The Essay Episodes Available now
Postman's Knock
David Hepworth on the changing rituals of courtship, from dance cards to 'hook-up' culture
Young Artists Day: Sunita
A new short story by young Nigerian writer Chibundu Onuzo for Radio 3's Young Artists Day.
Some Kind of Genius—Being Orson
5/5 Film critic David Thomson explores Orson Welles's complicated relationship with failure.
F for Fake—Being Orson
4/5 Sarah Churchwell discusses film-maker Orson Welles's capacity for self-mythologising.
Why Citizen Kane Matters—Being Orson
3/5 Film critic Peter Bradshaw gives his personal take on Orson Welles's film Citizen Kane.
He that Plays the King—Being Orson
2/5 Exploring Orson Welles's Shaksepeare film trilogy: Macbeth, Othello and Chimes at Midnight
Boy Wonder—Being Orson
1/5 Simon Callow tracks Orson Welles's transformation from schoolboy to prodigy.
Sid James
Famed for his laugh. A look at the roles of comic film actor, Sid James.
Tony Hancock
Simon Heffer's celebration of much-loved British film comic actors, turns to Tony Hancock.
Terry-Thomas
Simon Heffer considers the film career of comic actor Terry-Thomas.
