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Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

BBC Radio 4
Mental Health
Booker Prize
BBC National Short Story Award
Documentary Filmmaking
Brigitte Bardot
David Hockney
Andy Goldsworthy
Alien Earth
A House Of Dynamite
Character Development
The Ballad Of Wallis Island
One Battle After Another
Ukraine
Catherine Bigelow
Blue Moon
Second World War
David Bowie
John Bishop
Marty Supreme
Heated Rivalry

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

Critic and columnist Dr Kate Maltby and author Michael Donkor join Tom Sutcliffe to review Robota, the inaugural large-scale production at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in Oxford. The production explores what happens to humanity when the l... more

Lynval Golding of two-tone and ska legends The Specials , on the band’s final album, Live from the Cathedral, which was recorded in Coventry Cathedral. and which pays tribute to the band's late frontman Terry Hall.

Photographers Tish Murtha and San... more

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has just created his largest site-specific exhibition - Ai Weiwei: Button Up! - which has now opened at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary art gallery, has been to see the monume... more

Confessions II is Madonna's first album in 7 years. Novelist Matt Cain and journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer discuss going back to the dancefloor.

Sky TV has offered £1.6 bn pounds for ITV's free to air channel and its streaming platform ITV... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Katherine Rundell
Author of Cinderella and the Duke, Royal Radio 4 commissionee
Author
Episode: Penelope Keith tribute, Russell Tovey, Katherine Rundell on fairy tales
Mel Giedroyc
Comedian, writer and broadcaster who grew up watching Penelope Keith
Self/Media
Episode: Penelope Keith tribute, Russell Tovey, Katherine Rundell on fairy tales
Russell Tovey
Actor discussing The Guilty and stage work
Actor
Episode: Penelope Keith tribute, Russell Tovey, Katherine Rundell on fairy tales
Hans Orozeboem
Curator of photography at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum
Episode: Penelope Keith tribute, Russell Tovey, Katherine Rundell on fairy tales
Refik Anadol
Media artist and AI art researcher
Dataland, Los Angeles
Episode: Lauren Child on 25 years of Charlie & Lola
Stephen Bayley
Cultural critic, co-founder of Design Museum
Design Museum
Episode: Lauren Child on 25 years of Charlie & Lola
Bryony Smith
Curator
Harewood House/National Portrait Gallery collaboration
Episode: Lauren Child on 25 years of Charlie & Lola
Jasleen Kaur
Turner Prize-winning artist
Glasgow Commonwealth Games program
Episode: Lauren Child on 25 years of Charlie & Lola
Lauren Child
Author and former Children's Laureate
Charlie and Lola series
Episode: Lauren Child on 25 years of Charlie & Lola

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 Kingdom2 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 Kingdom5 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.

Apple Podcasts
#190
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#54
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#125
Hong Kong/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#130
India/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#141
Ireland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#185
Norway/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, Pan African art and John Tavener's opera Krishna
Q: What drew you to the human side of creation and how does the physicality of dance shape your music?
He describes the shift from the robot persona to human expression as essential to the new artistic direction, emphasizing physicality, immediacy, and the visceral connection between performer and audience.
Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, Pan African art and John Tavener's opera Krishna
Q: Can you tell us about the ideas you explore in this ballet piece and how music and choreography work together?
Bangalter explains his interest in moving away from purely electronic production toward an approach that uses graphic tools and collaboration with choreographers to shape movement and sound as a unified art installation rather than separate elements.
Bill Nighy on acting, podcasting and style tips
Q: How did you build up your idea of what kind of a person John is, as you said about bringing him to life?
He describes a mix of script details, accent work, and archival experience, plus practical acting craft rather than mere mimicry.
Bill Nighy on acting, podcasting and style tips
Q: Tell us about John and where we find him in this story.
Bill explains John as a blow-in in Ireland, with a colorful life, a painter by trade, and navigating family dynamics as the story unfolds.
Linda Perry sings live, and we celebrate Mel Brooks' 100th birthday
Q: What has Linda Perry learned from writing for others versus writing for herself?
She describes how producing and writing for others requires tapping into their emotions and stories, which is different from the intimacy and self-discovery involved in writing for herself, ultimately shaping a more cinematic, cohesive sense of self in her music.

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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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. Take Four Books
5. Free Thinking

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.

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What guests have appeared on Front Row?

Recent guests on Front Row include:

1. Katherine Rundell
2. Mel Giedroyc
3. Russell Tovey
4. Hans Orozeboem
5. Refik Anadol
6. Stephen Bayley
7. Bryony Smith
8. Jasleen Kaur

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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