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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
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Front Row

Latest Episodes

Linda Perry came to fame as lead singer of the all-female band Four Non-Blondes. She went on to be a hugely successful songwriter and producer, writing hits for the likes of Pink and Christina Aguilera, and collaborating with Dolly Parton. She's now ... more

Writer Stephanie Merritt and Telegraph film critic Robbie Collin join Tom to review Anish Kapoor’s immersive exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London, which includes huge red sculptures, black holes and boundless mirrors that challenge perspective... more

Priya Parmar's novel The Original tells the story of how actor Katharine Hepburn set out to become one of the true movie icons of the 20th century and succeeded. She's joined to talk about Hepburn's life and career by film historian Pamela Hutchinson... more

The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, is widely regarded as the man who helped the band break through. He's inspired plays, films, and even an artistic installation by the Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller. He's now the subject of a new biogra... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Darren Henley
Chief Executive at Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Episode: Review: High Society and film Savage House
Nicola Streeton
Graphic novelist and interviewer on Persepolis
Marjan Satrapi project / Persepolis
Episode: Review: High Society and film Savage House
Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Poet from Donegal, Belfast Book Festival participant
Poetry collection Hymn To All the Restless Girls
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival
Megan? (implied)
Not identified
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival
Dixie Lander
Producer, Cuba Films
Cuba Films
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival
Lucy Caldwell
Writer
Author of Devotions
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival
Hilary McCollum
Writer, author of As A Lover
Author
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival
Mairead Nahuran
Performer
Live performer
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival
Andrew Reid
Chief Content Officer
Northern Ireland Screen
Episode: Live from the Belfast Book Festival

Hosts

Tom Sutcliffe
Host with long-running involvement in arts criticism and broadcasting
Kirsty Wark
Presenter and journalist contributing literary and arts commentary
Samira Ahmed
Seasoned arts journalist and interview presence

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 665 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 Kingdoma month 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 Kingdom4 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.

The show's breadth sometimes invites polarized reactions to individual reviews or presenter style.
High-quality guests across literature, film, and visual arts are a strong draw for fans.
Hosts are well prepared and knowledgeable, though some listeners feel interruptions can detract from interviews.
Varied guests and topics keep the show fresh and culturally relevant.
Broad mix of criticism, interviews, and live festival coverage is praised for depth and breadth.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Marilyn Monroe at 100
Q: Are you going to work with Madonna? Tell me a bit about who he didn't quite work with and what that revealed about George Michael.
The discussion pointed to a network of collaborations considered and declined, illustrating how George Michael navigated opportunities and relationships within the music industry, shedding light on his selective approach to collaborations and control over his career.
Marilyn Monroe at 100
Q: Tell me about how pivotal that moment was for him and you think in popular culture.
The moment of the public arrest in 1998 and his subsequent response through song and public discourse marked a turning point, making his experiences and persona a touchstone in UK culture and affecting how openness about sexuality was discussed in popular media.
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.
Review Show: Paul McCartney, Russell T Davies, Maggie O'Farrell
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.
Review Show: Paul McCartney, Russell T Davies, Maggie O'Farrell
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.

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 live arts-and-cculture magazine that covers literature, film, music, theatre, visual arts, and related media. Episodes center on reviews, author and artist interviews, and in-depth looks at exhibitions, books, and cultural trends, often pairing critical discussion with insider industry context. Notable are long-form conversations with writers, critics, and curators, live festival coverage, and cross-disciplinary segments that blend storytelling with arts history. The show stands out for its breadth across high and popular culture, its guest diversity, and a tendency to connect creative work to broader social and cultural questions. This makes it useful for potential listeners who want thoughtful, well-researched cultural critique and behi... 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. A Good Read
3. Start the Week
4. Great Lives
5. Bookclub

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. Darren Henley
2. Nicola Streeton
3. Annemarie Ní Churreáin
4. Megan? (implied)
5. Dixie Lander
6. Lucy Caldwell
7. Hilary McCollum
8. Mairead Nahuran

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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