During lockdown, BAFTA-winning actor Emilia Clarke discovered the work of the late British novelist and essayist Jenny Diski. Jenny had been a fan of Game of Thrones, the TV series in which Emilia starred as Daenerys Targaryen. Emilia speaks to poet and academic Dr Ian Patterson, who was married to Jenny until her death in 2016, to discuss Jenny’s work and their shared love of cultural escapism.

Nigerian author Oyinkan Braithwaite was long-listed for the Booker Prize in 2019 for her debut novel My Sister, the Serial Killer. Lockdown has not slowed her down, and has in fact provided inspiration for the plot of her latest novella The Baby is Mine. She shares how her love of Japanese animation, or anime, has shaped her writing during this time.

After a hiatus of ten years, Hong Kong director Yonfan returned to filmmaking with an animation debut, No 7 Cherry Lane. He reveals how he turned to the work of American director Stanley Kramer when its release was impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Plus we hear from our listeners across the world about the art that has changed them during the pandemic.

Presented by Tumi Morake

Produced by Lucy Wai, Kirsty McQuire, Lucy Collingwood and Nancy Bennie.

(Photo: Actor Emilia Clarke. Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)