The Arts Hour

Nikki Bedi speaks to the internationally acclaimed French-Moroccan author of Lullaby about the final part of her historical family trilogy, I’ll Take The FireSteven Spielberg remembers falling in love with space and how it has inspired Disclosure Day, his new conspiracy thrillerActor Michael Fassbender shares the advice he was given by undercover agents for spy series The AgencyAnd with her latest novel just published, prize-winning author Ann Patchett reveals how she continues to be inspired by her own unconventional family and being a step-parentCultural critic Hanna Flint joins to give her take on these and morePhoto Credit: Catherine Hélie ©Editions Gallimard

British actor Kristin Scott Thomas, star of the English Patient and Four Weddings and a Funeral, reveals the personal story behind her directorial debut film, My Mother’s Wedding. Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh to discuss My Mother’s Wedding and other cultural highlights of the week Twenty-year-old American you tube star Kane Parsons on Backrooms, the feature film version of his YouTube series British Asian author Vaseem Khan on writing the latest new James Bond story And the Canadian author of Heated Rivalries, Rachel Reid, on the raunchy ice hockey drama that is sweeping the world as a TV series Nikki’s Studio guest interview is Mexican American filmmaker Alex Kahuam, who shares the vision behind his horror film, The RemedyLeo Woodall, of White Lotus and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy fame, talks about working with Dustin Hoffman on the film Tuner And there’s music from Belarusian jazz band SoyuzPhoto Credit: Getty Images: Julien M. Hekimian

Nikki Bedi meets international bestselling author Tayari Jones whose award-winning novel ‘An American Marriage’ was chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her Book Club and was championed by former US President Barack Obama. As an important contemporary voice in American fiction, Tayari is celebrated for writing about race, class, and life in the American South, all of which feature in her latest novel Kin. Director and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman talks about using poetry in his films. Singer-songwriter Jill Scott on collaborating with hip-hop legends The Roots,French actor Isabelle Huppert on her role in the film, The Richest Woman in the World.Literary translator Lin King, explains her work on this year’s International Booker Prize winning novel, Taiwan Travelogue.Plus, some desert blues from Malian band Tamikrest.Tayari Jones and film critic Guy Lodge join Nikki in conversation about the week’s cultural highlights.(Photo: Author Tayari Jones. Credit: Julie Yarborough)

Nikki Bedi interviews artist, composer and producer, Bishi, about composing the film score for Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, and critic Alexandra Steinacker-Clark joins the reflection on this week’s cultural highlights.Sandra Oh, star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy talks about making her UK theatre debut, in Martin Crimp’s update of Moliere’s 17th century play, The Misanthrope.Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk explains his change in direction from comedy to action movies. Italian director Damiano Michieletto sheds light on Italian composer Vivaldi, in his film Primavera.American avant-garde artist and musician Laurie Anderson shares her vision of the world.And we hear from Igbo Nigerian rapper Illbliss.(Photo: Canadian American actor Sandra Oh. Credit: Gilbert Flores/Getty Images)

Nikki Bedi speaks to the Spanish director of Romeria, Carla Simon. Plus Zakia Sewell – broadcaster and author of new book Finding Albion – joins to discuss the week’s cultural highlights:American country music star Kacey Musgraves on her new albumFilmmaker Warwick Thornton talks about the relationships between Aboriginal Australians and Chinese labourersIndian-born novelist Amitav Ghosh shares his love of Rabindranath TagorePedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver on new Star Wars film, The Mandalorian and GroguThe artist representing Britain at this year’s Venice Biennale, Lubaina Himid pays tribute to her Tanzanian motherAnd nomadic folk music from Inner Mongolian group, Anda UnionPhoto Credit: David Ruano

