In 2009 my book Radio Head, up and down the dial of British Radio, was broadcast as Radio 4's Book of the Week. You can download / listen here. It's read by Lee Ingleby.

Episode 1


Episode 2

Episode 3


Episode 4


Episode 5

Live show

In the last few weeks I've been working on a live show based on the episodes of John Peel's Shed I recorded. I've never done a solo show before and it's something I'm really enjoying developing. It's also about British radio, and features some of my experiences in writing my book Radio Head. So far I've performed it once, in Brighton, and it seemed to go pretty well. So hopefully I'll get to do it more often. More info on the show here.



There's a review of the Brighton show here. The next preview of the show is November 17th 2010 here.

Captivating - The Guardian

Funny, personal and charming, The Daily Telegraph

Osborne demonstrates a seemingly unhealthy obsession with British radio. But then, as you read Radio Head, you're reminded that you do too. A nostalgic journey through the airwaves, stopping at seemingly every station and finding it all pleasantly familiar. Radio Head is a warm, up-lifting read. And it made me fork out on a new, better radio, too - Tim Key.

The podcasts

So that's the five episodes all finished now. I might do a couple more episodes, but for now you can download the podcasts by following these links.

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5

And the Guardian article about it is here.

John Peel's Shed is a radio show where I play tracks for a box of records I won in a competition on John Peel's Radio 1 show in 2002.

About me: I am a writer based in Norwich. I have had two books of non fiction published by Simon&Schuster and a book of poetry published by Nasty Little Press. I have had poetry published by The Guardian, The Big Issue and The Spectator.

Show 5

The final episode of John Peel's Shed. Sunday 30th May, futureradio.co.uk, 9pm.

Tracklist, show 5, recorded 10th March 2010.

1. Walter Ghoul and his Lavender Brigade - Frumpy and the strange machine.
2. The Anubian Lights - Smoke and Mirrors
3. The Cavemanish Boys - Sunday Street
4. Distillers - Warriors
5. Hey O Hansen - Marie
6. Michael Sheehey - The Licensing Song.
7. The Now Time Delegation - Little Miss Fortune.
8. The Chesterfields - Ask Johnny Dee
9. Ai Phoenix - The carpet said hello
10. Shyheim - I declare war
11. Knoxville Girls - Baby wedding bells blues
12. Station Rose - Eclipse
13. Crabstick - Tourist
14. Bushman - Fire pona deadas
15. Oizone - Wannabe
16. Screaming Lord Sutch - Scream and Scream.

Guardian article

John Peel's Shed received a lovely write up in The Guardian this week. Read it here.

There's also articles in the EDP and the Norwich Evening News.

The original idea for the show came while I was writing my book Radio Head, which features a chapter on John Peel. Read the Daily Telegraph's review.

You can buy Radio Head here.

Show 4

Show 4 of John Peel's Shed is on Future Radio, 96.9 FM, or at futureradio.co.uk on Sunday 23rd May.

1. Stereo Total - Ushilo sugota a kilei
2. Kev Hopper - Lamalou les bains
3. Mercury - Ink
4. The Arousers - Goo goo muck
5. Calvin Don't Jump - Crystal Clear Mississippi
6. Dot Allinson - Mo pop
7. Red Rot - Buddy she want
8. 1000 Violins - Poet
9. Pimlico - Me and Mr Lonely
10. Dusted - Always remember to honour your mother Part Two
11. Mystery Brinkman - Ride a bike
12. Oizone - You're gorgeous
13. Chilly Gonzales
14. Soul Inc - You betta get a move on
15. Tarwater = All of the ants left Paris
16. First Born – Credo

Show Three

Tracklisting, show 3

Follow this link to download.

I think this is the best of the five shows, musically. As a radio presenter I am still rubbish. But the bits when I don't talk are pretty good.

1. Royal Trux - Fire Hill
2. Stereo de Luxe - Riddle me this
3. The Haywains - Just the job
4. Rudolf Brauer Sextett - Vorsorge
5. The Folk Implosion - Someone you love
6. Transistor 6 - Queenie King
7. The King Bees - I want my baby back
8. Oizone - Father and Son
9. Stereo Total - Schön von hintern
10. Bushman - Robbery aggravation
11. Ming - Ulysee
12. 54 Nude Honeys -
13. The Casswells - Elvis is dead
14. Hell on Wheels - Having one's luggage labelled
15. Raz Ohara - Far's song.