The Interview

Latest Episodes:

Director of the Documentary India’s Daughter - Leslee Udwin Apr 20, 2015

Show notes

The brutal gang rape and murder of a student on a bus in Delhi in 2012 provoked widespread shock and outrage and put the spotlight on violence against women in India.

A recent documentary about it provoked huge controversy. The film called India's Daughter featured an interview with one of the five convicted rapists, who expressed no remorse and blamed the victim for fighting back.

The Delhi government prevented the film being shown in India and there were demands by the Indian government for it not to be aired by the BBC. HARDtalk talks to the documentary's director, Leslee Udwin. Was her film sensationalist and voyeuristic?

Image: Lesley Udwin. Credit: Getty Images

Former US Drone Operator - Brandon Bryant Apr 17, 2015

Show notes

Brandon Bryant's story provides a rare glimpse into a secret world and raises questions about the nature of 21st Century warfare.

He joined the US Air Force straight out of college. He was picked to join one of the United States' most controversial and important military programmes - the deployment of armed unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones - to hunt down and kill some of America's most dangerous enemies.

The experience has left him haunted and angry. We find out why.

Venezuelan Opposition Politician - Maria Corina Machado Apr 13, 2015

Show notes

Two years after the death of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s socialist revolution is in trouble. The country's oil reliant economy is ravaged by inflation, shortages and corruption. Those hit hardest are the poor, Chavez's bedrock supporters. Hardtalk speaks to one of the most prominent and outspoken members of the Venezuelan opposition - Maria Corina Machado. How close is chaos in Venezuela?

(Photo: Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader. Credit: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images)

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs - Valerie Amos Apr 08, 2015

Show notes

The scale of humanitarian suffering in Syria is impossible to capture in words delivered from the comfort of a radio studio - 12 million people are in dire need of emergency aid. Hardtalk speaks to Valerie Amos, head of the UN's humanitarian affairs operation. Is Syria part of a wider story of international humanitarian failure?

(Photo: Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images)

Billionaire Businessman - John Caudwell Apr 03, 2015

Show notes

Do the world's richest individuals owe anything to the societies within which they flourish? Is the notion of 'giving back' a choice or a moral obligation? As part of the BBC’s Richer World season Hardtalk speaks to one of Britain's wealthiest men, the billionaire John Caudwell. He made his fortune out of mobile phones and now divides his time between backing new businesses and philanthropy. What are the ingredients for a healthy capitalist society?

(Photo: John Caudwell at the Caudwell Children The Legends Ball in Battersea, London. Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Music Producer - Nile Rodgers Apr 01, 2015

Show notes

Hardtalk speaks to a legend of the music business, a man who has written and performed some of the most memorable tracks of the last four decades. Nile Rodgers co-founded Chic, the band which defined the late '70s disco generation. From his own band Chic, to his collaborations with everyone from Madonna to Daft Punk, his beat goes on – so what is the secret to his special sound?

(Photo: Nile Rodgers at the Spotify seminar, St. James's Church, Piccadilly, 2015. Credit: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images)

Hong Kong Democracy Activist - Benny Tai Mar 29, 2015

Show notes

Hong Kong's self-styled umbrella revolution blew itself out before it could deliver any long-term change in the former colony's political weather. Hardtalk speaks to one of the pro-democracy movement leaders, Benny Tai. Months of street protests failed to pressure Beijing into concessions on the election of Hong Kong's next chief executive - so where does the campaign for political reform go now?

(Photo: Benny Tai, an original founder of the pro-democracy Occupy movement, surrenders to the police in Hong Kong. Credit: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

Venture Capitalist and Philanthropist - Nick Hanauer Mar 25, 2015

Show notes

Stephen Sackur speaks with US venture capitalist and philanthropist Nick Hanauer, live from the BBC’s Radio Theatre in London. Nick Hanauer is an American dotcom billionaire businessman. He believes that the rich in America should pay more taxes and has warned of revolution if wealth inequality is not addressed. Is American capitalism in danger of collapse?

(Photo: Nick Hanauer. BBC copyright)

General Sir Richard Shirreff Mar 20, 2015

Show notes

Stephen Sackur speaks to General Sir Richard Shirreff, recently retired as deputy commander of Nato forces. He has recently described British Prime Minister David Cameron as hesitant and vacillating, and claims Britain and Nato are exhibiting dangerous weakness on conflicts from Ukraine to Syria. But is there a viable strategic alternative?

(Photo: General Sir Richard Shirreff. Credit: Nato)

Liberal Democrat Minister for Schools - David Laws Mar 20, 2015

Show notes

For the past five years Britains Liberal Democrat Party have been the junior partner in a coalition with the Conservatives. They have helped deliver a stable government and have wielded power for the first time in their modern history. Yet the electorate seems ready to condemn them for it in the coming British general election. We speak to Liberal Democrat government minister David Laws. What does his party’s experience say about politics in Britain today?

(Photo: David Laws. Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)