The Arts Hour

Epizódok

• Leila Slimani 12.06.2026 48p

  Nikki Bedi speaks to the internationally acclaimed French-Moroccan author of Lullaby about the final part of her historical family trilogy, I’ll Take The FireSteven Spielberg remembers falling in love with space and how it has inspired Disclosure Day, his new conspiracy thrillerActor Michael Fassbender shares the advice he was given by undercover agents for spy series The AgencyAnd with her latest novel just published, prize-winning author Ann Patchett reveals how she continues to be inspired by her own unconventional family and being a step-parentCultural critic Hanna Flint joins to give her take on these and morePhoto Credit: Catherine Hélie ©Editions Gallimard
• Actor Kristin Scott Thomas 05.06.2026 48p

  British actor Kristin Scott Thomas, star of the English Patient and Four Weddings and a Funeral, reveals the personal story behind her directorial debut film, My Mother’s Wedding. Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh to discuss My Mother’s Wedding and other cultural highlights of the week Twenty-year-old American you tube star Kane Parsons on Backrooms, the feature film version of his YouTube series British Asian author Vaseem Khan on writing the latest new James Bond story And the Canadian author of Heated Rivalries, Rachel Reid, on the raunchy ice hockey drama that is sweeping the world as a TV series Nikki’s Studio guest interview is Mexican American filmmaker Alex Kahuam, who shares the vision behind his horror film, The RemedyLeo Woodall, of White Lotus and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy fame, talks about working with Dustin Hoffman on the film Tuner And there’s music from Belarusian jazz band SoyuzPhoto Credit: Getty Images: Julien M. Hekimian
• International bestselling novelist Tayari Jones 29.05.2026 48p

  Nikki Bedi meets international bestselling author Tayari Jones whose award-winning novel ‘An American Marriage’ was chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her Book Club and was championed by former US President Barack Obama. As an important contemporary voice in American fiction, Tayari is celebrated for writing about race, class, and life in the American South, all of which feature in her latest novel Kin. Director and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman talks about using poetry in his films. Singer-songwriter Jill Scott on collaborating with hip-hop legends The Roots,French actor Isabelle Huppert on her role in the film, The Richest Woman in the World.Literary translator Lin King, explains her work on this year’s International Booker Prize winning novel, Taiwan Travelogue.Plus, some desert blues from Malian band Tamikrest.Tayari Jones and film critic Guy Lodge join Nikki in conversation about the week’s cultural highlights.(Photo: Author Tayari Jones. Credit: Julie Yarborough)
• Sandra Oh, star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy 22.05.2026 48p

  Nikki Bedi interviews artist, composer and producer, Bishi, about composing the film score for Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, and critic Alexandra Steinacker-Clark joins the reflection on this week’s cultural highlights.Sandra Oh, star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy talks about making her UK theatre debut, in Martin Crimp’s update of Moliere’s 17th century play, The Misanthrope.Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk explains his change in direction from comedy to action movies. Italian director Damiano Michieletto sheds light on Italian composer Vivaldi, in his film Primavera.American avant-garde artist and musician Laurie Anderson shares her vision of the world.And we hear from Igbo Nigerian rapper Illbliss.(Photo: Canadian American actor Sandra Oh. Credit: Gilbert Flores/Getty Images)
• Carla Simon 16.05.2026 48p

  Nikki Bedi speaks to the Spanish director of Romeria, Carla Simon. Plus Zakia Sewell – broadcaster and author of new book Finding Albion – joins to discuss the week’s cultural highlights:American country music star Kacey Musgraves on her new albumFilmmaker Warwick Thornton talks about the relationships between Aboriginal Australians and Chinese labourersIndian-born novelist Amitav Ghosh shares his love of Rabindranath TagorePedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver on new Star Wars film, The Mandalorian and GroguThe artist representing Britain at this year’s Venice Biennale, Lubaina Himid pays tribute to her Tanzanian motherAnd nomadic folk music from Inner Mongolian group, Anda UnionPhoto Credit: David Ruano
• Coming soon: The Arts Hour podcast 11.07.2025

  Nikki Bedi introduces the Arts Hour podcast. Your weekly cultural companion, featuring guests and opinions on what's happening in art, theatre, film, TV, music and more. Find us at bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts.