Late-night shows under fire

Another late-night host gets fired for offending Trump - we discuss the industry fallout.

An episode of the Front Row podcast, hosted by BBC Radio 4, titled "Late-night shows under fire" was published on September 22, 2025 and runs 42 minutes.

September 22, 2025 ·42m · Front Row

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Summary

Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Jay Leno made the late night talk wildly popular viewing for American audiences for decades, but those days are fading fast thanks to declining ratings and ad revenue. Now, with two of today's biggest late night shows are in trouble after offending President Trump, we speak to the New York Times chief TV critic, James Poniewozik after the future of these show.This weekend the sculptor Martin Jennings was announced as the designer of the statue at the new national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth in London’s St James Park. In his first broadcast interview since being appointed by Norman Foster Associates, Martin Jennings tells us how he is approaching the task. Today marks the autumn equinox, and according to viewing data, it’s a time when many of us seek out cosy romantic comedy films to watch. Screenwriters and sisters Nora and Delia Ephron made some of the most loved, often set in autumn - When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, all three starring Meg Ryan. Delia Ephron tells us what it was about autumn in NY that made such an irresistible setting.It’s been 10 years since Shamima Begum and her friends left the UK for Syria, having been indoctrinated online by the Islamic State group. While press coverage at the time focused on the horrors of the group, a new fiction film, Brides, seeks to put out a more sympathetic portrayal about similar teenage girls who made that journey. Director Nadia Falls is on to discuss.

Episode Description

This weekend the sculptor Martin Jennings was announced as the designer of the statue at the new national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth in London’s St James Park. In his first broadcast interview since being appointed by Norman Foster Associates, Martin Jennings tells us how he is approaching the task.

Today marks the autumn equinox, and according to viewing data, it’s a time when many of us seek out cosy romantic comedy films to watch. Screenwriters and sisters Nora and Delia Ephron made some of the most loved, often set in autumn - When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, all three starring Meg Ryan. Delia Ephron tells us what it was about autumn in NY that made such an irresistible setting.

It’s been 10 years since Shamima Begum and her friends left the UK for Syria, having been indoctrinated online by the Islamic State group. While press coverage at the time focused on the horrors of the group, a new fiction film, Brides, seeks to put out a more sympathetic portrayal about similar teenage girls who made that journey. Director Nadia Falls is on to discuss.