Front Row

Guillermo Del Toro talks about his new Frankenstein film and our critics deliver their verdict. Julia Roberts plays a college professor whose career becomes entangled in campus sexual politics, in Luca Guadanino's After The Hunt. Hollie McNish's poetry collection "Virgin" unpicks the meaning of the word and the man-made concept beneath it.Presenter Samira Ahmed Reviewers: Larushka Ivan-Zadeh and Lindsay Johns

Singer songwriter Richard Ashcroft - former frontman of The Verve - talks about the material on his new album Lovin You, and about supporting Oasis on their reunion tour this summer. A play without a script which questions the impact of AI on our lives and celebrates the ingenuity of human actors: Writer Nathan Ellis and actor Roisin Gallagher join us live to talk about Instructions, which is being performed next week at the Belfast International Arts Festival. As an exhibition of work by the daredevil pilot and photographer Alfred Buckham goes on show at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, we hear about his incredible career from curator Louise Pearson and the presenter of Take Four Books and Scotland from the Sky, James Crawford. And Scotland's National Librarian Amina Shah joins us to reflect on a report into a controversy around the Library's centenary exhibition, which has been concluded this week. Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Mark Crossan

Sam Ryder talks to Samira about his career, gaining Eurovision success with Space Man and he performs the song Armour live, a track from his forthcoming album Heartland.With chart topping songs and a global smash hit animated film, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans talk about creating the phenomenon that is KPop Demon Hunters.The Pulitzer prize winning African American writer Hilton Als and biographer Miranda Seymour discuss author Jean Rhys.Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Claire Bartleet

Pianist Lang Lang's 2019 album Piano Book was one of the best selling classical albums that year, with over a billion streams and counting. He’s now followed it up with Piano Book 2, an eclectic selection of 32 short works from both classical and contemporary composers. He came into the studio to talk to us about the album and to play for us.Diane Keaton passed away on Saturday, at the age of 79. She spoke to Front Row in 2017, where she discussed her philosophy around style and fashion. The Booker Prize 2025 is just a month or so away, and we’re talking to all the nominees. Today it's the turn of author Ben Markovits, and his novel The Rest of Our Lives.Rare books are going missing across Europe in what's been described as Europe’s largest book heist since War World Two. Nina Nazarova from BBC Russian has been investigating the story. The third film in the Tron series, Tron Ares, is out now. Guardian writer Steve Rose is on to discuss the prescience of the original, which depicted a new world of cyberspace and big tech.

Alexander Larman and Susannah Clapp join Tom to discuss I Swear, a film which tells the life story of John Davidson MBE who was diagnosed with Tourette's age 15.They also talk about Thomas Pynchon's new novel Shadow Ticket.Booker shortlisted novelist Tibor Fischer assesses the Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai who has won the Nobel Prize in Literature.As the complete works of Seamus Heaney is published, Owen McDonnell reads the previously unpublished poem Swallow.Plus, Tom and guests discuss Susan Sarandon’s UK debut on stage in Tracy Letts’ play, Mary Page Marlowe.Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

Actor Tamsin Greig discusses her role in Sally Wainwright's latest drama series, Riot Women, in which a group of middle-aged women in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, form a band of anarchist rock musicians. Booker Prize-shortlisted author Susan Choi tells us about her sprawling historical epic, Flashlight, set against the backdrop of the shared history of America, Japan and Korea. Conservation specialist Will Palin on the historic refurbishment of a series of magnificent murals by the great artist William Hogarth, which have just gone on display to the public for the first time at Bart's Hospital in London. And one hundred years since its invention, we discuss the history and cultural significance of the analogue photobooth. How did this new technology make photography more democratic and influence major artists? Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

Artist Marina Abramović on the world premiere of her largest-scale performance artwork - Balkan Erotic Epic - at Aviva Studios in Manchester. BBC Culture reporter Noor Nanji on the Riyadh Comedy Festival which has divided the comedy world.Poets Max Wallis and Dr Anna Percy on poetry and mental health as their new poetry magazine, The Aftershock Review, makes an impressive debut.Clare Wood, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the British Ceramics Biennial on the festival's new international selection of artists' films centred on clay.Presenter: Nick Ahad Producer: Ekene Akalawu

