Lorna Dallas has performed for every member of the British Royal Family. She's worked with The Metropolitan Opera, Bob Hope and Barry Manilow for which she was nominated for an Emmy. 

Chris Dean began his career as a boy soldier in the Household Cavalry. His first job as a freelance musician was playing lead trombone at the London Palladium so after he joined the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and he's been running the band for the last twenty years. 

Andrew Pern is a largely self-taught chef whose hearty northern dishes have been influenced by Paul Heathcote, Raymond Blanc and Marco Pierre White. People come from far and wide to eat at his Michelin starred restaurant The Star Inn at Harome.

Judy Carmichael is a Grammy nominated American jazz pianist who hosts her own nationally syndicated radio show in the States. She's become something of an expert at stride piano so much so that the London Times called her “a player of extraordinary accomplishment".

Richard Shelton is an actor and singer probably best known for playing the charmingly murderous role of Dr Adam Forsythe in Emmerdale. He also won 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' for his portrayal of Frank Sinatra the West End show Rat Pack Confidential.

Mike Vernon is a legendary name in British blues. He produced John Mayall's groundbreaking 'Beano' album 'Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton', Albatross with Peter Green and very early Fleetwood Mac. He later diversified with names like Level 42, David Bowie, Focus and Olli Brown.

Swing and jazz singer Gary Williams has rubbed shoulders with royalty, is a regular entertainer at celebrity events and is rapidly becoming a well-known guest on BBC Radio 2. Emma Mathias finds out more about the Immingham-born man with Sinatra style and Rat Pack panache ...

Four Stars ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Once again Williams proves to be a consummate showman who is at ease with his audience, cheeky with his patter and who can entertain in spades.

Here's my personal tribute to veteran broadcaster, my pal, David Jacobs. Recorded during the making of a Friday Night is Music Night with contributions from his daughter Emma and singers Michael Ball, Hannah Waddingham and Rodney Earl Clark. 

In 2014 Jeremy King, was awarded an MBE and is quite rightly hailed as one of the country's most successful restaurateurs. With his business partner Chris Corbin he's been responsible for Le Caprice, the Ivy, Brasserie Zedel, and the Wolseley - officially the most successful restaurant London has ever seen.

What is crooning? How and when did it start? Who were the best at it and is anyone still doing it today? To accompany my program on Radio 2's 50s pop up, here's an article on the Art of the Crooner that explains all.