radio 4

Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Jun 7, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Nigel Planer

    This edition of Inheritance Tracks comes from Nigel Planer, the mention of that name brings straight to mind Neil from the Young Ones, but there’s a lot more to Nigel than that. And there’s plenty going on in his Inheritance Tracks too. He'll be appearing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on...

  2. Nick Mohammed

    We’ve seen him in Ted Lasso, and as a Celebrity Traitor and now in Sky’s legal drama, War. Here are the Tracks which mean most to him. Inherited: Somewhere Only We Know by Keane Pass On: English Dances by Sir Malcolm Arnold Producer: Catherine Powell Image credit: David Vintiner

  3. Lucy Porter

    The comedian and writer chooses the music track that she has inherited from her mother and the track she would like to pass on to her children. Inherited: These Foolish Things by Nat King Cole Pass On: Everything Is Everything by Lauryn Hill This episode of Inheritance Tracks featured on Radio…

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  4. Jim Al-Khalili

    The Professor of Physics and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili chooses two tracks that have inspired him. A familiar voice on BBC Radio 4, with programmes such as The Life Scientific, Jim's musical choices begin with a track that takes him back to his teeange years in Iraq. Inherited track: Father and…

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  5. Sian Brooke

    This edition of Inheritance Tracks are the choices of the actress Sian Brooke. Sian features as one of the police officers in the Belfast based and BAFTA winning television drama, Blue Lights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Inherited track: Dance Little Sister by Sananda Maitreya Pass on: Zorbing by...

  6. Carlos Gu

    Carlos was Karen Carney’s professional dancing partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025 and together they lifted the glitterball trophy. On the eve of the new series he shares the music tracks that have inspired his dancing and moments in his life. Inherited track: Barbra Streisand - The Way We...

  7. Adrian Lester

    The actor Adrian Lester has had hearts a flutter from Stratford-upon-Avon to London in his latest role as Cyrano De Bergerac. The Birmingham born Hustle star's first experience of performing was in the choir at St Chad's Cathedral, before going onto win the Laurence-Olivier-Award for 'Best Actor…

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  8. Nisha Katona

    TV personality, chef and restaurateur behind Mowgli Street Food restaurants on the tracks that have shaped her. Inherited: ABBA - The Day Before You Came Pass on: Leonard Cohen - Dance With Me to the End of Love Producer: Lowri Morgan Researcher: Jesse Edwards

  9. Clare Grogan

    The Singer-Songwriter on the tracks that have inspired her work and life. Inherited: Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson Pass on: Sara by Fleetwood Mac Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

  10. Mark Billingham

    The best selling crime author on the tracks that have inspired him. Inherited: Have Mercy on the Criminal by Elton John Pass on: He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones

  11. Lorraine Kelly

    The Inheritance Tracks are the choice of the much-loved broadcaster Lorraine Kelly as featured in BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live on 20 June 2026. Inherited: Jupiter from The Planet Suite by Holst Pass on: Starman by David Bowie Producer: Anna Bailey (Picture credit: Nicky Johnston)

  12. Nat Sciver-Brunt

    Nat Sciver-Brunt is the captain of England's Women Cricket Team and one of the world’s leading all-round cricketers In June 2026, Nat is presently engaged in trying to lead the side to triumph in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. With proven leadership at the highest level, she’s found the time...

  13. Russell T Davies

    The screenwriter and television producer Russell T Davies. From being best known to being the show-runner for the reboot of Dr Who, he’s looked at life in London during the 1980s with the series It’s A Sin and his latest TV drama is set in contemporary Manchester. His Inheritance Tracks are...

  14. Katie Razzall

    The journalist and broadcaster Katie Razzall is the BBC’s culture and media editor - and co-host of The Media Show. She was formerly Newsnight’s UK editor and correspondent for Channel 4 News - but has long harboured a dream of being a WWII French resistance member. Her Inheritance Tracks are...

