Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake

The BBC newsreader and journalist returns to Headliners to tell Nihal how his cancer treatment is going, what he makes of the recent increase in exposure for the Black Lives Matter movement and how he’s been coping during lockdown.

Former Sugababes member Keisha Buchanan tells Nihal Arthanayake about the trauma she experienced as the only black member of the platinum-selling girl-group. She says she was unfairly stereotyped as an “angry black woman” by the press, leading to her needing therapy to recover.

The historian and author Rutger Brebman tells Nihal why he thinks humanity is less cruel than we’ve been led to believe. His new book Humankind looks at why some of the stories and experiments that are often-cited examples of our cruelty may be fundamentally flawed.Photo credit: Maartje ter Horst

The Manchester rapper talks to Nihal about his rise to stardom, wanting to work with Liam Gallagher and how success has changed his family’s life.

The Repair Shop star talks to Nihal about growing up with dyslexia and how he found his passion for restoring furniture.

A piano prodigy who won a scholarship to the Peabody Institute at the age of five, Tori Amos is one of the most remarkable musical talents of her generation. In this episode of Headliners, she talks to Nihal about the inspiration for her songwriting, addressing dark truths in her work and why she decided to record her thoughts in her new book; Resistance: A Songwriter’s Story of Hope, Change and Courage – which is part memoir, part personal manifesto.Photo credit: Des Willie.

Nihal discusses the legacy, impact and reaction to NBA legend Michael Jordan in the wake of Netflix’s smash hit documentary series The Last Dance.He’s joined by journalist and former Olympic athlete Matthew Syed, DJ and presenter Reece Parkinson and John Amaechi, the first Briton to play in the NBA, who faced Jordan on court at the beginning – and the end – of this career.Photo credit: Andrew D Bernstein

The pioneering YouTuber on his new album, his next fight and why he won’t live in the USA.

The Years and Years actor on learning to dance, collecting art and “keeping real” in quarantine.

The former Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea striker tells Nihal about the people that have inspired him, his hopes for the future of football, and his recovery from pancreatic cancer.

The award winning writer on the cult of exercise, the economic consequences of Covid-19 and her new book The Motion of the Body Through Space.

Nihal talks to Freya Lewis, who was just 14 when she was severely injured in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 - an attack that also claimed the life of her friend Nell. She tells Nihal about her recovery, how she raised tens of thousands of pounds for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital – and why she can’t wait to get a tattoo on her eighteenth birthday!Freya tells her story in her new book, What Makes Us Stronger.

5 live’s Nihal Arthanayke talks to the reggae legend about the anniversary of his 10-million selling album, Hot Shot, and why he’s decided to update the tracks for a brand new release.

Jade from Little Mix tells Nihal she’s getting through lockdown with impersonations, cooking and Lego.

Ricky joins Nihal to talk about series 2 of AfterLife. Warning: contains strong language.

The former heavyweight champion on going from poker novice to playing in one of the world’s biggest tournaments.

Multiple Michelin-starred chef and TV presenter Tom Kerridge joins Nihal Arthanayake to take questions from 5 Live listeners about what to cook (and what not to cook) in their kitchens during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The classically trained musician turned garage DJ talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his new release, MJ Cole Presents Madrugada, a beautiful piano and strings-led instrumental album that takes its inspiration from the early hours of the morning.

The best-selling author talks to Nihal about her new book, Buried.

Nihal talks to the grime legend about his new book.

Nihal Arthanayake speaks to the author Harlan Coben about his new book; The Boy From The Woods, how Coronavirus is impacting his work and how he helped Netflix adapt his best-seller The Stranger.

Nihal speaks to Stacey Dooley about her new documentary, Strictly Come Dancing, and life in the public eye.

Nihal meets the theoretical physicist to talk about his book Until The End Of Time and to ask some of the big questions about the nature of time, the future of the universe and whether we’re all living in a simulation of reality.

Nihal talks to the comedian Eleanor Conway about her hilarious, and brutally honest, new show You May Recognise Me From Tinder, in which Eleanor talks frankly about why she’s been single for more than a decade.

The music legend talks, in depth, to 5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayke about his new book; Tales of Boomtown Glory, and the new studio album from the Boomtown Rats.

Geoff Lloyd talks to the Everything But the Girl singer about her second autobiography Another Planet: A Teenager in Suburbia.

The actor, singer and author on his starring role in the new BBC legal drama “The Split”

The star of Prick Up Your Ears, Doctor Who and Silk talks to Nihal about starring in the Pet Shop Boys cabaret ‘Musik.'

Joe, Tom and Myles talk relationships, hot sauce and their new album “Foolish Loving Spaces”.

Ben talks about songwriting, Everything But The Girl and having a very low-key wedding.

The Saturdays singer on how opening up and talking about her mental health has helped her

“It was always going to be music.” The singer talks to Nihal about football, dance culture and sobriety.

Liam Fray talks to Nihal about song-writing, Eminem and the band’s new album.

The actor and musician on political correctness, racism and divorce.

The comedian and actor on his new stand-up Special and why he loves British trains.

The gymnast on preparing for Tokyo, parenting milestones and sofa workouts.

Nihal speaks to Celeste, Easy Life, Eli Hewson of Inhaler and Joy Crookes on being chosen as 4 of the BBC’s top acts to watch in 2020.

TV presenter and mathematician extraordinaire Dr Hannah Fry tells Nihal about this year's Royal Institution Christmas Lecture - and why pigeons make great doctors.

"I think it’s the best episode of the show we’ve ever done.” The Gavin and Stacey star on the Christmas Day special and his love of sprouts.

The former Wolves and Nigeria goalkeeper talks to Nihal about his career and having to retire after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Carl’s friend Joe Thompson, himself a former football and cancer survivor also stops by for a chat.

Nihal chats to broadcasting legend Lorraine Kelly about her life on and off screen, and her new book Shine.

The actor and singer talks to Nihal Arthanayake about his new album, At Last, his journey from Wales to Hollywood and why he can’t escape being recognised.

The spoken word artists talks to Nihal about the new series of his BBC podcast.

The rapper talks to Nihal about music, parenting and more.

Rugby legend, Eddie Jones, talks to Nihal about his new autobiography, 'My Life and Rugby'. He talks about the lessons he's learnt from a life in the game, about coaching England to the World Cup Final in Japan and about dealing with the disappointment of defeat.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury talks to Nihal about boxing, family and mental health. He discusses dealing with psychosis on his long journey through depression, drink and drugs – and how faith has helped him rebuild as he prepares for his upcoming rematch with Deontay Wilder.

The former Man City captain tells Nihal about 'that' wonder goal against Leicester, his mum's disapproval at his first pay cheque and how buying a Bentley is really all about supporting the economy.

The actor, writer and director on his new film The Public and why his work explores “the shared brokenness of us all.”

Mark Bright talks to 5 live’s Nihal Arthanayake about his journey from foster care to top flight football.

Dawn talks to Nihal about swearing, dreaming about Beyonce and her new novel, So Lucky.