Front Row: Archive 2014

With Samira Ahmed Singer-songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright on his Late Night Prom; a review of The Leftovers the latest series to come from the creator of Lost; we take a look at the late Sir Anthony Caro's final sculptures; and the story behind the Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra, the first from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Produced by Ella-mai Robey.

Cathy Rentzenbrink from The Bookseller gives her verdict on the Man Booker Prize shortlist; James Ellroy, perhaps best known for his LA Quartet books, which include LA Confidential and The Black Dahlia, is set to publish his largest book to date. ‘Perfidia’ revolves around the brutal murder of a Japanese family on December 6th, 1941; a day before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and it sheds light on the violence that was happening in the city of Los Angeles on the cusp of America's entrance into WW2. Joyce DiDonato reveals what's on her latest CD of Bel Canto opera arias; and we get a sneak preview of the Great Gallery at the Wallace Collection which opens its doors again after two years, during which time it has been redesigned and the paintings rehung.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's final film A Most Wanted Man, based on the novel by John le Carré, is reviewed by Mark Eccleston; Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson discusses his exhibition influenced by JMW Turner at Tate Britain with Kirsty Lang, and critic Charlotte Mullins reviews a major new exhibition Late Turner at the same gallery, and Tamzin Outhwaite and Ben Ockrent on their play Breeders. Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Pride is a new British film, starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West, that tells the extraordinary story of the Lesbian and Gay group that travelled to South Wales in 1984 to support the striking miners. Kirsty talks to writer Stephen Beresford and director Matthew Warchus. Kirsty Lang explores a major retrospective of master photographer Horst P Horst, with fashion and lifestyle writer Martin Raymond . Featuring famous photographs including Mainbocher Corset, recreated by Madonna in her Vogue video, alongside Hollywood portraits, Vogue covers and nude studies. Tyrant is a new American thriller series whose creative team also worked on Homeland and 24 and - like them - it interweaves political drama and family issues. Tyrant focuses on Barry, youngest son of a war-torn fictional country's dictator, who's escaped his past and now lives in California with his American wife and children. But despite themselves, this all-American family becomes embroiled in the political intrigues of the nation th

Tony Bennett joins Kirsty Lang to talk about his seven-decade career and working with Lady Gaga to create an album of jazz duets. Author Will Self talks about his new novel Shark, inspired by the film Jaws and the true story of a terrible shark attack during the Second World War. Little Revolution takes the London riots of 2011 as its starting point. The play is created by Alecky Blythe (London Road), with a cast including Imogen Stubbs and Ronni Ancona. Susannah Clapp reviews. Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) stars with Paul Rudd in a new parody of the Nora Ephron-style romcom: They Came Together. Does the comedy come off? Katie Puckrik reviews. Presenter Kirsty Lang Producer Claire Bartleet.

Samira Ahmed talks to actor Dan Stevens, who has gone from Downton Abbey to Hollywood and is starring in a horror film, The Guest. Regeneration author Pat Barker discusses a new stage version of her First World War trilogy with adaptor Nicholas Wright. Val McDermid reviews ITV's new crime series Chasing Shadows, which stars Reece Shearsmith and Alex Kingston. And author Matthew Thomas discusses his novel We are not Ourselves, about an American family coping with Alzheimer's.

In tonight's programme, John Wilson talks to Dame Helen Mirren about her new film The Hundred-Foot Journey, and to David Mitchell about his novel The Bone Clocks - and concert pianist Lang Lang gives John a demonstration of his new technique for learning the piano. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Rebecca Nicholson.

With John Wilson. Smokey Robinson (Tracks of My Tears, Being With You, Tears of a Clown) was once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America's greatest living poet. Smokey talks to John about his new CD of duets with Elton John, Mary J Blige and Jessie J. Before I Go to Sleep was a huge bestseller as a novel in 2011. The film adaptation opens this week with Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Mark Strong. Sarah Dunant reviews. Lenny Henry talks about bringing Radio 4 sitcom Rudy's Rare Records to the stage in Birmingham, as well as discussing his career, music and father-son relationships. Plus, Boyd Hilton reviews The Secrets, BBC1's new series of stand-alone dramas by new writers starring Olivia Colman and Alison Steadman amongst others. Presenter : John Wilson Producer : Dymphna Flynn.

Kirsty Lang talks to Olivier and Tony Award winning playwright Alan Ayckbourn about Roundelay, his 78th play. Comedian Omid Djalili discusses his memoir Hopeful: An Autobiography which is about his unconventional childhood and adolescence. Two developers of "video games" that have no visuals but are just audio explain how to play these imaginative games and Catherine Bray joins Kirsty from the Venice Film Festival with news of the films that are making waves and the up and coming directing talent to look out for. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Olivia Skinner.

Canadian writer Margaret Atwood discusses Stone Mattress, her new collection of nine short stories. Flamenco guitarist Paco Peña tells Samira Ahmed about his latest work Patrias which is being performed at the Edinburgh International Festival, inspired by the writer Federico García Lorca who was murdered at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Shahidha Bari reviews new film Obvious Child, about a comedienne who faces some challenging realities when she discovers she's pregnant. And artist Michael Sailstorfer on his interactive work at the Folkestone Triennial. Producer Jerome Weatherald.

