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Artwork for Artists at Work

Artists at Work

BBC World Service
In the Night Of Time
Spanish Civil War
Toronto
Scary Monsters
His Bloody Project
Mexican Gothic
World War II
Literature
Feminism
Racism
Historical Fiction
Ignacio Abel
Tasting Sunlight
19th Century Scotland
Identity
Museo Nacional Del Prado
Civil War
House Of Anansi Press
Storytelling
The Dutch House

How creatives write, perform and make art, design and music. The home of arts and culture from BBC World Service.

In The Studio follows the world’s leading creative figures while they work. Nikki Bedi hosts The Arts Hour, with news of the latest releases from around the world, and in World Book Club Harriett Gilbert puts your questions and comments to best-selling authors.

In the Studio episodes a... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes311Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Artists at Work

Latest Episodes

Tuyet Vah Huynh meets two film-makers in Hanoi, Nguyen Duy Anh and Bui Kim Quy . Tuyet explains how cinema is booming in Vietnam. In 2025, more than 70 million cinema tickets were sold, and Vietnamese films took more than sixty per cent of the domest... more

Nikki Bedi speaks to superstar Irish-Indian poet and New York Times-Bestselling author Nikita Gill about her latest “novel in verse Styx: The River” Plus critic Kohinoor Sahota discusses this week’s cultural highlights: Oscar-winners Aaron Sorkin and... more

Neil McCarthy meets Japanese artist Yuko Mohri, as she prepares for a major exhibition. Her sculptures often fuse ordinary objects, such as umbrellas, feather dusters and apples, with unstable forces such as air and water. The results are works of ki... more

Nikki Bedi speaks to the Turkish-born author about her new novel In One Brief Moment All Eternity. Using the voices of different women, Shafak tells the story of 19th century French writer Gustave Flaubert, whose famous book Madame Bovary forever sha... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Nikita Gill
Irish-Indian poet, writer and artist, and New York Times bestselling author
Episode: The Arts Hour Indian-Irish poet Nikita Gill
Yuko Mohri
Japanese artist known for kinetic installations combining ordinary objects with forces such as water, air and electricity
Episode: In the Studio: Yuko Mohri
Elif Shafak
Turkish-British novelist and author of The Island of Missing Trees
Episode: The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Taika Waititi
New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and Oscar-winning screenwriter
Episode: The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Marlon James
Jamaican author and Booker Prize-winning novelist
Episode: The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Stéphane Demoustier
French film director
Episode: The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Daisy Edgar-Jones
British actor
Episode: The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Diana Reid
Australian screenwriter
Episode: The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Joachim Trier
Norwegian film director and screenwriter of Sentimental Value
Episode: In the Studio: Joachim Trier

Host

Harriett Gilbert
Host of World Book Club (BBC) with a reputation for warm, insightful interviewing and a global perspective.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • The new title and guests arent as interesting as before

    I have been listening to The World Book club with Harriet Gilbert since 2023 and have listened to most of the archived episodes as well. I simply enjoyed Harriet's smooth transitions across the guest's responses and the questions. The books were also excellent.

    This new title and format, takes away from the original focus on books and authors. Reading is a dying art what with all the distractions of today's world. This was one of the few podcasts that enabled engaging with books in a deeper way... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Perfect for travel
    United States20 days ago
  • Odd change

    This used to be the wonderful BBC World Bookclub but has now inexplicably morphed into a broader “artists at work” series. Not sure what the thinking behind that was.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Andyderz
    Australiaa month ago
  • Decline in books discussed

    This used to be one of my favorite podcasts and I looked forward to a new episode each month. But with the new producer the types of books discussed have become cheesy best sellers with less substance. The books used to be literary and thought provoking. These shallow picks aren’t worth reading let alone discussing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dddddiiiisssapointing
    United States9 months ago
  • Polyandry

    Thank you for the novel. I have always wondered about Draupadi's point of view. Who did she love most? Did she feel sexually liberated or even more enslaved? How can one not especially as a woman?! Just wanted to also point out that albeit polyandry was rare in ancient and medieval India and other parts of the world, it was a social and economic practice especially in the North where resources were scarce.

    I am not allowed to paste the link here but you can find readings on polyandry as a pra... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joytsna
    United States10 months ago
  • Paradise

    A startling and disturbing book which took me on a journey at times funny and tragic. This is a haunting story of humanity emerging with hope despite oppression and cruelty. Deals with huge themes as all good literature does. I didn’t know this author but shall read more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    damme lorraine
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the global perspective and wide range of authors.
Some listeners critique changes in production or book choices during transitions.
The format is seen as thoughtful and enriching for book lovers.
Listeners praise the host's warmth and deep questions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#141
Singapore/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#195
South Korea/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#222
Chile/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

In the Studio: Yuko Mohri
Q: What was your band called?
Mohri says it was Essie's Four Sounds, an experimental punk band where she improvised with keyboard, trumpet, voice and effects.
In the Studio: Yuko Mohri
Q: Were you good at maths and physics in school?
Mohri says she was not especially good at either, but loves learning about the physics of the world and develops her work by trying things and accepting failure.
The Arts Hour Indian-Irish poet Nikita Gill
Q: What parts of you went into filling those gaps?
Gill connected Styx's family role to her own experience as an eldest daughter and to watching her mother's life. She also wrote the book while grieving several grandparents and reflecting on death, memory and ancestors.
The Arts Hour Indian-Irish poet Nikita Gill
Q: What was it about Styx?
Gill was drawn to Styx as the eldest child of the Titans, with thousands of siblings, who fights her way from nymph to goddess and becomes a force for keeping oaths.
The Arts Hour: Elif Shafak
Q: Why do you think Jane Austen continues to resonate?
Shafak says audiences return to Austen during turbulent periods because her work helps people connect with grief, loss, powerful emotions, and passion.

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 Artists at Work

What is Artists at Work about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners are drawn to thoughtful literary conversations that pair deep dives into a book's themes with insights into writing, research, and the author's perspective. Episodes cover a wide range of genres—historical fiction, crime, gothic and literary novels—often highlighting the author's process, historical context, and the ethics of storytelling. The show tends to feature celebrated or emerging writers, moderators who foster nuanced questions, and a global audience asking diverse questions, which makes it a strong fit for readers who enjoy him/her being guided through complex narratives and cultural contexts. A standout element is the host's facilitation style, which many listeners describe as warm, knowledgeable, and international in sc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Artists at Work?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Artists at Work:

1. Bookclub
2. A Good Read
3. Take Four Books
4. A Good Read
5. The Waterstones Podcast

How many episodes of Artists at Work are there?

Artists at Work launched 19 years ago and published 311 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Artists at Work?

Recent guests on Artists at Work include:

1. Nikita Gill
2. Yuko Mohri
3. Elif Shafak
4. Taika Waititi
5. Marlon James
6. Stéphane Demoustier
7. Daisy Edgar-Jones
8. Diana Reid

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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