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 InterviewJohn Denton, Secretary-General of the ICC: Uncertainty is harming business
Suranjana Tewari speaks to John Denton, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), about the impact of global tariffs. Based in Paris…
The InterviewPetr Pavel, Czech President: Russia cannot stand economic pressure
Maria Jevstafjeva speaks to Czech President, Petr Pavel about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia. Mr. Pavel was elected to the role in 2023, having…
The InterviewJohn Kerry, Former US Secretary of State: We face a special challenge in America
We face a special challenge in America. James Naughtie speaks to veteran US politician John Kerry about the state of American politics and his long career at…
The InterviewSergei Tikhanovsky, Belarussian opposition activist: Belarus will be free
Sarah Rainsford speaks to Belarussian opposition activist Sergei Tikhanovsky about his imprisonment after challenging the country’s authoritarian leader…
The InterviewGuli Francis-Dehqani, Church of England Bishop: We were outsiders
Bishop Guli is currently the Bishop of Chelmsford, a city in England, but it is also being reported that she’s one of the leading candidates to become the next…
The InterviewFriedrich Merz, German Chancellor: Europe was free-riding on US
Europe was free-riding on US Nick Robinson speaks to Friedrich Merz, the new German Chancellor, about the future of Europe’s defence amid the growing threat…
The InterviewDonald Trump, US President: I’m disappointed with Putin
“I'm just disappointed in him, but I'm not done with him” The BBC’s Chief North America Correspondent, Gary O’Donoghue, speaks to US President Donald Trump in…
The InterviewCatherine Corless, Irish historian: I’m going to be a voice for these children
I’m going to be a voice for these children Chris Page, the BBC’s Ireland correspondent speaks to the Irish historian Catherine Corless, who has changed history…
The InterviewKeith Siegel, freed Israeli hostage: I pray for peace
I pray for peace. Nick Beake speaks to released Israeli hostage Keith Siegel about his experience of captivity in Gaza, of the suffering he says he witnessed…
The InterviewSir Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister: The UK needs strong international relationships
The UK needs strong international relationships Nick Robinson, presenter of the BBC Today programme and Political Thinking podcast, speaks to Sir Keir Starmer…
The InterviewMajid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister: Regime change is a futile exercise
Lyse Doucet speaks to Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, about the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and its government. The interview took…
The InterviewPhilippe Kehren, CEO of multinational Solvay: Reducing reliance on China’s rare earth metals
Jonathan Josephs speaks to Philippe Kehren, CEO of chemical multinational company Solvay. His firm sits at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to diversify its…
The InterviewAndrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space: A new era of defence readiness
James Copnall, presenter of BBC Newsday, speaks to Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, about the need for Europe to be able to defend…
The InterviewMartina Navratilova, tennis champion: Women are judged by a different metric to men
“Women are still judged by a different metric than men” Amol Rajan speaks to Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest-ever tennis players, about her life and…
The InterviewMuhammad Yunus: We dream of creating a new Bangladesh
Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News presenter and correspondent, speaks to Muhammad Yunus, interim leader of Bangladesh. The 84-year-old is perhaps one of the…
The InterviewYoshua Bengio: AI’s risks must be acknowledged
James Copnall, presenter of the BBC’s Newsday, speaks to Yoshua Bengio, the world-renowned computer scientist often described as one of the godfathers of…
The InterviewMike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel: ‘Hamas isn't interested in ending the war’
James Coomarasamy, presenter of the BBC’s Newshour and The World Tonight, speaks to Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel. Confirmed in the post two months…
The InterviewBill Gates: The importance of aid and philanthropy
Waihiga Mwaura, presenter of the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme, speaks to Microsoft co-founder and global philanthropist, Bill Gates. Mr. Gates, who is 69…
The InterviewCarsten Breuer, the German chief of defence: Nato faces "very serious threat" from Russia
Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent, speaks to Carsten Breuer, the German chief of defence. General Carsten Breuer gives his assessment of the threat…
The InterviewTom Fletcher, UN Humanitarian Chief: Is the world doing enough to get aid into Gaza?