The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg discusses his latest role as a radical environmentalist in his new film Night Moves; Norwegian novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard on Boyhood Island, the latest addition to his autobiographical My Struggle series; Lucy Jones reviews Kate Bush's comeback concert in London last night, and Rachel Cooke reviews new TV drama series Our Zoo, based on the creation of Chester Zoo in the 1930s. Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Johnny Marr discusses his new album Playland and reflects on his relationship with the guitar from The Smiths to his solo work. As Tate Britain unveils Lucian Freud's collection of Frank Auerbach's work, curator Elena Crippa explains what the collection can tell us about the relationship between the two artists. And Oscar-winning documentary maker Alex Gibney, famous for his investigative films about Enron and Lance Armstrong, explains why his new film explores the life and music of Nigerian superstar Fela Kuti. Producer: Ellie Bury Presenter: John Wilson.

In a Front Row special, playwright Richard Bean discusses his prolific and varied career, which includes One Man, Two Guvnors and three new plays this year alone: Great Britain, Pitcairn and Made in Dagenham. James Corden, who played the original lead in One Man, Two Guvnors, talks to John Wilson about what is possibly the best role he'll ever play. And National Theatre director Nicholas Hytner explains the success of his collaborations with Bean, which include this year's phone-hacking satire starring Billie Piper, Great Britain. Presenter John Wilson Producer Claire Bartleet.

Razia Iqbal talks to Mad Men actor Jon Hamm, whose new film - Million Dollar Arm - tells the extraordinary story of two Indian baseball pitchers who were discovered after winning a reality show competition. Dreda Say Mitchell reviews BBC Four's Crimes of Passion, a new Swedish crime series set in the 1950s. Ed Stoppard gives voice to the statue of Sherlock Holmes, as part of the Talking Statues project. And Razia explores the rise of Digital Art.

With Razia Iqbal Two Days, One Night starring Marion Cotillard is reviewed; Timothy West on lending his voice to a statue of Sir John Barbirolli ; Scottish novelist Alan Warner discusses his new novel Their Lips Talk of Mischief; and as the Iceland Symphony Orchestra makes its debut at the BBC Proms, conductor Ilan Volkov and critic Hilary Finch discuss the influence of Iceland's dramatic landscape on its classical music.

With John Wilson Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is reviewed, actor Tom Conti on finding a voice for an Abraham Lincoln statue, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke from Erasure on their new album, and unscripted TV crime drama with a new series of Suspects starring Fay Ripley. Produced by Ella-mai Robey.

With John Wilson, who reviews Luc Bresson's new action thriller Lucy, which stars Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman. John talks to Irish actor Lisa Dwan about performing Beckett's play Not I with just her mouth visible, and discusses creating new tv quiz shows with BBC's Richard Osman and Channel 4's Justin Gorman. Plus Mark Ravenhill on taking the voice of Alan Turing as part of Talking Statues initiative, where 35 statues in London and Manchester will tell their own stories. Presenter : John Wilson Producer : Dymphna Flynn.

Howard Jacobson, who won the 2010 Man Booker prize with The Finkler Question, has been nominated again for his new novel, called J, which is set in a dystopian future where people are afraid to talk about the past. Helen Lederer meets John Wilson at Dick Whittington's cat statue in London. Helen's brought the statue to life as part of a Talking Statues initiative, where 35 statues in London and Manchester will tell their own stories. The artist Bob & Roberta Smith talks about Art Party, his documentary advocating the importance of art and its place in education. It's being released in cinemas this Thursday - the same day as this year's GCSE results - and Bob & Roberta explains why. The Scottish Poetry Library has published "Tools of the Trade" a collection of poems for new doctors. One of the editors of the collection, Dr Lesley Morrison, and a newly qualified doctor, Dr Jude Fleming, discuss the place of poetry in contemporary Medicine. Image: Howard Jacobson Photo Credit: Keke Keukelaar Presenter: John

With Damian Barr Doctor Who is about to return to the small screen, this time starring Peter Capaldi. Dr Jason Dittmer, academic and sci-fi fan, reviews the Time Lord's latest regeneration. Actor Simon Pegg on his new film about a man in search of happiness. Man Booker-nominated author Alison Moore on her follow-up novel, He Wants. Plus the artist Katie Paterson, whose latest work has been rocketed into space, and the European Space Agency engineer who sent it there. Producer Ella-mai Robey.

John Wilson hosts a special edition of Front Row, recorded in front of an audience in the BBC blue tent at the Edinburgh Festival, featuring The Killing actress Sofie Gråbøl, who plays Queen Margaret in a new play about James III of Scotland and the director of the acclaimed James plays Laurie Sansom. Plus, comedian Al Murray on his new stand-up show One Man, One Guvnor, Hollywood actress Anne Archer on playing Jane Fonda, and music from piano double-act Worbey and Farrell. Images: Anne Archer as Jane Fonda by Steve Ullahorne, Pub Landlord Al Murray & Sofie Gråbøl as Queen Margaret by Robert Day Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Jerome Weatherald.