Front Row Podcast
Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music
Episodes to download
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Reviews of the second series of Rivals and the film The Christophers starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel
Yesterday
Plus the West End transfer of the award-winning historical drama 1536.
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Director Mark Cousins on his 16-hour epic The Story of Documentary Film
Wednesday
Director Mark Cousins on his 16-hour epic The Story of Documentary Film.
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Celebrating Sir John Vanbrugh, rock star architect of the Baroque age
Tuesday
Sir John Vanbrugh, and Lubaina Himid on representing Great Britain at the Venice Biennale
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Highs, lows and Jet-Skis at the Venice Biennale
Monday
Critics Ben Luke and Aviva Dautch bring us all the news from Venice.
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Reviewing The Sheep Detectives, Elizabeth Strout and Henry Moore at Kew
Last Thursday
Reviewing The Sheep Detectives, Elizabeth Strout and Henry Moore at Kew.
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Author Siri Hustvedt on her memoir, Ghost Stories
Wed 6 May 2026
Acclaimed author Siri Hustvedt on her memoir of her marriage to Paul Auster.
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Antony Gormley in 2D
Tue 5 May 2026
Antony Gormley on drawing. Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson. Career Women cinema.
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Celebrating the art of Illustration, with Sir Quentin Blake and Posy Simmonds
Mon 4 May 2026
We find out how illustration is adapting to a changing world.
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Review: Spanish master Zurbarán at the National Gallery
Thu 30 Apr 2026
The House of the Spirits series & play Please Please Me about Brian Epstein & The Beatles
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Paul Weller on his musical evolution
Wed 29 Apr 2026
As he releases Weller at the BBC Volume 2, Paul Weller talks to Kirsty Wark.
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Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce on the new Children's Booker Prize
Tue 28 Apr 2026
Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce on the power of books and Kae Tempest's new novel
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The Devil Wears Prada 2, with director David Frankel
Mon 27 Apr 2026
The Devil Wears Prada 2 director David Frankel. David Haig's new play. Kissing on stage.
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Review: Half Man, Richard Gadd’s follow up to Baby Reindeer
Thu 23 Apr 2026
Plus Anne Hathaway as a pop star seeking a comeback in thriller Mother Mary.
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Michael Jackson biopic controversy
Wed 22 Apr 2026
We review the new biopic Michael, which stars Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar.
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Vivaldi film, author Ben Lerner and V+A East's Music Is Black exhibition
Tue 21 Apr 2026
A film about Vivaldi, author Ben Lerner and the V+A East's The Music Is Black exhibition
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Are straight male novelists avoiding sex scenes? Plus new BBC drama Mint
Mon 20 Apr 2026
Director Charlotte Regan on her new BBC thriller Mint.
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Reviewing Lena Dunham's memoir, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Big Mistakes
Thu 16 Apr 2026
Reviewing Lena Dunham's memoir, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Big Mistakes.
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Dancer and choreographer Gene Kelly's wife and biographer Patricia Ward Kelly on Starstruck
Wed 15 Apr 2026
Scottish Ballet's Starstruck honours Gene Kelly's creative legacy.
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Jack Savoretti sings live, plus Turner Prize winner Veronica Ryan
Tue 14 Apr 2026
Musician Jack Savoretti plays live, and Turner Prize artist Veronica Ryan's latest show.
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Mark Gatiss at the RSC and novelist Margaret Drabble
Mon 13 Apr 2026
Mark Gatiss takes on Brecht's Hitler satire, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.
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Review: Is it ok to film theatre curtain calls on your phone?
Thu 9 Apr 2026
Reviewing new work from Francois Ozon, Amitav Ghosh and Jim Jarmusch.
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W1A creator John Morton on Twenty Twenty Six
Wed 8 Apr 2026
The new comedy Twenty Twenty Six, set in the run-up to this year's football World Cup.
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Was Queen Victoria coercively controlled by Prince Albert?
Tue 7 Apr 2026
Writer Daisy Goodwin on her new play, Victoria: A Queen Unbound.
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The Birth of Television: A Forgotten History
Mon 6 Apr 2026
Samira Ahmed and guests discuss the forgotten history of the early days of television.
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Review: The Drama starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya
Thu 2 Apr 2026
Yann Martel's new novel, Son of Nobody and BBC drama series, Babies
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SNL UK Cast, plus Trash Cinema Icon Mink Stole
Wed 1 Apr 2026
Mink Stole, Live Comedy Day, the art of catwalk fashion.
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Robert Macfarlane on the revelations to be found underground
Tue 31 Mar 2026
Robert Macfarlane on life underground, Dancing with your younger self, Protest music
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Lesley Manville, and what do astronauts listen to in space?
Mon 30 Mar 2026
Lesley Manville, and Art in Space
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Review: Riz Ahmed comedy Bait, Schiaparelli at the V&A
Thu 26 Mar 2026
On the review show this week: Riz Ahmed's comedy series Bait and Schiaparelli at the V&A.
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Actor Forbes Masson on the stage production of cult sitcom The High Life
Wed 25 Mar 2026
National Theatre of Scotland stage production of cult sitcom The High Life.
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Inspire
A season discovering where artists find inspiration and helping listeners get creative.