Film director Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar for The Hurt Locker. She discusses her new film A House of Dynamite, which also looks at war, with Samira Booker-winner Kiran Desai has been nominated for her new novel - 2 decades in the writing; The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. Islam Issa and Ben Luke join Samira to discuss 'what are the humanities for and where are they headed'? And we pay tribute to Dame Jilly Cooper who has died at the age of 88. We speak to writer and journalist Daisy Buchanan about the “Queen of the Bonkbuster”Presenter Samira Ahmed

The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie talks to Tom Sutcliffe about making his biographical drama about the life of mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. Tom is also joined by critics Boyd Hilton and Natalie Jamieson to review Safdie’s film – which stars wrestler turned actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Emily Blunt. They also discuss a major retrospective of photographer Lee Miller at Tate Britain. Plus they talk about Ben Elton’s autobiography What Have I Done?Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

Steve Coogan on his new spoof documentary series. in which his alter ego Alan Partridge returns from some time in Saudia Arabia to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: mental health. In the first of our interviews with writers shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize, American novelist Katie Kitamura discusses her book Audition, a story told through the first person voice of an unnamed actor, which explores the roles we play in public and private. As Black History Month begins, and as a blue plaque is unveiled to Winifred Atwell, the first ever black artist to top the UK singles chart, journalist and broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald and musician and researcher Uchenna Ngwe reflect on the life and career of this remarkable musician whose achievements have been largely forgotten. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

Tom Sutcliffe hosts the ceremony for the 2025 BBC National Short Story Award and Young Writers Award live from BBC Broadcasting House. Judges William Boyd, Lucy Caldwell, Ross Raisin and Joseph Coehlo discuss what makes a great short story. This is the 20th anniversary of the BBC National Short Story Award and you can hear all the shortlisted stories on BBC Sounds. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Harry Graham

Actor Matthew McConaughey talks with Samira about The Lost Bus; a nerve shredding film based on a true story about a school bus driver who rescued 22 children and their teacher from raging wildfires in California Rising British actor Harris Dickinson talks about his debut film as a director; Urchin. It explores homelessness on London’s streets, being in the running to play James Bond and his up-coming role as John Lennon in Sam Mendes' new Beatles biopic out next year. Author of The Rachel Incident and host of Sentimental Garbage podcast Caroline O'Donoghue discusses her new YA novel Skipshock, and why women are turning to time travel fiction. Joining her is the author of The Principle of Moments and numerous Doctor Who novelizations, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson. Poet Laureate Simon Armitage pays tribute to Leeds-born, poet, playwright and translator Tony HarrisonPresenter: Samira Ahmed

Leonardo DiCaprio and director Paul Thomas Anderson tell Tom about their new film One Battle After Another. Our reviewers tonight are film critic Tim Robey and theatre critic Sarah Crompton. They also review The Land of the Living, David Lan's new play for the National Theatre, directed by Stephen Daldry and starring Juliet Stevenson .And Patricia Lockwood's latest novel Will There Ever Be Another You? Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Eliane Glaser

Will & Grace star Eric McCormack tells us about his latest screen role – in the new BBC One thriller series Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue. McCormack plays one of nine people who survive a plane crash in the Mexican jungle, and aren't aware that a murderer might be lurking in their midst. We hear the true story of a bear who was adopted from a Highland wildlife park in the 70s and became a star of stage and screen, caddying for Bob Hope on the golf course and playing a cameo role in a Bond film. The much-loved Hercules the Bear is brought back to life in a theatre production which is touring Scotland this month. Countertenor David James and music journalist Andrew Mellor discuss the music of one of the most popular of contemporary composers, Arvo Pärt, who has just turned 90 and whose birthday celebrations include the release of a number of CDs and concerts in London and Oxford. And we pay tribute to Italian cinema legend Claudia Cardinale, who has died at the age of 87. Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Mark Crossan

Peaky Blinders' screenwriter Stephen Knight on his new TV series, House of Guinness.Indhu Rubasingham talks about her vision as the new Artistic Director for the National Theatre and her first production there - BacchaeArt critic Waldemar Januszczak has been to see the Turner Prize Exhibition for us, which this year is in Bradford. We find out what he makes of it. Former Booker winner Roddy Doyle on the 6 books shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize. Presenter: Samira Ahmed

Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Jay Leno made the late night talk wildly popular viewing for American audiences for decades, but those days are fading fast thanks to declining ratings and ad revenue. Now, with two of today's biggest late night shows are in trouble after offending President Trump, we speak to the New York Times chief TV critic, James Poniewozik after the future of these show.This weekend the sculptor Martin Jennings was announced as the designer of the statue at the new national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth in London’s St James Park. In his first broadcast interview since being appointed by Norman Foster Associates, Martin Jennings tells us how he is approaching the task. Today marks the autumn equinox, and according to viewing data, it’s a time when many of us seek out cosy romantic comedy films to watch. Screenwriters and sisters Nora and Delia Ephron made some of the most loved, often set in autumn - When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, all three starring Meg Ryan. Delia Ephron tells us what it was about autumn in NY that made such an irresistible setting.It’s been 10 years since Shamima Begum and her friends left the UK for Syria, having been indoctrinated online by the Islamic State group. While press coverage at the time focused on the horrors of the group, a new fiction film, Brides, seeks to put out a more sympathetic portrayal about similar teenage girls who made that journey. Director Nadia Falls is on to discuss.

A special edition of Front Row live from the Contains Strong Language Festival, the BBC's annual celebration of poetry, performance and the spoken word. With live music from Antony Szmierek.Jeremy Dyson on his new Radio 4 drama High Cockalorum which spins a new tale out of a visit to Yorkshire made by Hollywood legend James Mason.Poet Emma Conally-Barklem and Kristina Diprose, one of the writers for the Wandering Imaginations project at the Brontë Parsonage, discuss the Brontë sisters as a source of poetic and literary inspiration.Edward Hogan on his shortlisted story, Little Green Man, for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.Presenter: Nick Ahad Producer: Ekene Akalawu

In our weekly review show, Kirsty Wark is joined by writer and critic Hannah McGill and writer and journalist Alan Taylor to discuss What Can We Know, the latest novel from Booker Prize winning writer Ian McEwan, an epic story set in a largely underwater Britain a hundred years in the future which touches on themes including climate change and great poetry. They also give their verdicts on Frances Poet's Small Acts of Love, a musical theatre production inspired by relationships formed across the Atlantic between victims of the Lockerbie disaster in December 1988. The production - a collaboration between the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow and the National Theatre of Scotland, and with songs by Deacon Blue's Ricky Ross, is the opening production in the newly refurbished 'Citz', a theatre which has played an important role in the city and also in the careers of the likes of Rupert Everett, Glenda Jackson and Miriam Margolyes, and which has just reopened after a major revamp. They also review The Girlfriend, a new psychological thriller from Amazon Prime, which stars Robin Wright as a possessive mother whose life begins to unravel when her son brings home a new partner she suspects is not all she seems. We also bring you the latest in our series of interviews with authors shortlisted for this year's BBC National Short Story Award, Colwill Brown. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

As news has broken of the death of Robert Redford aged 89, Front Row looks back over his astonishing career, from roles in iconic films such as All The President's Men and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, to his environmental activism and his support for independent films through the Sundance Film Festival.Mark Ronson talks about his new memoir, Night People, reflecting on his rise from DJ to superstar producer behind hits such as Uptown Funk and Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album. Caoilinn Hughes talks to Tom about being shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award for her story Two Hands.And we explore Picasso's fascination with theatre and performance via a new exhibition at Tate Modern called Theatre Picasso. Artist Wu Tsang and curator Natalia Sidlina are in the studio to discuss Picasso in a new light. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Tim Bano

Robert Plant on his journey from Led Zeppelin to his latest album of folk songs. Creator of V for Vendetta and Watchmen, Alan Moore is probably the world's most acclaimed writer of comic books, a medium he now eschews. Moving into novels, he has explored his hometown Northampton in widely praised work like Jerusalem, but his latest - The Great When - is an otherworldly exploration of literary London, inspired by the psychogeography of Iain SInclair and horror writing of Arthur Machen. From Seurat to Van Gogh, we mark a new exhibition at the National Gallery with a dive into the entrancing light and pontillist glow of the neo-impressionists. Co-curator Julien Domercq and art expert Anthea Callen are on to discuss. With the National Short Story Awards approaching, we speak to shortlisted author Emily Abdeni-Holman about her entry, Yair.