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Front Row: Hugh Grant, Stephen Fry, Hollywood and homosexuality

Hugh Grant, Stephen Fry, Hollywood and homosexuality

08/11/2017

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Hugh Grant, Stephen Fry, Hollywood and homosexuality

Hugh Grant on how his early stage career equipped him to play the villain in Paddington 2.

Arts news, interviews and reviews. Hugh Grant on how his early stage career equipped him to play the villain in Paddington 2. And Stephen Fry on the allure of Greek Myths.

Hugh Grant explains how his early career in repertory theatre has helped him play faded actor Phoenix Buchanan, the villain in Paddington 2.

Stephen Fry talks about his new book Mythos, a retelling of the Greek myths, and why he finds the tales of the gods, monsters and mortals of Ancient Greece so appealing.

The two lead characters in the new cinematic release Call Me By Your Name are gay, yet the actors who play them are straight. This is part of a tradition in film from Brokeback Mountain and I Love You Philip Morris. Tim Robey discusses why so often straight actors are chosen to play gay roles, when the reverse rarely happens, and why it can still be in the actor's interest not to be honest about their sexual orientation. 

The winner of the David Cohen Prize for Literature is announced this evening. Who will win this prestigious award for a lifetime's achievement? Front Row will be the first with the news. 

Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Julian May.

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