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Matthew d'Ancona

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Timothy Prosser

Front Row: Jon Ronson; Julian Anderson; 24; Comics Unmasked

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01/05/2014

Jon Ronson; Julian Anderson; 24; Comics Unmasked

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Jon Ronson; Julian Anderson; 24; Comics Unmasked

Jon Ronson on Frank; composer Julian Anderson discusses Thebans; and the return of 24.

Matthew d'Ancona talks to Jon Ronson about the film Frank, reviews 24, speaks to Julian Anderson about his opera Thebans, and discusses Comics Unmasked at the British Library.

With Matthew d'Ancona

Jon Ronson discusses Frank - which he co-wrote with Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare At Goats). The fictional film was inspired by Jon's experience of touring in Frank Sidebottom's cult band. Ronson talks about why he didn't make a biopic, his relationship with Sidebottom creator Chris Sievey; and working with Michael Fassbender, who plays Frank and wears a fake head for the majority of the film.

The multi Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning series, 24, is about to return. Four years have passed and Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer is now living in London and being hunted by the CIA. But then Jack learns of a threat to kill the US President during an official visit to the British Prime Minister, and decides he has to come out of hiding, to prevent it. Critic Sarah Crompton joins Matthew to assess how Jack fares this side of the Atlantic.

Award winning composer Julian Anderson talks about his new opera Thebans, based on Sophocles' tragedies.

From early Victorian pamphlets to the latest underground offerings, a new exhibition explores the world of British comics. It includes work by Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore and Posy Simmonds and a specially commissioned piece by Tank Girl artist Jamie Hewlett and looks at the way graphic novels have entertained, shocked, disturbed and amused readers for over two hundred years.

Producer Timothy Prosser.

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