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TWICE UPON A TIME (with Janet Ellis)

TWICE UPON A TIME (with Janet Ellis) 32 episodes Latest Oct 23, 2025

Janet Ellis invites a celebrity guest to chat about their favourite childhood book. Follow Twice Upon a Time on Instagram: @twiceuponpod. Twice Upon a Time is a Hat Trick Podcast.

Episodes

Maggi Hambling Oct 23, 2025 2078 In this special episode with the brilliant British artist Maggi Hambling, released on Maggi's birthday, host Janet Ellis finds out about Maggi's love for all things 'Just William'. Having been introduced to the books by Richmal Crompton at a young age, and often identifying with the lead character, Maggi tells Janet how the books have continued to provide her with joy throughout her life. Maggi's

S3 Ep10: JEREMY DYSON Oct 31, 2023 2253 In a suitably macabre special episode for the season, Janet returns this week to speak to Jeremy Dyson, author, musician, screenwriter and of course, member of the League of Gentleman.Jeremy introduces his childhood book 'Haunted Britain' by the curiously named Anthony D. Hippisley Coxe; a brilliant, terrifying and often unintentionally amusing guide to the most haunted spots in the UK. Where, for

S3 Ep9: PHYLLIS LOGAN Sep 20, 2023 2186 Recorded live at the Chiswick Festival, Phyllis Logan (Secrets and Lies, Lovejoy, Downton Abbey) joins Janet to discuss her favourite childhood book Alison's Spy Adventure - a rollicking tale of espionage set in Scotland with Alison and her childhood friend solving the great mystery before the adults do.Sheila Stuart wrote 15 books in the Alison series in all, as well - wholly unconnectedly - a fe

S3 Ep8: ANDY NYMAN Aug 4, 2023 2132 In this show, recorded LIVE at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Janet is delighted to welcome actor, writer and magician Andy Nyman to discuss his choice of spooky of book (so spooky he never could bring himself to read it, but was fascinated by the pictures within...).Andy's choice; 'Monsters of the Movies' by Denis Gifford (perhaps the greatest British comics collector in history) whose passion fo

S3 Ep7: JACQUELINE WILSON Jul 27, 2023 3163 Former Children's Laureate, creator of the beloved 'Tracy Beaker' and one of the countries 3 most borrowed authors, Dame Jaqueline Wilson joins Janet to discuss P. L. Travers enduring classic 'Mary Poppins' - having loved the book and and yet never seen the Disney adaptation.For pictures from the book please visit our instagram @twiceuponpodA Hat Trick PodcastTwice Upon A Time is presented by Jane

S3 Ep6: KONNIE HUQ Jul 21, 2023 2504 Janet is joined by fellow Blue Peter Alumnus, author and presenter Konnie Huq who brings along her choice, 'Superfudge' by Judy Blume.For pictures from the book please visit our instagram @twiceuponpodA Hat Trick PodcastTwice Upon A Time is presented by Janet EllisRecording and editing by John Wakefield and Diggory WaiteProduced by Caroline RaphaelExecutive Producer Claire Broughton Hosted on Acas

S3 Ep5: ANDI OSHO Jul 14, 2023 2159 In conjunction with Primadonna Festival, Andi Osho writer and actress, most recently from the brilliant 'Blue Lights' joins Janet to discuss her book choice 'Willie The Squowse' by Ted Allan. Andi will shortly be a judge at the Primadonna Festival, awarding the prize of a book contract for an unsigned, un-agented author. For more about the festival and to buy tickets head to www.primadonnafestival

S3 Ep4: LORRAINE KELLY Jul 7, 2023 2440 Lorraine Kelly OBE; presenter, broadcaster and host of her own eponymous and beloved show on ITV since 2010, joins Janet with her choice of 'Claudine at St.Clare's' by Enid Blyton.Warm reflections on growing up, school days and the escapism of Enid Blyton.For pictures of our guests and their books please visit our instagram @twiceuponpodA Hat Trick PodcastTwice Upon A Time is presented by Janet El

S3 Ep3: DIANE MORGAN Jun 30, 2023 2197 Diane Morgan, actress, writer and known to many as the brilliant Philomena Cunk, chooses The Iron Man by Ted Hughes as her book in this episode. As you'd expect, a hilarious chat this week, partly due to Diane's reaction to re reading the book for the pod!For pictures of our guests and their books please visit our instagram @twiceuponpodA Hat Trick PodcastTwice Upon A Time is presented by Janet El

S3 Ep2: NICK MOHAMMED Jun 23, 2023 2433 It's our pleasure to welcome Nick Mohammed to the pod this week, star of Ted Lasso and creator of the brilliant Mr Swallow. Nick introduces Janet to his favourite childhood book 'Pocket Magic' by Peter Eldin, a veritable cornucopia of tricks and tips for the budding magician. In this episode Nick talks about the beginning of his fascination with magic in childhood and how a love of magic has been