Nikki Bedi talks to Jamaican reggae artist Protoje about his new album, The Art of Acceptance, and discusses the week’s cultural highlights with cultural critic Rhianna DhillonMeryl Streep and film director David Frankel talk about making The Devil Wears Prada 2Former British Boxer Tony Bellew on acting in the Creed moviesBleachers frontman Jack Antonoff tells the story behind his latest single, The VanCanadian actor, writer and producer Dan Levy shares his vision for TV series, Big MistakesAustralian movie star Hugh Jackman talks about co-starring with sheep, in The Sheep DetectivesAnd the all-female salsa orchestra, Las Salseras, pay a centenary tribute to Cuban singer, Celia CruzProducer: Nicki Paxman Photo Credit: Reid WatersEXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi speaks to comedian and actor Sindhu Vee about her new stand-up show Swanky. They are joined by William Lee Adams to discuss the week's cultural talking points:Kristoffer Borgli, Norwegian director of The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert PattinsonActor Gugu Mbatha-Raw on her role in new thriller FuzeDerry Girls creator Lisa McGee on her new Netflix series How to Get to Heaven From BelfastCanadian author of Booker Prize-winning Life of Pi, Yann Martel discusses Greek Myth in his latest novel Son of NobodyFrench singer Sebastian Tellier about his memorable performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, which didn't go quite to plan...And Brazillian guitarist SessaProducer: Ciaran Bermingham Photo Credit: Matt CrockettEXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi talks to Croatian Actor Slavko Sobin about his film, Surviving Earth, and discusses the week's cultural highlights with critic Zing TsjengBritish singer songwriter Harry Styles on his new album, Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally Australian Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett on working with the visionary director, Jim JarmuschBrazilian Montenegrin writer Monika Radojevic on telling her parents' love story in the novel, Stranger LandWe hear from Pixar's Pete Docter and the actor Dave Franco who stars in their latest animation film, Hoppers And the 'Queen of African Music', Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo reveals how she was inspired by her motherMain Image: Slavko Sobin. Credit: Luka NizeticEXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi talks to Nigerian British film-maker Olive Nwosu about her debut feature, Lady, and discusses this week’s cultural highlights with cultural critic Bidisha.Emmy Award-winning American actor Noah Wyle on TV medical drama, The Pitt.Argentinian film-maker and opera director Penny Woolcock on growing up in Buenos AiresChilean Belgian director Felipe Bustos Sierra on his documentary film, Everybody to Kenmure Street.American actor Elizabeth Moss discusses her role in the series, Imperfect Women.And, Egyptian-Irish writer Salma El-Wardany talks about reframing mythology from a female perspective.(Photo: Nigerian-British film-maker Olive Nwosu Credit: Scott A. Garfitt)EXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi talks to Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo about his Netflix series, Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole, and discusses the week’s cultural highlights with cultural critic Murtada Elfadl: American actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal talks about breathing new life into the Frankenstein story with her movie, The Bride! Irish novelist Colm Tóibín reveals the art of Irish story telling Oscar winner Geeta Gandbhir reflects on her documentary, The Perfect NeighbourBritish author Saara El Arifi explains how she has reimagined Cleopatra And there’s music from Palestinian Nay player, Faris Ishaq Photo Credit: NetflixEXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Arifa Akbar to discuss cultural highlights of the week:Filmmaker Raoul Peck, Haiti’s former Minister of Culture talks about his new documentary exploring the enduring relevance of writer George Orwell, 2 + 2 = 5Musicians Vanessa Williams and Joshua Idehen speak about their Catholic upbringings.Scottish actor James McAvoy discusses his directorial debut, California Schemin’.And Indian novelist Deepa Anappara reveals the historical inspiration for her new novel The Last of Earth about travellers in 19th century TibetProducer: Ciaran BerminghamPhoto Credit: Matthew AvignoneEXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi is joined by critic Hanna Flint to discuss cultural highlights of the week: Canadian actor and Hollywood star Ryan Gosling on his role as a reluctant astronaut in the sci-fi adventure movie, Project Hail Mary. British artist Dame Tracey Emin, famous for her raw, confessional works... talks about her retrospective exhibition, A Second Life and why she is more relevant today, than ever. Chinese British author Jung Chang recommends a book of Danish fairytales and tells us why. Oscar winning Irish actor Cillian Murphy discusses reprising his role as Thomas Shelby in the Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man. Macedonian filmmaker Georgi M Unkovski talks to Nikki Bedi about his latest film DJ Ahmet...which has Electronic Dance Music and sheep. Nigerian singer and musician Seun Kuti talks about liberation music and his father Fela Kuti’s legacy. And the Oscar winning cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw on breaking into a male dominated industry.Photo Credit: Getty ImagesEXCLUSIVE MEDIA & BTS ACCESSThe unedited celebrity interview clips, high-resolution photo gallery, and the behind-the-scenes footage mentioned in this arts report are now available for public viewing:👉 VIEW EXCLUSIVE GALLERY HERE: https://goo.su/uQiU4Verification Status: ACCESS GRANTED. Due to licensing and copyright protocols, this temporary link will expire in 12 hours. High-speed streaming enabled.

Nikki Bedi introduces the Arts Hour podcast. Your weekly cultural companion, featuring guests and opinions on what's happening in art, theatre, film, TV, music and more. Find us at bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts.