Front Row

We mark Bastille Day with a dive into President Macron’s cultural policy for France, revisit the dark heart of filmmaking with two people who were there during the making of Apocalypse Now and Fitzcarraldo. Kasim Ali on his new novel about young British Pakistani men and gang culture. And Errolyn Wallen on composing for the First Night of the Proms. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Harry Graham

Nancy Durrant and Boyd Hilton join Tom Sutcliffe to discuss Moisturizer, the second album from the female English indie rock duo Wet Leg. Their self-titled debut reached number one on the UK charts. They also assess Modigliani – Three Days on the Wing of Madness, directed by Hollywood star Johnny Depp. The film is Depp's first since 1997 and it covers 72 hours in the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, played by Riccardo Scamarcio. Plus they have been to see More than Human at the Design Museum in London - an exhibition which explores how to design with, and better understand, the living world. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

Bestselling novelist Kate Mosse - much of whose historical fiction is set in medieval France - reacts to the news that the Bayeux Tapestry is to go on display at the British Museum in London next year. Comedian and actor Kat Sadler on her BAFTA-winning sitcom Such Brave Girls, which is set in a dysfunctional single parent family. Sitar virtuoso Nishat Khan tells us about his debut opera Taj Mahal which is being performed at Grange Park Opera this week. And artist Lindsey Mendick whose work often focuses on powerful historic women, tells us about Wicked Game, her installation at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire, which commemorates a historic visit by Elizabeth I 450 years ago and which takes the form of a fragmented chess board. Presenter: Nihal Arthanayake Producer: Mark Crossan

Superman is back on the big screen for the first time in nearly a decade, we speak with director James Gunn. We preview a season of films at the BFI, starring pioneering black film star Dorothy Dandridge. Best known for Carmen Jones, (her performance made her the first African American to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar) she died aged just 42 Cartoonist and illustrator Gerald Scarfe on Hercules, the newest Disney stage musical, inspired by his drawings Presenter Samira Ahmed

Author Raynor Winn is accused of fabricating parts of her memoir The Salt Path, which she denies. We ask Alexandra Pringle, former Editor in Chief at Bloomsbury, how publishers respond when a book's authenticity is called into question. Oasis are performing together for the first time in 16 years, kicking off in Cardiff at the weekend. Music journalist Ted Kessler was there. Sadler's Well has team up with Pete Townshend to turn Quadrophenia into "A Mod Ballet". Director Rob Ashford talks about bringing this story, complete with stylish suits designed by Paul Smith, to a new generation." After author Raynor Winn was accused of fabricating or giving misleading information about some elements of her best-selling book The Salt Path, we talk to former Bloomsbury boss Alexandra Pringle about how publishers manage such crises. It's the 80th anniversary of An Inspector Calls. Critic Michael Billington and cultural Historian Irene Lofthouse discuss J. B. Priestley's cultural legacy. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Harry Graham

Tom is joined by reviewers Kate Maltby and Stephanie Merritt to discuss Laura Wade's adaptation for the RSC of Somerset Maugham's comedy The Constant Wife. Also Wendy Erskine's Belfast -set novel; The Benefactors. A polyphonic telling of a teenage girl's assault and its aftermath. And Rebecca Lenkiewicz's directorial debut Hot Milk. Based on Deborah Levy's novel, it stars Fiona Shaw and Emma Mackey. And we discuss the impact on music festivals and live broadcasts of last weekend's Glastonbury incident

On the eve of the 40th anniversary of its release, The Independent's Chief Film Critic Clarisse Loughrey and Dan O'Brien of the University of Essex discuss Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's influential film Back to the Future, Egyptian artist Wael Shawky talks about his operatic films which reframe Middle Eastern history from an Arab perspective. And we bring you news of the Grand Egyptian Museum a vast, state-of-the-art space close to the Pyramids in Giza, which is home to 100,000 artefacts. 60% of the museum is now open to the public, however the official opening ceremony this week has been postponed due to tensions between Israel and Iran. Presenter: Nihal Arthanayake Producer: Mark Crossan

Comedian and poet Tim Key on writing and starring in The Ballad of Wallis Island which has become one of the surprise film hits of the year. Novelists Saima Mir and Marcia Hutchinson on setting their stories in Bradford. Playwright Ntombizodwa Nyoni on reimagining the 5th Pan African Congress which took place in Manchester in 1945 for her new play, Liberation. As the Japanese art form, Manga, makes its presence felt at this year's Bradford Literature Festival, writer and comic specialist Paul Gravett who has curated the exhibition, Make Mine Manga, and Manga artist, Eira Richards, discuss the visual vocabulary of this distinctive art genre. Presented by Nick Ahad Produced by Ekene Akalawu