S3 Ep1: SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR Jun 15, 2023 1880 In this show, recorded LIVE at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Janet is delighted to welcome musician and all round superstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor to discuss her choice of book and find out if parental reading during her childhood was really up to scratch!Sophie chose Just Awful by Alma Marshak Whitney (of whom, not a huge amount is known) but the images in the book are brilliantly drawn by Lilian H

S2 Ep10: HAYLEY MILLS Nov 29, 2022 2106 Quintessential English actress Hayley Mills, star of numerous films including the original Parent Trap, That Darn Cat and the BAFTA winning Whistle Down The Wind joins Janet this week with her choice 'My Friend Flicka' by Mary O'Hara. This book which enthralled the young Hayley still holds the adult reader now with its examination of adult perspectives within the book as well as the bond between h

S2 Ep9: ANTHONY HOROWITZ Nov 22, 2022 2817 Best-selling author Anthony Horowitz is known not only for his original works such as the Magpie Murders and the Hawthorne Series but also for managing to inhabit existing characters such as Sherlock Holmes and James Bond in his hugely successful continuation novels of these series. For generations of younger readers however it is his Alex Rider novels that have proved hugely popular and also a ga

S2 Ep8: VICTORIA HISLOP Nov 15, 2022 1651 Celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop joins Janet this week to talk about 'I Am David' by Anne Holm. Victoria describes wonderfully how she remembers the book being to her class by their teacher and also how it inspired her in her own writing.Victoria's latest book Maria's Island is a brilliant children's adaptation of her bestseller The Island. Twice Upon A Time with Janet Ellis is a Hat Trick Prod

S2 Ep7: PAUL SINHA Nov 8, 2022 2127 Champion Quizzer Paul Sinha joins Janet this week with his choice of - of course - The Guinness Book of Records (1982 edition, year specifically chosen by Paul). Expect facts galore, an examination of 1982 as a whole and how Paul and Janet would best each qualify for entry into this distinguished tome.Twice Upon A Time with Janet Ellis is a Hat Trick PodcastFollow us @twiceuponpod for pictures of

S2 Ep6: ELIZABETH DAY Nov 1, 2022 2062 The brilliant novelist and podcaster Elizabeth Day joins Janet today with her choice of book 'The Ordinary Princess' by M.M.Kaye. Kaye is probably best known for her novel 'The Far Pavilions' which drew from her time growing up in India, which has also been made into a television series and a musical, but this tale of the princess who strives to be ordinary feels ahead of its time in terms of a fe

S2 Ep5: BONUS - JANET'S OWN CHOICE Jun 14, 2022 132 Just before we take a brief break to record some more episodes, here is Janet's own choice - The Swish Of The Curtain by Pamela BrownWritten when the author was 13 in 1938 it was finished a couple of years later and followed by several sequels. Pamela would later use the money she earned from the book to pay her way through drama school, eventually becoming an actress and producer for television.T

S2 Ep4: LISSA EVANS Jun 7, 2022 2597 Janet's guest this week is producer, novelist and children's author Lissa Evans. Her choice is the delightful 'Five Children and It' by E. Nesbit about a group of children who discover a magical being who can grant them wishes. Listen to hear how the book influenced Lissa's own writing and also some further insight into the life of E.Nesbit herself. Twice Upon A Time is a Hat Trick Production.Foll

S2 Ep3: HELEN ZALTZMAN May 31, 2022 2421 Podcast royalty this week as the wonderful Helen Zaltzman; podcaster, broadcaster and writer, joins Janet to talk about Judith Kerr's book 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit' based on Judith's own childhood as her jewish family fled Nazi Germany to seek refuge. A fantastic chat about Helen's own childhood as an avid reader and her own families flight.If you're keen to hear more from Helen and don't a

S2 Ep2: SUSIE DENT May 24, 2022 1911 Susie Dent, wordsmith extraordinaire, joins Janet this week to talk about her favourite book Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfeild. Follow us on @twiceuponpod for pictures from the pod and cover pictures of the vintage books chosen. Twice Upon A Time is a Hat Trick PodcastThe Producers are John Wakefield and Diggory WaiteExec Producers are Claire Broughton and Caroline Raphael Hosted on Acast. See

S2 Ep1: EMMANUEL DZOTSI May 17, 2022 2439 Emmanuel Dzotsi, originally hailing from Streatham and now co-host of hit US podcasts Reply-All and Serial, joins Janet this week with his choice 'Danny Champion of the World' by Roald Dahl.Join us @twiceuponpod for images of the books chosen and pictures from the recordings.Twice Upon A Time is a Hat Trick PodcastExecutive Producers Caroline Raphael and Claire BroughtonEdit Producers John Wakefie