Tom Fletcher, Chief of Humanitarian Affairs for the United Nations, tells Fergal Keane, the BBC’s special correspondent, that Israel is subjecting Gaza to…
The InterviewMatt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services - what is the future of big tech?
Simon Jack, the BBC’s business editor, speaks to Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon Web Services - part of the retail giant Amazon, and the world’s largest…
The InterviewSurviving Syria’s sectarian violence
Tim Franks speaks to a British-Syrian Alawite who came under attack, along with her family, during the sectarian violence on Syria’s coast in March. The…
The InterviewDovilė Šakalienė, Defence Minister of Lithuania: Uncertain times for Europe
BBC Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale speaks to Dovilė Šakalienė, Lithuania’s Defence Minister. The Baltic nation, along with its neighbours Latvia and…
The InterviewDoris Salcedo, Colombian artist - giving voice to victims of violence
In an interview from the BBC’s This Cultural Life, presenter John Wilson speaks to the Colombian artist Doris Salcedo. Her work is a response to the…
The InterviewRadosław Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland: Dealing with the growing threat from Russia
Kasia Madera speaks to Radosław Sikorski, the Foreign Minister of Poland. As a key, long-term ally to Ukraine, Poland has played a pivotal role in supporting…
The InterviewSir John Major, former UK Prime Minister - are the lessons of WW2 being forgotten?
Nick Robinson speaks to Sir John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It’s 80 years since VE day marked the end of WW2 in Europe - and Sir John…
The InterviewJoe Biden: Can the world still rely on America?
Nick Robinson, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and the Political Thinking podcast, speaks to former US President, Joe Biden. The pair met in Biden’s…
The InterviewTidjane Thiam, Ivory Coast opposition leader - can he run for president?
Catherine Byaruhanga, presenter and correspondent for the BBC News Channel, speaks to Tidjane Thiam, the main opposition leader in the Ivory Coast. Mr Thiam is…
The InterviewPrince Harry: Is his safety at risk?
Nada Tawfik, North America correspondent, speaks to Prince Harry about reconciliation with the royal family after his loss in court over his security…
The InterviewEmi Mahmoud, poet: Has the world abandoned Sudan?
James Copnall, presenter of Newsday, speaks to Emi Mahmoud, Sudanese activist and poet, about the war that has claimed more than 150,000 lives since it began…
The InterviewKurt Volker, former US diplomat: Decoding Trump, the second time around
David Brown, producer of the BBC TV’s Trump - The First 100 Days, speaks to Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to NATO, about the whirlwind start to President…
The InterviewSir Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire businessman: Making Manchester United great, again
Dan Roan, the BBC’s sports editor, speaks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire businessman and co-owner of Manchester United Football Club. In this conversation…
The InterviewBobi Wine, the Ugandan opposition politician: From the streets to state?
Victoria Uwonkunda, reporter and presenter for BBC News, speaks to Bobi Wine, the Ugandan opposition politician, as he reflects on the personal and political…
The InterviewLady Gaga, music legend and film star: Inside the chaos
Mark Savage, the BBC’s music correspondent, speaks to Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress, as she reflects on the making of her new album, the…
The InterviewAkinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank: Mission accomplished?
Audrey Brown, Host of Focus on Africa, speaks to Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank, as he reflects on the achievements and…
The InterviewDavid van Weel, Dutch Minister of Justice: Preparing for disaster
BBC foreign correspondent in the Netherlands, Anna Holligan, speaks to David Van Weel, the Dutch justice minister as he calls on citizens to prepare a 72-hour…
The InterviewNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia: What challenges does she face?
Mpho Lakaje, presenter of the BBC’s Africa Daily podcast, speaks to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of Namibia. The former freedom fighter is the country’s…
The InterviewDaniel Noboa, President of Ecuador: Can Ecuador find peace?
