

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

Mar 8, 2022 • 30min
Dolly Parton and James Patterson
Dolly Parton has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, and James Patterson has sold 400 million books. Now they've teamed up to write a novel together, called Run Rose Run. They told Nihal about the book - and gave their advice for young musicians and writers.

Mar 7, 2022 • 27min
Martin Compston
The actor talks to Nihal about his latest ITV drama Our House, how to perfect an accent, and his life in Las Vegas.

Feb 24, 2022 • 18min
Johnny Marr
"There's still lots of mystery in it for me, I still want to get better." Musician and former The Smiths member, Johnny Marr on still being besotted with the guitar, changing attitudes and the structure of his new album, Fever Dream Parts 1-4.

Feb 23, 2022 • 52min
Tears For Fears
"That gave me the idea that men, God even, is impotent, is unreliable." 80s pop icons Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears for Fears talk through what they learned growing up, their musical career span and their latest album, The Tipping Point.

Feb 22, 2022 • 39min
Tim Key
"That's the most starstruck I've ever been." The comedian on learning to speak Russian, working with his comedy hero Steve Coogan, and his new anthology of surrealist poetry and musings.

Feb 17, 2022 • 36min
Frank Turner
"There's quite a lot of stuff in it that I can't believe I've said out loud." The singer-songwriter on new album FTHC, grieving loss to suicide and reconciling with his estranged father.

Feb 15, 2022 • 34min
James Morrison
“Even when I had a no.1 album, I bought myself a second-hand Toyota and I thought I was winning because it smelt new." The singer-songwriter on money and success.

Feb 14, 2022 • 32min
Lou Sanders
The comedian and writer on her new stand-up show and why she’s wary of Canterbury.

Feb 10, 2022 • 29min
Lin-Manuel Miranda
"The greatest asset of the arts is empathy... to be inside the brain of someone who thinks nothing like you." Broadway musical genius behind 'In the Heights' and 'Hamilton' Lin-Manuel Miranda on his film directorial debut, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!', how his creativity started and how art can enact change in the world.

Feb 8, 2022 • 48min
Dan from Bastille
The Bastille singer Dan Smith on their new album, and being back on tour.