Headliners

By BBC Radio 5 live

What's Headliners about?

BBC Radio 5 Live brings you in-depth interviews with the biggest names in sport, entertainment, culture and politics. With Nihal Arthanayake, Gordon Smart, Adrian Chiles and Naga Munchetty.

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Headliners episodes:

05.01.2024
Patrice Evra
'I'm not a victim, I call myself a survivor' Former Manchester United defender, Patrice Evra, discusses how he was sexually abused aged 13, and why he's now working with the UN and WHO to ensure other children grow up in...
04.26.2024
Sir Salman Rushdie
“When I arrived at the hospital they thought it might already be too late” The Booker Prize-winning author, Sir Salman Rushdie speaks to Nihal. He is one of most famous and most celebrated authors of our time. And in...
04.26.2024
Helen Lederer
Comedian Helen Lederer on evolving attitudes toward neurodiversity, how alternative comedy has developed since the 1980s, and how her definition of happiness changes with age. Helen and Gordon also get into social media and entertainers' relationships with reviews, working with...
04.25.2024
Jason Byrne
Comedian Jason Byrne on varying degrees of honesty from family and different audiences, the list of eccentricities he’s noticed of his Scottish and Irish fans he’s met from world tours, his new show for Edinburgh Festival, and how his late...
04.24.2024
Ade Adepitan
Paralympian and TV presenter Ade Adepitan (now an honorary Scotsman according to Gordon!) reflects on his life and career. Particularly on his surreal experience of visiting an all-white South-African community of Orania for a documentary, and the life-affirming, outlook-changing feat...
04.19.2024
Danny Mays
Actor Danny Mays on working with Michael Douglas on new period drama Franklin and the process of auditioning for and being offered the part of Ed Bancroft. Danny talks through all the different wigs wardrobe had him try on,...
04.16.2024
Anthony Horowitz
“What does being in the establishment actually mean?” He’s the best-selling author and screenwriter famous for his Alex Rider series. ‘Close to Death’ is the fifth instalment of Anthony Horowitz’s ‘Hawthorne and Horowitz’ series, in which he appears as a...
04.11.2024
Adele Roberts
“In that second my life changed”. Broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts was in the best shape of her life when she found out she had bowel cancer in October 2021. Suddenly she was plunged into the world of cancer treatment,...
04.09.2024
Joe Wicks
"The food I was eating was linked to my behaviour". He kept us fit during lockdown with his PE with Joe sessions on YouTube. Now Joe Wicks has a new book out. He told Nihal Arthanayake all about it.
04.04.2024
Gillian Anderson
I’m used to doing scary things”. Film and stage actor Gillian Anderson - best known for her roles in The X Files, Sex Education and The Crown – speaks to Nihal Arthanayake about her latest role is as Emily...
04.02.2024
Matt Smith
He’s best known for playing Doctor Who, a young Prince Phillip in The Crown, and Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. Now Matt Smith is starring in a new production of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. And...
03.26.2024
Jax Jones
“Whatever I’ve experienced doesn’t need to define me”. DJ and producer Jax Jones talks to Nihal Arthanayake about making music with the likes of Raye, mentoring, and why he’s not sure he wants to reconnect with his biological father.
03.25.2024
Tom Daley
Olympic gold medallist diver Tom Daley on his return to the sport after two years out, looking ahead to his fifth Olympic Games in Paris this summer, how his adorable six-year-old son behaves like a ‘pushy parent’ during competition, and...
03.21.2024
Cynthia Erivo
“I relish being myself, even if it is the complete opposite of everyone else” Singer, actress and Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Cynthia Erivo chats to Nihal Arthanayake about her new film ‘Drift’ and her upcoming role as Elphaba...
03.18.2024
Daisy Goodwin
Screenwriter and novelist Daisy Goodwin joins Gordon Smart as the two turn their attention to the subject of Daisy’s new book Diva; the infamous Maria Callas. The pair discuss the opera sensation’s career, life and legacy, and why she...
03.12.2024
