Shows / The Interview
The Interview
Conversations with people shaping our world, from all around the globe. Listen to The Interview for the best conversations from the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. We hear from titans of business, politics, finance, sport and culture. Global leaders, decision-makers and cultural icons. Politicians, activists and CEOs. Each interview is around 20-minutes, packed full of insight and analysis, covering some of the biggest issues of our time. How does it work? Well, at…
Episodes
- The Interview
Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Spotlight
Stephen Sackur talks to the political analysts Mohammad Marandi in Tehran and Jamal Khashoggi in Jeddah. Is there any way to take the heat out of the…
- The Interview
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak
Bosnia and Herzegovina is due to officially apply for membership of the European Union. But 20 years after the Dayton Agreement, which ended the bloody civil…
- The Interview
Mayor of Jerusalem - Nir Barkat
The Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, has grand plans to turn Jerusalem into a world city but is his vision far removed from the reality on the ground? He talks…
- The Interview
FGM Activists - Fuambai Ahmadu and Nimco Ali
Depending on your point of view you can call it female circumcision, cutting, or more graphically female genital mutilation. But whatever the label it's become…
- The Interview
Nigerian Novelist and Poet - Ben Okri
Stephen Sackur talks to internationally acclaimed novelist and poet Ben Okri. How free are Africa's storytellers to explore the richness and diversity of their…
- The Interview
Neurosurgeon Dr Henry Marsh
Imagine you are a patient, about to undergo brain surgery. If it goes well it will save your life; if it goes wrong you could end up paralysed or dead. Of…
- The Interview
Ballet dancer, Sylvie Guillem
For more than three decades the ballet dancer Sylvie Guillem has performed as principal dancer at most leading ballet establishments, redrawing the boundaries…
- The Interview
International Rugby Union Referee - Nigel Owens
Zeinab Badawi speaks to Nigel Owens, the Welshman who refereed the Rugby World Cup final and is one of the most respected professionals in the game. It has not…
- The Interview
Richard Leakey - Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service
Stephen Sackur talks to Richard Leakey, the Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Africa's wildlife is one of the wonders of the natural world, but the fate…
- The Interview
Writer, Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín is an Irish writer whose intense, lyrical novels have won him awards, acclaim and most importantly millions of readers around the world. There are…
- The Interview
Hollywood Actor - Burt Reynolds
Hardtalk’s guest is Hollywood actor Burt Reynolds. He turns 80 next year. Why does he say that although he’s made around 100 films he’s only proud of just a…
- The Interview
Chairman UK Financial Services Authority, 2008 - 2013 - Lord Turner
Lord Turner, is a doyen of the UK economic establishment who has concluded that western economies remain dangerously reliant on debt. It might be reassuring if…
- The Interview
FIFA presidential candidate, Tokyo Sexwale
Tokyo Sexwale served thirteen years in jail on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. As well as a career in politics he went into business and through interests…
- The Interview
Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon
Stephen Sackur speaks to the Secretary General of the Anglican communion Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon from Nigeria. Does the Anglican establishment have its…
- The Interview
Nobel Prize Winner - Ouided Bouchamaoui
Stephen Sackur travels to Oslo to talk to Nobel Peace prize winner Ouided Bouchamaoui. She is one of the four recipients representing the National Dialogue…
- The Interview
President of Namibia - Hage Geingob
Sarah Montague talks Hage Geingob, the President of Namibia. Namibia is rich in minerals and gemstones so is relatively prosperous with good economic growth…
- The Interview
President of Malawi - Peter Mutharika
Zeinab Badawi speaks to President Peter Mutharika of Malawi. By some measures Malawi is the world’s poorest country, with a list of problems ranging from poor…
- The Interview
Monzer Akbik - Syrian National Coalition
In the aftermath of the recent Paris attacks, members of the international coalition against the so-called Islamic State, including Britain, have been weighing…
- The Interview
Leader of Democratic Green Party, Rwanda - Frank Habineza
Zeinab Badawi speaks to Rwandan politician Frank Habineza, who founded the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda six years ago. He wants President Paul…
- The Interview
President Juan Manuel Santos
The President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos is the driving force behind a peace process with the armed rebel group, the revolutionary movement: the FARC.