  15. Prue Leith

    Dame Prue Leith has written more than a dozen cookery books, seven novels, and her new memoir - "Being Old...and learning to love it!" - she explores the trials and taboos of growing older. She's no stranger to a kitchen disco with her roles on the Great British Menu and Bake Off - but has always...

  16. Jason Watkins

    This week’s Inheritance Tracks come from stage and screen actor, Jason Watkins. Jason has been in brilliant in TV productions as various as the Crown, W1A and the The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries for which he won a BAFTA. Inherited: Al Bowlly - Love is the Sweetest Thing Pass on: Human...

  17. Nick Robinson

    This week’s Inheritance Tracks come from Presenter and Journalist, Nick Robinson. Nick is the BBC’s and ITV former political editor and he started as a presenter on Today (Radio 4) in November 2015. Here are the two tracks most dear to him: Inherited: The Carpet Crawlers by Genesis taken from the...

  18. Liz Earle

    Entrepreneur Liz Earle inherits 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin'' by Nancy Sinatra and 'One Love' by David Guetta with Estelle.

  19. Laura Mvula

    Singer-songwriter Laura Mvula chooses 'Golden Brown' by Omar and 'The World Is Yours' by Nas.

  20. James McAvoy

    Actor James McAvoy chooses 'Maggie May' by Rod Stewart and 'Ally Bally Bee' sung by Mary Anne Paterson.

  21. Noah Wyle

    ER actor Noah Wyle chooses ‘We Belong Together’ by Rickie Lee Jones and ‘Peter and the Wolf’ by Sergei Prokofiev.

  22. Lesley Joseph

    This edition of Inheritance Tracks come from an actress with a strong claim for national treasure status – Lesley Joseph. With a career spanning over sixty years, she has entertained us as on the small screen in the likes of Birds of a Feather and on stage as Mother Superior in the Sister Act...

  23. Lisa Kudrow

    Our inheritance tracks this week come from Lisa Kudrow, no less. The Emmy Award-winning star from Friends returns to our screens in the latest series of The Comeback. As Phoebe Buffay her attempts at music-making were famously harrowing – but her Inheritance Tracks, predictably enough, are a real...

  24. Dr Sian Williams

    Dr Sian Williams is a chartered counselling psychologist working in the NHS. Sian presented BBC Breakfast for over a decade, as well as Saturday Live between 2012 and 2014. Radio 4 listeners will know her from her series Life Changing which returns in April. Her book on living well with anxiety...

  25. Adam Fleming

    BBC News presenter Adam Fleming with Girls Aloud’s ‘Jump’ and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, ‘Spring 1’, recomposed by Max Richter.

  26. Mike Wozniak

    Comedian, writer and actor Mike Wozniak chooses ‘Minor Swing’ by Django Reinhardt and ‘Corpus Christi Carol’ by Jeff Buckley.

  27. Andy Zaltzman

    Andy Zaltzman inherits 'Got my Mojo Working' by Muddy Waters and passes on 'My Very Best' by The Big Moon.

  28. Marian Keyes

    Popular Irish novelist Marian Keyes, inherits 'Only Our Rivers Run Free' by Christy Moore and 'The Bottle' by Gil Scott-Heron.

  29. Matt Edmondson

    BBC Radio 1 DJ Matt Edmondson chooses ‘I Want It That Way’ by Backstreet Boys and ‘Green Light’ by Lorde.

  30. Riz Ahmed

    Oscar winning actor Riz Ahmed chooses ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ by Nazia Hassan and ‘Gabriel’ by Roy Davis Jr.

  31. Mika

    Our inheritance tracks this week come from the musician and broadcaster Mika, who is back out on tour with his latest album Hyperlove. Mika was born in Lebanon, and raised in Cyprus, Paris and London, all of which feed into his intriguing new album and makes for a fascinating edition of…

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  32. Claire Foy

    Claire Foy is an actor who’s enjoyed great success playing two queens, one of whom enjoyed a significantly longer reign than the other, as Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth II. And stars in the film adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s memoir, H is for Hawk. Inherited: When You Were Sweet 16 by Perry…

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  33. Mark Heap

    Actor Mark Heap chooses ‘Were You There?’ by Tennessee Ernie Ford and ‘L'Ascension’ composed by Olivier Messiaen.

