BBC Radio 5 Live

Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake

Society EN ↓ 621 episodes

Nihal Arthanayake presents in-depth interviews with headline guests across entertainment, sport, culture and politics.

Author

BBC Radio 5 Live

Category

Society

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Aug 3, 2025

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Episodes

Tom Daley 25.03.2024

Olympic gold medallist diver Tom Daley on his return to the sport after two years out, looking ahead to his fifth Olympic Games in Paris this summer, how his adorable six-year-old son behaves like a ‘pushy parent’ during competition, and finding a balance between regimented training and enjoying himself. Tom also gets into his passion for knitting, learning journalism for his podcast Made With Lov...

Cynthia Erivo 21.03.2024

“I relish being myself, even if it is the complete opposite of everyone else” Singer, actress and Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Cynthia Erivo chats to Nihal Arthanayake about her new film ‘Drift’ and her upcoming role as Elphaba in the Hollywood blockbuster film version of the ‘Wicked’ musical.

Daisy Goodwin 18.03.2024

Screenwriter and novelist Daisy Goodwin joins Gordon Smart as the two turn their attention to the subject of Daisy’s new book Diva; the infamous Maria Callas. The pair discuss the opera sensation’s career, life and legacy, and why she remains a huge inspiration to modern women. Born in 1923, Maria was “what you might call a girl boss today, she always knew her own value and that is something I thi...

Eric Cantona 12.03.2024

In May 1997, Eric Cantona stunned Manchester United and their fans by announcing his retirement from football at the age of 30. Alongside the 82 goals he scored for them, he’s remembered for the now infamous kung-fu kick he aimed at a Crystal Palace fan who racially abused him. His post-football career has taken in acting, painting, writing poetry and photography. For his latest creative incarnati...

Tony Curran 07.03.2024

BAFTA-winning Glaswegian actor Tony Curran on learning about the real King James I, shooting intimate, nude scenes, and working with Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine for new show Mary & George. Tony and Gordon also get into some hilarious stories of their mutual pal, Martin Compston, plus Tony’s career-high roles including his turn as Vincent Van Gogh in Doctor Who’s most replayed scene o...

Kevin Macdonald with Nihal Arthanayake 06.03.2024

“I’m not telling them how you should think about John Galliano […] it’s a very complex picture that emerges” Award winning director Kevin Macdonald chats to Nihal Arthanayake about his new documentary ‘High & Low: John Galliano’ – that examines the designer’s rapid ascent, fall from grace after an antisemitic tirade, and rehabilitation

Alesha Dixon 29.02.2024

The platinum selling artist tells Nihal Arthanayake about her love of animals and how it has inspired her series of books for young adults.

Frank Skinner 27.02.2024

Comedian and writer Frank Skinner on unexpected signs of ageing, nicknames, bringing back shouting at cinema screens, graffiti he’s seen on his tour posters, and why he doesn’t run his stand up material by anyone before he performs.

Bernie Sanders 20.02.2024

“The more important the issue the less it is discussed.” The Vermont Senator talks to Nihal Arthanayake about the future of capitalism - and offers his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election.

James Timpson 15.02.2024

Nihal Arthanayake chats to the CEO of Timpsons about his new book ‘The Happy Index’ and why he believes his employees’ wellbeing is the secret to running a successful company.

Jeffrey Wright 08.02.2024

“I didn’t watch the [Oscars] announcements, because I didn’t want to have to repair any screen damage if the news wasn’t to my liking!” American actor Jeffrey Wright talks to Nihal about his new film ‘American Fiction’ and explains how it feels to get an Oscar nomination.

Matthew Vaughn 01.02.2024

“Movie stars, sadly, are a dying breed”. Matthew Vaughn, director, producer, and writer - known for the Kingsman franchise, KickAss, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - is back with a new movie - a spy action comedy film called Argylle. He tells Nihal Arthanayake that he thinks that times are changing in the movie industry - and you can no longer guarantee that a film will be a massive hit i...

Adeel Akhtar 19.01.2024

'I just really enjoyed the idea of this tiny, dishevelled, half pint Luther....popping about the place trying to solve crimes.' Actor Adeel Akhtar talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his role as DS Sami Kierce in the new smash hit Netflix show 'Fool Me Once'.

Dr Rangan Chatterjee 04.01.2024

‘It’s about progress not perfection’ Dr Rangan Chatterjee talks to Nihal Arthanayale about keeping a journal, things to be grateful for, and how to make every day just a little bit better.

Jamie Dornan 28.12.2023

“Just when I thought I knew where it was going, and what kind of a show it was, it would just do a one-eighty” - Actor Jamie Dornan in conversation with Nihal Arthanayake about the new series of The Tourist and his lifelong love for Manchester United.

Sheridan Smith 21.12.2023

“When do I tell them I can’t swim”. The award winning film, tv and stage actor Sheridan Smith, talks to Nihal Arthanayake about being a parent, her new role in a show about being cast away on a desert island, and why she never learned to swim.

Jonathan Pryce and Dominic West 21.12.2023

Someone like me can't turn down a part like Charles. He's so interesting. He's so complex.” Dominic West, who played Prince Charles in the last two seasons of The Crown, and Jonathan Pryce who portrayed Prince Philip – tell Nihal Arthanayake about the success of the show, how they prepared for their respective roles, and where they were when they learned of the death of Princess Diana.

Ricky Gervais 20.12.2023

“I’m offended” is quite meaningless’. The comedian and actor talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his new stand-up special, Armageddon, the nature of offence, and why he’s going to stop explaining his jokes to people who don’t like them.

Rebecca Ferguson 14.12.2023

“The experience for women and men in music is very, very different” The singer talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her successful musical career, and using her voice to speak out about exploitation in the music industry.

Ian Broudie 30.11.2023

“If you didn’t like it, you listened to it ‘til you liked it” Singer-songwriter and Lightning Seeds frontman, Ian Broudie, chats to Nihal Arthanayake his lifelong love of music, his memoir, and being back on tour. As well as his memories of how ‘Three Lions’ was first received by the England Squad of the time.

Emeli Sandé 23.11.2023

“Finding your own unique voice is usually the biggest challenge”. Singer songwriter Emeli Sandé talks to Nihal Arthanayek about new music, writing about love and how her life has changed since she first hit the top of the charts in 2012.

Keanu Reeves & Jenson Button 16.11.2023

“When I was a little, I wanted to be a race car driver” Keanu Reeves and Jenson Button talk to Nihal Arthanayake about their new documentary ‘Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story’ - and how they'd rate each other's chances of a job swap.

Duran Duran 03.11.2023

“Glastonbury, I want to play Glastonbury… and it’s got to be the pyramid stage.” Simon Le Bon tells Nihal about what he loves about being in a band, how to manage being a rock star and having some sort of balance in life… and the things he still wants to accomplish with Duran Duran.

Kerry Washington 26.10.2023

‘I’m interested in meeting my donor’. The Scandal star reveals to Nihal Arthanayake how she reacted upon learning that she was conceived using a sperm donor.

Geri Halliwell-Horner 19.10.2023

"I've always loved the power of words". The Spice Girls star talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her literary career.

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