Programmes and Series

Brian May: Rock’s Polymath
Mention Brian May and many images spring to mind.
The co-founder and lead guitarist of Queen is an astronomer with a doctorate in astrophysics, and also a committed campaigner for animal rights. Less well known is that for over 50 years he has been an avid stereoscopic photographer. In this engaging documentary, Brian talks about his expertise in 3D photography, alongside his love of science and music. He discusses how Queen came to be one of the world’s leading rock bands and shares how he creates his unforgettable sound on the Red Special, the guitar he built over 45 years ago.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Matthew Linfoot (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of Brian May.

Annie Lennox: In Conversation
With her extraordinary voice, Scottish musician and singer-songwriter Annie Lennox is renowned the world over as a solo artist and as one half of the Eurythmics duo, selling millions of records and garnering countless awards along the way.

Internationally respected and honoured, she focuses these days on her work as a humanitarian, tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic and supporting women and children across the globe through the organisation she founded – The Circle. In this exclusive programme Annie talks about her life and love of music, and her work as a women’s rights activist.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Tony Newton (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of Tali Lennox.

On Air with Bruce Dickinson
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is one of the few, if not only, rock star to have taken his band on tour in a customised Boeing 747 that he piloted himself. In this immersive documentary – recorded on location and in the studio ahead of Iron Maiden’s The Book of Souls World Tour – Bruce teaches broadcaster Maggie Lee how to fly and talks about this work as a commercial pilot, his life and his love of music.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Matthew Linfoot (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo ©Lime Hill Productions.

Joanne Trollope: Author Talks
Best-selling author Joanna Trollope, a distant relative of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, is one of Britain’s most successful writers. After studying at Oxford, she worked in the Foreign Office, then became a teacher, and in 1980 turned to writing full time. Few authors write so clearly as she does about modern families and the tensions they generate. From the frustrations of domestic life to the anguish of bereavement, she captures the problems of our time with precision and truthfulness. In this insightful programme Joanna talks about her life and work, and her approach to writing.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Matthew Linfoot (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo © Barker Evans.

Inside the Bodleian
One of the world’s most magnificent collections of books, the Bodleian Library lies at the heart of Oxford University life and is one of the oldest working libraries in Europe. Its captivating and breathtaking spread of buildings offers a spectacular array of old and new architecture, and some of its reading rooms – the medieval Duke Humfrey’s Library and the circular Radcliffe Camera – have been immortalised in films.

This unique documentary reveals how the Elizabethan diplomat Sir Thomas Bodley dedicated the later years of his life to creating this extraordinary library, and illustrates how it continues to flourish as a modern institution.

Credits: Maggie Lee (writer and presenter), Matthew Linfoot and Tony Newton (producers), Lime Hill Productions.

Discovering The BRIT

Bold, adventurous and caring, The BRIT School –  the place where a young Adele Adkins wrote two of her first songs, where Jessica Cornish, aka Jessie J, developed her performance skills, and Tom Holland, aka Peter Parker/Spiderman, honed his acting talent – ranks as one of the world’s finest performing arts schools. Over three decades it has helped an array of British talent blaze across the globe, garnering Grammys, Oscars and BAFTAs along the way.

In this compelling documentary, we hear how this extraordinary school, supported by the iconic BRIT Awards, got started against the odds, and how it engages with young people from all backgrounds, offering them a fully rounded education, whilst encouraging their creativity across music, film, theatre, dance, design and other arts.

Credits: Maggie Lee (writer and presenter) and Simon Woolcott (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of The BRIT School.

Maggie Meets the Creators
An original and entertaining biographical series in which guests  – the very best of British talent from a diverse array of artistic disciplines – talk candidly about how they found their creative calling. Their stories and reminiscences are accompanied by the music tracks that have inspired them along the way.

Credits: Maggie Lee  (presenter) and Matthew Linfoot (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo of film-maker Julien Temple with Maggie Lee at the Regent Street Cinema courtesy of Mykaell Riley.

Michael Morpurgo: Author Talks
Hailing from a family of actors, bestselling children’s writer Michael Morpurgo likes to joke that were it not for a twist of fate he could have been the next George Clooney. One of Britain’s greatest storytellers Michael is best known as the author of War Horse which was adapted into the film by Stephen Spielberg. Over forty years, he has written more than 130 books and in his seventies has no intention of slowing down. In this absorbing programme hear Michael talk about what he learnt from the poet Ted Hughes and why sugarcoating the truth never works with children.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Simon Woolcott  (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of Lime Hill Productions.

