Season 9

2008 · 11 episodes

Episodes

1Episode 1US movie star and stand-up comedian Chris Rock talks to Lauren Laverne about what tickles his funny bone. Mark Kermode interviews Sweeney Todd star Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton , while the Coen brothers talk about their acclaimed modern western No Country for Old Men. Author Toby Young goes to New York where the film version of his book How to Lose Friends & Alienate People is being made and confronts Simon Pegg , who has the difficult job of playing the writer on the big screen. Plus Glasgow band Sons and Daughters perform a song from new album This Gift.
2Episode 2Lauren Laverne hosts another bumper batch of cultural gems, including Mark Kermode talking to the multiple Oscar winner Tom Hanks about his latest film, Charlie Wilson 's War, plus there's an interview with cult actress Laura Linney about her role in The Savages. Elsewhere, BBC Radio 1's DJ Nihal travels to Belgium to meet the Dewaele brothers, better known as Soulwax, Author Conn Iggulden visits a story-telling festival in Galway, and folk rockers Beirut hit the streets of Cardiff to see how much they can make as buskers. Studio music comes from electro-pop stars Hot Chip.
3Series 8, Episode 3Lauren Laverne meets Elliot Page , who has been nominated for an Oscar for her role in the acclaimed film Juno. Also, can art ever make you laugh? London's Hayward Gallery thinks so. They're staging an exhibition called Laughing in a Foreign Language. Podcaster Karl Pilkington takes comic Noel Fielding to find out whether this show can deliver. Elsewhere, artist and film director Julian Schnabel talks to Mark Kermode about his film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Tim Samuels has a night on the tiles with New York singer/songwriter Jeffrey Lewis.
4Episode 4Lauren Laverne lays out another smorgasbord of the arts, including author JG Ballard talking to Mark Kermode about his autobiography and artist Sebastian Horsley coming face to face with six representations of St Sebastian by the great Italian painter Guido Reni. There's a look at a reworking of Mozart's The Magic Flute, Tim Samuels tracks down his childhood hero Morrissey and Verity Sharp talks to kd lang about her album Watershed. In addition Seasick Steve brings his three-string guitar blues to the bar.
5Episode 5Lauren Laverne dishes up another succulent banquet of the arts, including fashion designer Giles Deacon and comic duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Plus, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter discusses the magazine's portraits, which are due to go up in the National Portrait Gallery. Plus music from Moby. Series producer Danielle Graham ; Exec producer Edward Morgan
6Episode 6Lauren Laverne shakes up another intoxicating cocktail of the arts, including, on the eve of the Oscars, film critic Mark Kermode revealing his winners. Plus there's electronics whizz Moritz Waldemeyer, fashion designer Henry Holland and cellist Josephine Knight. Meanwhile, former Pixie, Frank Black, busks and Duffy performs in the bar.
7Episode 7Mark Kermode organises a Hollywood-style premiere at La Charrette, one of Britain's oldest and smallest cinemas, before it closes, persuading Miramax to release Danny Boyle 's "lost" film Alien Love Triangle and convincing star Kenneth Branagh to attend. Elsewhere, Andrew Graham-Dixon appraises the late conceptual art maestro Marcel Duchamp , while Tom Dyckhoff sees the architectural extremes of Liverpool. Plus music from British Sea Power, Hot 8 and E, aka Mark Oliver Everett. With Lauren Laverne.
8Episode 8Tonight's smorgasbord of arts titbits includes a celebration of the work of Scotland's greatest living poet, 87-year-old Edwin Morgan. Also, Mark Kermode meets Eric Bana , the latest actor to portray Henry VIII , in The Other Boleyn Girl , while Tom Dyckhoff meets architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron , designers of the Olympic stadium in Beijing. Plus a look at regional TV news with Grace Dent, and music from Editors and the Breeders. Lauren Laverne hosts.
9Episode 9James Corden and Ruth Jones , creators of TV comedy Gavin & Stacey, put their friendship to the test, while Louis de Bernieres finds out what rural Norfolk thinks of his new book. Anthony Minghella discusses the problems of making the film of Alexander McCall Smith 's The No. Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana, and there's music from Laura Marling and Hot 8. Presented by Lauren Laverne.
10Episode 10Mark Kermode talks to Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith about their Stallone-spoofing film Son of Rambow, while Tim Samuels meets pop pair Neon Neon at the South by Southwest music festival. Elsewhere, Verity Sharp finds out why electro duo Goldfrapp have gone for a more acoustic vibe and dance diva Roisin Murphy faces a busking challenge. Plus a profile of Wolverhampton novelist Sathnam Sanghera, candid choreography on Liverpool's streets and music from the Cave Singers. With Lauren Laverne.
11Episode 11Lauren Laverne presents the 100th edition of the arts magazine in which Naomi Watts discusses her role in Michael Haneke's new movie "Funny Games" and playwright Martin McDonagh talks to Mark Kermode about his first feature film "In Bruges". Verity Sharp meets rising dance star Hofesh Schechter, while photographer Ari Versluis and stylist Ellie Uyttenbroek focus on fashion tribes. Plus Supergrass take on the busking challenge.