Fortunately... with Fi and Jane

After a brief summer break Fortunately returns. In this Autumn season opener Fi and Jane are joined by DJ Ace from BBC Radio 1Xtra.Ace talks the two of them through the merits of online shopping, reminisces about his school days and the ladies offer some career coaching.

Fi and Jane are at the Hay Festival with a full house of eager Fortunately listeners. Recorded in May 2019. Fortunately returns in the first week of September.Producer: JP Devlin

Fi and Jane are joined by Ann Summers CEO Jacqueline Gold to talk rabbits, hermits, catsuits and will Brexit mean a vibrator shortage?Presenters: Fi Glover & Jane Garvey Producer: JP Devlin

Fi and Jane are hopping all over the country and so sadly couldn't make it to the BBC Piazza this week. Instead, Fi reports from a Bournemouth beach and presents us with one of her favourite episodes.Back in February 2018 the ladies were joined by BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis. They talked Jacob Rees-Mogg, interviewing contrarians, and a changing room scandal. Plus comedian David Baddiel stops by, and there's millionaire shortbread.

Jane takes a break from a very interesting event to join Fi on the BBC piazza. This week their guest is the BBC News presenter and recent podcaster Ros Atkins. Ros details what it's like to be texting a Titan of the US airwaves, skin care techniques and how a drive down the M4 led to a landmark broadcasting project.

Fi and Jane are joined by Newsnight's Kirsty Wark who describes filleting squirrels, making whisky and living with only one working nostril.Producer: JP Devlin

Fi and Jane head to BBC Radio 2 to see former car hire salesman and failed accountant Ken Bruce who describes how to deal with cheats on PopMaster, how to hit the news on time and how to sex a tortoise... after they've bumped into Steve Wright on the way.Producer - JP Devlin

Fi and Jane are joined by comedian, actress, writer and host of the Griefcast podcast Cariad Lloyd to talk death, Jane Austen, celebrities in pet shops and famous people called Dick.

Fi and Jane are joined by BBC Radio 3 presenter Suzy Klein as they try to talk embroidery, bloated sheep and odd-shaped forearms despite a noisy crisp eater at the next table.

Fi and Jane are joined by author and broadcaster Anita Anand who recalls writing to Mikhail Gorbachev and sitting on Jimmy Carter.Producer: JP Devlin

Fi and Jane are joined by writer Frank Cottrell Boyce in the Green Room at the Hay Festival where he reveals the question he's most commonly asked by his young audience. Also, actress Maxine Peake drops by to talk about her whippet.Producer: JP Devlin

More of the random and unconnected musings of old broadcasting friends Fi Glover and Jane Garvey. This week broadcaster Dotun Adebayo talks about the highlights of his night-time radio career, including Fi's PVC cat suit.Presenters: Fi Glover and Jane Garvey Contributor: Dotun Adebayo Producer: JP Devlin

More of the random and unconnected musings of old broadcasting friends Fi Glover and Jane Garvey. This week, polymath Gyles Brandreth offers a guide to Stockport, Copenhagen and erotic fiction.Presenters: Fi Glover and Jane Garvey Contributor: Gyles Brandreth Producer: JP Devlin

More of the random and unconnected musings of old broadcasting friends Fi Glover and Jane Garvey. This week actor, comedian, TV presenter and marketing graduate Adil Ray offers advice to Fi and Jane on how to sell themselves.Producer: JP Devlin

Presenter, manager, folk music podcaster and first ever guest named after something in a house, Matthew Bannister joins the Fortunately self-help group.

When visitors wear your clothes and the challenge of fixing a new garden hosepipe with CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour

Shaun Keaveny guides us through some choice bits of the podcast from the past couple of years. These include appearances from Miriam Margoyles, Ed Miliband, Susannah Reid and London Hughes. Along with many other interesting encounters there’s also tales of Royal Weddings, blow by blow accounts of shoe shop tantrums, reports of unusual cervical inspections and eulogies for Dwarf Hamsters…all courtesy of Fi and Jane.

Fi and Jane throw the blankets off their knees and hit the dancefloor with Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac

Maria McErlane, agony aunt on Graham Norton’s Radio 2 show, dispenses advice. Amongst other issues, she addresses how to do the perfect ugly face crying and whether Fi and Jane really should apply for the job of Radio 4 Controller.

