Mersey Waves

When you think about Liverpool, something cultural will surely come to mind – music, football, events, shopping... So, it’s not surprising to find out that the leisure, creative and cultural sector makes up 38% of the city’s economy and brings in around a massive £270 million to the council which is then invested in core services such as social care, health and education. With the exceptional challenges the pandemic has posed over the past 24 months, how has the city’s cultural sector fared and is it business as usual once again? In this episode we chat to Director of Culture Claire McColgan MBE and Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy Councillor Harry Doyle, and we reflect on the past two years and find out what events we can look forward to in 2022. And we even throw some questions from you, our listeners, at them – covering everything from fireworks to Giants. Presenter: Sarah Latcham Panellists: Claire McColgan and Councillor Harry Doyle Editor: Niall Walsh Recording Locations: Zoom

He may not be a household name but local lad John Murphy is a major player in the Hollywood film world. After beginning his career playing guitar in local bands John moved into making music for film and is now amongst the most respected film composers in the world.  In this fascinating podcast Kevin McManus (Culture Liverpool) and Olly Cooke (Liverpool Film Office) catch up with John in his LA studio to talk about his Liverpool roots, his path to Hollywood, and his work on blockbuster films like Suicide Squad.

Liverpool has a proud theatre history dating back over 150 years.  The Playhouse is the oldest repertory theatre in England while the Everyman has a huge history helping launch the careers of the likes of Julie Walters, Jonathan Pryce, Pete Postlethwaite and Alison Steadman through to the likes of Bill Nighy, Alan Bleasdale, Willy Russell, David Morrissey and Stephen Graham. The city is also home to other much loved venues ranging from the Royal Court through to the Empire and the Unity.  For this edition of Merseywaves, we brought together actress Josie Lawrence - who is currently in the city playing the role of Sylvie in ‘Our Lady of Blundellsands’ at the Everyman, and Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet member for culture at Liverpool City Council to discuss why theatres are so important to the lifeblood of the city and the fabric of the nation.   Guests: Josie Lawrence and Cllr Harry Doyale Presenter: Paul Johnston Producer: Niall Walsh Location: Zoom

Liverpool is to headquarter the Pandemic Institute, committed to helping the world prevent, prepare, and respond more effectively to pandemics. The Pandemic Institute is a medical, academic and civic partnership between the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool). The partners have an unrivalled breadth of world-leading clinical, academic, public health and data-driven expertise, all co-located on one campus. The Institute will have significant global reach with collaborations and hubs located across the world. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Liverpool has pioneered innovative approaches including a whole city community testing pilot which cut transmission rates by a fifth, as well as hosting large-scale pilot events on behalf of the Government that provided evidence of how to safely reopen important sectors of the economy – developing Liverpool’s reputation as a leader in pandemic management and resilience. Initially funded by a £10 million gift from Innova Medical Group, a global health innovator and the world’s largest provider of rapid antigen tests, the Pandemic Institute will be headquartered in The Spine, at Paddington Village. The Spine is soon to be designated one of the world’s healthiest buildings and the newest addition to KQ Liverpool’s impressive Health and Life Science campus. The Pandemic Institute will offer world-leading clinical and research expertise across all stages of the pandemic lifecycle. It will have global reach, working across the world to deliver new science and build preparedness for future pandemics. The outputs of its work will be rapidly translated into tangible policy, solutions and activity, ensuring real world impact for governments, businesses and individuals across the globe. The overall aim is to accelerate the global response to pandemics, unify global intelligence and increase the reach and impact of pandemic research.

A draft recommendation has been made to UNESCO’s annual World Heritage committee to delete Liverpool of its World Heritage status. The committee will make its decision next month in mid-July, with the focus on proposed plans around the £5bn Liverpool Waters scheme. Listen to this podcast where Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Development; Ian Wray, vice chair of World Heritage UK; and Pete Swift, co-founder of place-making consultancy firm Planit-IE, which advises on the masterplan for Liverpool Waters, talk about the journey Liverpool has been on since it achieved the status in 2004. The trio also discuss the merits of Liverpool Waters, the value of World Heritage status and what steps could be taken to retain it.  

