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Series 1: 2. Bernardine Evaristo
Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo talks to John Wilson about the formative experiences and cultural influences that have had a profound effect on her work.\n\nEvaristo looks back on her early childhood in south London, the racism she encountered, and how she found her artistic voice attending a youth theatre group. She reveals the influence of a Catholic upbringing on her writing, discusses the influence of works by Ntozake Shange and Dylan Thomas, and explains how a personal relationship had a huge impact on her creativity.\n\nThis Cultural Life is a BBC Radio 4 podcast.
Source: BBC 4
Most recent episodes of This Cultural Life
This Cultural Life
Mark Ronson
Musician Mark Ronson talks about his cultural influences.
28-02-2026
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Juliette Binoche
Actor Juliette Binoche talks to John Wilson about the formative influences that shaped her career.
14-02-2026
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of The Who, talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences.\n\nThe Who first stormed the pop charts in 1965 with teenage ...
30-01-2026
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson’s breakthrough television role in the sci-fi series The X-Files made her a global star in 1993, and she played cool-headed Agent Dana Scully for nearly a ...
02-10-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 8. Evelyn Glennie
The world's leading classical solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie talks to John Wilson about her career and some of the key influences on her artistic path.\n\nFrom growing up in ...
20-07-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Sheku Kanneh-mason
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was born in Nottingham in 1999 into a big musical family. He and his six siblings all grew up learning classical instruments and appeared on Britain&r ...
22-06-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Abi Morgan
Screenwriter and playwright Abi Morgan has worked across a diverse array of themes and genres for more than 25 years. She wrote the television series The Split, a domestic drama ...
10-05-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Salman Rushdie
One of the world’s greatest novelists, Salman Rushdie has won many prestigious international literary awards and was knighted for services to literature in 2007. He won th ...
27-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers is one of the most successful and influential figures in popular music. As a songwriter, producer and arranger, he has enjoyed a 50-year career with his bands Chic ...
02-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 1. Kenneth Branagh
Actor and film-maker Sir Kenneth Branagh talks to John Wilson about the key influences and inspirations that have shaped his own work. In a wide-ranging conversation, he reveals ...
06-02-2025
BBC 4
Most popular episodes of This Cultural Life
This Cultural Life
Sheku Kanneh-mason
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was born in Nottingham in 1999 into a big musical family. He and his six siblings all grew up learning classical instruments and appeared on Britain&r ...
22-06-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: Judi Dench: Shakespeare Special
Dame Judi Dench talks to John Wilson about her biggest cultural influence: William Shakespeare.
27-11-2023
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: Jeremy Deller
Award-winning artist Jeremy Deller discusses his career and creative influences with John Wilson.
30-10-2023
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 1. Kenneth Branagh
Actor and film-maker Sir Kenneth Branagh talks to John Wilson about the key influences and inspirations that have shaped his own work. In a wide-ranging conversation, he reveals ...
06-02-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 4. Tracey Emin
Artist Tracey Emin talks to John Wilson about the experiences that have shaped her life and career.\n\nIn a deeply personal interview, Emin speaks about undergoing treatment for ...
12-12-2021
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Michael Palin
Actor, comedian, presenter and writer Sir Michael Palin talks to John Wilson about his formative creative influences.
05-05-2024
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: 2. Nicola Benedetti
Violinist Nicola Benedetti reveals the influences and experiences that have led her to become one of the world’s greatest classical musicians.
10-10-2022
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers is one of the most successful and influential figures in popular music. As a songwriter, producer and arranger, he has enjoyed a 50-year career with his bands Chic ...
02-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: 1. 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, ...
15-06-2023
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: Sally Wainwright
Award-winning television dramatist and director Sally Wainwright talks to John Wilson about her formative cultural influences. After learning the art of screenwriting whilst wor ...
11-09-2024
BBC 4