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Josie Rourke

Julie Hesmondhalgh

Nathan Filer

Tasmin Little

Olivia Skinner

Front Row: Josie Rourke, Nathan Filer, Julie Hesmondhalgh

Josie Rourke, Nathan Filer, Julie Hesmondhalgh

21/01/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Josie Rourke, Nathan Filer, Julie Hesmondhalgh

Josie Rourke on directing The Weir, and Julie Hesmondhalgh on leaving Coronation Street.

Julie Hesmondhalgh on leaving Coronation Street for the stage, Nathan Filer on his debut novel and Josie Rourke on directing Conor McPherson's award-winning play The Weir.

As Conor McPherson's multi-award-winning play The Weir opens in the West End, director Josie Rourke talks about reviving this modern Irish ghost story whilst preparing to screen her production of Coriolanus, starring Tom Hiddleston, in cinemas worldwide.

Julie Hesmondhalgh has been making headlines as her Coronation Street character Hayley Cropper, suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer, leaves the soap by taking her own life. She discusses being involved in a storyline that has generated a national debate, and about her latest role in Blindsided, a new play by Simon Stephens.

Nathan Filer, the winner of the Costa Book Award for the first novel category, discusses his debut The Shock of the Fall. Following a protagonist who suffers from mental health problems, the novel explores themes of guilt, grief and mental illness. Nathan Filer discusses his other career as a mental health nurse and his plans for a second novel.

Classical violinist Vanessa Mae has qualified to compete with the Thai ski team in this year's Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Violinist Tasmin Little explains why violinists and skis are an unusual combination.

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