FROM Dame Vera Lynn to Dizzee Rascal, radio presenter and author Stuart Maconie spent countless hours compiling 50 songs which tell the story of modern Britain.

Now The People's Songs writer is coming the The Met, Bury, on Thursday, December 4, to talk about his new book and epic radio series, as well as other topics close to his heart.

Stuart, one half of Radcliffe & Maconie on BBC Radio 6 Music, said: "I've never ever been to The Met.

"I'm really looking forward to it.

"It's called The People's Songs but it's not just about music.

"That's the framework of it but I talk about lots of other things.

"I talk about me and my books, the great outdoors, history."

Covering the past seven decades, The People's Songs looks at the tunes that have sound tracked our changing times and — sometimes — changed the way we feel.

The 53-year-old, who was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from The University of Bolton in 2011, said: "I sat down with the two producers in a pub in Salford one night. Some picked themselves, like God Save the Queen (by Sex Pistols).

"Then we thought, what issues do we want to get in?

"I was really keen that it wasn't just about blokey stuff.

"It was supposed to be about Britain and people — the changing role of women, going on strike, Britain and food, Britain and sport.

"I wanted to pick records that people actually bought.

"I went away and spent a long time writing about it."

The People's Songs was a weekly series, broadcast on Radio 2 throughout 2013, and it is now available for download on iTunes.

He said: "It's probably the best thing I've ever done.

"It's 50 hours, it's epic in its scope.

"I've never done anything like that before.

"There's no interview with bands in it or experts. It's very different to from other music documentaries in the respect."

Having presented radio shows since the 1990s, Stuart says the advances in technology, such as social media, have made it "much better".

He said: "Back in the day, Terry Wogan used to mention something and would have to wait two weeks to get a reaction.

"Now, you get it instantly. It's made it much more democratic, much more interactive."

Brought up in Wigan, Stuart has long been a champion of the North and his other books include Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North and The Wit and Wisdom of the North.

Stuart is also working on a new book which looks at how people have had fun and spent their leisure time in the North over the years.

He said: "I’ve been accused of being a professional Northerner. No-one would ever accuse anyone of being a professional Southerner.

“That’s why Media City, where I work, has been so good. It’s made some of the people from London come up here for a change. "

Throughout his career, including a stint as assistant editor at music magazine NME, Stuart has lived in London but prefers the North.

He said: "The countryside is nicer.

"The politics of the place suits me more.

"I couldn’t live anywhere where Boris Johnson is Mayor. They seem to think he’s charming and funny but I don’t.

"I think that’s a real litmus test between the North and the South."

Stuart Maconie: The People's Songs will be at The Met, Bury, on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm. Phone 0161 761 2216 for tickets.