Pete Wicks' Man Made

This week on a special episode of Man Made, bought to you in partnership with Channel Four, Pete sits down with one of Britain's most celebrated writers, Russell T Davies.
From Tip Toe and It's A Sin to masculinity, grief and the growing influence of social media, Russell shares his thoughts on some of the biggest issues shaping modern life.
Together, Pete and Russell explore why so many people feel lost and disconnected, the dangers of online echo chambers, the importance of listening rather than simply talking, and why defining what it means to be a man might be impossible in the first place.
Russell also opens up about the loss of his husband, how grief has shaped his life and writing, the role models who influenced him growing up, and why he remains hopeful about the next generation despite the challenges they face.
A thoughtful, funny and deeply honest conversation about identity, connection and what it means to be human.
Topics include:
Modern masculinity and male identity

Social media and online anger

Grief, loss and resilience

The importance of listening

Role models and growing up gay

Why young people are struggling

Finding hope in a divided world

All episodes of Tip Toe are available to stream now on Channel Four.

If you want to find mental health support where you live, or talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk), where you can find links to services across the UK.

We’d love you to join the conversation, follow @manmadepod on Instagram & TikTok.

Producer - Connor Gani
Commercial Content Lead - Will Goldston
Audio Visual Technical Managers - Tom Shaw & Ayo Ige
Production Assistant - Emily Spungin
Production Manager -Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer - Finn Ryan
Head of Production - Cat Moran
Chief Creative Officer - Lucie Cave

Join Pete for an intimate night of Man Made Live where he will be joined by Katie Piper and Jeff Brazier to discuss their views on masculinity in the modern day, what makes a good man and how their perspectives have been shaped by their experiences. As well as this you'll have the chance to ask Pete questions in what promises to an unmissable and moving evening.

TICKETS AVAILABLE at https://shorturl.at/fnFkd

Pete is joined by broadcaster and national treasure Lorraine Kelly in the Man Made studio.
From growing up in working-class Glasgow to becoming one of the most trusted voices on British television, Lorraine’s story is shaped by the men who influenced her, particularly her father. A kind, curious, and quietly progressive figure, he helped define her early understanding of masculinity, even in a time when men were expected to stay silent.
But behind that warmth was a more complicated reality.
Lorraine opens up about her father’s later struggles with mental health, the generational silence around emotion, and the helplessness of watching someone you love slowly lose their spark.
Drawing on decades of interviewing everyone from global pop stars to Hollywood icons, Lorraine shares what she’s witnessed in men over time from bravado and pressure to a growing willingness to be vulnerable. She explores how fame, expectation, and identity shape male behaviour, and why so many still struggle to open up.
She also dives into motherhood and how becoming a grandmother has finally allowed her to slow down, be present, and find a new sense of contentment.
If you want to find mental health support where you live, or talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk), where you can find links to services across the UK.
We’d love you to join the conversation, follow @manmadepod on Instagram & TikTok.
Producer - Connor Gani
Senior Video Producer - Elena Cotton
Camera Operator - Garry Brown
Social Media Producer - Demi Brockway
Production Assistant - Emily Spungin
Production Manager - Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer - Finn Ryan
Head of Production - Cat Moran
Chief Creative Officer - Lucie Cave

Pete is joined by magician and illusionist Steven Frayne in the Man Made studio.
Known to the world as Dynamo, Steven’s journey from growing up in Bradford to becoming one of the most famous magicians on the planet is extraordinary, but behind the magic is a story shaped by racism, illness, and the need to prove he was worthy of being here at all.
He opens up about a childhood marked by instability, the profound influence of his grandfather, and how magic became both an escape and a lifeline. From hustling his way backstage at concerts to building his career from nothing, Steven reveals the relentless drive that took him from survival to global success.
But this all came at a cost.
Steven speaks candidly about living with Crohn’s disease, the physical and mental toll of fame, and the breaking point that forced him to stop.
Steven’s story is more than just magic. It's about pain, purpose, and rebuilding a life when everything falls apart.
If you want to find mental health support where you live, or talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk), where you can find links to services across the UK.
We’d love you to join the conversation – follow @manmadepod on Instagram & TikTok.
Content Warning: Self Harm, Mental Health
Producer - Connor Gani
Senior Video Producer - Elena Cotton
Camera Operator - Garry Brown
Social Media Producer - Demi Brockway
Production Assistant - Emily Spungin
Production Manager - Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer - Finn Ryan
Head of Production - Cat Moran
Chief Creative Officer -  Lucie Cave

Kiss Breakfast host and TV personality Tyler West joins Pete in the Man Made studio.
Best known for his work on radio, television and for appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, Tyler opens up about the reality behind the energy and positivity people see on screen. From growing up without his father to being raised alongside his brother by a fiercely resilient mother, he reflects on the moments that shaped his understanding of masculinity.
At just fourteen, Tyler witnessed a murder outside his home, an experience that led to years of fear, isolation and severe mental health struggles. He speaks candidly about that trauma and the moment he found himself at his lowest point, questioning everything.
But this is also a story of resilience. Tyler shares how he rebuilt himself, the coping mechanisms that helped him survive, and why he believes “not giving up” is the foundation of being a good man.
He also discusses the pressure of public scrutiny, body image, and how stepping outside his comfort zone ultimately led him to love meeting his fiancée, Molly Rainford.
Content Warning: Descriptions of Violence, Mental Health
If you want to find mental health support where you live, or talk about your feelings, visit the Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk), where you can find links to services across the UK.
We’d love you to join the conversation – follow @manmadepod on Instagram & TikTok.
Producer - Connor Gani
Senior Video Producer - Elena Cotton
Camera Operator - Gavin McRae
Social Media Producer - Demi Brockway
Production Assistant - Emily Spungin
Production Manager - Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer - Finn Ryan
Head of Production - Cat Moran
Chief Creative Officer -  Lucie Cave