Eric Cantona
In May 1997, Eric Cantona stunned Manchester United and their fans by announcing his retirement from football at the age of 30. Alongside the 82 goals he scored for them, he’s remembered for the now infamous kung-fu kick he aimed...
03.07.2024
Tony Curran
BAFTA-winning Glaswegian actor Tony Curran on learning about the real King James I, shooting intimate, nude scenes, and working with Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine for new show Mary & George. Tony and Gordon also get into some hilarious...
03.06.2024
Kevin Macdonald with Nihal Arthanayake
“I’m not telling them how you should think about John Galliano […] it’s a very complex picture that emerges” Award winning director Kevin Macdonald chats to Nihal Arthanayake about his new documentary ‘High & Low: John Galliano’ – that examines the...
02.29.2024
Alesha Dixon
The platinum selling artist tells Nihal Arthanayake about her love of animals and how it has inspired her series of books for young adults.
02.27.2024
Frank Skinner
Comedian and writer Frank Skinner on unexpected signs of ageing, nicknames, bringing back shouting at cinema screens, graffiti he’s seen on his tour posters, and why he doesn’t run his stand up material by anyone before he performs.
02.20.2024
Bernie Sanders
“The more important the issue the less it is discussed.” The Vermont Senator talks to Nihal Arthanayake about the future of capitalism - and offers his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election.
02.15.2024
James Timpson
Nihal Arthanayake chats to the CEO of Timpsons about his new book ‘The Happy Index’ and why he believes his employees’ wellbeing is the secret to running a successful company.
02.08.2024
Jeffrey Wright
“I didn’t watch the [Oscars] announcements, because I didn’t want to have to repair any screen damage if the news wasn’t to my liking!” American actor Jeffrey Wright talks to Nihal about his new film ‘American Fiction’ and explains how...
02.01.2024
Matthew Vaughn
“Movie stars, sadly, are a dying breed”. Matthew Vaughn, director, producer, and writer - known for the Kingsman franchise, KickAss, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - is back with a new movie - a spy action comedy film...
01.19.2024
Adeel Akhtar
'I just really enjoyed the idea of this tiny, dishevelled, half pint Luther....popping about the place trying to solve crimes.' Actor Adeel Akhtar talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his role as DS Sami Kierce in the new smash hit Netflix...
01.04.2024
Dr Rangan Chatterjee
‘It’s about progress not perfection’ Dr Rangan Chatterjee talks to Nihal Arthanayale about keeping a journal, things to be grateful for, and how to make every day just a little bit better.
12.28.2023
Jamie Dornan
“Just when I thought I knew where it was going, and what kind of a show it was, it would just do a one-eighty” - Actor Jamie Dornan in conversation with Nihal Arthanayake about the new series of The Tourist...
12.21.2023
Sheridan Smith
“When do I tell them I can’t swim”. The award winning film, tv and stage actor Sheridan Smith, talks to Nihal Arthanayake about being a parent, her new role in a show about being cast away on a desert...
12.21.2023
Jonathan Pryce and Dominic West
Someone like me can't turn down a part like Charles. He's so interesting. He's so complex.” Dominic West, who played Prince Charles in the last two seasons of The Crown, and Jonathan Pryce who portrayed Prince Philip – tell Nihal Arthanayake...
12.20.2023
Ricky Gervais
“I’m offended” is quite meaningless’. The comedian and actor talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his new stand-up special, Armageddon, the nature of offence, and why he’s going to stop explaining his jokes to people who don’t like them.
12.14.2023
Rebecca Ferguson
“The experience for women and men in music is very, very different” The singer talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her successful musical career, and using her voice to speak out about exploitation in the music industry.
11.30.2023
Ian Broudie
“If you didn’t like it, you listened to it ‘til you liked it” Singer-songwriter and Lightning Seeds frontman, Ian Broudie, chats to Nihal Arthanayake his lifelong love of music, his memoir, and being back on tour. As well as...
11.23.2023
Emeli Sandé
