The Arts Hour

The best global arts coverage from across the BBC.

World Service,493 episodes

Episodes

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Matt Damon on the summer’s blockbuster, The Odyssey
Actor Matt Damon talks about one of the year’s most anticipated blockbusters, The Odyssey
18 Jul 2026,49 mins
Madonna on her album Confessions II
The Queen of pop, Madonna on Confessions II and her relationship with dance
11 Jul 2026,49 mins
Indian film-maker Rohan Parashuram Kanawade
Director Rohan Kanawade on his Marathi-language gay love film, Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda)
04 Jul 2026,49 mins
Rebecca Zlotowski on directing Jodie Foster
French director Rebecca Zlotowski on working with actor Jodie Foster in Vie Privée
27 Jun 2026,49 mins
Director Tina Gharavi on Virginia Woolf
Iranian-born director on her new film Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day
20 Jun 2026,49 mins
Leila Slimani
Nikki speaks to the French-Moroccan author about her trilogy of novels
13 Jun 2026,49 mins
Actor Kristin Scott Thomas
Kristin Scott Thomas on her debut as film director
06 Jun 2026,49 mins
International bestselling novelist Tayari Jones
International bestselling novelist Tayari Jones on her latest book, Kin
30 May 2026,49 mins
Sandra Oh, star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy
Killing Eve star Sandra Oh on her UK Theatrical debut
23 May 2026,49 mins
Carla Simon
Nikki is joined by Spanish director of Romeria and our cultural critic Zakia Sewell
16 May 2026,49 mins
Film-maker Alejandro González Iñárritu
Oscar winning Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu
09 May 2026,49 mins
Reggae artist Protoje
Jamaican reggae artist Protoje
02 May 2026,49 mins
Comedian Sindhu Vee
Comedian and actor Sindhu Vee talks about her new stand-up show
25 Apr 2026,49 mins
Croatian actor Slavko Sobin
Croatian actor Slavko Sobin on his film Surviving Earth
18 Apr 2026,49 mins
Film-maker Olive Nwosu
Nigerian British film-maker Olive Nwosu on her debut feature, Lady
11 Apr 2026,49 mins
Norwegian best selling crime author Jo Nesbo
Norwegian crime author Jo Nesbo on his Netflix series, Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole
04 Apr 2026,49 mins
Raoul Peck discusses his new George Orwell documentary
Nikki Bedi talks to the award-winning filmmaker and Haiti's former Minister of Culture
28 Mar 2026,49 mins
Ryan Gosling on his role in Project Hail Mary
Ryan Gosling on playing a reluctant hero in the movie Project Hail Mary
21 Mar 2026,49 mins
Director Baz Luhrmann on EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Baz Luhrmann on his labour of love, EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert
14 Mar 2026,49 mins
The Arts Hour Oscars Special
Nikki Bedi and Leila Latif preview contenders for this year’s Academy Awards
07 Mar 2026,49 mins
Jan Komasa
Nikki Bedi talks to Polish director Jan Komasa about his unsettling thriller The Good Boy
28 Feb 2026,49 mins
Oscar nominated cinematographer Adolpho Veloso
Oscar nominated Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso on filming Train Dreams
21 Feb 2026,49 mins
Oscar and BAFTA nominated actor Wunmi Mosaku
British Nigerian Actor Wunmi Mosaku on her Oscar and BAFTA nominated role in Sinners
14 Feb 2026,49 mins
Author Daniyal Mueenuddin
Nikki talks to the Pakistani-American writer about This Is Where The Serpent Lives
07 Feb 2026,49 mins
Film-maker Akinola Davies Jnr
British Nigerian writer director Akinola Davies Jnr on his film, My Father’s Shadow
31 Jan 2026,49 mins
Actor Wagner Moura and director Kleber Mendonça Filho
Brazilian actor Wagner Moura and director Kleber Mendonça Filho on The Secret Agent
24 Jan 2026,49 mins
Kaouther Ben Hania on her film The Voice of Hind Rajab
Nikki Bedi talks to Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania about her new film.
17 Jan 2026,49 mins
Director Chloé Zhao on her film Hamnet
Nikki Bedi interviews Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao about her new film Hamnet
10 Jan 2026,49 mins
Zadie Smith
Nikki Bedi talks to writer Zadie Smith about her new essay collection, Dead and Alive
27 Dec 2025,49 mins
On Tour in Rome
On stage with Italy’s new wave creatives
20 Dec 2025,49 mins