Front Row

Jack Thorne on His Dark Materials, Sorry We Missed You, Emily Howard

10.31.2019 - By BBC Radio 4Play

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Screenwriter Jack Thorne discusses his new HBO/BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, said to be the BBC's most expensive drama yet. Ken Loach’s new film Sorry We Missed You concerns a parcel delivery driver and his carer wife as they try to make ends meet, and the effect of that struggle on their family. Scottee reviews this portrayal of the gig economy on working lives. The 19th century British mathematician Ada Lovelace, cited as the first person to publish a computer programme, is the inspiration for a concert of world premieres this weekend. Professor Emily Howard has curated the evening and is the composer of one of the new works. She discusses why Lovelace’s belief in the creative power of mathematics makes her an important reference point for understanding how 21st century technology is shaping our world. The Colombian artist Doris Salcedo, known for her monumental sculptural installations on trauma, has just been awarded the inaugural Nomura Art Award. She receives $1m which has to go towards the making of a new artwork. Art critic for the Evening Standard and The Art Newspaper Ben Luke talks about her work and the prize. Presenter Kirsty Lang

Producer Jerome Weatherald

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