Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Front Row

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

BBC Radio 4 FM

Front Row: Christopher Eccleston in Blackout; on the Chariots of Fire track; ping pong

Christopher Eccleston in Blackout; on the Chariots of Fire track; ping pong

02/07/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Christopher Eccleston in Blackout; on the Chariots of Fire track; ping pong

Christopher Eccleston in Blackout; the Chariots of Fire stage running track; ping pong.

Christopher Eccleston in new TV thriller Blackout; the Chariots of Fire running track on stage; over-'80s table tennis players in new film Ping Pong; the National Football Museum.

With Mark Lawson.

In the new three-part TV thriller Blackout, Christopher Eccleston plays a disillusioned, heavy-drinking local politician, who is dealing with the consequences of an alcohol-fuelled fight. Author and former MP Chris Mullin reviews.

The new stage version of Chariots of Fire has just transferred to the West End, with the actors put through their paces on a running track which extends five rows out into the stalls. Mark puts on his running shoes and tries out the track for himself, alongside the set designer Miriam Buether. 

A new film Ping Pong follows a group of eight pensioners from different corners of the globe as they compete in the over-80s category of the World Table Tennis Championships in Inner Mongolia. Three-time Commonwealth table tennis champion and two-time Olympian Matthew Syed reviews.

Photographer Stuart Roy Clarke has spent 20 years with his focus on football, taking over 100,000 photographs at more than 4000 matches around the world. As an exhibition of his work opens at the new National Football Museum in Manchester, Clarke discusses his work with the Rochdale manager John Coleman. 

Producer Jerome Weatherald.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Front Row

Christopher Eccleston in Blackout; on the Chariots of Fire track; ping pong

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4