The Arts Hour

International bestselling novelist Tayari Jones

Nikki Bedi meets international bestselling author Tayari Jones whose award-winning novel ‘An American Marriage’ was chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her Book Club and was championed by former US President Barack Obama. As an important contemporary voice in American fiction, Tayari is celebrated for writing about race, class, and life in the American South, all of which feature in her latest novel Kin. Director and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman talks about using poetry in his films. Singer-songwriter Jill Scott on collaborating with hip-hop legends The Roots, French actor Isabelle Huppert on her role in the film, The Richest Woman in the World. Literary translator Lin King, explains her work on this year’s International Booker Prize winning novel, Taiwan Travelogue. Plus, some desert blues from Malian band Tamikrest. Tayari Jones and film critic Guy Lodge join Nikki in conversation about the week’s cultural highlights. (Photo: Author Tayari Jones. Credit: Julie Yarborough)

Sandra Oh, star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy

Nikki Bedi interviews artist, composer and producer, Bishi, about composing the film score for Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, and critic Alexandra Steinacker-Clark joins the reflection on this week’s cultural highlights. Sandra Oh, star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy talks about making her UK theatre debut, in Martin Crimp’s update of Moliere’s 17th century play, The Misanthrope. Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk explains his change in direction from comedy to action movies. Italian director Damiano Michieletto sheds light on Italian composer Vivaldi, in his film Primavera. American avant-garde artist and musician Laurie Anderson shares her vision of the world. And we hear from Igbo Nigerian rapper Illbliss. (Photo: Canadian American actor Sandra Oh. Credit: Gilbert Flores/Getty Images)

Carla Simon

Nikki Bedi speaks to the Spanish director of Romeria, Carla Simon. Plus Zakia Sewell – broadcaster and author of new book Finding Albion – joins to discuss the week’s cultural highlights: American country music star Kacey Musgraves on her new album Filmmaker Warwick Thornton talks about the relationships between Aboriginal Australians and Chinese labourers Indian-born novelist Amitav Ghosh shares his love of Rabindranath Tagore Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver on new Star Wars film, The Mandalorian and Grogu The artist representing Britain at this year’s Venice Biennale, Lubaina Himid pays tribute to her Tanzanian mother And nomadic folk music from Inner Mongolian group, Anda Union Photo Credit: David Ruano

Film-maker Alejandro González Iñárritu

Nikki Bedi talks to Oscar winning Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu about his career and discusses the week’s cultural highlights with cultural critic Leila Latif: The American writer and actor Lena Dunham answers the question; will she bring back her groundbreaking hit TV series Girls? Moroccan film-maker Maryam Touzani talks about her latest movie Calle Malaga. Danish novelist Solvej Balle discusses the concept of time travel in her novels. And, we hear a special piece of music dedicated to the late Indian singer Asha Bhosle from Urdu poet and musician Tauseef Akhtar. (Photo: Alejandro González Iñárritu holding an Oscar statue. Credit: Getty Images)

Coming soon: The Arts Hour podcast

Nikki Bedi introduces the Arts Hour podcast. Your weekly cultural companion, featuring guests and opinions on what's happening in art, theatre, film, TV, music and more. Find us at bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts.