Rephonic
Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

BBC Radio 4
Mental Health
Documentary Filmmaking
Booker Prize
Pixar
BBC National Short Story Award
Elio
Alfred Brendel
Brigitte Bardot
The Salt Path
Mrs. Warren's Profession
David Bowie
Andy Goldsworthy
Alien Earth
A House Of Dynamite
Character Development
The Archers
George Bernard Shaw
Music Industry
Hollywood
The Ballad Of Wallis Island

Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

PublishesDailyEpisodes2001Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Front Row

Latest Episodes

On what would have been her 100th birthday, we look at the enduring popularity of Marilyn Monroe, with film journalist and fan Kim Morgan and reviewer Angie Errigo

Sathnam Sanghera talks about the meaning of George Michael.

Jazz legend and saxopho... more

Rachel Lloyd, Deputy Culture Editor of The Economist, and writer Lawrence Norfolk join Tom to discuss Channel 4's new queer drama Tip Toe, which is the latest series by Russell T Davies and stars Alan Cumming as a gay bar owner in Manchester and Davi... more

Nashville-based novelist Ann Patchett tells us about her tenth novel, Whistler, in which a chance encounter between a woman and her stepfather after many years leads to unexpected revelations.

As a new publisher - Conduit Books - launches with the ... more

Writer and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre, and trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed on 100 years of Miles Davis - the musician regarded as the Picasso of jazz.

Artist Keith Tyson has just donated a quarter of a million pounds for an astronomy post at Oxfo... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Private Passions
Private PassionsBBC Radio 3
Bookclub
BookclubBBC Radio 4
Take Four Books
Take Four BooksBBC Radio 4
Great Lives
Great LivesBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Roger McGough
Ambassador for Southbank's A Poet In Every Port
Southbank Centre
Episode: The Review Show: Russell T Davies' new TV drama Tip Toe
Ellah Wakatama
Editor at large for Canongate Books
Canongate Books
Episode: Ann Patchett, plus why launch an all-male publishing house?
Helen Lederer
Actor/comedian
Media
Episode: Ann Patchett, plus why launch an all-male publishing house?
Wendy McMurdo
Photographer, Digital Mirror exhibition
Photographer
Episode: Ann Patchett, plus why launch an all-male publishing house?
Ann Patchett
Author of Whistler and other novels
Author
Episode: Ann Patchett, plus why launch an all-male publishing house?
Jude Cook
Founder of Conduit Books (publishing venture)
Conduit Publishing
Episode: Ann Patchett, plus why launch an all-male publishing house?
Keith Tyson
Turner Prize-winning artist
Oxford University (donor)
Episode: Jazz legend Miles Davis at 100
Ken Arnold
Director of the Medical Museum at the University of Copenhagen
Episode: Jazz legend Miles Davis at 100
Rory Mullarkey
Playwright
Episode: Jazz legend Miles Davis at 100

Hosts

Tom Sutcliffe
Host of Front Row
Samira Ahmed
Host of Front Row
Kirsty Wark
Host of Front Row

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 666 ratings
  • Take Kirsty Wark off the rota

    I have to turn the sound right down when Wark is presenting. She’s AWFUL on radio - constantly making noises. Often it seems she’s trying to move the guest along but actually I think she just isn’t aware of the microphone - shuffling papers, wet mouth noises, loud breathing, unhelpful gasps and groans and grunts. She’s got nothing to offer as an arts presenter anyway. Why is she on there?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    jennygreensleeves
    United Kingdom20 days ago
  • Stop interrupting!

    I enjoy Front Row but the listening experience is unfortunately blighted by hosts like Tom Sutcliffe frequently interrupting guests

    - especially women. Just listen to an episode on the Tracey Emin show and I was aghast as his constant interruptions. I’m inclined think it’s quite gendered as he seems more likely to cut in mid-sentence when a female guest is speaking. Infuriating.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    London_lady
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Front Row

    Love this podcast! Varied and up to date.

    All presenters very well prepared! ☺️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Izzyissi
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Let the guests speak

    It's got a good mix of guests on the show but some of the hosts are constantly interrupting the guests which is frustrating to listen to, they often can't finish a sentence without being interrupted by the host giving his answer to his own question. Despite this it's good to have a round up of new films & exhibitions.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Foxtrot Lightning
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Pretty impressive

    Despite a recent drift into the lowbrow with 80s pop nostalgia segments, this is a really useful and enjoyable listen. And the Friday review show takes me back to those happy years when Saturday Review was still being commissioned.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MarkoB1111
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the breadth of topics and strong guest lineups.
Many describe it as a dependable, high-quality arts overview and culture companion.
Some criticism about hosts occasionally talking over guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jazz legend Miles Davis at 100
Q: When did you first discover Miles Davis and how did it feel?
The guests describe being introduced to Miles through Kind of Blue, with a sense of fascination and a recognition of his storytelling through improvisation.
The Review Show: Russell T Davies' new TV drama Tip Toe
Q: What connects the emotional core of Land to Hamnet?
Both novels hinge on seismic events that upend ordinary lives and challenge how communities remember, grieve, and relate to their past.
The Review Show: Russell T Davies' new TV drama Tip Toe
Q: How did Maggie O'Farrell come to Land, her first novel after Hamnet?
She traces back to a long-standing interest in history and landscape, using a patch of land in Ireland as a focal point to explore larger forces like empire, famine, and cultural memory.
Winston Churchill: The Painter, and Smoggie Queens creator and star Phil Dunning
Q: How does the Churchill show frame Churchill's paintings in a historical context?
It presents the paintings as a visual diary that illuminates Churchill's life, politics, and wartime experiences, showing how his art intersected with his public role and personal moments.
Mark Cousins on his 16-hour epic documentary
Q: So tell me, why do you think it is that we're seeing so many films being remade into musicals?
Remakes into musicals happen because adapting a beloved film into theatre can broaden a story's reach, leverage existing audience attachment, and allow audiences to experience the narrative in a new, immersive way, though it requires careful artistic reinvention rather than simple replication.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Front Row

What is Front Row about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A culturally focused, interview-driven program that centers arts, literature, film, and broader cultural critique. Episodes frequently feature high-profile authors, filmmakers, critics, and curators discussing new books, exhibitions, and cinematic releases, with occasional dives into publishing trends, theatre, and media. The show tends to blend thoughtful analysis with behind-the-scenes industry context, offering listeners a richly scoped panorama of contemporary arts and culture. Noteworthy strengths include a steady stream of prominent guests across multiple disciplines, a knack for connecting literary and visual storytelling to current events, and a live, conversational format that many listeners find engaging and informative for stayin... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Front Row?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Front Row. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Front Row and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Front Row get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Front Row, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Front Row?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Front Row, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Front Row have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Front Row has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Front Row?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Front Row:

1. This Cultural Life
2. Private Passions
3. Bookclub
4. Take Four Books
5. Great Lives

How many episodes of Front Row are there?

Front Row launched 20 years ago and published 2001 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Front Row?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Front Row?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Front Row from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Front Row?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Front Row. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Front Row?

Recent guests on Front Row include:

1. Roger McGough
2. Ellah Wakatama
3. Helen Lederer
4. Wendy McMurdo
5. Ann Patchett
6. Jude Cook
7. Keith Tyson
8. Ken Arnold

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days