From The Times and the Sunday Times, this is the story on Saturday. I'm Manvine Rano.

At his peak, George Michael was one of the most famous pop stars in the world. But for the writer, Satnam Zangera, he was more like a lifelong companion.

Growing up in Wolverhampton, in a Sikh family, Satnam became obsessed with George Michael's

music. And while writing a new book about him, he realized how much they unexpectedly had in common. Both children of immigrant families,

both navigated questions of identity and belonging in Britain, and both wrestled with family

expectations and a desire to reinvent yourself. Satnam has written about George Michael for The Times magazine,

and we asked him to read his piece for today's episode.

It's 1990.

I am 13.

I still have a top knot, the long,ut hair that is characteristic of observant seeks.

And I must cast an odd silhouette as I stand outside HMV in Wolverhampton

gauping in wonder at the album display in the window.

If memory serves, I didn't know that Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 was coming out.

Maybe I've been busy at my summer job at a local sewing factory where they played nothing but Bungra

or preparing for a new term at school at the start of September.

I remember purchasing the album in cassette format.

My exhausting illegal employment, which had me occupied for up to 90 hours a week

during the school holidays, was paying just 50 pence an hour.

So it must have cost me a couple of days' wages.

I didn't feel short change though.

I listened to the album on a loop for weeks and

pulled over the sleeve notes, memorising the names of engineers and musicians, some of whom I have

...