Love the Words

Airs every Tuesday at 4pm.

Peter Spafford presents his love of all things wordy in his weekly shows chatting to novelists, poets and play-wrights.

Latest programmes

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  • Programme

    Love The Words 335: The Final Whistle

    Tue 17th Mar '26, 4:00pm Remind me

    Love, betrayal, and the 1966 World Cup, in this atmospheric audio drama from Jacqueline Everett set in communist Hungary. One of the many highlights of Writing On Air 2026.

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    Love The Words 334: Pennine Platform

    Tue 10th Mar '26, 4:00pm

    Four poets read from the latest Issue of Pennine Platform (winner of 'Best Cultural Promotion Publication' in the Northern Enterprise Awards 2025) with editor Julia Deakin.

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    Love The Words 333: Minutes From The Revolution

    Tue 3rd Mar '26, 4:00pm

    They're out in the streets. It's all kicking off. But is it in the minutes? Brand new comedy satire by Freya Jackson, a highlight from Writing On Air 2026.

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    Love The Words 332: Changing The Narrative (Part 2)

    Tue 17th Feb '26, 4:00pm

    What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? LDVS Voices project reflect.

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    Love The Words 331: Stu Hennigan

    Tue 10th Feb '26, 4:00pm

    'In the derelict shell of what was once his family home, a dying man surveys the wreckage of his former life and drinks himself senseless'. Stu Hennigan on his brand new novel.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 330: Changing The Narrative (Part 1)

    Tue 3rd Feb '26, 4:00pm

    What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? Experts in the field discuss.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 329: People’s History of Leeds (2)

    Tue 27th Jan '26, 4:00pm

    The People’s History of Leeds captures the story of the city through the voices of its citizens. Volume 1, published last week, includes stories from joyful Goths.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 328: Poetry Unseen

    Tue 20th Jan '26, 5:00pm

    Episode from a new poetry series on ELCR, Poetry Unseen, in which three poetry-heads present poems they like, and which the others don't know, for an in-the-moment response.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 327: Fin and Jacob

    Tue 20th Jan '26, 4:00pm

    Two young poets from West Yorkshire, Jacob Davies and Finny, are both gaining exciting reputations both locally and nationally. Poems and discussion.

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    Love The Words 326: Lateral G

    Tue 13th Jan '26, 4:00pm

    Lateral G is an off-grid, travelling poet who lives on the road and writes about life, ageing and the strange things that happen in her weird world.

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    Love The Words 325: Dortmund Revisited

    Tue 23rd Dec '25, 4:00pm

    Love The Words hears from a group of visiting youth workers from Dortmund, Leeds' twin city in Germany. How are young people faring in Dortmund? And where can you get a good pizza?

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    Love The Words 324: Bishop Young Academy

    Tue 16th Dec '25, 12:00am

    Young writers from Bishop Young Academy in East Leeds, with committed teacher Miss Abbott, share moving poetry on the theme of Threshold.

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    Love The Words 323: Vickie Orton, storyteller

    Tue 9th Dec '25, 4:00pm

    Storyteller Vickie Orton makes a happy return to Chapel FM to tell some seasonal stories and talk about her craft, honed after many years.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 322: I Want To Go Home

    Tue 2nd Dec '25, 4:00pm

    Radio drama by Martin Riley with music by Jack Glover from last year's Writing On Air festival. A child with polio discovers his voice and presence in the world.

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    Love The Words 321: Ria Tocsin

    Wed 12th Nov '25, 4:00pm

    The Only High I Need is a new novel by Ria Tocsin. It's Darcy’s first story. Is this story true or is it just a tale? You decide. Ria talks frankly to LTW.

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    Love The Words 320: Love Digitally

    Tue 4th Nov '25, 4:00pm

    Erin and Josh grew up together in Yorkshire and now are on opposite sides of the globe. Melanie Taylor talks about her new novel, Love Digitally. Plus The Devil's Den.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 319: Leeds City of Languages, Nela Bartova

    Tue 28th Oct '25, 4:00pm

    A foretaste of Leeds City of Languages, a vibrant festival celebrating our languages and global connections, plus soundscapes from Czech artist Nela Bartova.

  • Programme

    Love The Words 318: Alan Smith & Jaimes Lewis Moran

    Tue 21st Oct '25, 4:00pm

    Poetry! Alan Smith has taught in universities & prisons. Now he's writing his own poetry. Jaimes Lewis Moran, Seacroft poet, reads from his brand new collection.

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A picture tells a thousand words

  • Everyone always talks about TV but I’ve had so much fun creating poems for radio that now all my mates want to get involved too.

    Sarah (age 13)

    East Leeds Academy

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