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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
Nazi Occupation
Jez Butterworth
One Day
American Fiction
Mental Health
Gladiator
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
Society & CultureArts

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Artwork for Front Row

Latest Episodes

Tom and guests Arifa Akbar and Nick Hilton consider Paddington The Musical. It's the latest step for a beloved British institution... How does he work on stage? Is the bear believable? Are the songs memorable?

Iranian director Jafar Panahi's latest ... more

John Rutter on his first purely orchestral album in almost 60 years, which also marks the composer and conductor's 80th birthday.

Novelist Sean Lusk on the extraordinary - and scandalous - life of 18th-century aristocrat Mary Wortley Montagu, which... more

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has been transformed into a piece of hip hop dance at London’s Sadler's Wells East, and a Bollywood infused song and dance extravaganza for the big screen. We hear from the creatives behind the new versions, Bend ... more

A celebration of the life and work of one of Britain’s greatest modern playwrights, Sir Tom Stoppard, who died at the weekend. He was 88.

We hear from theatre critic Michael Billington, actress Emma Fielding, director Patrick Marber, biographer Her... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gurinder Chadha
Filmmaker known for 'Bend It Like Beckham'
Episode: Updating A Christmas Carol; new sculpture exhibition by blind artists and curators; 2025’s funniest novel
Dannielle Rhimes Lecointe
Choreographer presenting a hip hop adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol'
Episode: Updating A Christmas Carol; new sculpture exhibition by blind artists and curators; 2025’s funniest novel
Sydney Sweeney
Actress known for her roles in 'Euphoria' and 'The White Lotus,' playing Christie Martin in her new film.
Actress
Episode: Sydney Sweeney and Pasolini
Adrian Wootton
Former BFI director and Italian cinema expert
Episode: Sydney Sweeney and Pasolini
Olivia Laing
Author of the novel 'The Silver Book' which explores Pasolini's life and work.
Episode: Sydney Sweeney and Pasolini
Marion Cotillard
Played the Snow Queen in The Ice Tower
Episode: Review Show: The Death of Bunny Munro; TV adaptation of Nick Cave's novel
Eli Hart
Winner of the BBC New Comedy Awards
Episode: Review Show: The Death of Bunny Munro; TV adaptation of Nick Cave's novel
Matt Smith
Portrayed Bunny in The Death of Bunny Munro
Episode: Review Show: The Death of Bunny Munro; TV adaptation of Nick Cave's novel
Bridget Riley
Artist exhibiting at Turner Contemporary
Episode: Review Show: The Death of Bunny Munro; TV adaptation of Nick Cave's novel

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 649 ratings
  • Front Row

    Love this podcast! Varied and up to date.

    All presenters very well prepared! ☺️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Izzyissi
    United Kingdom9 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 Kingdom10 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 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 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.

Sydney Sweeney and Pasolini
Q: How was the film 'Salò' viewed upon its release?
It was scandalous and almost immediately censored. Many countries didn't allow complete release until decades later.
Sydney Sweeney and Pasolini
Q: What was the emotional impact of reenacting Christie's life?
It was one of the most moving experiences, especially when Christie was present on set. People were crying when they saw her.
Sydney Sweeney and Pasolini
Q: How did you feel about the physical transformation for this role?
I worked with a weight trainer and a boxing coach, and they worked with me on nutrition training. I put on 35 pounds.
The lead writer of Grand Theft Auto, Dan Houser, on his debut novel.
Q: How does it go so wrong?
The game's downfall results from trying to work too fast and cutting corners, leading to sacrifices in values and oversight in the development process.
The lead writer of Grand Theft Auto, Dan Houser, on his debut novel.
Q: When you're reading a book, you can't quite do that in the same way. Do you write differently for a novel then, knowing that the reader engagement is necessarily going to be more passive?
The writing remains engaging, making sentences interesting while being aware of the reader's passive engagement compared to interactive storytelling in games.

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. Bookclub
3. A Good Read
4. Private Passions
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. Gurinder Chadha
2. Dannielle Rhimes Lecointe
3. Sydney Sweeney
4. Adrian Wootton
5. Olivia Laing
6. Marion Cotillard
7. Eli Hart
8. Matt Smith

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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