The Interview

Latest Episodes:

Garry Kasparov - Opposition Activist and Former World Chess Champion Sep 13, 2013

Show notes

Vladimir Putin appears to be relishing his role at the centre of the diplomatic manoeuvring over Syria - it reinforces his image as the strong man in the Kremlin. But just how strong is he? A recent round of Russian municipal elections gave the anti-Putin movement a much needed morale boost. Hardtalk speaks to the opposition activist and former world chess champion, Garry Kasparov. Is there any serious challenge to the supremacy of Putinism?

Picture: Garry Kasparov, Credit: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Prime Minister of Italy - Enrico Letta Sep 11, 2013

Show notes

Hardtalk is in Italy to speak to the Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta. He is trying to hold together a fragile coalition of left and right, including the party of Silvio Berlusconi, while pushing through a programme of economic reforms designed to stimulate an economy still reeling from the Euro crisis. With the situation in Syria straining international relations, can Mr. Letta keep his government together?

Former Adviser to President Obama - Peter Blair Henry Sep 09, 2013

Show notes

Economists have spent years bemoaning the long-term stagnation of the advanced economies and drawing unflattering comparisons with the dynamic growth in the emerging economies, but is it time to change the tune? The US economic motor is showing signs of life, just as nervousness is sweeping across financial markets from Jakarta to Brasilia. Today's guest is leading American economist and former Obama adviser Peter Blair Henry. He has just written a book about the turnaround in relations between rich and emerging nations but is it already out of date?

Raffaele Sollecito Sep 06, 2013

Show notes

Six years ago a young English student Meredith Kercher was murdered in Perugia, Italy. The investigative and judicial process which followed was fundamentally flawed. Two people, Meredith's American flatmate Amanda Knox, and Knox's boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito spent four years in prison convicted of Meredith's murder. Two years ago they were acquitted on appeal; later this month they will be retried by a fresh appeal court in Florence. Hardtalk speaks with Raffaele Sollecito. His story has made lurid headlines around the world – but how will it end?

Picture: Raffaele Sollecito, Credit: BBC

Prime Minister of France (2005 – 2007) - Dominique de Villepin Sep 04, 2013

Show notes

Is a military strike against the Assad regime in the offing or not? Two weeks after reports emerged of an apparent chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs, the West's response is still riddled with uncertainty and confusion. Stephen Sackur speaks to the former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. His country stands ready to join an attack on the Syrian regime, but with who? British parliamentarians voted against intervention, now President Obama is putting his military case before the US Congress. Is this the way to develop a coherent strategy?

Picture: Dominique de Villepin, Credit: Pierre Andrieu/AFP/Getty Images

Actor, Writer and Director - Steven Berkoff Sep 02, 2013

Show notes

Allan Little talks to the acclaimed actor, writer and director Steven Berkoff. He’s spent over 50 years in the theatre and on film, rocking the establishment with his outspoken and often angry views. His work ranges from appearances in A Clockwork Orange and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; to adaptations of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. He has also written a number of his own plays – one of which he appeared in at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He believes the art world is letting audiences down by abandoning serious, quality drama to pursue mass audiences. So what is theatre – art or entertainment?

Picture: Steven Berkoff, Credit: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images

Secretary General of the Arab League (2001- 2011) - Amr Moussa Aug 30, 2013

Show notes

The Egyptian authorities are drafting a new constitution that would ban religious-based political parties. It's prompted a furious reaction from those who support the deposed President, Mohamed Morsi. They say it will incite "chaos" within Egypt and opens the door to "the system which produced pharaohs". Hardtalk speaks to the country's former foreign minister and former head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. He supports the new military-backed government but does he trust it to bring true democracy to Egypt?

Picture: Amr Moussa, Credit: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty

Former Bishop of Edinburgh - Richard Holloway Aug 28, 2013

Show notes

Hardtalk speaks to the former Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway. He entered a seminary at the age of 14, intent on becoming a monk and rose to be the leader of the Anglican Church in Scotland. But he gradually lost faith in many of the certainties of Christianity, including the existence of God. He finally resigned from the church, accusing it of cruelly persecuting gay people. So did his own loss of faith betray those he once preached to?

Picture: Richard Holloway pictured in 1999

Greek Finance Minister, 2009 - 2011, George Papaconstantinou Aug 23, 2013

Show notes

Hardtalk speaks to Greece's former finance minister, George Papaconstantinou – the man who was negotiating Greece's bail out until 2011 and, with it, imposing massive cut-backs in his country.

Last month, the Greek parliament voted for him to face criminal charges for allegedly tampering with a list of suspected tax evaders.

The ex-finance minister denies the allegations, and speaking in his first media interview since then, he said he as a “clear conscience”.

Presented by Sarah Montague.

Picture: George Papaconstantinou, Credit: Louisa Couliamaki/AFP/Getty

UN Representative, Syrian Coalition - Najib Ghabian Aug 21, 2013

Show notes

A senior US intelligence official has warned that Syria has become the "predominant jihadist battlefield in the world". As many as 10,000 foreigners could now be fighting there and the US fears they could return as part of a global jihadist movement that threatens Europe and the United States. There appears to be stalemate on the ground: the United Nations says Syria is "in freefall". Hardtalk speaks to Najib Ghadbian, the UN and US representative of the opposition Syrian coalition. What should he and others do to end the crisis?

Picture: Syrian refugees cross the border into Iraq, Credit: Safin Hamed/AFP/Getty Images

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected