Zeb Soanes has one of the most recognisable voices in the country. He trained as an actor, then went on to have a twenty five year career at the BBC as a continuity announcer and newsreader. He joins Tim Allen on The Cultural Crunch podcast to talk about his return to the stage in the solo play Two Halves of Guinness.

THE CULTURAL CRUNCH

Amol Rajan chats to Zeb Soanes about Two Halves of Guinness on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.

BBC RADIO 4

A vibrant retelling of Guinness’ storied life, with Soanes’ stunning ability to multi-role meaning that we do not just meet the various versions of Sir Alec, but other icons of the screen and stage too, such as Gielgud, Olivier and Hunt, who all in their own way helped Guinness on his way.

ADVENTURES IN THEATRELAND ★★★★★

The central theme, illustrated with a defiant and aching eloquence by Soanes, is that Guinness never truly knew who he was – illegitimate, with no sense of his father, and a mother who alternately neglected and exploited him; unhappily bisexual; wanting fame, but uneasy with its consequences – all of these tensions and more made for an unhappy life but provided a glittering seam of rich ore for his work.

PLAYS TO SEE ★★★★★

Zeb Soanes admired the Oscar-winning actor so much he sent him a letter. He reveals how he transformed into the actor for a one-man play Two Halves of Guinness

THE TIMES

After a stroke in 2021, Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes has got his dream job — playing 33 roles in a show about Sir Alec Guinness.

RADIO TIMES

A solo performance exploring Sir Alec Guinness’s life is a passion project for Zeb Soanes, he tells Susan Gray.

CHURCH TIMES

The voice of the Shipping Forecast for 22 years, and now the presenter of Relaxing Evenings on Classic FM, Zeb Soanes, 49, is an actor, children's author and Chancellor of the University of Suffolk. In his show, Two Halves of Guinness, touring the UK this year, Zeb is playing his hero Alec Guinness.

CANDIS MAGAZINE

First images released of Zeb Soanes as Alec Guinness in Mark Burgess’ play Two Halves of Guinness

BROADWAY WORLD

BBC South Today visited Zeb Soanes in Covent Garden during rehearsals for Two Halves of Guinness

BBC SOUTH TODAY

Jonathahn Moran talks to Zeb Soanes about his research into playing Sir Alec Guinness in the play Two Halves of Guinness.

GUINNESS IS SMILEY BLOG

To Zeb Soanes, Sir Alec Guinness wasn't only George Smiley — he was the reason the writer, presenter and actor sought out the spotlight ...

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE