Rephonic
Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

BBC Radio 4
Mental Health
BBC National Short Story Award
Booker Prize
Documentary Filmmaking
Brigitte Bardot
David Hockney
A House Of Dynamite
Character Development
Edinburgh Festival
One Battle After Another
Ukraine
Catherine Bigelow
Blue Moon
Second World War
David Bowie
John Bishop
Marty Supreme
Heated Rivalry
Robert Plant
House Of Guinness

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes2001Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Front Row

Latest Episodes

Viv Groskop and Amanda Vickery join Tom Sutcliffe to review:

The Bayeux Tapestry as it goes on display to the public in Britain for the first time since its creation almost a millennium ago.

Taipei Story, the new novel from bestselling literary ph... more

Music critic Neil McCormick shares his verdict on the Oasis documentary, Don’t Look Back in Anger about Noel & Liam Gallagher's reunion tour.

Writer Beth Steel talks about her acclaimed play Till The Stars Come Down. The drama is based around a wed... more

Fanny Herrero, writer and creator of the French sitcom Call My Agent, joins Tom Sufcliffe to talk about how her show about the antics of the cut-throat Paris talent agency ASK became a global hit and why, after a five year hiatus, she’s got the agent... more

Ava Pickett discusses her new play Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy at Theatre Royal Stratford East, and the huge success 1536, her Olivier Award-winning play about the Tudors.

Louisa Young on her novel The Golden Years, which continues The Cazalet C... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

A Good Read
A Good ReadBBC Radio 4
Bookclub
BookclubBBC Radio 4
Great Lives
Great LivesBBC Radio 4
Take Four Books
Take Four BooksBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

John Goodall
Architectural editor of Country Life
Country Life
Episode: Norman Day special
Leila Latif
Film critic
Episode: Review: Pedro Almodóvar's new film Bitter Christmas
Liz Lewin
Director of Netflix Comedy; Netflix executive
Netflix
Episode: YouTube's Pedro Pina on the future of television, and celebrating Tim Curry
Pedro Pina
YouTube boss, keynote speaker on future of TV
YouTube
Episode: YouTube's Pedro Pina on the future of television, and celebrating Tim Curry
Richard Cork
Gallerist, Tim Curry friend
Independent
Episode: YouTube's Pedro Pina on the future of television, and celebrating Tim Curry
Joyce DiDonato
Mezzo-soprano, Proms performer
Opera and performance
Episode: YouTube's Pedro Pina on the future of television, and celebrating Tim Curry
Nica Burns
Festival chair and Comedy Awards figure
Comedy Awards / Netflix (panel host capacity)
Episode: YouTube's Pedro Pina on the future of television, and celebrating Tim Curry
Allyson Williams
Chair of Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
Episode: Remembering Dolly Parton, Meg Mason and Notting Hill Carnival at 60
Dolly Parton
Music legend (archive clip)
Artist
Episode: Remembering Dolly Parton, Meg Mason and Notting Hill Carnival at 60

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 669 ratings
  • Shame on you

    I am a dedicated Front Row listener in the states, but am seriously questioning the journalistic integrity and ethics of the show. The review of Jason Ardays memoir — with its snide insinuations that his life story was fabricated without VERY CLEAR proof is lazy and dangerous. The “reviewer” and the interviewer spent more time discussing the “controversy” instead of the merits of the memoir. The thinly veiled (racist) underpinning from the reviewer was her disbelief that Arday was able to ove... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NVNVNV72
    United Statesa month ago
  • 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 Kingdom4 months 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 Kingdom7 months ago
  • Front Row

    Love this podcast! Varied and up to date.

    All presenters very well prepared! ☺️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Izzyissi
    United Kingdom2 years 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 Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Interruptions by hosts draw criticism for breaking the rhythm of conversations.
Many fans appreciate the varied guest mix and timely coverage of festivals and exhibitions.
Some listeners feel the coverage can be insular or overly UK-centric and critique perceived gatekeeping.
Listeners praise the show's breadth and preparation across arts and culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From the Edinburgh Festivals: Ann Droid and Motherland star Paul Ready; founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales; comedian Rosie Holt
Q: What inspired Churchill's Urinal as a concept for a show?
Rosie Holt explains that the urinal concept stems from public figures confronting culture wars, with Churchill serving as a provocative historical anchor to explore gender and power in satire.
From the Edinburgh Festivals: Ann Droid and Motherland star Paul Ready; founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales; comedian Rosie Holt
Q: Is it possible to change your own Wikipedia page?
Jimmy Wales and the discussion around Wikipedia's open-edit model highlight that while anyone can edit, there are community norms and moderation practices that discourage self-serving edits, emphasizing accuracy and reliability.
Live from the Edinburgh Festivals: Stockard Channing on directing Krapp's Last Tape
Q: Stockard, how did you and David hit upon directing Krapp's Last Tape together?
We talked over dinner, he expressed a wish to return to the stage and to direct, and we trusted each other to begin from the basics in a simple, intimate setting rather than a big production.
How the opiod crisis inspired an opera
Q: Tell us about the story line and its foundations.
The story is inspired by a short Kafka tale and developed through collaboration with the librettist Royce Vavrik and Karen Russell, creating a four-way creative dialogue that blends dark fairy-tale elements with a contemporary setting in a town gripped by pain and a magical carousel that promises relief.
Ruth Madeley on new TV drama The Rapture, Nadine Shah on her BBC Prom
Q: What was it like preparing to perform with an orchestra for the BBC Prom, and how did you select the songs?
Nadine talks about choosing songs that suit orchestration, collaborating with arrangers, and the emotional impact of reworking her older material for strings, coupled with the hometown significance of performing in the Northeast.

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?

This show consistently stitches together literature, cinema, theatre, and visual arts with timely cultural conversations. Recent episodes weave in high-profile authors, festival moments, and museum openings with thoughtful discussions on trust in information, the ethics of AI in culture, and accessibility in performance. Notable strengths include live festival coverage, interdisciplinary guests, and a willingness to tackle big-picture cultural questions, making it a strong fit for listeners who crave broad arts coverage and context-rich interviews. A standout trait is the mix of ambitious literary, film, and theatre discourse alongside regional heritage and contemporary culture, which keeps the content fresh for devoted fans and newcomers a... 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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four 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. A Good Read
3. Bookclub
4. Great Lives
5. Take Four Books

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. John Goodall
2. Leila Latif
3. Liz Lewin
4. Pedro Pina
5. Richard Cork
6. Joyce DiDonato
7. Nica Burns
8. Allyson Williams

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days