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Front Row

Steve Coogan, Ruth Rendell's Cultural Exchange, Peter Bazalgette

Duration: 30 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 LW

Available for over a year

With Mark Lawson.

Steve Coogan returns as his best-known character, Norwich radio DJ Alan Partridge, in a new film Alpha Papa, which sees Partridge involved in an unusual hostage situation at a local radio station. Steve Coogan discusses the evolution of the character from the small to the big screen, the pressure from fans to reprise his 'hit' character, and how his fears of turning into Alan Partridge himself inspire his performances.

For Cultural Exchange, crime writer Ruth Rendell discusses her choice of Handel's oratorio Solomon, based on the bible story and containing the sinfonia The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.

On the day that Arts Council England announces investment plans for 2015 to 2018, Peter Bazalgette, its chairman, talks to Mark about what these plans will involve - in the light of cuts to local authority budgets.

Producer Claire Bartleet. Show less

Contributors

Presenter:
Mark Lawson
Interviewed Guest:
Steve Coogan
Interviewed Guest:
Ruth Rendell
Interviewed Guest:
Peter Bazalgette

About this data

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