Series synopsis
Artsnight is a British documentary television series that premiered on BBC Two on March 6, 2015. It stars Nick Cave, Ai Weiwei, Chris Dercon and Armando Iannucci.
An art magazine show guest-edited by a different personality each week.
Premise
An art magazine show guest-edited by a different personality each week.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Nick Cave as Self
- Ai Weiwei as Self
- Chris Dercon as Self - Presenter
- Armando Iannucci as Self - Presenter
- Lynn Barber as Self - Presenter
- Maxine Peake as Self - Presenter
- Jessica Hynes as Self
- Lily Cole as Self - Presenter
Supporting cast
- Hollie McNish as Self
- Lionel Shriver as Self
- Will Gompertz as Self
- Michael Palin as Self
- Jan Morris as Self
- Julie Walters as Self
- Willy Russell as Self
- Ben Okri as Self - Presenter
Guest cast
- Nick Cave as Self
- Ai Weiwei as Self
- Chris Dercon as Self - Presenter
- Armando Iannucci as Self - Presenter
- Lynn Barber as Self - Presenter
- Maxine Peake as Self - Presenter
- Jessica Hynes as Self
- Lily Cole as Self - Presenter
- Hollie McNish as Self
- Lionel Shriver as Self
- Will Gompertz as Self
- Michael Palin as Self
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 50 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 4 | March 6, 2015 | March 27, 2015 |
| Season 2 | 25 | June 19, 2015 | March 18, 2016 |
| Season 3 | 12 | May 6, 2016 | August 5, 2016 |
| Season 4 | 9 | October 1, 2016 | December 10, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Maxine Peake Acclaimed actor Maxine Peake takes over editorial control, 'curating' the opening episode. Celebrating voices marginalised by mainstream culture, Maxine talks to the most controversial band in Britain, Sleaford Mods. She discusses the role of women and television with an all-female panel, including W1A's Jessica Hynes, and she explores the life and legacy of Salford's Shelagh Delaney, the writer who helped inspire Coronation Street and the Smiths. |
March 6, 2015 |
| 2 |
Lynn Barber Sunday Times journalist Lynn Barber takes over editorial control to 'curate' the second episode. Lynn wants to look at some of the most exciting developments in popular culture in 2015. She chats to Mark Ronson, the most intriguing pop star of the modern age, as well as looking at the boom of ingenious, inventive magazines bought by and made for young people. She sticks up for that supposed 'Mickey Mouse degree' - media studies - while former media studies student Jon Ronson explores the theme of shame in the internet age. |
March 13, 2015 |
| 3 |
Armando Iannucci Writer, director and satirist Armando Ianucci takes the reins of Artsnight for the third episode of the series. Armando looks afresh at high culture - poetry, classical music and fine art - to ask why some people feel excluded from it, and why these arts matter. He talks to acclaimed poet Kate Tempest about her life and work, visits an exhibition of Goya's drawings, meets Apollo Music Projects, who are transforming children's lives with classical music, and invites stand-up comedian Josie Long to reflect on the cultural life of the nation in an age of austerity. |
March 20, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Andrew Marr Andrew Marr champions some great Renaissance dramatists who aren't Shakespeare. |
June 19, 2015 |
| 2 |
Lily Cole Model and actress Lily Cole explores whether children inhibit or enhance an artistic life. |
July 3, 2015 |
| 3 |
Lynn Barber Journalist Lynn Barber takes over editorial control to explore the world of artist Doug Aitken. |
July 10, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
David Baddiel David Baddiel travels to New York to investigate Thomas Carlyle's Great Man theory. |
May 6, 2016 |
| 2 |
Nicholas Serota Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, investigates why contemporary art matters. |
May 13, 2016 |
| 3 |
Lionel Shriver Lionel Shriver asks why economics has become one of the most exciting subjects for writers |
May 20, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Poets at the BBC A look through the BBC archives to show how bards turned into broadcasters, featuring some of the most beloved poets Britain has produced. |
October 1, 2016 |
| 2 |
Michael Palin Meets Jan Morris Michael Palin travels to north Wales to interview legendary travel writer Jan Morris. |
October 8, 2016 |
| 3 |
When Julie Walters Met Willy Russell Julie Walters, one of Britain's most popular actresses, meets Willy Russell, to find out how a 15-year-old dropout from a working-class suburb of Liverpool became one of the most successful playwrights in the history of modern British theatre. |
October 15, 2016 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 6, 2015 |
| Last aired | October 29, 2016 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Saturday at 21:30:00 |