Made in the Midlands – Details, episodes & analysis

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Made in the Midlands

Loftus Media

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/48d. Total Eps: 12

Adrian Goldberg interviews famous Midlanders asking what part the region played in their success.

Made in the Midlands is a podcast which investigates the cultural foundations of the UK’s most populous region. More than ten million people call middle England their home yet it’s a part of Britain which often seems little understood by our fellow Brits. Northerners are sure we’re southerners. Southerners are equally sure we’re northerners.

Made in the Midlands is a chance to set the record straight and to increase awareness of the talent the region has produced. In each episode Adrian asks his guests what part the region played in their success. Who are the important people, where are the important places that helped them on their way? And how can the Midlands get greater recognition for its achievements?

Made in the Midlands is proudly produced by Midlanders who are part of the award-winning team at Loftus Media.

With thanks to our sponsors Coventry UK City of Culture and Newark Book Festival.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - placesAndTravel
12/09/2025
#95
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
19/04/2025
#64
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
16/04/2025
#64
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
15/04/2025
#37
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
14/04/2025
#24
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
13/04/2025
#21
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
12/04/2025
#22
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
11/04/2025
#23
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
10/04/2025
#28
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
09/04/2025
#82

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https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu
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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 84%

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Henry Normal

Season 1 · Episode 10

Friday, July 14, 2023 • Duration 41:48

Henry Normal is anything but normal. A prolific poet and writer, he grew up in a poor part of Nottingham and nearly killed himself, after putting on a World War 2 gas mask he found while playing in the rubble of a city bombsite.

Before he became a teenager his mother died, after which he became more introverted, learning to “escape” day-to-day life by reading and watching films. He was set for a prosperous and successful career in the insurance industry but gave it all up to take to the stage. “What have I got to add to the great soap opera of life?” he asked himself, before embarking on his adventure. The world was about to find out.

Touring the comedy circuit in the north of England, he met Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, with whom he was destined to write one of Britain’s best loved comedies – The Royle Family. Normal and Steve Coogan teamed up to form the Baby Cow Production company – which made Gavin and Stacey and the film Philomena. Normal also found time to start annual poetry festivals in Manchester and in Nottingham.

He lives on the south coast but continues to support his beloved Nottingham Forest and has recently performed in all 12 of the city’s libraries. “I love coming from Nottingham, there’s lots of brilliant things about the East Midlands.” His journey takes in an iconic record shop in Notts, Seamus Heaney and a cheque for a million pounds, and a man earning a living by eating up a bag of onions on stage.

Midlands Hero: Alan Sillitoe. “He was one of the people who made me believe you could write as a working class lad,” says Henry. “It was the world I inhabited that he was doing.” He recalls reading The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and initially being puzzled when the main character stopped running. “And then I understood. He’d rather lose on his own terms than win on somebody else’s.”

This episode was recorded in July 2023 in front of a live audience at the Palace Theatre, Newark.

Commissioned by Newark Book Festival and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Image of Henry Normal by Richard Davis.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Bonus Episode: A brief debrief

Season 1

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 • Duration 10:54

Adrian's mission to find out what defines our region and what makes a Midlander comes to an end, for now... He's spoken to 9 famous folk from central England - five men, four women, one novelist, two musicians, a pair of film directors, a couple of sports stars, one actor, one MP. It’s been quite a journey - so here’s a brief debrief.

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image Credits:

Lee Child - Brian Aris

Pauline Black - Dean Chalkley

Ken Loach - Paul Crowther

Nitin Ganatra - Craig Topham

Debbie Isitt - eOne

Tom Clarke - Robin Pope

Steve Ogrizovic - CCFC

Jess Phillips - Jess Phillips

Ellie Simmonds - Ellie Simmonds

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Lee Child

Season 1 · Episode 1

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 • Duration 39:07

Lee Child, the prolific author of the Jack Reacher detective novels, talks to Adrian about his Midlands upbringing and its lasting influence. He talks of his early years in Coventry before moving to Birmingham where two libraries gave him his love of books. He describes the smell of the dusty shelves and the voracious appetite he developed for reading, so much so his parents obtained extra library cards in the name of visiting relatives.

“Even our dog had a library card,” he says. “Without those two libraries as a little kid, I would have been a completely different person. So when you ask ‘what did the Midlands mean to me?’ I mean, everything. That's who I am.”

Midlands Heroes: Jerry Dammers and Horace Panter for creating Two-Tone. “It was valuable musically, but it was also very valuable socially.”

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Lee Child by photographer Brian Aris, used by permission of Little Brown UK.

Who are your Midlands' heroes? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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TRAILER: Series 1: Welcome

Season 1

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 • Duration 01:45

Welcome to the Made in the Midlands podcast…a journey to celebrate and excavate the cultural identity of a region which is home to 10 million people. We love it here…but we also think the Midlands can be a part of the world that’s all too easily forgotten, ignored even. Northerners seem to assume Midlanders are southerners. Southerners think we’re northerners. And even people who come from round here struggle to define what unites us. So who are we? Adrian Goldberg asks some famous people from our bit in the middle of England, about their connection to their home place.

