‘These are scary times…’ Michael Palin on the meaning of life

In this weeks issue…Michael Palin is the Mr Nice of Monty Python and the world’s favourite globetrotter. But he isn’t happy about the state of satire in modern Britain and says comedy ain’t what it used to be, in his Letter To My Younger Self.

As the gang gets together one last time for the final instalment of Shane Meadows’ acclaimed This is England drama series, taking them into the second summer of love in 1990, its stars Vicky McClure, Thomas Turgoose and Joe Gilgun talk about how they’ve formed bonds for life while creating one of the most remarkable TV phenomena of our times.

Nathan Auguste played alongside Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe as a promising young footballer, but his life took a very different path and he ended up homeless and adrift. Now he talks about his journey back to hope and the pride of playing for England as he pulls on his nation’s jersey for the Homeless World Cup.

We also hear from Gordon McLean and Wayne Ellaway who are part of the Scottish and Welsh Homeless World Cup squads, about how football helped them tackle their lifelong struggles against drug addiction and homelessness.

In My Pitch, this week’s featured vendor is Craig Newman in Bristol, who explains how philosophy – and the philosophical multiverse created by Terry Pratchett – has helped him through the tough times in life.

Max Joseph, host of internet dating scam-busters show Catfish and the man behind new movie We Are Your Friends, explains why superstar DJs have overtaken rock titans of the 1970s as today’s global pop giants.