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Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

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

Steve Coogan on his new spoof documentary series. in which his alter ego Alan Partridge returns from some time in Saudia Arabia to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: mental health.

In the first of our interviews with writers shortl... more

Tom Sutcliffe hosts the ceremony for the 2025 BBC National Short Story Award and Young Writers Award live from BBC Broadcasting House.

Judges William Boyd, Lucy Caldwell, Ross Raisin and Joseph Coehlo discuss what makes a great short story.

This ... more

Actor Matthew McConaughey talks with Samira about The Lost Bus; a nerve shredding film based on a true story about a school bus driver who rescued 22 children and their teacher from raging wildfires in California Rising British actor Harris Dickinson... more

Leonardo DiCaprio and director Paul Thomas Anderson tell Tom about their new film One Battle After Another.

Our reviewers tonight are film critic Tim Robey and theatre critic Sarah Crompton.

They also review The Land of the Living, David Lan's ne... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Matthew McConaughey
Actor known for his roles in films such as Dallas Buyers Club and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Actor
Episode: Actors Matthew McConaughey and Harris Dickinson on their latest films
Harris Dickinson
British actor and director, known for his roles in Triangle of Sadness and Baby Girl
Actor and Director
Episode: Actors Matthew McConaughey and Harris Dickinson on their latest films
Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
Sunday Times bestselling author and winner of the Future World Prize
Episode: Actors Matthew McConaughey and Harris Dickinson on their latest films
Caroline O'Donoghue
Bestselling writer and podcaster known for her novel Skipshock
Sentimental Garbage podcast
Episode: Actors Matthew McConaughey and Harris Dickinson on their latest films
Leonardo DiCaprio
Oscar-winning actor known for his roles in Titanic and The Revenant
Episode: Leonardo DiCaprio comes on Front Row to talk about One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson
Acclaimed director known for films like Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood
Episode: Leonardo DiCaprio comes on Front Row to talk about One Battle After Another
Stephen Knight
Creator of Peaky Blinders and House of Guinness
Netflix
Episode: Stephen Knight on House of Guinness
Roddy Doyle
Irish novelist and writer
Booker Prize
Episode: Stephen Knight on House of Guinness
Nadia Fall
Director of the film 'Brides' and Artistic Director of the Young Vic Theatre
Young Vic Theatre
Episode: Late-night shows under fire

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 646 ratings
  • Front Row

    Love this podcast! Varied and up to date.

    All presenters very well prepared! ☺️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Izzyissi
    United Kingdom7 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 Kingdom8 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 Kingdom8 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 Kingdom9 months 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.

Late-night shows under fire
Q: How would you describe the story of the film then and how it works as a film?
Nadia describes the film 'Brides' as being about two teenage girls who feel out of place, making risky decisions and exploring their vulnerability.
Late-night shows under fire
Q: James, has Jimmy Kimmel said anything strikingly different in tone to what previous late night talk show hosts have been saying about presidents for decades?
James explains that Kimmel hasn't said anything particularly different or unusual compared to his past comments on presidents, indicating a consistent tone.
Stephen Knight on House of Guinness
Q: Can you outline what is true about the fundamentals of the series?
The characters existed and were real. The main events, like elections and marriages, are actual events.
Will & Grace star Eric McCormack on his latest TV role.
Q: Does the series feel political to you in that respect?
It reflects cultural tensions, especially with political undertones from certain characters, but it doesn't hinge on that.
Will & Grace star Eric McCormack on his latest TV role.
Q: Tell us about your character.
He is a former doctor who has his own secrets and becomes a reluctant hero in a dire situation.

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?

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. Great Lives
3. Private Passions
4. Bookclub
5. Last Word

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. Matthew McConaughey
2. Harris Dickinson
3. Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
4. Caroline O'Donoghue
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
6. Paul Thomas Anderson
7. Stephen Knight
8. Roddy Doyle

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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