Is Britain more divided now than ever? One of the best-known writers of his generation, James Graham, is responsible for Dear England, Punch and This House. He grew up in Nottinghamshire, and witnessed how communities were torn apart by the miners' strike of 1984-85. Decades later, he wrote about those divisions in his hit TV drama Sherwood, about a community still living with the legacy of the strike. Forty years on, with Britain still wrestling with the fallout from Brexit and the culture wars, are we becoming a more and more divided country? In an at times emotional chat, James joins Cathy to reflect on growing up in a divided Nottinghamshire, being bullied at school and how his work has forced him to confront his own past and reopen wounds from the miners' strike that have never fully healed. He also gives his verdict on Andy Burnham's political storytelling – and whether vibes are enough to make a successful prime minister. Want to listen to Backstory? Available for free on your podcasts app here: https://podfollow.com/cathy - follow the feed so you never miss an episode. New episodes released every Thursday morning. What are your memories in recent histories and the stories that most stuck with you? Email me at cathy@sky.uk - we'd love to hear from you. Follow Cathy: Instagram: @cathynewmansky X: @cathynewman TikTok: cathynewmansky