Mature Times - Personality Interviews

Tanni Grey-Thompson: fashioning a new future

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:18:05 +0000

Tony Watts meets one of our most outstanding athletes in recent decades: Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson to talk about sport, mobility - and fashion.

An audience with Ursula Andress

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:00:56 +0000

From Bond girl to osteoporosis victim… as Ursula Andress reminds Tony Watts, it’s 45 years since she memorably walked out of the sea in Doctor No. But she still has the old Hollywood charisma, and now she has a cause to champion.

Keith Emerson: still building musical bridges

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:43:23 +0000

Tony Watts talks to prog-rock legend Keith Emerson, who is back on the road with a brand new album.

Geoff Boycott pitches in

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:41:25 +0100

Ask any cricket aficionado to name the top England batsmen of all time, and one name will always crop up. Geoffrey Boycott. 22 Test centuries and a Test average of 47.73 speaks for itself. Of course, as well as being admired, he also had his critics, and he was never afraid to voice his opinions back – and is undoubtedly the most outspoken of our cricketing commentators! He now has a new book out, picking his ‘dream’ Test teams from all the major nations. Tony Watts talks to him.

He shoots. He scores

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:16:45 +0100

Once hailed as the “greatest living Englishman”, Sir Bobby Charlton still represents all that is best about the beautiful game. And now into his seventies, he is also bearing the standard for fitness in older age. Tony Watts talks to a national hero.

Going Wilde in the garden

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:25:21 +0100

Mature Times editor Tony Watts talks to Kim Wilde about gardens, children and her famous dad.

Over to Henry Blofeld

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:21:44 +0100

Henry Blofeld isn’t just one of the great voices of Test Match Special. He also currently has his own one man show touring the country, giving flesh to an extraordinary life. Tony Watts shares time at the crease with him. And we have five signed copies of Henry's one man show to be won too!

That's Esther ...

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:01:52 +0100

Everyone knows Esther Rantzen from programmes such as “That’s Life”, “The Big Time”, “Hearts of Gold” and “How to Have a Good Death”. And by setting up Childline, she has helped give hope and sanctuary to thousands of abused young people. Now the doyenne of campaigning is back with another message for the Great British Public: don’t get upset about being older: celebrate it. And she has just launched a new book and a new website to reinforce her message. She talks to Mature Times editor Tony Watts.

Tommy is still on song

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:10:31 +0100

It’s 52 years since “Rock with the Caveman” went to number 13 in the charts. Hopes were high that the quiff-haired singer might be Britain’s answer to Elvis - and he’s been delighting audiences on film and on stage ever since. Eileen Caiger Gray chats to Tommy Steele - and hopes to get in that big question ... did he really meet Elvis in London?

Jeff Banks' passion for fashion

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:23:59 +0100

Since 1964, Jeff Banks has been helping to dress the nation. From opening up one of the first boutiques in swinging London through to his groundbreaking fashion shows on TV, Jeff has always stayed one step ahead. And his advice for MT readers? There’s never been a better time to be a mature and dedicated follower of fashion! By Mature Times editor Tony Watts.

Paulo Coelho: writing the pilgrim’s way

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:04:06 +0100

Mature Times editor Tony Watts talks to Paulo Coelho, the world’s most translated living author, whose books - including The Alchemist - have now notched up sales of over 100 million

Dame Julia's manifesto for older age

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:10:48 +0100

Older people in this country, says Baroness Julia Neuberger, are taken for granted, subject to ageism, care and health rationing and cast out from the mainstream of society. It’s time for change, she tells Mature Times editor Tony Watts. A radical change.

Absolutely Joanna

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:46:57 +0100

Her TV role as the dissolute Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous might have led the uninformed viewer to make some very incorrect assumptions about Joanna Lumley. Tony Watts meets the woman behind the role as she launches a new project for homeless people.

Chris Barber: ‘On the slide’ since 1949

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:03:08 +0100

Chris Barber has been filling out concert halls for nearly 60 years. And, along the way, has been responsible for not only making jazz one of the most enduring forms of music in the country, but also introducing black American musicians into this country who inspired bands as diverse as Fleetwood Mac, Cream and the Rolling Stones. He talks to Tony Watts.

Meet the Jungle VIP!

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:32:54 +0000

For anyone 50 and over, he was the voice of Radio 1. For anyone younger, he is probably best known as the very first “King of the Jungle”. But as Tony Blackburn explains, not only has he been responsible for many innovations in radio, but he remains one of the country’s hardest working DJs - and music continues to be one of his passions. Tony Blackburn talks to Tony Watts.