App Store

Google Play

DK - Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Nyd den ubegrænsede adgang til tusindvis af spændende e- og lydbøger - helt gratis

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst 

BBC Radio 4


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


Inheritance Tracks

After working at Pizza Hut in his twenties, Mackenzie Crook suddenly shot to fame playing the hapless paper salesman Gareth Keenan in the smash-hit BBC comedy “The Office” 

Since then, he’s starred in blockbuster franchises including Pirates of the Caribbean and Game of Thrones, as well as Shakespeare, Dickens and his beloved Worzel Gummidge. 

He also created, directed and starred in the charming comedy-drama Detectorists, playing one half of an eccentric metal-detecting duo, alongside Toby Jones, which prompted Mackenzie to take up the hobby and search for real-life treasure.

So – headphones on – let's start scanning – and see what we can uncover among Mackenzie Crook’s Inheritance Tracks... 

Inherited: Big Yellow taxi by Joni Mitchell 
Passed on: River Man by Nick Drake

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Anna Bailey

Mackenzie Crook

Alex James became famous as the bassist in Blur, indie rock icons who helped define the sound of English guitar music in the 1990’s. 

Born in Bournemouth and now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and five children, Alex discovered a love of farming, and in particular, cheese, during a quiet period in Blur’s history. The cheese he produces is award winning, among them Blue Monday and Good Queen Maude. 

His latest book is Over the Rainbow, recounting how Blur staged their comeback and surprised everyone, even themselves.

But will his Inheritance Tracks surprise us?

Inherited: Good King Wenceslas sung by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Passed on: Rasputin by Boney M.

Producer: Ben Mitchell and Lowri Rhiannon-Morgan

Alex James

Josh Widdicombe is a comedian who many will know from his hit parenting podcast with Rob Beckett – and as one of panellists on Channel 4’s The Last Leg. 

Raised in a small village on Dartmoor, his love of all things Devon, Plymouth Argyle and the 90’s has informed much of his work – and his new tour is sure to be steeped to perfection. 

Before becoming a comedian he worked as a bookseller, in a petrol station, and as a sports journalist. And much like Danny Dyer, he found out that he too was related to Royalty on ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and Elizabeth the first no less. 

He’s set to hit the Strictly dancefloor this Christmas for their festive special – so make sure there’s some room around you to chachacha along to his Inheritance Tracks. 

Inherited: All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Passed on: Mis‐Shapes by Pulp

Producer: Ben Mitchell and Minnie Harrop

Josh Widdicombe

Russell Howard is a familiar face on television having hosted Russell Howard's Good News and The Russell Howard Hour, and has been a regular on Mock the Week. He is now of the UK’s most successful comedians, and there’s not a panel show worth its salt that he hasn’t been on over the years, each won benefitting from his unique perspective.

Born and raised in Somerset, he studied economics at university before starting to write for BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 4. And Russell Howard presents his brand-new stand-up special, Russell Howard Live at The London Palladium, as an exclusive global stream on the 15th of January at 8pm which will then be available On Demand.

We asked him for his inheritance tracks. 

Inherited: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman 
Pass on: The Picture by Loudon Wainwright III

Producer: Ribika Moktan

Russell Howard

Professor Alice Roberts is an anatomist, broadcaster and author famous for making science accessible and captivating. 

Initially she wanted to be a doctor and studied medicine and anatomy at Cardiff University and developed an interest in biological anthropology, looking at what ancient skeletons can tell us about human evolution…getting human remains to give up their secrets. 

The clavicle is her favourite bone in the body...but what else can we learn about Alice Roberts from unearthing her Inheritance Tracks?

Inherited: A Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum 
Passed on: Girl from Mars by Ash

Producer: Ben Mitchell

(This episode is a repeat from 15th June 2019)

Alice Roberts

The double BAFTA Cymru winning Welsh actor Eve Myles was born to a Scottish father and a Welsh mother and grew up in Powys.

Choosing three films from the video shop on a Saturday and watching them on repeat all week is how young Eve fell in love with the possibilities and escapism of acting. 

Her compelling role in Keeping Faith saw her not only having to learn Welsh, act alongside her real-life husband, but most importantly it inspired a trend for bright yellow waterproof coats. 

Her latest drama, The Crow Girl, is executive produced by Slash, but there's no Guns N' Roses in her Inheritance Tracks then.

Inherited: Pearl's a Singer by Elkie Brooks
Passed on: Faith's Song by Amy Wadge

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell

Eve Myles

Jonathan Joseph, DJ Spoony to his friends, is someone who spends his life selecting music – and has just taken over the late-night slot on Radio 2. 

Born in Hackney in the early 1970s to British West Indian parents, he loved music from an early age and quickly moved from underground pirate radio stations in the 90's before bringing garage music to Radio 1. 

At Christmas he revealed that he’d recently undergone emergency surgery for a bleed on the brain. He says music helped him recover.

So what then has he chosen as his Inheritance Tracks.

Inherited: Time is the Master by John Holt
Pass on: Gabriel by Roy Davis Jr. 

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell

DJ Spoony

Jo Brand: Pearl Fishers Duet – Bizet; Temporary Beauty - Graham Parker

Jo Brand

David Starkey:Hallelujah Chorus/Messiah - Handel;Carlos&Rodriguez Duet/Don Carlos - Verdi

David Starkey

Courtney Pine: Eastern Standard Time - Don Drummond; Abolition Day – The Jazz Warriors

Courtney Pine

Two-time World Champion heptathlete, British record holder and Olympic medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson, known affectionately as KJT, first came to international prominence at the 2012 London Olympics, where she competed as a teenager. 

She grew up in Liverpool with an English mother who was a dancer and a TV production assistant father from The Bahamas - and music was always part of her life...alongside a clear affinity for athletics. 

So what then will she choose for her Inheritance Tracks?

Inherited: Little Ole Wine Drinker by Dean Martin
Passed on: Proud Mary by Tina turner

Producers: Ben Mitchell and Minnie Harrop

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

Other podcasts you might like ...