Made in the Midlands is proudly produced by a team of Midlanders from Loftus Media.

With thanks to our sponsors, Coventry City of Culture and Newark Book Festival.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ellie Simmonds

Season 1 · Episode 9

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 • Duration 34:02

Paralympian Ellie Simmonds is starting a life away from the Midlands but still lives close enough to the motorway to be able to get to the place she will always call home: “To be that poster girl for the Midlands... It makes me so proud because I love the Midlands. I love going back home. I love being able to talk about the Brummie accent and all those amazing things that Birmingham has to offer.”

Midlands Hero: Dave Heeley aka “Blind Dave” - a phenomenal charity fund raiser from Birmingham. Ellie met him at a sports award ceremony - “I remember just being in awe of him…”

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Ellie Simmonds courtesy of Ellie Simmonds.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Jess Phillips

Season 1 · Episode 8

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 • Duration 40:41

Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley since 2015, Jess has lived her entire life in the city. She did study at Leeds University. But came home every weekend. “I belong here. I belong in Birmingham,” she says, “ I can feel it when I'm on the train on the way back from London every week. My shoulders start to relax when I get through the Chilterns.”

Jess is best known for her campaigning to end violence against women and, as we’ll hear, campaigning is in her DNA. As a child she used to go to Women's Liberation Playgroup and recalls, as an older child, time spent turning the handle on the rudimentary copier in the garage to make Labour Party leaflets. Jess talks about weekly Saturday trips to BMAG - the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - with her grandfather, her Brummie accent accounting for 'at least a third' of her success and how coming from the city means absolutely everything to her. "The most important thing I am is a Brummie, without question."

Midlands Heroes:

Sara Ward CEO Black Country Women’s Aid and Maureen Connolly CEO Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid.

“Between these two women, their efforts have, every year, saved tens of thousands of lives. And we just don't even know who they are.”

This episode was recorded with an audience at a sold out event in Draper’s Hall, Coventry. It contains mild language and references to sexual harrassment.

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Jess Phillips courtesy of Jess Phillips.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Steve Ogrizovic

Season 1 · Episode 7

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 • Duration 38:15

Coventry City goalkeeping legend Steve Ogrizovic tells the hair-raising wartime story of how his father came to be a miner in Nottinghamshire, the “embarrassment” of queuing for school dinner tokens during a strike, joining the police force and bowling out Viv Richards in a lesser known cricket career. As a footballer he sat on the bench while Liverpool won Europe’s most prestigious trophies, but spent the rest of his life at Midlands clubs - including a remarkable 16 years as Coventry’s number one.

Midlands Memory: The Open Top Bus Parade through Coventry after CCFC won the FA Cup in 1987: "It was supposed to take 45 minutes but three and a half hours later we still hadn’t reached the council offices...That particular day, the whole of Coventry, and some more, came out to applaud the team home and it just became absolutely an incredible place.”

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Steve Ogrizovic courtesy of Coventry City Football Club.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Tom Clarke

Season 1 · Episode 6

Wednesday, March 16, 2022 • Duration 36:06

The frontman of The Enemy was born in the heart of the West Midlands. “I grew up in Castle Bromwich, which is Solihull or Birmingham, depending on who you’re trying to impress.” He talks to Adrian about his love of manufacturing, especially cars, and of family plus his determination to offer a leg up to other young Midlands artists.

Midlands Masterpiece: “My Land Rover 1966 Series 2A. On the Land Rover badge it says Solihull, Warwickshire. I feel immensely proud of that.”

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Instagram: @robinpopephoto

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Debbie Isitt

Season 1 · Episode 5

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • Duration 37:16

Film director Debbie Isitt played truant after making her mind up at an early age that she wanted to be involved in the arts. A slot on a children's Saturday morning TV show sealed it. “I went on Tiswas as part of my dancing school. I just thought, what do I need school for? I'm on my way, I'm on the telly.”

Debbie reveals to Adrian how she could have gone to Hollywood to ply her trade, but instead, she stayed in the Midlands and makes internationally acclaimed films at her house in the city she’s proud to call home.

Midlands Hero: “My Dad – a real Peaky Blinder.”

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Debbie Isitt courtesy of eOne.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Nitin Ganatra

Season 1 · Episode 4

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 • Duration 40:03

Actor Nitin Ganatra (EastEnders, Bride & Prejudice, Charlie & the Chocolate Facotry) was a shy, overweight immigrant boy with a stammer and was subjected to horrific bullying and racial abuse while growing up in Coventry. Two teachers persuaded him to audition for a school play, helping him overcome his low confidence and gain a place at Bristol University to study drama.

“I opened my mouth, everything started to flow, no stammer, no insecurity, nothing. I just began to speak in character and I sang a solo and I got a standing ovation.”

Midlands Manifesto: “To create an environment (in the Midlands) to live in, which is a little bit more colourful and a bit more arty."

Content warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions and language relating to racial abuse.

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Made in the Midlands – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Made in the Midlands – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Spotify1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Spotify1

Apple Podcasts

Spotify