Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake

“There’s going to be good days with my dad and there are days where he will lose his battle to alcohol” - The reality TV star and author on living with an alcoholic parent.

The spoken word performer and star of BBC Sounds’ ‘Have You Heard George’s Podcast?’ on his brand of musical poetry.

The legendary crime author on inspiration, death, and his iconic characters.

The soul singer on working with the likes of Tina Turner, Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger.

Elliot talks to Nihal about his 8th studio album ‘We May Grow Old But We Never Grow Up".

From Keith Richards to Madonna and Michael Stipe. The music industry publicist on dealing with artists and “spilling the beans”.

The stand-up and actor on writing comedy, touring and hecklers.

The singer-songwriter on artists like Robyn, Sudan Archives and Greentea Peng reworking her biggest tunes.

“As we’re doing it it’s real, you can’t pause it.” Paddy McGuinness and Fred Flintoff on filming with alligators in the new series of Top Gear.

“We were lit by midday”: The Sex Pistols guitarist on visiting Buckingham Palace and Danny Boyle’s new 6 part tv drama “Pistol”.

Former Eurythmics member talks about his new album and music growing up.

The Pulp founder on “watching too much telly” as a child, “cobbing” stuff and wearing Lederhosen to school.

“Before I started writing I just felt like a uniquely defective oddball.” The multi-million selling author on her creation Rachel Walsh and latest novel Again, Rachel.

The singer-songwriter on why his in-laws didn’t think he’s make it in music and his new album Europiana Encore.

The comedian and presenter on being a consumer champion, dealing with walk-outs and swimming.

Actor, podcaster, singer and author Minnie Driver joins Nihal to look back on her career, her unusual upbringings and the lessons she’s learned from her late parents.

Emeli joins Nihal to talk in depth about live, love and the music that inspires her. Plus she performs two tracks from her new album Let’s Say for Instance.

“I’m looking at the world with a wry smile.” Marc Almond on song writing and his ambition to star in a Bollywood movie.

“I think the haircut gives it away.” Jake shares some of his tricks for keeping his rock stardom quiet.

“To see an empty diary was scary.” The soul singer on the joy of returning to the West End stage.

“I couldn’t pull a toilet chain.” Eddie tells Nihal why he spent so much time on the dancefloor as a young man.

“Talk about the worst film to watch as a child - I couldn’t sleep.” Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke talks to Nihal about being traumatized by horror movies as a kid, the band’s new album and how making music helps him understand himself.

The promoter on the business of sport, Joshua v Fury and his rules for table talk at mealtimes.

The Booker Prize winning author talks to Nihal about magic, backgammon, Shane Warne and his new book Big Snake, Little Snake.

"It's a mistake to think that the best way to deal with something is to not talk about it." Comedian Steve Coogan chats to Nihal about his upcoming portrayal of Jimmy Savile in BBC drama The Reckoning, his comedy career, cancel culture and his new tour 'Stratagem'.

Catherine Tate is a multi-award winning writer, actress and comedian. She talked to Mobeen Azhar about her Netflix prison comedy Hard Cell, in which she plays several parts. She told Mobeen where she gets inspiration for her characters from.

Comedian Jayde Adams talks to Mobeen Azhar about moving back to her hometown, her parents bickering, how her Bristol accent helped her career and her next big projects.

: "Major key songs don't tend to win." Comedian and musician Bill Bailey talks about the secrets of a Eurovision hit, why a release party for snails is no fun and dancing to remixes of the Skype theme.

The comedian and author tells Mobeen about the beginning of her comedy career, learning to live with ADHD and why doing impressions can lose you friends.

"You need to always feel like anything can happen." James talks to Nihal about success, self-perception, channeling different energies and the beauty of live performance.

"At 18, I didn't know anyone that knew me for longer than a year." Award-winning poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay talks about his experience of growing up in care, what our names mean to us and his new children's book, Don't Ask The Dragon.

The Bros lead singer on playing for Joe Biden, gaming with his brother Luke and being asked to leave an online dating site.

The stand-up comedian on romance, bad smells, unsympathetic audiences and Jimi Hendrix.

“Getting a second series is always the hardest thing.” The comedian and writer on her BBC2 quiz show “Lightning”.

The Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul actor on how the lawyer got his haircut, writing for SNL and getting acting advice from Bryan Cranston.

"Everyone knows deep down...that we're made to have peace and harmony." Chef and TV presenter Delia Smith talks about her new book You Matter; an appreciation on the phenomenon of human existence and unity. Plus, she declares her love for our very own Nihal.

"Damn you, Dan Brown!" Best-selling writer Harlan Coben talks through his latest book The Match, reflecting the political climate and how his golfing compares to other big-time writers.

"You need your common sense, a sense of humour and a sense of absurdity." Franz Ferdinand front man Alex Kapranos talks through the 'absurdities' of fame and what it would take for the band to play in Russia once again.

Bryan Adams has sold nearly 70 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide - and he still holds the record for the longest unbroken stint at number one in the UK charts. He's also a professional photographer who has captured the likes of the Queen, Dame Judi Dench and Salman Rushdie. He spoke to Nihal as his fifteenth studio album, So Happy It Hurts, was released.

"That aspect of being a part of something a lot larger than yourself, in order to make a great result." Rapper, actress and Best New Artist BRIT Award recipient Little Simz is joined by Top Boy actress Jasmine Jobson. The pair get into mentorship, bonding, the differences in making music and acting, and what they've learned from their parents.

Dolly Parton has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, and James Patterson has sold 400 million books. Now they've teamed up to write a novel together, called Run Rose Run. They told Nihal about the book - and gave their advice for young musicians and writers.

The actor talks to Nihal about his latest ITV drama Our House, how to perfect an accent, and his life in Las Vegas.

"There's still lots of mystery in it for me, I still want to get better." Musician and former The Smiths member, Johnny Marr on still being besotted with the guitar, changing attitudes and the structure of his new album, Fever Dream Parts 1-4.

"That gave me the idea that men, God even, is impotent, is unreliable." 80s pop icons Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears for Fears talk through what they learned growing up, their musical career span and their latest album, The Tipping Point.

"That's the most starstruck I've ever been." The comedian on learning to speak Russian, working with his comedy hero Steve Coogan, and his new anthology of surrealist poetry and musings.

"There's quite a lot of stuff in it that I can't believe I've said out loud." The singer-songwriter on new album FTHC, grieving loss to suicide and reconciling with his estranged father.

“Even when I had a no.1 album, I bought myself a second-hand Toyota and I thought I was winning because it smelt new." The singer-songwriter on money and success.

The comedian and writer on her new stand-up show and why she’s wary of Canterbury.

"The greatest asset of the arts is empathy... to be inside the brain of someone who thinks nothing like you." Broadway musical genius behind 'In the Heights' and 'Hamilton' Lin-Manuel Miranda on his film directorial debut, 'Tick, Tick... Boom!', how his creativity started and how art can enact change in the world.

The Bastille singer Dan Smith on their new album, and being back on tour.