As our series of 'Funny Women of Great British Sitcom' continues, Andy Hoyle chats to Judy Cornwell about her long career. Judy starred as Daisy in Keeping Up Appearances alongside Geoffrey Hughes as Onslow during the 1990s.

Anna Karen played one of the most popular characters of 70s sitcom in Britain - the hilarious accident prone but sex mad 'Olive' in On the Buses. The series began in 1969 and became a favourite throughout the next decade with more than 70 episodes plus 3 feature films - On The Buses, Mutiny On the Buses and Holiday On The Buses. Here Anna remembers how she created Olive and recalls working with a cast which included Reg Varney, Doris Hare, Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis. She also talks about playing the caustic Aunt Sal, Peggy's sister in EastEnders.

It's back to the 1970s for the first in a special series of three programmes meeting some of the Queens of British Sitcom. Here Ashley speaks to Sally Thomsett who played Jo in the runaway ITV comedy Man About The House which starred Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox, Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy. The show would go on to spawn two other big hits - George and Mildred (starring Brian and Yootha) and Robin's Nest (starring Richard). Sally speaks candidly about her time as one of the most famous faces in Britain and what the show did for her and her co-stars lives and careers.

It was multi-Oscar nominated and its creator walked away with best screenplay. The Crying Game also won Best British Film at the Baftas. And it was ground breaking, tackling as it did race, gender, sexuality and nationality all with a background of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Full of surprises, it was an enthralling and exciting film which broke many taboos. And it had a fabulous soundtrack too. Ashley Byrne has been talking to prolific Irish film maker Neil Jordan about how it all happened nearly 30 years ago.

Florrie and Dotty are mixing again following the lifting of Covid restrictions. They're enjoying a cuppa in Dotty's kitchen but will they be hugging? Men are under scrutiny as usual and there's a surprise on the way.

We’re usually celebrating the iconic shows of the past with the people who were there but very, very occasionally DistinctNostalgia will focus in on something contemporary we feel deserves some real attention and this is one of those rare occasions.

David Renwick is one of the real British comedy writing legends. He created the iconic Victor Meldrew. Over two parts Ashley talks to David about his early years and the plethora of comedies he's written. In this second programme David talks about his inspiration for Victor and how and why One Foot in the Grave endured for so long.

David Renwick is one of the real British comedy writing legends. He created the iconic Victor Meldrew. Over two parts Ashley talks to David about his early years and the plethora of comedies he's written. In this first programme David talks about penning sketches for The Two Ronnies and working with David Jason long before Open All Hours and Only Fools and Horses. In Part 2 the discussion turns to David's big sitcom and casting Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie for One Foot in The Grave.

About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend past and present with their unique sense of humour and way with words. They love a cuppa (and something stronger), a nice sweet fancy and will have a sideswipe at anything from the neighbours to social issues, sexuality and social media. They live in neat stone built terraces houses in a (northern) street near you.

About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend past and present with their unique sense of humour and way with words. They love a cuppa (and something stronger), a nice sweet fancy and will have a sideswipe at anything from the neighbours to social issues, sexuality and social media. They live in neat stone built terraces houses in a (northern) street near you.

Back by popular demand, we've a new series of original sitcom shorts from northern gossips' Florrie and Dotty this Easter. Janice Fryett and Lindsay Eavis star as they get to grips with everything from 'permitted exercise', bending 'the rules' Bridgerton-inspired sexual experimentation, Mother's Day and misogyny.

He played Sinbad in Brookside for 16 years. 21 years after quitting as the loveable rogue, he’s still Sinbad to generations. Michael Starke takes questions from Ashley and NHS worker William Coughlin in a special soap edition of DistinctNostalgia. Enjoy!

Casualty and Heartbeat star Jonathan Kerrigan sits down for a fun chat with Ashley Byrne. The conversation ventures into his early years, his time on two of Britain's biggest drama series, being described as a heartthrob, working in the States and his musical talents. Jonathan remains one of the UK's most talented drama actors but is it time for him to try his hand at a bit of comedy?

Alyson Spiro was no stranger to soap when she took on the role of Sarah Sugden in Emmerdale in 1994. She'd previously starred for a year in Brookside. But the role of Sarah was a special one for Alyson and here she tells Ashley all about the ups and downs of starring in a major UK tv serial. After listening to Alyson, why not catch up with other former Emmerdale actors?! - Ian Sharrock, Jean Rogers, Freddie Pyne, Deena Payne and Roberta Kerr can all be found chatting about their time in the Dales on Distinct Nostalgia.

Roberta Kerr has starred in most of the soaps - Corrie as Wendy Crozier, Brookside, EastEnders, The Archers - and of course as Jan Glover in Emmerdale. Roberta really enjoyed her time in the Dales because it gave her a character to really get her teeth into and explore all Jan's nuances. She's been remembering those four years in the mid 90s with Ashley. This episode of Distinct Nostalgia is part of an Emmerdale weekend double bill with our interview with Alyson Spiro being released on Sunday, Feb 28th 2021.

June Brown turned 94 on February 16th. So to mark her birthday we're re-releasing our special drama 'Missing You' starring June Brown and Sam Barnard. And we're adding a bonus interview with the writer Richard Vergette after the show. Missing You was written specifically for June and Sam - and based on Richard's own personal experience of having a son with Down's Syndrome.

Annette Badland is a prolific character actor with an eclectic mix of fabulous credits to her name over many decades but she's probably best known (certainly in recent years) for her role as Aunt Babe in EastEnders. Here she tells Ashley about the challenges of playing such a manipulative character. Banished by the Carter family for her evil deeds but could Aunt Babe return one day to seek revenge in Albert Square?

And don't forget there's loads of other comedy interviews on Distinct Nostalgia including Wendy Craig on Butterflies, Doreen Mantle on playing Mrs Warboys in One Foot in the Grave, Jeffrey Holland on his time in Hi-De-Hi, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph on Birds of a Feather and Christopher Strauli on his role as Norman in Only When I Laugh. Not to mention our Comedy Writing Legends series which so far includes Jan Etherington wrote Second Thoughts and Marks and Gran who penned, among others things, Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, Shine on Harvey Moon and The New Statesman with Rik Mayall.

Ian Sharrock played Jackie Merrick - Emmerdale Farm's early heartthrob and poster boy. He joined the cast in 1980, eight years into the show's run. Having some young blood in the show was something of a revolution and he quickly became popular with both fellow cast members and the public at large. In a special two part interview, Ian reflects on his Emmerdale days and working with some great actors including his close friend Stan Richards who played Seth. Across the two programmes we also touch on the rest of his career including working with the likes of Danny Kaye, Jodie Foster and David Niven among others.

Ian Sharrock played Jackie Merrick - Emmerdale Farm's early heartthrob and poster boy. He joined the cast in 1980, eight years into the show's run. Having some young blood in the show was something of a revolution and he quickly became popular with both fellow cast members and the public at large. In a special two part interview, Ian reflects on his Emmerdale days and working with some great actors including his close friend Stan Richards who played Seth. Across the two programmes we also touch on the rest of his career including working with the likes of Danny Kaye, Jodie Foster and David Niven among others.