“Finding your own unique voice is usually the biggest challenge”. Singer songwriter Emeli Sandé talks to Nihal Arthanayek about new music, writing about love and how her life has changed since she first hit the top of the charts...
11.16.2023
Keanu Reeves & Jenson Button
“When I was a little, I wanted to be a race car driver” Keanu Reeves and Jenson Button talk to Nihal Arthanayake about their new documentary ‘Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story’ - and how they'd rate each other's chances...
11.09.2023
Chris Kamara
"Am I going to be a burden to my family?" Sports pundit Chris Kamara talks about his life after his apraxia diagnosis.
11.03.2023
Duran Duran
“Glastonbury, I want to play Glastonbury… and it’s got to be the pyramid stage.” Simon Le Bon tells Nihal about what he loves about being in a band, how to manage being a rock star and having some sort of...
10.26.2023
Kerry Washington
‘I’m interested in meeting my donor’. The Scandal star reveals to Nihal Arthanayake how she reacted upon learning that she was conceived using a sperm donor.
10.19.2023
Geri Halliwell-Horner
"I've always loved the power of words". The Spice Girls star talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her literary career.
10.12.2023
Laura Linney
“I don’t think it’s about winning or losing.” The American star talks to Nihal about the Hollywood actor’s strike and her new film Miracle Club.
10.05.2023
Big Zuu
"When do you ever get three Muslim brothers cooking for Jonathan Ross?" The TV chef tells Nihal his success is down to good timing and other people "creating that lane" for him.
09.28.2023
Michael Palin
“I hope he had a sense of humour.” The Monty Python star and documentary maker chats to Nihal Arthanayake about his great-uncle Harry.
09.21.2023
Corinne Bailey Rae
“Music doesn’t have to stay in genres or boxes.” The singer songwriter on why Chicago and grunge inspired her new album.
09.14.2023
Clive Myrie
“I have been known to rant, but I don’t do it on the telly and that’s the point.” The BBC presenter chats to Nihal Arthanayake about his years as a foreign correspondent and news anchor.
09.07.2023
Rory Stewart
“I realised that the person I ended up despising most, was myself”. Former Conservative MP, writer, and broadcaster Rory Stewart lifts the lid on what working in Westminster is really like. With Nihal Arthanayake.
08.31.2023
Andy Taylor
"I'm still in this dreamy space of thinking - did I really get that lucky?" The Duran Duran guitarist on the ground-breaking treatment he is undergoing for prostate cancer.
08.22.2023
Rose Matafeo
“I’m just enthusiastic about being free to do what I want.” The co-creator of Starstruck on the final series and why she’s enjoying doing stand-up comedy
08.09.2023
Lucy Spraggan
“This album's about acceptance, accepting life". The singer-songwriter joins Nihal to talk about her new music.
07.17.2023
Amol Rajan
The presenter on taking over University Challenge, family, fame and the source of his ambition.
06.28.2023
Ashley Cain
"One day I just sang 'oobedoo' and she just instantly stopped crying." The former footballer on life after losing his daughter.
06.21.2023
Elliot Page
“There’s a beautiful ripple effect that comes with self-love.” Elliot talks to Nihal about living an authentic life, queerness in Hollywood, and having the strength to fight a ‘crisis’ of hate in society.

What's Headliners about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Headliners episodes:

Patrice Evra

Sir Salman Rushdie

Helen Lederer

Jason Byrne

Ade Adepitan

Danny Mays

Anthony Horowitz

Adele Roberts

Joe Wicks

Gillian Anderson

Matt Smith

Jax Jones

Tom Daley

Cynthia Erivo

Daisy Goodwin

Eric Cantona

Tony Curran

Kevin Macdonald with Nihal Arthanayake

Alesha Dixon

Frank Skinner

Bernie Sanders

James Timpson

Jeffrey Wright

Matthew Vaughn

Adeel Akhtar

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Jamie Dornan

Sheridan Smith

Jonathan Pryce and Dominic West

Ricky Gervais

Rebecca Ferguson

Ian Broudie

Emeli Sandé

Keanu Reeves & Jenson Button

Chris Kamara

Duran Duran

Kerry Washington

Geri Halliwell-Horner

Laura Linney

Big Zuu

Michael Palin

Corinne Bailey Rae

Clive Myrie

Rory Stewart

Andy Taylor

Rose Matafeo

Lucy Spraggan

Amol Rajan

Ashley Cain

Elliot Page