- The Interview
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe - Admiral JAMES STAVRIDIS
World leaders at the G20 Summit in Turkey have said efforts to combat terrorism must be intensified after the tragic events in Paris - the latest in a series…
- The Interview
Brazilian Government Minister, 2003-January 2015 - Celso Amorim
Hardtalk speaks to Celso Amorim who served the last three presidents of Brazil until January this year. Is the country facing an economic and corruption…
- The Interview
International Rugby Union Referee - Nigel Owens
Zeinab Badawi speaks to Nigel Owens, the Welshman who refereed the recent Rugby World Cup final and is one of the most respected professionals in the game. It…
- The Interview
Journalist and Former Hostage - Nicolas Hénin
Zeinab Badawi speaks to French journalist Nicolas Henin, who was held captive for 10 months by so called Islamic State in the Syrian city of Raqqa and released…
- The Interview
Former Labour Government Minister, UK - Lord Mandelson
Jeremy Corbyn is the most unlikely leader of one of Britain’s biggest political parties in living memory. He was elected leader of the Labour Party by a party…
- The Interview
Secretary General, Palestine Liberation Organisation - Saeb Erekat
Stephen Sackur speaks to veteran Palestinian negotiator and secretary general of the PLO Saeb Erekat. Why are so many mostly young Palestinians intent on…
- The Interview
Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service - Richard Leakey
Stephen Sackur speaks to Richard Leakey, Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Africa's wildlife is one of the wonders of the natural world, but the fate of…
- The Interview
US Ambassador to the UK - Matthew Barzun
By the time George W Bush left the White House, perceptions of the United States in the wider world were overwhelmingly negative. As the Obama presidency…
- The Interview
Chairman of the US Federal Reserve 2006-2014 - Ben Bernanke
Seven years ago Wall Street was close to meltdown. And the world economy was feeling the full force of a financial crash which changed long held assumptions…
- The Interview
Dmitry Peskov
Stephen Sackur speaks to the spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov. Depending on who you believe, Russia’s military intervention in Syria is a…
- The Interview
Yair Lapid - Leader, Yesh Atid Party, Israel
The latest paroxysm of violence between Israelis and Palestinians has conjured up a host of horrifying images. Israelis stabbed in random street attacks…
- The Interview
Eric Cantor - former House Majority Leader, US Republican Party
Is the US Republican Party serious about winning back the White House in 2016? The front runner to win the party's presidential nomination is Donald Trump - a…
- The Interview
US Ambassador to Syria 2011-2014 - Robert S. Ford
Stephen Sackur talks to Robert S. Ford, US Ambassador to Syria until last year. The escalation of Russia's military involvement in Syria has been greeted with…
- The Interview
International President of Médecins Sans Frontières - Dr Joanne Liu
Stephen Sackur speaks with Joanne Liu, International President of Médecins Sans Frontières, Doctors without Borders. In early October American forces in…
- The Interview
Novelist Jonathan Franzen
So much of our developed world culture is driven by the instant, all pervasive internet. Our opinions, our fantasies, our lives, delivered in bite sized…
- The Interview
German Defence Minister - Ursula von der Leyen
Stephen Sackur speaks with German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen. Vladimir Putin has wrong-footed the West, again. First it was in Crimea and eastern…
- The Interview
Broadcaster - Paul Gambaccini
For decades one of Britain’s best known entertainers, the late Jimmy Savile, sexually abused children and vulnerable adults and got away with it. In response…
- The Interview
EU Migration Commissioner - Dimitris Avramopoulos
Stephen Sackur talks to the EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos. Europe is still scrambling to find an effective response to…
- The Interview
Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
Zeinab Badawi meets Anglican Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali who was born in Pakistan and whose Muslim father converted to Christianity. Most of those fleeing from…
- The Interview
Former Al Jazeera English Bureau Chief - Mohamed Fahmy
