Front Row Weekly

Booker Prize-winning Irish author Roddy Doyle discusses why he decided to resurrect one of his earliest characters - Jimmy Rabbitte - who first appeared in The Commitments 25 years ago. Nick Payne on his new play, The Same Deep Water As Me, which focuses on the murky world of personal injury claims. Charlotte Mendelson discusses her latest novel, Almost English. Novelist Naomi Alderman explores the art of translating fiction. Writer Louis de Bernières discusses his first volume of poetry, Imagining Alexandria. Singer-songwriter Cerys Matthews reveals her choice for Cultural Exchange. As the book Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers reaches its 50th anniversary, Kirsty visits the illustrator and author John Burningham.

Screenwriter Tony Grisoni discusses his latest TV drama, Southcliffe. Violinist Nicola Benedetti nominates a favourite concerto for Cultural Exchange. Comedian Milton Jones discusses life on the road and how to write one-liners. Catherine O'Flynn on her new novel, Mr Lynch's Holiday, which focuses on British ex-pats in Spain. John Wilson tours the new £190million Birmingham Library. Acapella group Naturally 7 sing live in the Front Row studio. Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov discusses his new book, The Gardener from Ochakov.

Steve Coogan on Alan Partridge laying siege to the big-screen, writer Denise Mina discusses problems with plotting and Kevin McNally reflects on his high employment rate as an actor. Boris Johnson erects a sculpture with a possibly problematic name; Sir Peter Bazalgette on cutting Arts Council grants and John Wilson explores the art of Ian Dury and meets novelist Philipp Meyer and trumpeter Alison Balsom.

Clive James on his new translation of Dante's The Divine Comedy; Terence Conran on his friend Eduardo Paolozzi and Marsha Norman on adapating The Colour Purple for the stage. We hear Paula Milne's Cultural Exchange and actress Cush Jumbo talks about playing Josephine Baker. The comedy trio Pappy's discuss their new TV series Badults and architect Richard Rogers looks back on his career.

From the Manchester International Festival: a review of Kenneth Branagh's Macbeth and an interview with the xx. Josie Rourke and Matt Charman on the play Deep Blue and Adam Curtis from Massive Attack on how they launched this year's festival. Composer Murray Gold discusses his music for Doctor Who and author Rachel Joyce talks about her new book, Perfect. John Wilson interviews ballet star Sergei Polunin and comedian David Baddiel on his return to stand-up.

Elton John reflects on his forthcoming album The Diving Board. African Art at the Tate Modern. Actress Anna Chancellor discusses her role in Private Lives. The Amy Winehouse exhibition at the Jewish Museum reviewed. Alex Gibney on The Story of Wikileaks. Henning Mankell and Michael Simkins talk to Mark Lawson.

Rachel Cooke reviews Tate Britain's exhibition Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life; Writer Jonathan Dee discusses his latest work, A Thousand Pardons; Disco legend Giorgio Moroder in a rare interview, in which he reflects on his rise to fame and his recent comeback with Daft Punk; the pianist Mitsuko Uchida selects Piero della Francesca's Resurrection for Cultural Exchange; Peter Bowker and Patrick Spence reflect on the best and the worst notes screenwriters receive; as George Osborne announced a 7% cut in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's budget, Janet Street-Porter, Norman Lebrecht and Richard Mantle suggest cost-saving solutions; Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste nominates Miles Davis's album Kind of Blue for Cultural Exchange.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe discusses his newest stage role and his career choices post-Harry Potter. Playwright Conor McPherson talks to Mark Lawson about the experiences that have informed his writing. Lenny Henry discusses his return to the stage to star in the Pulitzer prize-winning play Fences by American playwright August Wilson. Director Tina Gharavi on her debut film I Am Nasrine, which follows a teenage refugee from Iran. Neil Hannon and musician Thomas Walsh discuss their second cricket-inspired album, Sticky Wickets. Artist Rachel Whiteread makes her selection for the Cultural Exchange - a painting by Bridget Riley, which she kept as a postcard. David Edgar's new play If Only imagines what will happen to the coalition in 2014 - he tells Mark Lawson what will happen to his play if life mirrors art.

Author and illustrator Judith Kerr discusses her life and her books, in the week that she turns 90; Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón discusses his love of Verdi's music, 200 years after the composer's birth; best-selling crime writer Peter James discusses his latest book Dead Man's Time, the ninth novel in the Roy Grace Series; singer-songwriter Laura Marling reflects on her new album, Once I was an Eagle, and performs in the Front Row studio; novelist Mark Haddon discusses the curiosity of the Uffington White Horse for Front Row's Cultural Exchange; artist Cornelia Parker reflects on her latest exhibition, and a new book on her work.

Comedy performer Miranda Hart reflects on her career and social mishaps; Mark Lawson speaks to A M Homes, the winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction; composer Philip Glass discusses his latest opera, The Perfect American; John Wilson reports on the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year; actress Anne-Marie Duff; Kirsty Lang examines the legacy of anti-modernist artist Sir Alfred Munnings.