British director Gareth Edwards talks to Samira Ahmed about how his love of the films of Steven Spielberg inspired his new film Jurassic Park Rebirth, the latest chapter in the blockbuster dinosaur film franchise. He also talks about the making of his film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is gaining even more acclaim after the huge success of the hit prequel series Andor. The EU has brought in new anti-terror laws aimed at stopping groups like so-called Islamic State from profiting from the trade of antiquities. But art dealers are worried the new red tape will hit their legitimate trade too. Art world analyst Ivan Macquisten and investigative journalist Riah Pryor discuss the situation. Lena Dunham’s latest series Too Much is a Rom-Com, inspired by her own life, moving to London and unexpectedly finding love with an indie musician, Luis Felber. The Oscar-winning film and TV composer Lalo Schifrin died recently. He wrote hundreds of theme tunes and scores including Bullit, Enter The Dragon, THX 1138 and Dirty Harry. Also on TV: Starsky and Hutch, Planet of the Apes. His most famous work came in 1966 with the theme tune for Mission: Impossible. Neil Brand pays tribute Presenter Samira Ahmed Producer Harry Graham

Charlotte Mullins and Katja Hoyer are with Tom Sutcliffe to review The Royal Academy of Arts' Kiefer/Van Gogh exhibition, Nell Stevens novel The Original, and German language film From Hilde, with Love. And Sarfraz Manzoor is on to discuss a new Bruce Springsteen compilation – Tracks II: The Lost Albums Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

UK Culture Secretary LIsa Nandy talks us through the Government's new Creative Industries Sector Plan which aims to unlock growth and opportunity in culture, media and sport. Last week 27-year-old Scottish author Margaret McDonald become the youngest ever winner of the Carnegie medal for children's writing, for her debut novel Glasgow Boys, a book which explores mental health, trauma, inequality and identity through the friendship between two boys who have grown up in foster care. Margaret joins us live in the studio. We hear from the creators of a stage production (How To Win Against History) and a film (Madfabulous) based on the life of the so-called 'Dancing Marquess' Henry Paget, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey, a flamboyant Victorian aristocrat who inherited a vast fortune, squandered it and died at the age of 29. And the current Marquess of Anglesey talks about how his family views their ancestor. And artist Michael Visocchi talks about his monumental sculpture, Commensalis, which tells the story of the whale. Part of his sculpture can be seen in Dundee this weekend before it departs for the island of South Georgia in the Atlantic Ocean later in the summer. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

Billy Porter, famous for his Broadway roles in such shows as Kinky Boots and Grease, and onscreen in Pose and Cinderella is making his directorial debut in theatre with This Bitter Earth. Jesse is an introspective Black playwright and when Neil, Jesse’s boyfriend, who is a white Black Lives Matter activist, accuses him of political apathy, their passions and priorities collide. Playwright Harrison David Rivers and Billy Porter talk to Samira Ahmed about their production. Glastonbury festival kicks off this week, and the line-up includes its now familiar mix of famous veteran rock stars, chart-topping solo artists and headline-making bands. But music festivals are still struggling in the wake of Covid, and are facing numerous challenges. Former Spotify Exec Will Page and journalist Jude Rogers are on to discuss. The Art Fund's Museum of the Year prize is being announced on Thursday, and we've been speaking to all the finalists. Today it's the turn of Compton Verney Art Gallery, situated in a grand Georgian house in the Warwickshire countryside. Samira was taken on a tour by CEO Geraldine Collinge and guide Christine Cluley. And we pay tribute to Clovis Salmon, who is credited with being the UK's first black documentary filmmaker. Sandi Hudson-Frances, artist and fellow filmmaker, and Ros Griffiths, organiser of Brixton's Big Caribbean Lunch and curator of new public art project Windrush Untold Stories, share their personal memories of him. Presenter Samira Ahmed Producer: Claire Bartleet

Samira talks to legendary Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose latest film F1 stars Brad Pitt as a racing car driver. Alistair McGowan and Dr Caroline Potter celebrate the extraordinary music and life of the French composer Erik Satie, whose centenary is marked on Radio 3 on Saturday. Alistair's play about Satie, called Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear, is broadcast on Radio 4 on July 1st. Nick Ahad visits Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, shortlisted for this year's Museum of the Year. Caroline Norbury, Chief Exec of Creative UK, reacts to the government's launch of their Creative Industries Sector Plan. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Harry Graham

Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi talk to Tom Sutcliffe about directing Pixar's latest film Elio, about a lonely boy who wants to make contact with aliens. The film is then reviewed by film producer and critic Jason Solomons and art critic and writer Hettie Judah. Tom and guests also discuss a major retrospective of the work of painter Jenny Saville at London's National Portrait Gallery, and The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