  34. Justin Hawkins

    Musician Justin Hawkins chooses There Are More Questions Than Answers by Johnny Nash and Pancho and Lefty by Townes Van Zandt.

  35. Emily Watson

    Actor Emily Watson chooses ‘La Boheme’ by Giacomo Puccini and ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials.

  36. Paul Bettany

    Actor Paul Bettany chooses ‘The Eton Rifles’ by The Jam and ‘Hollow Ponds’ by Damon Albarn.

  37. Jacinda Ardern

    New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern chooses Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters and Hope by Fat Freddy's Drop.

  38. Chris and Xand van Tulleken

    Identical twin doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken with tracks by Khachaturian, Guns N' Roses and Rupert Holmes.

  39. Jason Donovan

    Jason Donovan first captured hearts our hearts in Neighbours, becoming a household name worldwide, before breaking into the charts and onto the West End stage. What then will he choose as his Inheritance tracks? Inherited: It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel Passing on: Life’s What You...

  40. Richard E. Grant

    Actor Richard E. Grant chooses 'Who Will Buy?' (Oliver!) and 'Don't Rain On My Parade' (Funny Girl), sung by Barbra Streisand.

  41. Peter and Dan Snow

    Broadcasters Peter Snow and his son Dan choose Sibelius’s ‘Finlandia’ and ‘Remember The Alamo’ by Tex Ritter.

  42. Miranda Hart

    Comedian and author Miranda Hart chooses ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ by INXS and ‘That I Would Be Good’ by Alanis Morissette.

  43. Clare Balding

    Broadcast journalist and author Clare Balding inherits 'Sweet Caroline' by Neil Diamond and passes on 'Vienna' by Billy Joel.

  44. Philippa Gregory

    Author Philippa Gregory chooses the Mazurka from the ballet Coppélia, and Swing Low Sweet Chariot by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

  45. Dame Joanna Lumley

    Actress and author Dame Joanna Lumley chooses ‘In the Mood’ by Glenn Miller and ‘Pata Pata’ by Miriam Makeba.

  46. Davina McCall

    TV presenter Davina McCall inherits 'State of Independence' by Donna Summer and passes on 'You Can Do It' by Caribou.

  47. Joanna Page

    Joanna Page - the star of BBC TV's Gavin and Stacey - inherits 'Northern Sky' by Nick Drake and passes on 'Chic Mystique' by Chic.

  48. Mark Kermode

    Film critic Mark Kermode picks ‘2002 Zarathustrevisited’ by Stan Kenton & His Orchestra and ‘Top Of The World’ by Shonen Knife.

  49. Dan Brown

    The chances of writing a novel which sells more than 80 million copies are about as remote as a lad from Stockport making it to the NBA, but Dan Brown pulled it off with The Da Vinci Code. That book, like his new novel, delves into literature, symbology, secret societies and so on. None of which...

  50. Oti Mabuse

    Oti Mabuse was the first professional dancer to win the Strictly Glitterball two years in a row with her partners Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey. But prior to her success on the Stricktly ballroom Oti had already become South African Latin American Champion no fewer than eight times. Music…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.

HOSTED BY

BBC Radio 4

Produced by BBC

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Inheritance Tracks have?

Inheritance Tracks currently has 901 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Inheritance Tracks about?

Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.

How often does Inheritance Tracks release new episodes?

Inheritance Tracks releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 901 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.

Where can I listen to Inheritance Tracks?

You can listen to Inheritance Tracks on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Inheritance Tracks?

Inheritance Tracks is created and hosted by BBC Radio 4.
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