BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts.

Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too.

You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me, Nick Grimshaw.

And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music.

All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond.

And great guests. And it's on BBC Sounds. Yes, where you can also enjoy lots of

playlists, music mixes and live radio. Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio

3 Unwind. But obviously start with our podcast podcast sidetrack. Obviously. Obviously.

So if you like music, listen on BBC Sans.

Today's guest is a writer and comedian who established herself on stage at London's Comedy Store more than a few decades ago.

This summer, she was back on stage this time in a West End production of 40 Towers.

Helen Lederer, tell us who you've picked and why.

I have picked the great and late Joan Rivers. I relate to her. In 1984, when I was a stand-up comedian,

I've been doing it, I think, a couple of years. I went to see an audience with

Joan Rivers, and it was like this angel with this blonde hair and glitter. So stylish,

but that's not the main thing. With gags, with content, ferocious, aggressive, intelligent,

went where no one else I had seen has gone before. She's really important to me.

You dug out a photograph of yourself in the audience looking at Joan on stage and I can see

the awe in your young face. And my very young face, a lot of bouffant ate his hair. But the more

you know about Joan, her work ethic, the tapestry of gags, I mean, she's a worker,

she's a comedian's comedian, but also really vulnerable. And I relate to that vulnerability.

She will not be put down and yet deeply insecure. That mixture of strength and vulnerability.

...