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Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

BBC Radio 4
Steve Mcqueen
Amsterdam
Occupied City
Bianca Stigter
Yoko Ono
Film Industry
Double Feature
Theatre
Jez Butterworth
Nazi Occupation
One Day
American Fiction
Mental Health
Gladiator
Rhiannon Giddens
Boarders
Me Too Movement
The Hills Of California
Declan Mckenna
Diane Oliver

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes2001Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureArts

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Artwork for Front Row

Latest Episodes

Tom and guests review The Hunger Games... now a stage play at a brand new theatre in London's Canary Wharf. The new film Nuremberg, starring Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, tells the story of the psychiatrist who was recruited to analyse Hitler's se... more

Actor Fiona Shaw discusses her latest film Park Avenue, director Gaby Dellal's 'tense and witty drama about mother-daughter relationships set in New York.

Filmmaker Lynne Ramsay talks to us about her new film Die My Love, a portrait of postpartum p... more

Do Vermeer's paintings contain hidden religious symbolism? Art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon argues that the enigmatic painter's membership of a radical Christian group has been long overlooked.

Writer John Updike became a sensation when is candid a... more

Samira Ahmed presents live from Old Billingsgate in London, where the announcement of the winner of the 2025 Booker Prize is taking place.

The novels on the shortlist: Flesh by David Szalay, The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller, The Rest of Our Lives... more

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Recent Guests

Helen Garner
celebrated Australian writer and author of the diaries 'How to End a Story'
Episode: Benedict Cumberbatch on The Thing with Feathers
John Morton
Playwright of the apocalyptic play Denouement set in the year 2048
Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Episode: Live from Derry: two of the stars of police drama Blue Lights
Kate Byrne
A literature and media academic at Ulster University and expert in horror writing
Ulster University
Episode: Live from Derry: two of the stars of police drama Blue Lights
Jan Carson
Author known for exploring supernatural themes in her writing
Episode: Live from Derry: two of the stars of police drama Blue Lights
Colin Farrell
Actor in Ballad of a Small Player
Episode: Reese Witherspoon on her novel and Colin Farrell on his new film
Reese Witherspoon
Actress and co-writer of Gone Before Goodbye
Hello Sunshine
Episode: Reese Witherspoon on her novel and Colin Farrell on his new film
Harlan Coben
Bestselling author and co-writer of Gone Before Goodbye
Episode: Reese Witherspoon on her novel and Colin Farrell on his new film
Amina Shah
Scotland's national librarian involved in a controversy over free speech in the library.
National Library of Scotland
Episode: Richard Ashcroft on his new album
James Crawford
Presenter of 'Take Four Books' and involved in aerial photography.
Episode: Richard Ashcroft on his new album

Hosts

Kirsty Wark
Host of Front Row and an established presenter noted for her insightful engagement with arts discussions.
Samira Ahmed
Host of Front Row, recognized for her eloquent exploration of cultural themes and critical dialogues.
Tom Sutcliffe
Host of Front Row with a reputation for thoughtful conversation and analysis of the arts.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 648 ratings
  • Front Row

    Love this podcast! Varied and up to date.

    All presenters very well prepared! ☺️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Izzyissi
    United Kingdom8 months 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 Kingdom9 months 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 Kingdom10 months ago
  • An Insular Gaze: How Front Row Fails Global Art

    Listening to the BBC’s Front Row review One Hundred Years of Solitude felt like witnessing a masterpiece reduced to a quaint curiosity, as if they were marveling at a trinket from an exotic land rather than engaging with one of the most profound literary achievements of the 20th century. Their commentary was superficial, hesitant, and tinged with an old-school British arrogance that struggles to believe top-quality art can emerge from beyond its own borders. The tone resembled a diner approachin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    David Theo
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Kirsty Wark is a poor appointment

    Kirsty Wark — seriously? This latest appointment reveals how little respect the BBC has for the arts. I’m so tired of BBC shows replacing people with serious expertise in their field with random “name” presenters. What does Wark know about the arts? Nothing, if her first shows are anything to go by — and it shows.

    For years we’ve had to put up Jim Naughtie presenting the sole Radio Four book programme as if covering literature is just a nice retirement job anyone can do after covering politic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Radionoush
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

There is a warm reception for the engaging and informed nature of the hosts, who are often praised for their depth of knowledge and ability to navigate cultural discussions.
Some criticisms arise regarding the interaction style of hosts, with occasional mentions of interruptions during discussions that can detract from the guest's contributions.
Listeners appreciate the range of topics covered, which include various forms of arts, literature, and creative industries.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reese Witherspoon on her novel and Colin Farrell on his new film
Q: Was there ever a moment where you disagreed?
Reese mentioned a specific disagreement about the ending, where they both put their egos aside to discuss character motivations.
Reese Witherspoon on her novel and Colin Farrell on his new film
Q: What was it that made you think you were going to add this into the diary as well?
Reese felt it was undeniable as she had been cooking on this idea for several years, and with Harlan's agreement, it made the idea infinitely better.
Reese Witherspoon on her novel and Colin Farrell on his new film
Q: Tell us about your character, Maggie, Reese, because that's where you started with the idea of somebody, a surgeon.
Maggie McCabe is down on her luck, having lost her medical license and is being sued for malpractice.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - Tom and guests deliver their verdict
Q: Christina Newland, does this film try to dodge the tropes of the music biopic or does it lean into them?
While it leans into some of the established tropes, it also tries to present a more nuanced portrayal of Springsteen's creative process, which offers a quiet reflection on difficult moments in his life.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - Tom and guests deliver their verdict
Q: Sarfraz Manzoor, I don't suppose there's anything here you didn't know already, because you are a huge fan, but did you like the way it deals with what you know?
The film is definitely for the fans, and while it didn't necessarily reveal anything new, the emotional impact of seeing it on screen added a different layer to the story.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Front Row

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

Featuring a dynamic blend of discussions surrounding arts, literature, film, and music, this podcast captures the pulse of contemporary culture by reviewing significant artistic works and engaging with a diverse array of guests. Listeners can expect lively conversations that explore new releases in literature, insightful critiques of films, and deep dives into various media formats, all punctuated with the personal stories and experiences of influential figures from the arts. The program is unique in its balance of critique and creativity, often showcasing new perspectives that resonate with both casual listeners and aficionados alike.

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. Bookclub
3. Great Lives
4. Start the Week
5. Private Passions

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. Helen Garner
2. John Morton
3. Kate Byrne
4. Jan Carson
5. Colin Farrell
6. Reese Witherspoon
7. Harlan Coben
8. Amina Shah

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.

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