Front Row

Stand-up comedian John Bishop shares how his tumultuous divorce inspired the Hollywood film Is This Thing On?, detailing his journey from open-mic nights to fame. He highlights the powerful role of stand-up in processing emotions, even reflecting on an awkward moment when his estranged wife showed up in the audience. Tom Saunders discusses their award-winning theatre training for GPs, emphasizing the importance of empathy in consultations. Meanwhile, author Jamila Gavin reads from her acclaimed novel on World War I, tackling tough themes for young readers.

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

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

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

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

Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth shares his journey adapting the classic film High Noon for the stage. Inspired by his childhood memories of the film, he discusses themes of courage in his work, collaboration with directors, and innovative staging choices. Archaeologist Dr. Alex Langlands reveals an exciting discovery of a Roman villa in Port Talbot, while crime writer Victoria Dowd explores Agatha Christie's timeless appeal, her clever plotting, and how societal changes influenced her works. This blend of theatre, archaeology, and literature makes for an engaging conversation.

Jessie Buckley, the award-winning actress, shares insights about her role as Agnes in the film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell’s Hamnet, highlighting how she approached the character with a shamanistic language inspired by dreams. She discusses reclaiming Anne Hathaway's story as a powerful figure against Shakespeare's shadow. Alongside critics Bidisha Mamata and Mark Ravenhill, they analyze the film's emotional depth, including its exploration of grief and compelling performances, including that of young Jacoby Jupe as Hamnet.

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

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

As the tenth anniversary of David Bowie’s death approaches, Alexander Larman - author of Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie – and Jonathan Stiasny – director of the documentary Bowie: The Final Act - join Tom to discuss David Bowie’s legacy and his less successful, low-profile period.The National Year of Reading 2026 is a government campaign to address declining literacy, and we're running a series of items on the state of modern literacy. Today, we're discussing reading and the brain, with neuroscietist, Dr Maryanne Wolf and journalist Jo Glanville.A giant of Iranian cinema, director Bahram Beyzai, died on Boxing Day aged 87. We take a look back at his career and impact with Dr Saeed Talajooy, a scholar of Persian Literature and Culture, who's also a fan of Beyzai's work.Goblin Band, a London-based folk group, are live in studio to sing a wassail celebrating Twelfth Night. They'll chat to Tom about the draw of folk music in modern times and exactly what a wassail is.Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Harry Graham