Nihal Arthanayake is set to debut his new BBC Radio 5 Live show on Sunday, 15th September, featuring an in-depth interview with comedian Stewart Lee.
Arthanayake will host the new Sunday evening slot from 8pm to 10pm, with weekly in-depth interviews featuring prominent figures from various fields including art, books, sport, music, film, comedy, and TV. He begins his programme with an insightful conversation with comedian Stewart Lee. Lee will discuss his long-standing career in comedy, his experiences of sharing music with his children, connecting with a new audience during lockdown, and his upcoming UK tour.
In a pre-recorded segment set to air on Sunday, Lee emphasises the necessity of an economy that supports creativity. “It’s about creating an economic situation in the country where people can afford to live and have interests, or go to stuff and be influenced by it… You can’t really have people forming bands or trying to be a certain sort of stand-up, or the things that take a while to master, if every day they’re worried about how to pay the rent.”
Arthanayake is recognised as one of the country’s most skilled interviewers, renowned for his engaging and thought-provoking conversations with leading figures in the arts and culture. These weekly long-form interviews will also feature on the weekly Headliners podcast available on BBC Sounds.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Nihal stated, “I’m incredibly excited to have been given my own space on BBC Radio 5 Live to purely do what I love most about broadcasting, in-depth interviews with fascinating people. I want to create something distinct and unique for a new audience on Sunday evenings as well as my podcast. I want both to become a time for my listeners to be inspired and celebrate creativity and culture in all its forms.”
Heidi Dawson, controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, added, “Nihal is an outstanding broadcaster and interviewer, and this new programme gives him the opportunity to showcase the best long form interviews that he is so good at. The brilliant Headliners podcast is also going to be supersized – packed with all the interviews from the show plus exclusive unheard extras from the guests.”
Nihal Arthanayake’s new show promises to be a significant addition to BBC Radio 5 Live’s lineup, offering listeners deep and engaging conversations with influential figures. The inaugural episode featuring Stewart Lee is set to provide listeners with a compelling insight into the comedian’s life and thoughts.