Comedian (and Scummy Mummy) Helen Thorn is a whopping 14 years younger than her brother John, who remembers her as a precocious and hilarious little blonde princess. While John went to grammar school in Melbourne, Australia, Helen had a different childhood - sent to tough it out in some harsher environments. Their childhoods may have been really different, but as adults they understand each other’s worlds perfectly. When times are tough they are safe havens for each other, spending lots of...

Relatively podcast is back for a new season!! More pairs of siblings talk to Catherine about their relationship as adults and what it was like growing up together. They reveal nicknames, settle old arguments and tell each other how they really feel. Join in on Instagram and Twitter Our sponsor for this third season of Relatively is Findmypast, the exclusive online home of the 1921 Census. Joining Findmypast gives you access to a unique snapshot of life one hundred years ago. Plus, with...

TV quizzer Bobby Seagull and his polymath big brother Davey Jose (artist, tech analyst, mathematician) grew up in a council house in East London, where "using your mind" was valued above all else. 2 of 4 boys, the pair have been close from the start, inheriting their bouncy positivity from their parents. An accident as a toddler meant Davey went to special school until fate stepped in and he had the chance to go to mainstream school like Bobby. Sibling rivalry spurred both boys on to academic...

Author and columnist Lucy Mangan (AKA ‘Boogaloo’) and her IT-whizz little sister Emily Thomas (AKA ‘Minefrog’) are very, very different. Brought up in Catford by their indomitable "displaced Northerner" mother and their introverted father (nicknamed 'The Potato'), Emily remembers their mother making Lucy's bed with her still in it, nose stuck in a book. Lucy recalls Emily never sitting still, and always embarking on projects and adventures. In this episode they talk about making friends,...

Appearing on Love Island was a dramatic move for pharmacist Anna Vakili. She now works as an influencer with her little sister Mandi - which is a "dream come true" for the girls. Brought up in London by ambitious Iranian parents, the pair reflect on the adjustments their parents have made and how life has changed for everyone since the show. They also talk about coming of age in the post 9/11 and 7/7 era, an environment which was very hostile to Muslims, and discuss their new joint mission to...

Classical Brit nominated sisters Hannah and Naomi (or Hanomi) are mirror twins, who have equally beautiful soprano singing voices. Bullied at school, the pair found their confidence through encouragement from their parents and singing teacher to start to perform. Appearing on The Voice in 2015 launched their career and they have since sung for royalty, for a packed Wembley arena at at The Royal Albert Hall as Classical Reflection. In this episode, they talk about being each other's number one...

For 38 years, actor and theatre-maker Emma Spearing was Robin, and her identical twin Charlie, was Batman. Since Charlie died seven years ago, Emma has been trying to figure out what the hell happens to her role as sidekick now that she is alone. Her new one-woman play 'Whole' is all about that, and the disorientating grief of losing a sister and the future you imagined together. It's funny, too. In the second of two episodes on siblings and grief, Emma talks about having a shared ego, caring...

Priest, journalist and broadcaster Giles Fraser talks about his brother Jonathan, who died before Giles was born. His parents' grief shaped the way he was parented and has even influenced the way he approached fatherhood. In this episode, he talks about: the sadness that is always close to the surface, about loving someone you never met, philosophy, teenage rebellion and acquiring a new brother at 13. If you have been affected by stillbirth, miscarriage or SID, please be aware that this...

Steve and Suzie Fletcher from the BBC show The Repair Shop grew up in rural Oxfordshire, where they had a very free range childhood. Their hard-working horologist father inspired Steve to go into a career mending clocks and watches but for Suzie, it was only ever horses, which she loved with a passion that took her to the USA – where she stayed for 22 years. The now-reunited siblings talk creativity, postnatal depression, shyness, and the absolute joy of roaming the countryside from breakfast...

International netballing duo Sasha and Kadeen Corbin grew up in a sporty household. Their dad played cricket for Glamorgan and as a girl, their mum raced Tessa Sanderson on the track. Early success in gymnastics gave way to a passion for netball which saw both girls represent the country together. In this episode they talk the pain of injury, the heartbreak of not being selected to play when your sister has been and the fun of sharing a dream.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

Professor of psychology and sibling expert Alison Pike joins Catherine to talk about family roles, childhood labels and why we grow up so differently to our brothers and sisters. Do we become clumsy if we are called clumsy ? Is it all down to our parents? And do our roles in the family translate into our identities or reputations in life more generally?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Catriona and Antonia (or Catinks and Noon) are only 20 months apart: as children they lived around the world, keeping unusual pets, playing at horses (and riding real horses) and generally enjoying wonderful freedom. Dartmoor in Devon was the one constant in their lives – but much as they loved it, their house was terrifying for author Catriona - who now writes horror fiction for a living. In this episode they talk about fitting in in new places, fighting over each other’s possessions and the...

