Front Row

BBC Radio 4

4.2 (310)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED DAILY

Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

18 HR AGO

Author Siri Hustvedt on her memoir, Ghost Stories

Acclaimed author Siri Hustvedt on Ghost Stories, her memoir of her marriage to novelist, poet and filmmaker Paul Auster and her grief following his death in 2024. Following last night's live report on the controversies surrounding this year's Venice Biennale, we are joined by one of the curators of the Ukrainian Pavillion, to hear how a concrete sculpture of a deer rescued from the frontline of the conflict in Ukraine forms the centrepiece of their exhibit. As a new documentary - Salm Nan Daoine (Psalms of the People) explores how the Gaelic Psalm singing tradition is being kept alive in communities across Scotland and Ireland, singer and musician Rob MacNeacail talks about the history of the tradition and gives us a live demonstration in the studio. And as a major new project is launched by the National Theatre of Scotland to enable care-experienced people to tell authentic stories about their lives,, playwright Nicola McCartney is joined by the artistic director of The Big House, a London-based charity which empowers young care-experienced people through theatre to fulfil their potential through impactful stage productions. Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Mark Crossan

42 min
1 DAY AGO

Antony Gormley in 2D

Antony Gormley joins Samira Ahmed. The sculptor and artist is best known for landmarks such as Angel of the North or the beach figures of Another Place, in Liverpool. But Antony has also been exhibiting drawings since the 80s and with the publication of the book Drawing he tells Samira what this art means to him. After the Devil Wears Prada 2 topped the box office this week, BBC New Generation Thinker Dr. Sarah Smyth and author and critic Hanna Flint discuss how films depict women, work and romance. Following the resignation of the entire jury last week, we discuss the fraught politics of the Venice Biennale with Ed Behrens, editor of visual arts magazine Apollo. Bruce Dickinson joins Samira to talk about the new documentary Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Harry Graham

42 min
2 DAYS AGO

Celebrating the art of Illustration, with Sir Quentin Blake and Posy Simmonds

As the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration prepares to open in London, we find out how illustrators are adapting to a changing world. Starting with a rare interview from Quentin Blake, we'll hear how this once undervalued side of the visual arts still creates the defining images of childhoods, whilst also now playing a central role in the visual language of the internet. Featuring voices working across illustration, including Posy Simmonds, Chris Riddell, Michael Rosen, Christoph Niemann, Lizzy Stewart, Benji Davies, Murugiah, Chie Kutsuwada and Jane Rosenberg and Olivia Ahmad. The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration opens 5th June. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Harry Graham

42 min
6 DAYS AGO

Review: Spanish master Zurbarán at the National Gallery

Tom Sutcliffe is joined by playwright Mark Ravenhill and academic and critic Maria Delgado to review: The first major UK exhibition of Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán at the National Gallery. A new Spanish language series adaptation of Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits on Amazon Prime video. Please Please Me by Tom Wright, a play about manager Brian Epstein and The Beatles at the Kiln Theatre in London. Plus Tom speaks to the winner of the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, seen on the series Making of a Maestro. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Lucy Collingwood

42 min
29 APR

Paul Weller on his musical evolution

From the rebellious spirit of The Jam in the 1970s to the soulful sound of The Style Council and mellow ballads as a solo artist, singer-songwriter Paul Weller is about to release Weller At The BBC Volume 2 - a series of session recordings of his classic hits and interpretations of other artists' songs. He .discusses his musical evolution and his influences. She's been rather overshadowed by fellow writers such as James Kelman and Alasdair Gray, but in her centenary year Scottish novelist Agnes Owens (who died in 2014) is being celebrated with two exhibitions, and the republication of out-of-print books with new introductions by contemporary writers. Owens' son and literary executor John Crosbie and novelist Kirstin Innes discuss her significance as a writer and her trademark tone. Writer Fran Kranz discusses his play Mass, in which the parents of a school shooter meet those of a victim, and which is currently running at the Donmar Warehouse in London. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

43 min
28 APR

Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce on the new Children's Booker Prize

Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce launches the Children's Booker Prize and discusses some of the themes of his forthcoming Waterstones Children's Laureate Lecture - The Kids Are Not Alright- which calls for the reading of physical books to made a central part of childhood. Soap writer and aficionado Sharon Marshall on how long-running television dramas are employing bold storytelling techniques to retain and attract audiences. Ukrainian Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna on how her country's artworks have been targeted by the Russians. Poet, playwright, and musician Kae Tempest on his new novel, Having Spent Life Seeking, which centres on the character of Rothko as they search for a way to be at peace with who they feel themselves to be. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Front Row Production Team

42 min
27 APR

The Devil Wears Prada 2, with director David Frankel

The Devil Wears Prada 2 director David Frankel on why it was time to bring the old gang back together again. David Haig's new play "Magic" imagines the real life friendship between Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A new play "Stage Kiss" looks at what kissing on stage entails. Playwright Sarah Ruhl and actress Emma Fielding discuss how to do it well (and badly). And Luke Roberts, lecturer in Modern Poetry at KCL, pays tribute to J.H. Prynne, considered by many to be one of the most significant post-War English poets. Presenter: Samira Ahmed

42 min
23 APR

Review: Half Man, Richard Gadd’s follow up to Baby Reindeer

Critics Larushka Ivan-Zadeh and Ludovic Hunter-Tilney join Tom to review Half Man, Richard Gadd’s follow up to his hit Baby Reindeer. They also discuss Anne Hathaway as a faded pop star looking to make a comeback in supernatural thriller Mother Mary. Plus they assess Deborah Levy’s book My Year in Paris With Gertrude Stein: a fiction. To celebrate Shakespeare's birthday, author and translator Daniel Hahn reveals the challenges of translating the Bard into different languages. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

42 min

See All (2k)

John Wilson

Host
Kirsty Lang

Host
Mary Beard

Host
Samira Ahmed

Host
Stig Abell

Host
Siri Hustvedt

Guest
Rob MacNeacail

Guest
Nicola McCartney

Guest
Mark Ravenhill

Guest
María Delgado

Guest

4.2

out of 5

310 Ratings

Pretty impressive

20/01/2025

MarkoB1111

Despite a recent drift into the lowbrow with 80s pop nostalgia segments, this is a really useful and enjoyable listen. And the Friday review show takes me back to those happy years when Saturday Review was still being commissioned.
Stop interrupting!

28 Feb

London_lady

I enjoy Front Row but the listening experience is unfortunately blighted by hosts like Tom Sutcliffe frequently interrupting guests - especially women. Just listen to an episode on the Tracey Emin show and I was aghast as his constant interruptions. I’m inclined think it’s quite gendered as he seems more likely to cut in mid-sentence when a female guest is speaking. Infuriating.
Front Row

04/03/2025

Izzyissi

Love this podcast! Varied and up to date. All presenters very well prepared! ☺️
Let the guests speak

14/02/2025

Foxtrot Lightning

It's got a good mix of guests on the show but some of the hosts are constantly interrupting the guests which is frustrating to listen to, they often can't finish a sentence without being interrupted by the host giving his answer to his own question. Despite this it's good to have a round up of new films & exhibitions.