Episode Details

When Josiah Wedgwood had part of an injured leg amputed, he encouraged his workers to celebrate the anniversary as St Amputation Day.

This remarkable man from Stoke on Trent built a pottery empire that made him famous round the world.

He's nominated here, on location, by the former MP for Stoke Central, Tristram Hunt, now head of the Victoria and Albert museum in London.

Featuring an interview with the head of Royal Staffordshire, Norman Tempest.

Plus readings from Brian Dolan's biography, The First Tycoon.

Presented by Matthew Parris

Produced for BBC audio in Bristol by ex-Stoke resident Miles Warde

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2021.