This Cultural Life - Season 2

This Cultural Life - Season 2

Season 2

Network
Episodes6
DatesOct 3, 2022 - Feb 28, 2026
Previous Season

Episodes

Glenda Jackson
Season 2Episode 130 min

Glenda Jackson

Glenda Jackson talks to John Wilson about her most important cultural influences, including the impact of three key figures on her life and career: theatre director Peter Brook, film-maker Ken Russell, and Margaret Thatcher, who galvanised her to give up acting and move into politics.

Oct 3, 2022
Nicola Benedetti
Season 2Episode 230 min

Nicola Benedetti

Violinist Nicola Benedetti reveals the influences and experiences that have led her to become one of the world's greatest classical musicians.

Oct 10, 2022
Tim Minchin
Season 2Episode 330 min

Tim Minchin

Comedian, actor and composer Tim Minchin, the songwriter behind Matilda the Musical, reveals his creative influences.

Dec 4, 2022
Ken Loach
Season 2Episode 430 min

Ken Loach

Over six decades, Ken Loach has forged a reputation as Britain's foremost politically engaged film-maker, exploring issues of social justice, freedom and power. He has twice won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival, in 2006 for The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and twenty years later, for I, Daniel Blake, a contemporary British story about unemployment and poverty.

Ken talks to John Wilson about the key moments in his life that helped shaped his creativity. From his Midlands childhood as the son of a factory worker and annual summer holidays in Blackpool to his love for Czech cinema, which would become a huge inspiration on his own career. He also discusses his films for television such as Up the Junction and Cathy Come Home, which tackled abortion, unemployment and homelessness, and were each seen by more than 10 million people, while playing an influential part in the public debate about the issues.

Ken Loach also chooses, as a major influence on his work, the real lives of ordinary people, whose stories have inspired his films throughout his career.

Jan 18, 2023
Margaret Atwood
Season 2Episode 530 min

Margaret Atwood

John Wilson talks to award-wining author Margaret Atwood about the experiences that shaped her writing.

May 1, 2023
Whoopi Goldberg
Season 2Episode 630 min

Whoopi Goldberg

Actor Whoopi Goldberg reveals the most important influences and experiences that shaped her own creativity.

May 25, 2023
Sally Wainwright
Season 2Episode 730 min

Sally Wainwright

TV writer and director Sally Wainwright talks to John Wilson about her formative cultural influences.

Aug 9, 2023
Jeremy Deller
Season 2Episode 830 min

Jeremy Deller

Award-winning artist Jeremy Deller discusses his career and creative influences with John Wilson.

Oct 30, 2023
Judi Dench: Shakespeare Special
Season 2Episode 930 min

Judi Dench: Shakespeare Special

Dame Judi Dench talks to John Wilson about her biggest cultural influence: William Shakespeare.

Nov 5, 2023
Boy George
Season 2Episode 1030 min

Boy George

Singer-songwriter Boy George talks to John Wilson about his formative cultural influences.

May 3, 2024
Michael Palin
Season 2Episode 1130 min

Michael Palin

Actor, comedian, presenter and writer Sir Michael Palin talks to John Wilson about his formative creative influences.

May 5, 2024
Juliette Binoche
Season 2Episode 1230 min

Juliette Binoche

Actor Juliette Binoche talks to John Wilson about the formative influences that shaped her career.

Jun 1, 2024
Peter Kosminsky
Season 2Episode 1330 min

Peter Kosminsky

Director and screenwriter Peter Kosminsky talks to John Wilson about the experiences and influences that shaped his career.

Nov 10, 2024
Thelma Schoonmaker
Season 2Episode 1430 min

Thelma Schoonmaker

Oscar-winning film editor Thelma Schoonmaker talks to John Wilson about the turning points of her career.

Nov 28, 2024
Nile Rodgers
Season 2Episode 1530 min

Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers, composer, producer, guitarist and founding member of Chic, talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences.

Feb 28, 2025
Salman Rushdie
Season 2Episode 1630 min

Salman Rushdie

Sir Salman Rushdie talks to John Wilson about his formative creative influences and experiences.

Mar 25, 2025
Abi Morgan
Season 2Episode 1730 min

Abi Morgan

Screenwriter and playwright Abi Morgan talks to John Wilson about her creative influences.

May 8, 2025
Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Season 2Episode 1830 min

Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason talks to John Wilson about his formative influences, including his paternal grandfather, Jacqueline du Pré, Mstislav Rostropovich and Bob Marley.

Jun 22, 2025
Gillian Anderson
Season 2Episode 1930 min

Gillian Anderson

Actor Gillian Anderson talks to John Wilson about her most significant creative influences and experiences.

Oct 2, 2025
Pete Townshend
Season 2Episode 2030 min

Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of The Who, talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences.

Jan 30, 2026
Mark Ronson
Season 2Episode 2130 min

Mark Ronson

Figures from the worlds of art and culture talk about their influences and inspirations.

Feb 28, 2026

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