Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.
Celebrating the music that special guests cherish and would like to bestow to future generations.
Miranda Hart has kept us entertained for several decades, from her hit sitcom Miranda to Call the Midwife.
Her new book, "The Christmas Tree that Loved to Dance", tells the story of a Christmas tree that refuses to be discarded and forgotten.
In her Inheritance Tracks, Miranda reveals the song that kept her going during one of the lowest points of her life.
Inherited: Never Tear us Apart by INXS Passing on: That I Would be Good by Alanis Morissette
Producers: Anna Bailey and Ben Mitchell
Clare Balding is a broadcaster, author...and Faithful!
From her early career on Grandstand to hosting Olympic and Wimbledon coverage, Clare has been a fixture of our sporting screens for many years.
But in her debut fiction novel Clare is experiencing "Pastures New".
Sport is in her blood, and one of her choices goes back a long way - long before it became the sporting anthem it is today.
Inherited: Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond Passing on: Vienna by Billy Joel
Producer: Ben Mitchell
Philippa Gregory is the bestselling historical fiction who, amongst other things, has been bringing the Tudor period back to life; through the eyes of the women oft forgotten by the textbooks.
In her latest book, The Boleyn Traitor, Philippa tells the story of how Jane Boleyn survived watching from the shadows of the Tudor court, using the only weapon she has; her voice.
If you’re listening to this in a half-snooze state...you won’t be for much longer, because Philippa's first choices are stirring stuff indeed.
Inherited: Coppélia, Act I, Mazurka performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Passing on: Swing Low Sweet Chariot performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo ft. China Black
Producer: Ben Mitchell
You may know her best as the icons — Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous, Purdey in The New Avengers, or Hester Frump in Wednesday...but away from the stage and screen, Joanna Lumley's life is surrounded by music.
Inherited: In the Mood by Glenn Miller Passing on: Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba
Producer: Ben Mitchell
Davina McCall is a hugely successful TV presenter who’s hosted some of the biggest shows with the biggest stars.
She’s also made her mark, as a broadcaster and writer, in the field of women’s health - all whilst battling a brain tumour.
Rarely has anyone talked about their Inheritance Tracks with such passion, eloquence, and sheer raw emotion.
Inherited: State of Independence by Donna Summer Passed on: You Can Do It by Caribou
Producers: Anna Bailey and Ben Mitchell
From Swansea to Barry Island Joanna Page has been a friendly face in millions of houses for almost two decades.
But by her own admission, despite her Welsh roots, music is not her forte...although it clear plays an important part in her life.
Inherited: Northern Sky by Nick Drake Passed on: Chic Mystique by Chic
Producer: Ben Mitchell
Mark Kermode is a brilliant Film critic, writer, broadcaster and co-host of podcasts Kermode and Mayo's Take - and Screenshot.
In his book, Surround Sound: The Stories of Movie Music, Mark and fellow author Jenny Nelson, discuss the power that music has on screen.
With that in mind, what music will he choose as the soundtrack to his life?
Inherited: 2002 Zarathustrevisited by Stan Kenton & His Orchestra Passed on: Top of the World by Shonen Knife
Producer: Ben Mitchell
The chances of writing a novel which sells more than 80 million copies are about as remote as a lad from Stockport making it to the NBA, but Dan Brown pulled it off with The Da Vinci Code.
That book, like his new novel, delves into literature, symbology, secret societies and so on. None of which were his first passion.
Dan Brown’s first passion was music - as he reveals in his Inheritance Tracks.
Inherited: Todo a Pulmón by Miguel Ríos Passed on: Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg
Producer: Ben Mitchell
Oti Mabuse was the first professional dancer to win the Strictly Glitterball two years in a row with her partners Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey.
But prior to her success on the Stricktly ballroom Oti had already become South African Latin American Champion no fewer than eight times.
Music remains massively important to her, both professionally and personally, as she tells us in her Inheritance Tracks.
Inherited: Modimo by Sowetto Gospel Choir Pass on: I was here by Beyoncé
Producers: Ben Mitchell and Catherine Powell
TV presenter, and Paralympian, Ade Adepitan chooses ‘One Drop’ by Bob Marley and ‘Optimistic’ by Sounds of Blackness.
Presenter Rick Edwards chooses 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns N' Roses and 'Witness (1 Hope)' by Roots Manuva.
BBC 6's presenter Nick Grimshaw chooses 'She's Lost Control’ by Joy Division and 'Subterraneans’ by David Bowie.
Actor and singer Limahl chooses ‘Move Over Darling’ by Doris Day and ‘Four Brothers’ by Manhattan Transfer.
After a short spell as a punk rocker, Limahl found fame with the band Kajagoogoo after responding to an advert in a music magazine in 1982, where the then named Art Noveau were looking for a new lead singer.
The following year he left the band – but quickly went onto find his own success as a solo artist with his hit “The Never Ending Story”. His early ambitions, growing up in Wigan, were for a career as an actor and he even toured in production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Inherited: Move Over Darling by Doris Day Passed on: Four Brothers by Manhattan Transfer
Producers: Catherine Powell and Anna Bailey
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2025.
Broadcaster Fearne Cotton chooses ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac and ‘Campfire Day Four’ by Ludovico Einaudi.
Actor, writer and stand-up Suzi Ruffe chooses ‘You Can't Hurry Love’ by The Supremes and ‘Heart's Content’ by Brandi Carlile.
Broadcaster Georgia Mann chooses Gabriel Fauré’s ‘Pie Jesu’ and ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ by Bonnie Tyler.
Comedian and writer Ivo Graham chooses ‘Glastonbury Song’ by The Waterboys and ‘Funky Town’ by Lipps Inc.
Nature writer Robert Macfarlane chooses River Man by Nick Drake and Monkey Gone to Heaven by Pixies.
The actor Rory Kinnear has won two Olivier Awards, played Bill Tanner (M’s chief of staff) in four Bond Movies and his wide acting range has also seen him play Frankenstein’s monster and a fictional British Prime Minister.
Born in London, educated at Oxford and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, if there is such a thing as an inherited performer’s gene, Rory got it.
Both his parents were actors…his father was Roy Kinnear and his mother is Carmel Cryan.
With that kind of lineage - what then will he have chosen as his Inheritance Tracks?
Inherited: Little Green Apples by Roger Miller Pass on: I Will (Take You Forever) by Christopher Cross
Producers: Ben Mitchell and Ribika Moktan
Comedian, actor, screen-writer, voice-artist, podcaster - Jason Mantzoukas can do it all.
He’s gone from improvised stand-up to starring in films and shows including Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The League.
Born into a family of Greek-Americans in the early 1970s, he studied religion at college, drummed in a marching band, riffed in jazz clubs and moved to Morrocco to immerse himself in local rhythms.
So, what will this self-confessed music obsessive select as his Inheritance Tracks....
Inherited: When Problems Arise by Fishbone Passed on: Vocalise My Love by Florence Adooni
Producer: Ben Mitchell