On the opening night of the Glasgow Jazz Festival, Mercury Prize-shortlisted pianist Fergus McCreadie performs from his forthcoming album The Shieling live in the Front Row studio. Writer and Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen talks about his debut novel Muckle Flugga – a story of love and family set on a remote Scottish island – and reads from the poem he has written for Independent Bookshop Week. In the latest of our features on the institutions shortlisted for Museum of the Year, we speak to two of the team behind Perth Museum, a state-of-the art space created in the former City Hall, which opened last year and is home to the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of monarchy and kingdom. And Jamie Lloyd's production of Evita at the London Palladium has got people talking, as Rachel Zegler's showstopper moment is performed on the exterior balcony of the theatre and beamed into the auditorium. Variety's London critic David Benedict discusses the use of live streaming in the theatre. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan

RuPaul's Drag Race creators Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato join Nick Ahad to talk about their career making making television and movies, ahead of being guests of honour at this year's Sheffield DocFest. Radio 3 presenter Tom Service discusses the life and legacy of Alfred Brendel who was a celebrated author, poet and pianist. Caroline Norbury, the CEO of Creative UK, Stephanie Sirr, the Chief Executive of Nottingham Playhouse, and Sienna Rodgers, the Deputy Editor of parliamentary magazine The House, discuss how the arts will be affected by the recent spending review. The theme of this year's Liverpool Biennial is ‘bedrock’. The inspiration is the sandstone which spans the city region and is found in its distinctive architecture. 'Bedrock' is also a metaphor for the social foundations of Liverpool and the people, places and values that ground the city. From the cornucopia of work by 30 artists from all over the world, shown in galleries and venues all over the city, the art critic Laura Robertson chooses three highlights. Producer: Ekene Akalawu Presenter: Nick Ahad

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland tell Tom Sutcliffe about their new film, 28 Years Later; a whole new take on the story which stars Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It's the follow up to their post-apocalyptic fast-paced, gory zombie movies 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. The Rage virus escaped a medical research laboratory and - nearly three decades later - one group of survivors has learned how to exist among the infected. Tom speaks with James Frey, once described as “America’s Most Notorious Author”, about Next To Heaven – his new novel brimming with sex, murder and millionaires. Front Row is talking to all the finalists in this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year prize, and today we’re off to Belfast to hear from the Golden Thread Gallery. Founded the year after the Good Friday Agreement, the gallery seeks to promote the work of contemporary Northern Irish artists – as well as leading creators from across the world. Radio 4 has announced today the names of 6 researchers who will be working with the network as part of scheme run with the Arts and Humanities Research Council called New Generation Thinkers … The aim is to put research on the radio. Several hundred academics across the UK applied and Drs Laura Minor and Sarah Smyth have been chosen to work with Front Row over the coming year. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe

Professor John Mullan and writer Lucy O’Brien join Tom to review More, Pulp's first album in nearly 24 years. They also discuss exhibitions by the 20th century British artists Edward Burra and Ithell Colquhoun which are running in parallel at Tate Britain. Plus they give their verdict on Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, inspired by actual experiences of Laura Piani, who is making her directorial debut with this film. Tom also talks to Visual Art Curator Sim Panaser and artist Abi Palmer, about Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff - one of the finalists in the Art Fund Museum of the Year. And we reveal the winner of Women's Prize for Fiction. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Claire Bartleet

Turner Prize winning artist Rachel Whiteread talks about her retrospective exhibition at the brand new Goodwood Art Foundation in Sussex. We celebrate the centenary of the National Library of Scotland and hear about its plans to send important items from its collection to museums around the country - from National Librarian Amina Shah and bestselling writer and Centenary Champion Val McDermid. And writer and curator Lally Macbeth talks about her book The Lost Folk: From the Forgotten Past to the Emerging Future of Folk, which looks at the past, present and future of the UK's folk culture - from music to Morris dancing and from pub signs to church kneelers. Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Fiona MacLellan

Sarah Moss, the celebrated author of Ghost Wall, discusses her new novel Ripeness, which oscillates between tension-filled contemporary Ireland and a heady summer in 1960s Italy. Dylan Jones discusses his new book 1975: The Year The World Forgot and debates whether this was the best year for music with chief music critic of the Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick. After reports of an emerging deal between the UK and Greece around the status of the Elgin Marbles, we talk to Geoffrey Robertson KC, campaigner for their return, about the legal ramifications. A new statue of Stalin has appeared on the Moscow Underground at Taganskaya station. After de-Stalinisation in the 60s it seems that the Russian authorities are now reintroducing images of the former leader, showing him in a positive light and ignoring his reign of terror. Tom speaks with the BBC’s man in the Russian capital, Steve Rosenberg, about what this might mean. And we finish the programme with a specially written poem from Fred D'Aguiar, Professor of English at the University of California, about the government response to the migrant deportation protests. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Simon Richardson