Meet Alison Pike - a professor of child + family psychology who has been studying sibling relationships for the last 25 years. Over the next few weeks she will join Catherine for a series of bonus conversations on things like rivalry, roles and family memories and stories… In this short episode, she talks about her own family and why she is so interested in brothers and sisters. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, are two of seven musical siblings from Nottingham. They still argue over board games and, as children, strove to win the annual Christmas bedroom-decorating competition. But their on-stage relationships are totally different, revelling in each other’s unique skills and abilities. In this episode they talk about the importance of creativity for its own sake, family WhatsApp groups and celebrate 'MUSE' their first album as a duo. Click HERE to hear all 7 siblings...

Susie Dent is a whizz with words. The lexicographer and etymologist’s fascination with language started early, when she would devour German and French vocab books in the back of the car on the way to family holidays. In this episode of Relatively, Catherine asks Susie all about the words we use to talk about families – from sibling to sister and brethren to relative. A delve into the dictionary with Susie Dent! Her newest book Word Perfect is here . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and...

Gok (Babe) and Kwoklyn Wan’s grandfather came to the UK from Hong Kong in 1958 and opened the very first Chop Suey house in Leicester 4 years later. Their mum and dad were also restaurateurs, and the pair grew up (like twins) learning to be perfect hosts: helping in the kitchen, dancing to ABBA in the basement and eating steak and rice at 3AM after service with their fun-loving parents. Home was a bubble which protected the siblings from the bullying and abuse endured in 1980s Britain. Later...

Meg and Chris (the bag) Clothier were brought up by their seafaring, hardy parents who met one another ocean racing. Childhood holidays spent ‘bored wet and cold’ nevertheless left the pair with a deep love and respect for the sea. As straight A students, they headed to Oxbridge and became 'real' friends although tomboy Meg remembers Chris as always being a 'really nice playmate' (or maybe first mate!). In this episode, they talk about: the sea, (of course) teenage fashion, the heartache of...

TV presenter Kirsten O' Brien and her little brother Tim had a globetrotting childhood, racking up the airmiles following their engineer dad's career to some pretty far flung corners of the world. Living the ex-pat life made them close and gave them a world view way beyond their native Middleborough, where they were the first people to have a microwave and a VHS. The pair scrapped and fought a lot, something Kirsten - as self professed "wind-up merchant" - takes full responsibility for....

Angela and Maria Eagle - both Labour MPs - were encouraged to aim high from as early as they can remember. At 8 years old, the twins started beating their dad at chess and then quickly moved on to squarely defeating the boys at their local chess club. As well as chess, their parents taught them about equality for women and the value of education. At home they were also immersed in politics - debating and arguing with each other as well as "shouting at the telly" if a Tory happened to be on...

Dame Jenni Murray is an only child, whose “pushy and devoted” mother thought she was going to die giving birth to her, and so was determined to never have another baby. That meant Jennifer Susan Bailey grew up with loads and loads of adult attention – something which had its advantages as well as its definite disadvantages. In this episode, Jenni talks about why she wanted to giver her first born a sibling, why being an only child left her lonely in her grief after losing her mother and how...

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken were born 7 minutes apart but don't know who is the oldest... As older brothers to 'Bratty' , the trio enjoyed an idyllic childhood, with an "anarchic", fun-loving dad and a perfectly complementary mum who worked hard to provide for the family and instilled a work ethic in the three boys. As teens the twins decided to become doctors and cooperated beautifully to study for their medical school interviews. It was - by their own admission - a rare episode in a...

Naturalist Chris Packham and his little sister the fashion designer Jenny Packham, grew up in Southampton in a crazily creative and competitive family. They indulged Chris's enthusiasms and obsessions - trekking through nettles and staying out for hours to spot birds or catch newts. Later on Jenny developed her own interest in art and making clothes - inspired by her dress-making grandmothers. As teens the pair bonded through music and fashion, but at socially Chris's undiagnosed Asperger's...

This end-of-season special episode is a veritable pot-pourri of sibling love... We've rounded up Jane Garvey, Susie Dent, Chris Packham, Professor Alison Pike – an expert on siblings – and two very important guests: Catherine's (slightly overexcited) sisters Bex and CJ! Look out for listener messages to brothers and sisters around the world, and bonus episodes in the coming weeks. Don't forget Siblings Day on April 10th!   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eileen and Catherine Walsh grew up in Cork before moving to Dublin to pursue careers on stage and screen. On leaving school, older sister Catherine cried, saying “someone much better was coming” to fill her shoes – but as grown ups, both sisters hold each other in high professional regard and lean on each other for support in a tough industry. In this episode they talk about the influence of the Irish church on their childhood, their dad as a long-suffering theatre goer – and the craic to be...

The barrister, writer and broadcaster Hashi Mohamed Hashi had 11 siblings: out of them all, he is closest to sister Shukri, from whom he has never been separated despite the ‘tornado’ which scattered their family following their father’s death. Aged 9 and 7, they travelled from Kenya to the UK as refugees – where a new home, languages and culture baffled them both. In this episode they talk about social mobility and success, their love of baked beans, and the strength they found to make it...