We sat down with legendary award-winning TV writer Jimmy McGovern who talked openly about what inspired him to write his latest drama, #Time, and what fuels his creative process. With Tom Sherry producer of the show.

Liverpool is no stranger to being the star of major motion pictures and television shows; Netflix’s THE IRREGULARS is the latest production that was made in Liverpool. The show follows a gang of troubled street teens, solving crimes for the sinister Doctor Watson & his mysterious business partner.\r\nWe sat down with the shows creator and writer Tom Bidwell to discuss making the series and why they chose to film in Liverpool.\r\n

Scott Beeland, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, was recently reconnected with Graham Smith, a patient he helped save from Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic and a member of our Liverpool Street Scene Services team. Graham surprised Scott when he gave him an army medal for services in Bosnia to say thank you.

Liverpool played a key role in the trials of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca jab through the city’s world-famous School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). We speak to three guests who had key roles on the project to find out more about the process of getting the vaccine approved, and get their thoughts on how important it will be in tackling the pandemic. Dr Hassan Burhan is a respiratory specialist who has an honorary teaching position at LSTM. He was on the management team for the trials and has also worked on Covid wards in the city throughout the pandemic. Kelly Davies is the Clinical Trials Manager at LSTM, overseeing the project and the submission of the results to the MHRA, the body which approves vaccines. And Sue Horley is a health visitor from Liverpool who volunteered to take part in the trials. Presenter: Paul JohnstonGuests: Dr Hassan Burhan, Kelly Davies and Sue HorleyLocation: Zoom

For many of us, lockdown life has made the food we eat and the meals we plan so very important. But for an increasing number of people, food has become the enemy and an obstacle to achieving ‘perfection’. In this episode, we chat to Ashleigh who found herself in the unrelenting grip of anorexia and body dysmorphia in her late teens. Ashleigh talks openly about her experience and how, a decade on, she has taken back control and is now helping others who are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing. If you are affected by Ashleigh’s story, or would like to talk to someone, please contact your GP or find support at: Leading eating disorder charity Beat NHS UK advice on eating disorders Support for parents of children with eating disorders

We talk to Cllr Wendy Simon who was made Acting Mayor of Liverpool in December 2020, to find out more about the woman leading Liverpool.

Liverpool is no stranger to being the star of major motion pictures and television shows and this December we’re taking centre stage in the Sky original drama, Tin Star: Liverpool - We sat down with Alison Jackson, who is the Executive Producer for Tin Star, to talk about why they choose move to Liverpool for series 3 and how they found it. Being the second most filmed city in the UK means we’ve popped up on your TV screens quite a few times. You’ll be able to spot us in films like, ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them’, the upcoming Batman movie and Danny Boyle’s Beatles inspired film, ‘Yesterday’ alongside TV shows such as ‘The Crown’, ‘Peaky Blinders’ and now ‘Tin Star: Liverpool’.  Presenter: Oliver CookeGuest: Alison Jackson (Executive Producer for Tin Star)Producer/Editor: Niall WalshRecording Location: Zoom

A Covid19 survivor speaks out about his brush with death and the realities of LongCovid. Graham’s been to some scary places, but this is the scariest place he’s ever been. Presenter: Jennifer BruceGuest: Graham SmithProducer/Editor: Jennifer Bruce

PLEASE NOTE - This was recorded on 13/10/20 Presenter - Jay Hynd, of The Guide Liverpool Panellists: Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson Paul Cherpeau – chief executive of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Dr Fiona Lemmens – a Liverpool GP and chair of Liverpool CCG Natalie Haywood – Founder and managing director of the LEAF Group Yousef -  DJ and owner of Circus Recordings

After 42 years at Radio Merseyside, legendary phone-in presenter Roger Phillips turned off his mic for the last time on 28 August. Undoubtedly the best-known voice on the station, Roger’s show was the linchpin of the station’s schedule and over the years has become the legend in the region’s lunchtimes. In this episode, Roger shares his memorable guests, explains how the phone-in works behind the scenes, and tells us how he felt about the reaction to this retirement announcement. And, most importantly, he also reveals how he really needs to clear out the loft! Presenter: Louise PowneyGuest: Roger PhillipsProducer/Editor: Niall WalshRecording Location: Zoom

