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Front Row: Singer Olly Alexander, Veteran documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, Can a critic call an actor overweight?

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11/07/2018

Singer Olly Alexander, Veteran documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, Can a critic call an actor overweight?

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Singer Olly Alexander, Veteran documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, Can a critic call an actor overweight?

Olly Alexander from Years and Years discusses the band's new album Palo Santo and performs

Olly Alexander talks about and performs a song from Years and Years' new album Palo Santo, which chronicles his life as a gay man, has a sci-fi setting, yet remains catchy pop.

Theatre criticism has been in the dock recently after a reviewer was publicly reproached for mentioning an actor's weight. Critics Sarah Crompton and Quentin Letts debate whether reviewers should feel free to assess an actor's body as well as their performance.

Olly Alexander from Years and Years discusses the band's new album, Palo Santo, which combines a sci-fi setting with a visceral account of his life as a gay man. And he performs a song from the new release. 

Veteran American documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman delves into the world of the New York Public Library in his 42nd documentary, EX LIBRIS. The honorary Oscar winner tells Stig Abell about film-making at 88 years of age, and why he chooses to do all of the research, shooting and editing himself. 

Presenter: Stig Abell 
Producer: Julian May

Main Image: Olly Alexander. Credit: Years and Years.

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