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: Philippa Gregory, The Last Weekend, Dirty Dancing at 25

Philippa Gregory, The Last Weekend, Dirty Dancing at 25

17/08/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Philippa Gregory, The Last Weekend, Dirty Dancing at 25

Novelist Philippa Gregory, Blake Morrison's The Last Weekend, and Dirty Dancing at 25.

Kirsty Lang discusses the Plantagenets with Philippa Gregory, plus Blake Morrison's portrayal of male jealousy on TV, Dirty Dancing at 25 and Brazilian writer Jorge Amado profiled.

With Kirsty Lang.

Philippa Gregory discusses her latest novel on the Plantagenets. The Kingmaker's Daughter focuses on Anne Neville, daughter of 15th century power magnate the Earl Of Warwick. As a girl, Anne is used as a pawn in her father's political battles. After his death she chooses to marry the handsome and ambitious Duke of Gloucester, the future King Richard III. 

Rupert Penry-Jones and Shaun Evans star in The Last Weekend, a TV adaptation of Blake Morrison's novel about male jealousy. Two couples spend the weekend in a remote holiday cottage, and the tension mounts as the men return to a 20 year old bet, with horrifying consequences. Rachel Cooke reviews.

Jorge Amado, one of Brazil's most successful and prolific novelists, was born in August 1912, and enjoyed a writing career spanning more than 60 years. Kirsty explores Amado's work with Louis de Bernieres, whose Latin American trilogy predated the success of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, JP Cuenca, who recently featured on Granta's list of the best young Brazilian novelists, and writer Benjamin Moser.

The film Dirty Dancing premiered in New York 25 years ago today. This coming-of-age drama, set in 1963 and starring Jennifer Grey as Baby and Patrick Swayze as Johnny, became an international hit, spawning a successful soundtrack album, sequel and stage musical. Writer Zoe Williams and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini consider the film's continuing appeal. 

Producer Nicki Paxman.

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

Philippa Gregory, The Last Weekend, Dirty Dancing at 25

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4