Fi and Jane talk football, Formula 1 and failed exams with BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey. The queens of the involuntary sound take advice on getting a blemish free complexion as they attempt to join the world of football punditry.

Fi and Jane welcome along the one and only Laura Kuenssberg, BBC Political Editor. Together they expose a celebrity chef’s toasties and reminisce about referendums past. Laura gives the lowdown from life on the road and Jane shares her story of an evening at Chequers. Plus Fi spots a pair of penny-farthings.

Fi has a special birthday this week and here for the celebrations is writer and journalist Bella Mackie. Bella’s book Jog On explores the benefits of running for mental health so Jane brings out some of her own exercise experiences, including pilates and fun runs gone by. Bella also explains Ultimate Fighting Championship and Fi grills Jane on her recent visit to the Grand Lodge.

Fi and Jane venture out to the BBC pizza this week and are joined by The World Tonight’s Ritula Shah. Aside from Ritula’s dulcet broadcasting tones, they discuss the joy of the night shift and the bizarre world of 80s local radio. Plus there’s an inside scoop from a Royal visit and the return of Sarah Montague. Again.

Inside Broadcasting House to avoid the wintery weather, Fi and Jane are joined by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, the creators of the phenomenally successful High Low podcast. They discuss the importance of female friendship, where to put nice emails and the perils of a degree in Drama.

Back at the BBC, writer and Everything But The Girl musician Tracey Thorn pays a visit to a star struck Fi and Jane. In honour of Tracy’s new teenage memoir, Jane has brought her own adolescent diaries for Fi to analyse. They also explore bread metaphors, Smash Hits questions and how to prepare for the apocalypse.

Somebody called a Doctor this week as Fi and Jane are joined by resident broadcasting physician Dr Sarah Jarvis. In addition to Fi and Jane’s list of ailments, Dr Sarah talks famous patients, historical period solutions and the surprises of reporting for The One Show.

The inimitable broadcaster and political commentator Iain Dale pays a visit to the BBC piazza this week, after Fi and Jane lift the lid on BBC Sounds with Launch Director Charlotte Lock. There’s also a surprise visitor all the way from Ambridge.

Fi and Jane offer a warm welcome to 2019 with the new host of Radio 2’s Drivetime show, Sara Cox. As well as brainstorming some feature ideas for Sara’s new gig, they discuss the risks of out of date food, the problems of having a soft ‘r’ and what it’s like to live a life in broadcasting.

There’s a chill in the pizza, but it can’t puncture Fi and Jane’s demob-happy season finale mood. They’re joined by Gideon Coe for chats about their glamourous past lives in local radio, favourite Christmas songs, and a tale of teen sexting gone wrong. Fortunately returns in January.

Fi and Jane head to The Grange pub in Cardiff for the first ever Fortunately recording in front of an audience. Things get seriously festive as they take questions from the audience about interviews gone wrong, imposter syndrome and advice on surviving this most wonderful time of the year.

Hugh Dennis joins Fi and Jane for a chat about his past life marketing perfumes, the joy of working with child actors, and Brussels sprouts. They discuss Hugh’s role in Radio 4’s Christmas Appeal with homelessness charity St Martin-in-the-Fields. Plus, we issue a correction about Keith the dead dwarf hamster.

Simon Mundie – sports reporter and presenter of Radio 4’s new podcast ‘Don’t Tell Me the Score’ – becomes the first guest to bring Fi and Jane homemade kefir. They discuss what sport can teach us about resilience, tribalism and mental health. Plus, the revelation that mutton is back on the menu at the BBC Club and why you should never wear earrings and a necklace at the same time.

Journalist and co-host of The Receipts Podcast, Tolani Shoneye takes the BBC pizza by storm. Tolani, Fi and Jane discuss white guilt, the unwritten rules of online dating, and what David Beckham smells like.

Temperatures have dropped in the piazza so Fi and Jane head inside where they are joined by comedian and Asian Network presenter, Mawaan Rizwan. They discuss how Mawaan accidentally launched a Bollywood career for his mother, nail polish on men, and what to do if you need to greet a passing Spice Girl but you're eating a quinoa salad.