BBC South America correspondent Ione Wells speaks to Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, ahead of the close-run presidential election. Since Mr Noboa came to…
The InterviewJustin Welby, former Archbishop of Canterbury: I forgive serial abuser John Smyth
I forgive serial abuser John Smyth Laura Kuenssberg talks to Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. As the figurehead for the 85 million people in…
- The Interview
Introducing The Interview podcast
Laura Kuenssberg introduces The Interview podcast. First episode Monday 31 March. Conversations with people shaping our world, from all around the globe. The…
The InterviewHARDtalk: Coda
A final look back at some of the encounters and moments that have encapsulated the programme’s commitment to rigorous, well-researched interviews with people…
- The Interview
HARDtalk: The early years review
Ahead of HARDtalk’s closure, at the end of this month after 27 years, here’s a chance to look back at some of the most memorable interviews of the programme’s…
- The Interview
Reid Hoffman: Should we trust the tech elite?
Stephen Sackur speaks to Reid Hoffman, the tech billionaire who co-founded LinkedIn and is a prophet of positivity about Artificial Intelligence.
- The Interview
Allen Ault: Opposing the death penalty
Another chance to hear Stephen Sackur’s 2014 interview with Allen Ault. As the former commissioner of corrections in the US state of Georgia, Ault was…
- The Interview
Christine Lagarde: Can Europe's economy withstand Trump 2.0?
Stephen Sackur is in Frankfurt for an exclusive interview with Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank. Donald Trump has triggered what could…
- The Interview
Dominique de Villepin: Can Europe become a superpower in its own right?
Stephen Sackur is in Paris to talk to former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin. With Donald Trump in the White House, the alliance between the US…
The InterviewSon of Hans Frank, Governor General of Nazi Occupied Poland - Niklas Frank
Stephen Sackur is in Germany to speak to Niklas Frank. His father was Hans Frank, the Governor General of Nazi Occupied Poland during the World War Two. He was…
- The Interview
Roger Carstens: Do hostage deals risk making problems worse?
Stephen Sackur speaks to Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Did the deals he strike from Russia to Iran risk making the problem…
- The Interview
Volker Türk: Are we sleepwalking into a dystopian future?
Stephen Sackur speaks to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. As conflicts destroy millions of lives around the world, are we sleepwalking into a…
- The Interview
Badiucao: Art, power and China
Stephen Sackur speaks to the dissident artist Badiucao, whose cartoons and drawings challenge President Xi Jinping and the Chinese state. He lives in exile in…
- The Interview
Lord Sumption: Is liberal democracy in big trouble?
Stephen Sackur speaks to the former senior judge, barrister and writer Lord Sumption whose latest book assesses the health of democracy and the rule of law
- The Interview
Victoria Spartz: Has Donald Trump switched sides on Ukraine?
Stephen Sackur speaks to US Congresswoman Victoria Spartz. Born and raised in Ukraine and now a Donald Trump loyalist, what does she make of the US president’s…
- The Interview
N. Ram: Freedom of expression in India
Stephen Sackur speaks to one of India’s most influential media voices, N. Ram, director of the Hindu Publishing Group. With independent journalists complaining…
- The Interview
Laila Soueif and Sanaa Seif: Hunger for freedom
Stephen Sackur speaks to Laila Soueif, mother of Alaa Abdel Fattah, a political prisoner in Egypt and Alaa’s sister Sanaa Seif. Laila is into the fifth month…
- The Interview
Jake Sullivan: The legacy of the Biden White House
Stephen Sackur is in Washington D.C. for an exclusive interview with Jake Sullivan, who was National Security Adviser in the Biden White House. From…
- The Interview
Tom Fletcher: What is the impact of US foreign aid cuts?
Sarah Montague speaks to the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher. As President Trump pulls almost all America’s foreign aid spending, what will the impact be…
- The Interview
Omar Abdullah: Can he bring peace to Jammu and Kashmir?
Stephen Sackur speaks to Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This mountainous territory neighbouring Pakistan has long been a source of…
- The Interview
Dhananjaya Chandrachud: Justice and the rule of law
Stephen Sackur is in New Delhi for an exclusive interview with the recently retired Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court judge, Dhananjaya Chandrachud…
- The Interview
Hardeep Singh Puri: India's big ambitions
Stephen Sackur is in New Delhi to speak India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri. India has big ambitions to be a global economic…
- The Interview
Basem Naim: Can Gaza find long-term peace?
Sarah Montague speaks to Basem Naim, a senior political figure in Hamas. Its violence and hostage-taking on 7 October led to an overwhelming Israeli onslaught…