Joanne Harris: Author Talks
International best-selling author Joanne Harris first appeared on the scene with Chocolat, which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She has since written three more books about the mysterious chocolatier Vianne Rocher, with The Strawberry Thief the most recent.  Born in Yorkshire, of an English father and a French mother, Joanne spent fifteen years as a teacher before somewhat reluctantly becoming a full-time writer. A highly versatile writer, accomplished in writing in diverse genres including crime and fantasy, Joanne has a wonderful gift for bringing compelling characters to life. Hear Joanne in conversation with broadcaster Maggie Lee taking about her writing and life.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Simon Woolcott  (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of Joanne Harris.

The Secret World of Bletchley Park
Home during World War Two for Alan Turing and some of the most brilliant minds of the 20th Century, for decades Bletchley Park was one of Britain’s best-kept intelligence secrets. Dramatized in the movie The Imitation Game, Station X as it was codenamed was a scene of unrelenting human ingenuity and the place where thousands of women and men worked under spartan and clandestine conditions. With unique access to Bletchley Park and contributions from historians, scientists and Alan Turing’s nephew, Maggie Lee meets two remarkable people whose lives were transformed. This engrossing documentary further reveals the origins of the computer age and how the foundations of the UK’s cyber and intelligence centre – better known as GCHQ – were laid.

Credits: Maggie Lee (writer and presenter) and Simon Woolcott (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of Bletchley Park.

Billy Ocean: In Conversation
One of Britain’s best-selling recording artists, Billy Ocean’s music is loved by people all over the world. The creator of a string of global hits including ‘Caribbean Queen’ and ‘When the Going Gets Tough’, his records have consistently topped the charts. Born in Trinidad, Billy came to England at the age of ten and grew up in the East End of London. A Grammy winner and recipient of an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement, in 2020 he was awarded an MBE for his services to music. Now in his seventh decade Billy is still writing and touring and delighting us with his unforgettable music. Hear him in conversation with broadcaster Maggie Lee talking about his life and his eleventh inspiring studio album One World.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Simon Woolcott (producer), Lime Hill Productions.
Photo © Maggie Lee.

Lorna Luft : In Conversation
A celebrated singer, actor, best-selling author and Emmy-nominated producer, Lorna Luft hails from one of Hollywood’s most famous families. The daughter of the legendary Judy Garland and half-sister of Liza Minelli, since her TV debut at the age of 11 Lorna has been delighting audiences with her acclaimed performances on stage, tv and film. Special moments include playing Pink Lady ‘Paulette Rebchuck’ in the classic film Grease 2 and co-starring with the late Farrah Fawcett on Broadway in the hard-hitting drama Extremities.

One of the most grounded and inspirational performers you could meet, in this insightful and intimate programme Lorna talks to Maggie about her love of music and her career; growing up in a famous family and dealing with addiction and how living with cancer has taught her to take life in its stride.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Simon Woolcott (editor) Lime Hill Productions.
Photo courtesy of Lorna Luft.

Victoria Smurfit : In Conversation

Award-winning actor Victoria Smurfit began her career in the nineties and ranks amongst Ireland’s most talented performers. Best known for her TV roles in Ballykissangel and the gritty police dramas Trial & Retribution and Bloodlands, she has captivated audiences the world over with her roles in Hollywood blockbusters and as the evil Cruella De Vil in the Disney TV series Once Upon A Time.  Behind the camera and less well-known, Victoria is also an accomplished writer and producer. In this engaging programme Victoria talks to Maggie Lee about her life, career and role in Disney’s TV adaptation of Rivals – Jilly Cooper’s  celebrated novel – and why helping charities fighting blindness is dear to her heart.

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Richard Keogan (editor), Lime Hill Productions.
Image courtesy of Victoria Smurfit.  

Judy Cramer : In Conversation

Theatre and film producer Judy Craymer is the unstoppable creator and producer of the globetrotting musical stage play Mamma Mia! and the Hollywood blockbuster movies starring Meryl Streep, Cher and Pierce Brosnan. With the show celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024 and a third film in the wings, hear Judy talking to Maggie Lee  about her remarkable career, the long birth of the show and persuading ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus to take a chance on her idea!

Credits: Maggie Lee (presenter) and Richard Keogan (editor), Lime Hill Productions.
Image courtesy of Judy Craymer, Photographer Matt Frost.