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

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Kirsty Lang

Colin Firth

Sarah Crompton

Es Devlin

Sam Smith

Rebecca Nicholson

Front Row: Colin Firth; Hostages

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10/01/2014

Colin Firth; Hostages

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Colin Firth; Hostages

Arts news with Kirsty Lang, including Colin Firth on The Railway Man.

Arts news with Kirsty Lang, including Colin Firth on The Railway Man, new TV drama Hostages, BBC Sound of 2014 winner Sam Smith, and a tour of stage designer Es Devlin's studio.

With Kirsty Lang.

Colin Firth talks about his new film, The Railway Man, a true story in which he plays Eric Lomax, a British Army officer who is tormented as a prisoner in a Japanese labour camp during World War II. Decades later, Eric learns that the Japanese interpreter he holds responsible for much of his treatment is still alive, and sets out to confront him. Colin also considers the fine art of pretending to be patrician - and Paddington Bear as Mr Darcy.
Hostages is a new US TV drama, hot on the heels of Homeland and - like it - based upon an Israeli TV series. Hostages stars Toni Collette as a top surgeon in Washington DC, who - together with her family - gets caught up in the middle of a grand political conspiracy. Sarah Crompton, arts editor of the Telegraph, reviews.

Es Devlin is a stage designer whose work has ranged from west end theatre productions, to designing the London Olympics closing ceremony, and creating tour-sets for artists including Kanye West, Pet Shop Boys and Take That. Es takes Kirsty around her studio where she is preparing work for Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House, Harry Hill's new musical I Can't Sing and Miley Cyrus's upcoming tour. She discusses working in genres as diverse as opera, theatre and pop music, and why she feels stage directors should get more credit.

Singer Sam Smith is tipped for success after winning BBC's Sound Of 2014; previous winners include Adele, Jessie J and Haim. Smith, who topped the charts in 2013 with his Naughty Boy collaboration, La La La, is also the winner of the BRIT Critics' Choice. He talks to Kirsty about his reaction to receiving both awards and his plans for the year ahead.

Producer: Rebecca Nicholson.

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

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