Front Row

BBC Radio 4

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

  1. −19 H

    Beryl Cook at 100

    Artist Beryl Cook would have been 100 this year - famed for her cheeky paintings of large ladies and people having fun, there's a new exhibition opening in Plymouth. Cole Escola is the man behind the stage musical sensation, Oh Mary, which has been hailed in some circles at The Next Hamilton. Washington National Opera is leaving their base for more than half a century. They have cited a slump in ticket sales since Donald Trump became chair of the Trump Kennedy Center in America's capital, as well as "shattered" donor confidence. The Voice of Hind Rajab is a harrowing film from Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, based around a real emergency call from a 5 year old Palestinian girl under fire in Gaza. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Oliver Jones

    42 min

  2. −4 D

    Reviewing Heated Rivalry, novel Jackson Alone, and the British Museum's Hawai'i exhibition

    In the Front Row review programme, author Emily Itami and critic Tim Robey assess the steamy Canadian drama Heated Rivalry, which has caused a sensation in North America. Also, The British Museum's new exhibition Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans, and Jose Ando's novel about racial and sexual identity in Japan, Jackson Alone. Are contemporary art prizes favouring identity politics over artistic quality? Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones and artist/editor Veronica Simpson are on to discuss. Presenter: Samira Ahmed

    42 min

  3. −5 D

    Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Wayne McGregor and Emmylou Harris

    Sir Ian McKellen talks about performing Laurie Slade's one-man play Equinox - about an older man wrestling with his past and conflicting desires - at the inaugural Out in the Hills LGBTI+ culture festival at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. One of the world's most renowned and influential choreographers Wayne McGregor on his book We Are Movement, an exploration of "physical intelligence" which also asks what it means to be human in the age of AI. Ahead of a European farewell tour, country and Americana legend Emmylou Harris discusses her incredible six-decade career in music. And UK Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy on the first ever UK Town of Culture competition Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Mark Crossan

    42 min

  4. −6 D

    Blue celebrate 25 years in pop and perform in the studio

    The boyband Blue perform one of the biggest early hits - One Love - and talk to Tom Sutcliffe about celebrating 25 years together with new album Reflections and a major tour. Marty Supreme director Josh Safdie discusses his film about an ambitious 1950s table tennis player. Timothee Chalamet won a Best Actor Golden Globe for the title role this week. It’s 40 years since Poems on the Underground was launched and a new collection is being released to mark the anniversary. And Claire Malcolm tells Tom about plans for the new Centre for Writing and Publishing in Newcastle. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Lucy Collingwood

    43 min

  5. 12 JAN.

    Screenwriter Eric Roth on his play High Noon

    Screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Benjamin Button, Dune) on his West End stage adaptation of High Noon 50 years since her death, we ask whether Agatha Christie is still the preeminent crime writer Emmy-winning guitarist Tommy Emmanuel plays live Archaeologists in Wales have discovered a previously unknown Roman villa in Port Talbot - we speak with the leader of the team working on the site Presenter Samira Ahmed

    42 min

  6. 8 JAN.

    Jessie Buckley on her starring role in the film Hamnet

    Jessie Buckley talks to Tom Sutcliffe about her role in the historical drama Hamnet, adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's book which explores the origins of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Journalist Bidisha Mamata and writer Mark Ravenhill join Tom to review Hamnet. They also discuss award-winning author Bryan Washington's Palaver, which focuses on an estranged mother and son who attempt to reconcile in Tokyo. And they offer their verdict on Sheridan Smith's starring role in a revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind, alongside Romesh Ranganathan in his West End stage debut. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

    42 min

  7. 7 JAN.

    Film-maker Ira Sachs on his latest screen project: Peter Hujar's Day

    American Ira Sachs' latest film is Peter Hujar's Day, which brings to life the transcripts from an unused 1974 interview that photographer Peter Hujar did with his friend, the nonfiction writer Linda Rosenkrantz. Ira shares what he's learned about the artist through the project. French pianist RIOPY first taught himself to play piano while growing up in a cult. After running away he was able to pursue a career in music, culminating in an album that topped the classical charts for years. His new album Be Love sees the artist sing for the first time. As Front Row continues it's exploration of UK literacy as part the Year of Reading 2026, we discuss how we can all become better readers to gain a deeper understanding of and more pleasure from books. We're joined by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, who is Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford, and Ann Morgan, a writer, editor, and critic best known for her exploration of global literature. We also talk to Arts critic Hannah McGill about the change in the format of the BBC 1 show, the Traitors. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Gillian Wheelan

    42 min

  8. 6 JAN.

    Innovations in book clubs, sitcoms by women and a new BBC One prison drama

    We hear from award-winning writer Dennis Kelly, the man behind Matilda the Musical and comedy show Pulling. In his new BBC One series Waiting for the Out he goes behind bars to tell the story of a man who teaches a philosophy class in prison. How do you choose the books you read? The Department of Education has launched the National Year of Reading and continuing Front Row's look at the subject of reading, today we’re looking at the evolution of book clubs. Nick is joined by Guinevere de La Mare, creator of Silent Book Clubs, and Dr. Nicola Wilson whose book Recommended explores the story of Britain's first celebrity book club. The death of distinguished British theatre director Frank Dunlop has been announced today. Dunlop established the Young Vic theatre and directed the first full production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Theatre critic Michael Coveney explores Dunlop’s career. Often cited as a trailblazer Victoria Wood was one of the first women to write and star in a television comedy show, but the path she’s beaten appears difficult to find and women are still in the minority when it comes to sitcom writing. Dr. Laura Minor, a BBC New Generation Thinker and Senior Lecturer in Television Studies at the University of Salford, and comedian Alexandra Haddow discuss. Presenter: Nick Ahad Producer: Ekene Akalawu

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

Information

  • Skapad av
    BBC Radio 4
  • Aktiva år
    2006 - 2026
  • Avsnitt
    2 tn
  • Åldersgräns
    Barnvänligt
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Programmets webbplats
    Front Row
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