Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake - podcast cover

Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake

BBC Radio 5 Livewww.bbc.co.uk

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

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Episodes

Emeli Sandé

“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.

Nov 23, 202322 min

Keanu Reeves & Jenson Button

“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.

Nov 16, 202326 min

Duran Duran

“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.

Nov 03, 202352 min

Kerry Washington

‘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.

Oct 26, 202347 min

Geri Halliwell-Horner

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

Oct 19, 202339 min

Laura Linney

“I don’t think it’s about winning or losing.” The American star talks to Nihal about the Hollywood actor’s strike and her new film Miracle Club.

Oct 12, 202328 min

Big Zuu

"When do you ever get three Muslim brothers cooking for Jonathan Ross?" The TV chef tells Nihal his success is down to good timing and other people "creating that lane" for him.

Oct 05, 202331 min

Michael Palin

“I hope he had a sense of humour.” The Monty Python star and documentary maker chats to Nihal Arthanayake about his great-uncle Harry.

Sep 28, 202345 min

Corinne Bailey Rae

“Music doesn’t have to stay in genres or boxes.” The singer songwriter on why Chicago and grunge inspired her new album.

Sep 21, 202352 min

Clive Myrie

“I have been known to rant, but I don’t do it on the telly and that’s the point.” The BBC presenter chats to Nihal Arthanayake about his years as a foreign correspondent and news anchor.

Sep 14, 202350 min

Rory Stewart

“I realised that the person I ended up despising most, was myself”. Former Conservative MP, writer, and broadcaster Rory Stewart lifts the lid on what working in Westminster is really like. With Nihal Arthanayake.

Sep 07, 202351 min

Andy Taylor

"I'm still in this dreamy space of thinking - did I really get that lucky?" The Duran Duran guitarist on the ground-breaking treatment he is undergoing for prostate cancer.

Aug 31, 202342 min

Rose Matafeo

“I’m just enthusiastic about being free to do what I want.” The co-creator of Starstruck on the final series and why she’s enjoying doing stand-up comedy

Aug 22, 202332 min

Lucy Spraggan

“This album's about acceptance, accepting life". The singer-songwriter joins Nihal to talk about her new music.

Aug 09, 202352 min

Amol Rajan

The presenter on taking over University Challenge, family, fame and the source of his ambition.

Jul 17, 202348 min

Ashley Cain

"One day I just sang 'oobedoo' and she just instantly stopped crying." The former footballer on life after losing his daughter.

Jun 28, 202337 min

Elliot Page

“There’s a beautiful ripple effect that comes with self-love.” Elliot talks to Nihal about living an authentic life, queerness in Hollywood, and having the strength to fight a ‘crisis’ of hate in society.

Jun 21, 202344 min

Oleksandr Zinchenko

“Thanks to football for the opportunity to represent my country”, The Premier League player on Ukraine, football and staying focussed. Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko talks about his love for Ukraine and how football focussed his mind.

Jun 20, 202329 min

Tom Grennan

“I live and breathe this stuff… and I want to win.” Tom tells Nihal what drives his music.

Jun 19, 202343 min

Louise Redknapp

"I dance better in a club when I have a cheeky tequila.” Louise tells Nihal it’s time for her to get back on the dancefloor.

Jun 08, 202338 min

Judy Murray

“It made me look really stupid.” Judy talks to Nihal about the media, mentoring and being a “grammar geek.”

Jun 06, 202352 min

Mick Hucknall

: “I’m almost in tears now talking about it.” The Simply Red singer remembers Miles Davis, Tina Turner and George Harrison.

May 31, 202344 min

Eddie Izzard

“People say you shouldn’t exist, well I do exist” The gender fluid actor, also known as Suzy talks to Nihal being a ‘serious’ actor, getting into politics and dyslexia.

May 29, 202340 min

Kesha

"Seemingly I'm just a lot more emotional than other people." The US superstar talks to Nihal about her new album.

May 18, 202330 min

Ronnie O’Sullivan

“Snooker made me want to get myself sorted.” Ronnie talks to Nihal about the game, fame and family.

May 15, 20231 hr 1 min

Jack Whitehall

The comedian and TV star on sharing bathrooms, leaving home and Ray Mears.

May 03, 202346 min

Everything But The Girl

“Live is not something we intend to do.” Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt on the duo’s first album since 1999.

Apr 20, 202352 min

Richard Armitage

“We don’t just want the shirt, we want the trousers as well.” The Hobbit and Spooks actor on his new drama Obsession.

Apr 19, 202339 min

Harlan Coben

“I kicked the racoon in my sleep.....” The author on how he uses real life in his plots.

Mar 28, 202354 min

Mae Muller

“I want to look 10 out of 10.” The UK’s Eurovision entry tells Nihal how she’s preparing for the competition.

Mar 21, 202326 min
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