S1 Ep10: POSY SIMMONDS Jan 25, 2022 2447 Posy Simmonds chooses The Tale of Mr Tod by Beatrix Potter.Potter, born in 1866, didn’t publish her first book, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” until her mid-30s. Having grown up isolated from other children, she had numerous pets and spent holidays in Scotland and the Lake District. She would go on to write 23 tales for children, but as early as 1913, at the height of her fame, she began to wind down

S1 Ep9: SAMIRA AHMED Jan 18, 2022 1956 Samira Ahmed chooses Ballet Shoes by Noel StreatfeildMore about this book:“If other girls had to be one of us, which of us they’d choose to be?” For the past nearly ninety years young readers have been dreaming of being Pauline, Petrova or Posy Fossil. Noel Streatfeild (1895 – 1986) had no intention of writing for children until she was cajoled into it by her publisher. In 1936 Ballet Shoes was pu

S1 Ep8: RACHEL RODDY Jan 11, 2022 2234 Food writer and author Rachel Roddy chooses 'The Tiger Who Came To Tea' by Judith Kerr, first published in 1968.More about the author:Having eventually arrived in England as refugees from Germany during the Second World War, both Kerr and her brother made their homes in Britain and all her family took British citizenship after the end of the war. Her London settings can seem quintessentially Briti

S1 Ep7: MICHAEL MORPURGO Jan 4, 2022 2144 Michael Morpurgo chooses Treasure Island by Robert Louis StevensonMore about this book:It started with a map. In the summer of 1894 Robert Louis Stevenson, often chronically unwell, passed the time drawing: “I made the map of an island; it was elaborately and (I thought) beautifully coloured; the shape of it took my fancy beyond expression; it contained harbours that pleased me like sonnets; and w

S1 Ep6: TUPPENCE MIDDLETON Dec 28, 2021 1992 Tuppence Middleton chooses Stig of the Dump by Clive King published by Puffin Books 1963More about this book:Stig Of The Dump was rejected by a great many publishers until it was picked up by the legendary children's editor Kay Webb, of Puffin Books who said it was one of the books she was proudest of publishing. Since 1963 it has sold millions of copies. And it's the one that's probably closest t

S1 Ep5: MAISIE PETERS Dec 21, 2021 1861 Maisie Peters chooses 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. First published in 1868.More about this book:"We do not care just now for volumes of collected stories…write us a new book consisting of a single story for girls'' Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888) later said she wrote Little Women to prove that she could not write a girl’s' book having always preferred to play with boys, and therefore knowi

S1 Ep4: KEITH BRYMER JONES Dec 14, 2021 2023 Keith Brymer Jones chooses Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe with illustrations by F G Moorsom.More about the book:Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719. It was not written as a book for children but illustrated editions were published later for younger readers eager to follow the adventures of Crusoe as he sailed the high seas eventually being shipwrecked on a desert island. Crusoe’s involvement w

S1 Ep3: JUNO DAWSON Dec 7, 2021 2115 Juno Dawson chooses Vampires by Colin & Jacqui Hawkins published by Harper Collins 1985More about this bookJacqui and her husband Colin Hawkins (the parents of actress Sally Hawkins) are known for their creative partnership, having illustrated and written over 150 children's books. 'Vampires' provides humorous tips on how to recognize and ward off vampires and looks at the daily life of a vam

S1 Ep2: LAUREN CHILD Dec 2, 2021 2222 Lauren Child chooses The Eighteenth Emergency by Betsy ByarsMore about Lauren's choice: Betsy Byars (1928 – 2020) was a prolific and award winning American children’s writer. The Eighteenth Emergency was her 9th out of over 40 books, published in the US in 1973 and a year later in the UK. She started writing to fend off the boredom of being at home with small children and was undeterred by her fir

S1 Ep1: BEN MILLER Nov 30, 2021 1924 Ben Miller chooses King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green (first published by Puffin Books in 1953)More about Ben's choice:Roger Lancelyn Green (1918 – 1987) wrote many books for children and adults but is best known for his retelling of ancient classic myths from tales of the Norse to the Egyptian gods for young readers. King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Tab

TRAILER Nov 3, 2021 43 Twice Upon a Time is coming soon! Subscribe to the podcast to be first to join Jane Ellis and a celebrity guest as they chat about their favourite childhood book.For all guest news and announcements, follow us on instagram: @TwiceUponPodTwice Upon a Time is a Hat Trick Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TWICE UPON A TIME (with Janet Ellis)

Episodes

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