Free Thinking

George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, the inspiration for My Fair Lady, is discussed by Shaw’s biographer Sir Michael Holroyd and Professor of Irish History, Roy Foster. Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle are brought to life by the actors Tim Pigott-Smith and Rachael Stirling, who recently appeared in Pygmalion on stage. Matthew Sweet presents.

Philip Dodd casts an irreverent eye over the reputations of two figures who loom large in the 20th century -- the painter L S Lowry and the historian of science, Thomas Kuhn. He's joined by the Booker Prize winner and Lowry fan, Howard Jacobson and the art critic, James Malpas and the philosopher and Kuhnian, Rupert Read and the science writer, Gabrielle Walker. Also Amanda Hopkinson and Geoff Dyer will be discussing Voyeurism and New Generation Thinker Martin Goodman reflects on the way scientists have grappled with the notion of bad air.

James Fenton joins Rana Mitter to talk about his latest poetry collection, Yellow Tulips, and the themes of inspiration, politics and love. Tommie Smith, who made the iconic Black Power Salute with John Carlos at the 1968 Olympic Games, discusses the enduring struggle of black politics. As a rare production of Ibsen's first play, St John's Night, opens, theatre critic Susannah Clapp considers the gloomy Scandinavian's under-appreciated comic side. And New Generation Thinker Jonathan Healey explores how 17th Century Britain finally beat the spectre of famine.

In a year when all eyes are on London, Matthew Sweet explores London's place as a world city, and asks if London really is the centre of arts and culture it claims to be. He discusses this with Neil O'Brien of the think tank Policy Exchange and Aditya Chakrabortty of the Guardian at Tower Bridge. At the South Bank Centre Matthew meets with its artistic director Jude Kelly, the novelist Lesley Lokko and the culture editor of Monocle, Robert Bound. And he finally talks to Radio 3 New Generation Thinker Nandini Das and also to the 'Gentle Author' of the Spitalfields Life blog.

Titian, who ruled the Venetian art world for over 60 years, is the subject of this edition of Night Waves. Anne McElvoy is joined by biographer Sheila Hale, artist Conrad Shawcross, poet Jo Shapcott and art historian Martin Kemp to discuss the life and influence of the most famous artist in Europe, ‘a sun amidst small stars’.

Former radical, Maajid Nawaz, speaks of his journey from Islamist extremism to a democratic awakening; he is joined in discussion by Anne and Samer Libdeh, Senior Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Foundation. John Banville discusses Ancient Light, his latest novel of adolescent love and middle-aged grief. Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the USA, explores networks of power across the world, from socialites in Mumbai to the KGB in Russia. And New Generation Thinker Sue Anne Harding examines Russian TV’s mythologising of the Beslan Massacre.

With Germany’s economic dominance in Europe increasing, Philip discusses the country and its power with Hans Kundnani of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Imke Henkel, correspondent for Focus, and Historian Sir Richard Evans. Simon Stephens speaks to Philip about his adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, for the Young Vic. And in the face of the possible discovery of the Higgs Boson particle, physical chemist Peter Atkins argues, against philosopher Raymond Tallis, for the importance of science for answering the questions that matter.

Actor Samuel West speaks to Samira Ahmed about the art of delay, whilst former banker Frank Partnoy argues in favour of procrastination. Will Self and Sophia McDougall reflect on A Clockwork Orange, fifty years since the novel was published. Professor Tim Spector explains how genetic research increasingly challenges previous assumptions. And film critic Melanie Williams discusses Woman in a Dressing gown, along with the film’s star, Sylvia Syms.

This Landmark programme is devoted to Hitchcock’s drama Blackmail. Matthew Sweet is joined by American Critic Camille Paglia, BFI curator Nathalie Morris, playwright and screenwriter Michael Eaton, and composer and film historian Neil Brand, whose specially arranged score will accompany the film for a special performance at the British Museum, 6 July 2012.

Film director Todd Solondz discusses his new suburban satire, Dark Horse. Marina Warner and Richard Cork explore man’s desire for flight as a new exhibition, Flight and the Artistic Imagination, opens at Compton Verney. Susannah Clapp reviews Joe Penhall’s new play, Birthday. And Josh Hall, the next of this year’s New Generation Thinkers, examines the relationship between astronomers and the red planet.