

Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake
BBC Radio 5 Live
Nihal Arthanayake presents in-depth interviews with headline guests across entertainment, sport, culture and politics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 29, 2022 • 41min
Eddie Marsan
“I couldn’t pull a toilet chain.” Eddie tells Nihal why he spent so much time on the dancefloor as a young man.

Apr 28, 2022 • 28min
Kele Okereke
“Talk about the worst film to watch as a child - I couldn’t sleep.” Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke talks to Nihal about being traumatized by horror movies as a kid, the band’s new album and how making music helps him understand himself.

Apr 27, 2022 • 52min
Barry Hearn
The promoter on the business of sport, Joshua v Fury and his rules for table talk at mealtimes.

Apr 26, 2022 • 26min
DBC Pierre
The Booker Prize winning author talks to Nihal about magic, backgammon, Shane Warne and his new book Big Snake, Little Snake.

Apr 21, 2022 • 49min
Steve Coogan
"It's a mistake to think that the best way to deal with something is to not talk about it." Comedian Steve Coogan chats to Nihal about his upcoming portrayal of Jimmy Savile in BBC drama The Reckoning, his comedy career, cancel culture and his new tour 'Stratagem'.

Apr 13, 2022 • 30min
Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate is a multi-award winning writer, actress and comedian. She talked to Mobeen Azhar about her Netflix prison comedy Hard Cell, in which she plays several parts. She told Mobeen where she gets inspiration for her characters from.

Apr 11, 2022 • 43min
Jayde Adams
Comedian Jayde Adams talks to Mobeen Azhar about moving back to her hometown, her parents bickering, how her Bristol accent helped her career and her next big projects.

Apr 5, 2022 • 38min
Bill Bailey
: "Major key songs don't tend to win." Comedian and musician Bill Bailey talks about the secrets of a Eurovision hit, why a release party for snails is no fun and dancing to remixes of the Skype theme.

Apr 4, 2022 • 40min
Shaparak Khorsandi
The comedian and author tells Mobeen about the beginning of her comedy career, learning to live with ADHD and why doing impressions can lose you friends.

Mar 31, 2022 • 30min
James Bay
"You need to always feel like anything can happen." James talks to Nihal about success, self-perception, channeling different energies and the beauty of live performance.