Catch up TV

Series 3: 9. When Mary Beard Met Clive James

In this special edition of Front Row Late, Mary Beard is in conversation with author, critic and broadcaster Clive James. \n\nAfter migrating to Britain from Australia in the 1960s, James established himself as a caustic and charismatic commentator on popular culture and a pioneer of television criticism. In his heyday, he was one of the most famous faces on British TV and secured access to some of the biggest stars of the day, including Mel Brooks, Jane Fonda and Frank Sinatra. He has gone on to prove himself a captivating memoirist, reflecting on a rich and eventful life, and also a major-league poet and translator. \n\nA diagnosis of leukaemia in 2010 may have slowed down James's productivity in recent years but, with the help of pioneering treatment, he has gone on to chronicle his illness in insightful columns for the Guardian and to produce powerful poetry exploring mortality and the many joys of life. \n\nNow aged 79, he has lived longer than he or his doctors predicted and, in the summer of 2018, he surprised many by publishing another book. Mary Beard interviews Clive James about the book, The River in the Sky, which reflects on 'the fragile treasures of his life'. She explores his attitude towards his own mortality, his reflections on being a migrant and whether we can expect him to produce yet more books.

Source: BBC 2