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Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

BBC Radio 4
Steve Mcqueen
Bianca Stigter
Amsterdam
Occupied City
Yoko Ono
Theatre
Film Industry
Double Feature
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
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Front Row

Latest Episodes

Tom Sutcliffe is joined by critics Tim Robey and Nancy Durrant to review:

Robert Pattinson and Zendaya's new film The Drama about a young couple in the lead up to their wedding.

Life of Pi author Yann Martel's novel Son of Nobody about a newly disc... more

In venues around the UK and here on BBC Radio 4 and on BBC Sounds, it’s Live Comedy Day today – a celebration of live comedy and grassroots clubs. We’re joined by two of the cast of the new Saturday Night Live UK, Emma Sidi and Hammed Animashaun, and... more

Writer Robert MacFarlane on the world underground as a new documentary, Underland, inspired by his award-winning book of the same name is released in cinemas.

Dancer and choreographer Meryl Tankard on creating a new work, Echoes of '78, which pairs ... more

Lesley Manville, on appearing in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at London's National Theatre

Art In Space: As Nasa prepares to send people back to the Moon, former astronauts Helen Sharman and Cady Coleman talk us through the books & music they took with ... 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.

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Recent Guests

Noah Wyle
Actor best known for ER, discussing The Pitt
Actor
Episode: Noah Wyle on hit hospital drama The Pitt
Claire Walker
Representative from Society of London Theatre
Society of London Theatre
Episode: Noah Wyle on hit hospital drama The Pitt
John Berry
Former creative director of English National Opera
English National Opera
Episode: Noah Wyle on hit hospital drama The Pitt
Elizabeth Kenny
Lutenist and Dowland interpreter
Lutenist
Episode: Noah Wyle on hit hospital drama The Pitt
Iestyn Davies
Countertenor, Dowland performer
Musician
Episode: Noah Wyle on hit hospital drama The Pitt
Clive Chijioke Nwonka
Curator and cinema scholar
British Film Institute (BFI)
Episode: Saturday Night Live arrives in the UK
Phil Dunster
Actor
Sky and Netflix projects (Rooster)
Episode: Saturday Night Live arrives in the UK
Natalie Jamieson
Journalist who reviewed SNL UK for Front Row
The Guardian (as referenced)
Episode: Saturday Night Live arrives in the UK
Steve Bunce
Boxing broadcaster and commentator
BBC Five Live (Fighting Talk contributor)
Episode: Saturday Night Live arrives in the UK

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 660 ratings
  • 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
  • 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 Kingdom2 years 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.

Review: La Grazia, the latest film from The Great Beauty director Paolo Sorrentino
Q: Will you explain how AI-generated songs are monetised and why this matters for artists?
The guest outlined a two-step process: artists or imitators create songs using AI music companies, then those tracks are uploaded to streaming platforms where the tiny revenue pie is sliced, often without proper attribution or consent, harming originals and diluting earnings.
The Oscars, Ryan Gosling, Self Esteem performs
Q: How did you approach Maggie's relationship with fame and the band?
She describes using personal experiences and a deep empathy for the stage life to ground Maggie, emphasizing honesty about the pressures of being the center of attention and the contrast between ambition and personal happiness.
The Oscars, Ryan Gosling, Self Esteem performs
Q: What drew you to Teeth and Smiles and the Maggie role?
Taylor explains that the play's focus on fame, resilience, and the struggle of a musician navigating a male-dominated industry resonated strongly, and she wanted a project that mirrored her own artistic ambitions while offering a dramatic challenge.
Howard Jacobson's new book, Howl
Q: What is the intended balance between anger and humor in Howl?
Jacobson argues that humor is a necessary counterbalance to rage, allowing the work to explore difficult emotions without becoming a one-note indictment, and that the comedy should seep in naturally rather than be forced.
Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Q: How does romantasy reflect changes in the readership and what does Waterstones see in this genre?
Bea Carvalho discusses a demographic shift with younger readers driving romantasy, while adult readers still engage with the genre; publishing is responding with a broader range of formats and titles.

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?

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What are the audience demographics for Front Row?

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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. A Good Read
5. Start the Week

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.

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What guests have appeared on Front Row?

Recent guests on Front Row include:

1. Noah Wyle
2. Claire Walker
3. John Berry
4. Elizabeth Kenny
5. Iestyn Davies
6. Clive Chijioke Nwonka
7. Phil Dunster
8. Natalie Jamieson

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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