My guest today is Chris Difford — songwriter, musician and co-founder of Squeeze, one of Britain’s most distinctive and enduring bands.
Together with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris created songs that turned everyday life into sharply observed pop: “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Tempted,” “Labelled with Love” and so many more.
His lyrics are filled with characters, conversations and small domestic details. They can be funny, uncomfortable, romantic and heartbreaking — sometimes within the same song.
But Chris’s story goes far beyond the hits. It is also about friendship, ambition, addiction, recovery, fatherhood and the complicated reality of keeping a creative partnership alive across more than five decades.
He has written for other artists, pursued a solo career, published his memoir and helped new songwriters find their own voices.
Chris Difford has never been afraid to examine the less polished parts of life — or himself. So today, I want to discover the stories behind those remarkable songs, the experiences that shaped the man who wrote them, and what he has learned from a lifetime spent turning real life into music.
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Squeeze UK tour dates 2026
The following British dates are part of the Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour, with special guest Billy Bragg:
12 November — OVO Hydro, Glasgow
13 November — Opera House, Blackpool
14 November — Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
16 November — O2 City Hall, Newcastle
17 November — The Globe, Stockton
19 November — Connexin Live, Hull
20 November — First Direct Arena, Leeds
21 November — M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool2
3 November — O2 Apollo, Manchester
26 November — The O2, London
27 November — Cardiff Arena, Cardiff
28 November — Utilita Arena, Birmingham
30 November — Swansea Arena, Swansea
1 December — Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth
4 December — BIC, Bournemouth
5 December — Brighton Centre, Brighton
Tickets;
https://www.squeezeofficial.com/home/
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