Fortunately joins the great and the good at the new BBC Sounds App launch from the London Eye, where we record our ‘pod’ in a rotating glass pod! As we brace for entry into one of the London Eye’s revolving pods, we’re joined on the platform by YouTuber and podcaster Leena Norms. Leena leads the way as we leap into the pod where the chat continues at altitude. There’s brief mention of the stunning if foggy view across the city, but it transpires Fi is queasy about heights! Back on the ground in the BBC Sounds launch green room we are joined by broadcaster James O’Brien for a chat about his viral radio monologues, and the largest thing he’s ever lost on the tube.

Fi and Jane are joined by comedians Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson, hosts of the Scummy Mummies Podcast. They talk Australian chauvinism, the future of radically honest mothering, and lying to get on the Lorraine Kelly show. Plus, a surprise appearance from a BBC legend.

Channel 4 news presenter Cathy Newman on her new book called Bloody Brilliant Women, interviewing in the era of fake news, her inability to use her own oven, and the rarity of curly hair in broadcasting.

Vicki Pepperdine - actor and co-creator of the satirical podcast ‘Dear Joan and Jericha’ - gives advice on how to combat winter vagina and frosty balls. Plus, an update on Nancy News, vintage public service announcements and Jane’s grandmother’s bellwether bowels.

Mishal Husain comes fresh from the Today Programme studio to the Fortunately pizza where she’s lucky to catch Jane on fresh patch Thursday. They discuss the art of interrupting, Mishal’s new book on workplace skills for women, and detective dramas. Plus, coming soon, Fi and Jane’s new Emergency Advice for Young Adults Festival.

Fi and Jane collar David Dimbleby, and Podcast Champion Helen Zaltzman joins them to discuss early crushes, the future of broadcasting and why people fuss over weddings.

Broadcaster Anneka Rice joins Fi and Jane in the BBC pizza. Over a chocolate doughnut there’s stories on what it’s like to be a waxwork; kindness, and Anneka’s one-year old accountant. Plus deep drilling and fake turf.

Fi and Jane are back in the BBC piazza after the summer break. There are gifts to exchange and gossip a-plenty. Including Fi’s aqua fit and Jane’s Taverna buffet.

A postcard from Fi and Jane from their summer holiday.

Richard Arnold - Entertainment Editor at Good Morning Britain – demands Fi and Jane be upstanding for his arrival in the BBC Media Café. Richard shares stories from his career in radio and TV presenting, including the revelation that Sooty the puppet is “very difficult to work with”. Plus North London’s bedbug orgy, cosmetic surgery and the importance of being glinty not flinty.

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid joins Fi and Jane for an iced latte and a chat about women in broadcasting, without any reference whatsoever to “those things that jut out at seaside resorts”. They discuss showing emotion on air, unwanted press attention, and their trip to the races with Clare Balding. Plus, Jane finally receives a damehood - of sorts - and Fi shares some light gynaecological anecdotage.

Shaun Keaveny gets a warm, womanly intervention and some career advice from Fi and Jane. They discuss the highs and lows of breakfast shows, Shaun’s colour blindness, and the gender politics of dyeing hair.

Actress and national treasure Miriam Margolyes joins Fi and Jane in the pizza, bringing an old school friend with her. They discuss Miriam’s recent TV presenting in America, Cuba and India, her advice to young actors, Australian misogyny, and her lifelong love of Dickens. Plus, Garvey and Glover dream up a plan to co-present a news programme, and top tips for a heatwave.

Fi and Jane get in the Wimbledon spirit with tennis legend Judy Murray. Our hosts break free of the pizza and head to Judy’s hotel, the Shangri-La, halfway up the Shard building in central London. Judy talks about her long career championing British tennis, and supporting her two sons - Andy and Jamie - in their rise from the community courts of Dunblane to becoming Wimbledon champions. Plus, Jane’s recent misadventures with coconut oil.

Sadia Azmat - comedian and co-host of podcast, No Country For Young Women – brings Fi and Jane an astonishing homemade chocolate cake. They discuss taking offence, false eyelashes, mirrored ceilings and the politics of borrowing Tupperware.

Fi and Jane are joined by the nation’s favourite male voice, Radio 4 continuity announcer and newsreader Zeb Soanes. Fi and Jane are dismayed by Zeb’s attempt to rehabilitate the urban fox with his children’s book, Gaspard the Fox, but are somewhat won over by adorable photos of the fox that inspired the book. Plus Zeb’s uncanny impressions of other well-known voices, and the incident that explains why Jane never drinks Pernod.