The coronavirus pandemic has been an unwelcome part of our lives for many months now impacting on everything from our physical and mental health right through to our daily routines and our jobs.    Around 10 million workers in the UK have been unable to do their jobs because of covid-19 and they have so far benefited from the furlough scheme, which essentially means the government is paying the majority of their wages and redundancies can be avoided but with the scheme set to end on the 31st of October, what does that mean for workers?  And what does it mean for employers who have real concerns about covering the costs when it's anything but business as usual at the moment.  We're chatting to three people who have taken advantage of the furlough initiative to find out about their experience and what the future looks like for them. Presenter: Sarah LatchamPanellists: Gemma McGowan owner of The Isla Gladstone, Millicent Jones Executive Director of Liverpool Philharmonic and Gethyn Jones cellist Liverpool PhilharmonicProducer/Editor: Niall WalshRecording Location: Zoom

One of the positives to come out of lockdown is that many of us seem to have upped our game when it comes to keeping fit. With leisure centres and gyms closed, people hit the streets and parks which both became a runner’s and cyclist’s paradise. But it wasn’t just about the great outdoors. In homes up and down the country, and across the world, kitchens, lounges, bedrooms, hall ways, gardens and back yards were becoming work out studios as more and more people discovered online classes. We talk to two fitness professionals who embraced lockdown and went virtual with their classes. Leading Liverpool personal trainer Richie Swan and Natalie Butler who spotted a gap in the market and opened the city’s first over barre studio talk about how it has changed their profession, how physical and mental wellbeing go hand in hand and whether gyms reopening signal the end of this new normal. Presenter: Sarah LatchamPanellists: Richie Swan and Natalie ButlerEditor: Niall WalshRecording Location: Zoom To find out more about our panellists follow them on Instagram – @Richie.Swan and @Barre.Balance

As lockdown restrictions continue to be eased, the latest relaxation means parts of the hospitality sector can reopen their doors. As of Saturday 4 July pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes welcomed back customers – but is the appetite really out there from both visitors and business owners? We caught up with two award winning restaurant and deli owners who talk frankly about their lockdown experience and the stark reality they now face as a result of the health pandemic. Presenter: Sarah LatchamPanellists: Candice Fonseca owner of Delifonseca and Peter  Kinsella who owns Lunya and LunyalitaProducer/Editor: Niall WalshRecording Location: Zoom

Currently, there is a global spotlight being shone on the issue of race, with anti-racism demonstrations taking place across the world following the death of George Floyd. Liverpool and Bristol are two major UK cities which share a shameful historic link to the slave trade – and in recent weeks, both locations have hit the headlines following a toppled statue and a defaced, iconic street sign. In this episode Liverpool’s first black Lord Mayor, Councillor Anna Rothery, joins Bristol City Council’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Asher Craig to talk about the response their respective cities have shown to the Black Lives Matter campaign, their own personal experiences of racism and what plans are in place for each city to tackle racial inequality. Presenter: Sarah LatchamPanellists: Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Anna Rothery, Deputy Mayor of Bristol Councillor Asher CraigProducer/Editor: Niall WalshRecording Location: Zoom

2020 is Liverpool’s Year of Reading. We got off to a great start in January with a launch at Liverpool Central Library – but world events have meant we’ve revisited our plans. In this Zoom episode, we speak to Cllr Barbara Murray, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for education employment and skills, and the driving force behind #Liverpoolreads. Barbara tells us about her own reading journey and how it’s never too late for someone to call themselves a reader. Also, the libraries may be closed but that doesn’t mean that you can’t borrow some of the thousands of e-books, audio books, newspapers and magazines from our digital library. Please visit www.readliverpool.co.uk Presenter: Louise PowneyPanellists: Cllr Barbara Murray, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for education, employment and skillsProducer/Editor: Ed LeighRecording Location: Zoom