In too many countries around the world independent journalists pay a high price for simply doing their job. They risk intimidation, imprisonment or worse…
- The Interview
Ayman Asfari - Chief Executive Petrofac Ltd
After four years of civil war Syria is all but destroyed. At least 220,000 killed and half of the entire population forced from their homes and still the…
- The Interview
French Minister of Economy - Emmanuel Macron
French Minister of Economy, Emmanuel Macron. A millionaire former banker, he is spearheading reforms that are unpopular with supporters of the ruling socialist…
- The Interview
Foreign Minister, Hungary - Péter Szijjártó
HARDtalk is in Hungary for an exclusive interview with the Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó. Hungary is facing a migration crisis; already this year nearly…
- The Interview
Crispin Blunt MP
The British Government wants parliamentary authorisation to bomb the jihadists of IS in Syria. That same Government adamantly does not want to offer refuge to…
- The Interview
Minister of Defence in Georgia - Tinatin Khidasheli
Georgia wants to join Nato. Its Defence Minister, Tinatin Khidasheli, has been touring European Union countries making the case for the former Soviet state to…
- The Interview
Chairman of Fortescue Metals Group - Andrew Forrest
Australian politics has turned backstabbing into an art form. Thanks to yet another internal party coup, Malcom Turnbull has become the country's fifth Prime…
- The Interview
Libya's Ambassador to United Arab Emirates - Aref Ali Nayed
Libya is close to forming a national unity government and Aref Ali Nayed is a nominee to be prime minister. Can Libya's warring parties join forces to save the…
- The Interview
Director of The Future of Humanity Institute - Nick Bostrom
The guests on Hardtalk are people who do much to shape our world. More often than not they are a testament to the talent and potential of the human species…
- The Interview
HARDtalk Raul Romeva
HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur speaks to a man who is currently involved in an election campaign which promises to have a profound impact on the future of Spain and…
- The Interview
Catherine McCartney
Stephen Sackur talks to Catherine McCartney whose brother was murdered in Belfast in 2005. She thinks the IRA was responsible, and that the Republican…
- The Interview
Barbara Hulanicki, founder of Biba
The fashion world today is full of numerous brands and designers - but one stands out as a pioneer of women’s high street fashion: Biba created by design icon…
- The Interview
Foreign Minister of Macedonia - Nikola Poposki
The migrant crisis is pushing EU countries into trying to come up with solutions that are fair for member states and refugees fleeing conflict. There is…
- The Interview
British Labour Politicians - Ken Livingstone and Charles Clarke
What does the leadership battle for Britain’s Labour Party tell us about left of centre politics in Britain and elsewhere in the world? If the polls are…
- The Interview
Writer and Publisher - Jürgen Todenhöfer
Stephen Sackur speaks to writer and publisher Jürgen Todenhöfer, who embarked on one of the most hazardous journeys imaginable for a western journalist. Last…
- The Interview
Suha Arafat, Widow of Yasser Arafat
Earlier this year Zeinab Badawi went to Malta to meet Suha Arafat - the widow of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Ten years after his death, Mrs…
- The Interview
Don McLean, Singer Songwriter
Tim Franks speaks to Don McLean - the self-confessed "accidental" pop star whose first unlikely hit became one of the defining songs of the century. In April…
- The Interview
Werner Herzog, Film Director
Draw up a list of the greatest living film-makers and Werner Herzog would surely occupy a prominent place. He is responsible for some of the most wildly…
- The Interview
Irish Author - Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín is an Irish writer whose intense, lyrical novels have won him awards, acclaim and most importantly millions of readers around the world. Colm…
- The Interview
Hugh Masekela, Musician and Political Activist
Zeinab Badawi talks to the South African jazz musician and political activist Hugh Masekela. His life and music have reflected the struggles of the…
- The Interview
James Ellroy - Crime Writer
Hardtalk speaks to the man who has been called 'America’s greatest living crime writer'. Through works such as the Black Dalia and LA Confidential, James…