Marrakech is the heart and lifeblood of Morocco's ancient storytelling tradition. For nearly a thousand years, storytellers have gathered in the Jemaa el Fna, the legendary square of the city, to recount ancient folktales and fables to rapt audiences. But this unique chain of oral tradition that has passed seamlessly from generation to generation is teetering on the brink of extinction. The competing distractions of television, movies and the internet have drawn the crowds away from the storytellers and few have the desire to learn the stories and continue their legacy. Richard Hamilton has witnessed at first hand the death throes of this rich and captivating tradition and, in the labyrinth of the Marrakech medina, has tracked down the last few remaining storytellers, recording stories that are replete with the mysteries and beauty of the Maghreb.

I work for BBC World Service radio and was their correspondent in Madagascar, Cape Town and Morocco. I have written two books: "The Last Storytellers: Tales from the Heart of Morocco" and "Tangier: From the Romans to the Rolling Stones." I live in London but travel frequently to Morocco. I enjoy many diverse interests and hobbies including photography, psychology, walking and reading. I did a Masters in African Studies at SOAS in London as well as a post-graduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism at the London College of Printing. My main degree was in Greek and Philosophy at Bristol University. I also qualified as a lawyer but that is another story...