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Artwork for Front Row

Front Row

BBC Radio 4
Steve Mcqueen
Occupied City
Bianca Stigter
Amsterdam
Yoko Ono
Theatre
Film Industry
Double Feature
Jez Butterworth
Nazi Occupation
One Day
American Fiction
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

Art critic Ben Luke and writer Sarah Crompton join Samira Ahmed to review David Hockney’s first exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting, which includes new works and a digitally creat... more

Actor James McAvoy who has starred in everything from Shameless to X Men talks about turning director for his debut feature, California Schemin'. The film, which is billed as being "based on a true lie", tells the story of two young rappers from Dund... more

Booker Prize-winning author Howard Jacobson discusses his new novel, Howl.

Musician Thea Gilmore talks about her latest project The Echo Line, where she creates music from anonymous messages. Thea also performs the song Silvie live, which is the sec... more

Cillian Murphy talks to Samira Ahmed about the return of Tommy in new film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

Timothee Chalamet's disparaging comments on opera and ballet have caused a stir. Matthew Hemley, editor of the stage, responds to what the ... 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

Howard Jacobson
Book author, Booker Prize-winning writer
Episode: Howard Jacobson's new book, Howl
Cillian Murphy
Actor, Peaky Blinders star
Film industry
Episode: Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Matt Hemley
Editor at The Stage magazine
The Stage
Episode: Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Toby Mundy
Literary agent, director of the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction
Waterstones (via discussion)
Episode: Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Bea Carvalho
Head of Books at Waterstones
Waterstones
Episode: Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Deepa Anappara
Author of The Last of Earth
Author
Episode: Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Robbie Collin
Film critic
Telegraph
Episode: Review: The Bride! Maggie Gyllenhaal's film about the bride of Frankenstein
Rebecca Stott
Novelist and critic
University/Telegraph film critic
Episode: Review: The Bride! Maggie Gyllenhaal's film about the bride of Frankenstein
Seán Doran
Artistic director of Arts Over Borders
Arts Over Borders
Episode: Review: The Bride! Maggie Gyllenhaal's film about the bride of Frankenstein

Hosts

Samira Ahmed
Host with a background in cultural commentary and journalism, recognized for thoughtful discussions on arts and literature topics.
Tom Sutcliffe
Host known for his sharp commentary and engaging conversations centered around arts and culture.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 655 ratings
  • 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
  • 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 Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

There are critiques regarding some hosts interrupting guests, affecting the flow of conversation.
Overall, the podcast is seen as essential for anyone interested in the arts, offering depth and research in discussions.
Listeners appreciate the variety and up-to-date coverage of cultural topics.
Many praise the engaging and intelligent discussions, noting the expertise of both the hosts and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Howard Jacobson's new book, Howl
Q: What is the intended balance between anger and humor in Howl?
Jacobson argues that humor is a necessary counterbalance to rage, allowing the work to explore difficult emotions without becoming a one-note indictment, and that the comedy should seep in naturally rather than be forced.
Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Q: How does romantasy reflect changes in the readership and what does Waterstones see in this genre?
Bea Carvalho discusses a demographic shift with younger readers driving romantasy, while adult readers still engage with the genre; publishing is responding with a broader range of formats and titles.
Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders, plus Timothee Chalamet's opera backlash
Q: What do you think is going on with the non-fiction sales dip and the role of different categories?
The guests explain that while certain non-fiction categories have slowed, others like wellness, biographies, and audio formats are performing well, and podcasts can complement rather than compete with books.
Pixar at 40
Q: What do we know about Paramount's plans after the takeover and how they would pay for it?
There are Saudi and Qatari backers in addition to Ellison's wealth, and Paramount plans to release about 30 films theatrically each year while integrating HBO Max with its own streaming service, though actual implementation remains uncertain.
Author Julia Quinn on Bridgerton
Q: How do you balance romance with themes of real-world issues like equality and respect?
She argues romance can be revolutionary by portraying healthy relationships and ensuring emotional agency for women, while not shying away from challenging norms.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Front Row

What is Front Row about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on a variety of cultural discussions, this platform features conversations about literature, film, and the visual arts, often bringing insights from well-known authors, filmmakers, and critics. Episodes cover diverse topics, such as the impact of significant literary figures, cinematic analysis of recent films, and critical reflections on contemporary art trends. Notable discussions often highlight both celebrated and emerging voices in the arts, offering listeners a rich tapestry of cultural commentary while staying relevant to current events in the creative world. What sets this platform apart is its blend of expert opinions and lively debates, making it a captivating resource for anyone interested in the arts.

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. Bookclub
4. Desert Island Discs
5. Kermode & Mayo’s Take

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. Howard Jacobson
2. Cillian Murphy
3. Matt Hemley
4. Toby Mundy
5. Bea Carvalho
6. Deepa Anappara
7. Robbie Collin
8. Rebecca Stott

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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