Ben Macintyre captivates readers with true stories.

He expertly unravels complex historical events, explaining sharp subplots and side characters while artfully deploying dry humour to make the true stories he tells digestible.

His most recent non-fiction work is The Siege – a story of how in April 1980, six men stormed the Iranian embassy in London and took 26 hostages they held for six days.

Macintyre told Jack Tame he was 17 when the situation took place, and since that point he’d always wanted to write about it.

“It was the most dramatic thing I’d ever seen on television,” he said.

“It was one of those stories that entered mythology very quickly – it became a sort of story of, sort of SAS daring do, and kind of you know, fighting against the odds, and you know, the story itself is much more complicated than that.”

“I've really enjoyed writing this one.”

Macintyre is coming to New Zealand for the Auckland Writer’s Festival, delving into his work at three different events across the festival.

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Prominent businessman, author and former politician Sir Bob Jones has died in Wellington after a brief illness - aged 85.

Jones formed the New Zealand Party in 1983, which stood for 10 years.

He received a knighthood in 1989 for services to business management and the community.

Kevin Milne told Jack Tame he will be remembered as a terrific writer.

He says Wellington already feels all the more grey for his passing.

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One of New Zealand’s most treasured musical acts, Sir Dave Dobbyn, will perform at Auckland Town Hall, the first time he has hit the stage there solo.

The 68-year-old has previously performed at the prestigious venue with his band Th’ Dudes, but has never showcased his own set. That will change on June 4, when he and his touring band look to cover songs from his 45-year recording career.

Announced as part of the Auckland Winter Concert Series lineup, Dobbyn and his band will perform everything from his celebrated anthems to “an extraordinary catalogue of deeper cuts”.

Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to discuss the event.

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The Good Mistress by Anne Tiernan

Juliet never planned to be the other woman, but Rory was the only man she'd ever loved. She was sure he'd leave his frustratingly perfect wife - until he went and ghosted her, literally. Maeve is a bestselling novelist, and yet between her exasperating husband, teenage sons and ailing mother, success feels hollow. When she dallies in a surprising infidelity of her own, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Erica was the perfect wife, but Rory knew things about her that no-one else can ever know. And now she's left with a question she doesn't want the answer to: had she lost Rory long before he died?

As three women's lives collide, they must reconcile the realities of love, betrayal and the limits of forgiveness - because what does it truly mean to be 'good', anyway?

The Other People by C.B. Everett

Ten strangers.

An old dark house.

A killer picking them off one by one.

And a missing girl who’s running out of time…

And then there was one.

Ten strangers wake up inside an old, locked house. They have no recollection of how they got there. In order to escape, they have to solve the disappearance of a young woman. But a killer also stalks the halls of the house and soon the body count starts to rise. Who are these strangers? Why were they chosen? Why would someone want to kill them? And who—or what—lurks in the cellar?

Forget what you think you know.

Because while you can trust yourself, can you really trust The Other People?

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"Budapest has long been a punching bag for invading powers and battled over by a litany of imperial bullies. But the legacy is a city stacked with historic layer upon layer of intrigue and faded glory, some layers still decaying while others have been ambitiously restored. I was back in the Hungarian capital with Trafalgar, one of the headline stops on their splendidly curated 10-day Imperial Europe tour."

Read Mike's full article here.

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Although we all try, budgeting doesn't work for everyone. Instead, Ed McKnight has what he calls the 'Economist's Pay Routine', an alternative that allows you to budget without budgeting.

He joined Jack Tame to break down the method.

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On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 3 May 2025, author Ben Macintyre joins Jack to discuss his expertise in espionage and latest non-fiction book ‘The Siege’ ahead of his trip to NZ for the Writer's Festival.

Jack reflects on dear memories.

Nici Wickes serves up a recipe that can be whipped up in no time with ingredients you likely already have in the pantry.

Now is the time to act to protect your stonefruit for next summer. Man-in-the-garden Ruud Kleinpaste discusses what to look out for and the importance of timing.

Plus, Dave Dobbyn has announced a special show at Auckland's Town Hall. Estelle Clifford digs deep into his archive to take a punt at what the setlist may feature.

Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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With Mother’s Day coming up soon, many will be casting around for ideas of what to get that special figure in their life.

Kate Hall has a few ideas on how to keep the day sustainable.

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