About this season
The biggest names from the world of art, film, music, literature and dance. Alan Yentob gets close up with those shaping today's cultural world.
Episodes (8)
1. Henry Perkins: Bolshoi Boy
Aired 23 October 2007 • 50 min
New series of the documentary strand. Profile of 88-year-old author and winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature, Doris Lessing. Alan Yentob meets Doris to discuss her literary output as well as her work with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. They also talk about her communist beliefs and how they help shape her books.
2. Bollywood's Big B
Aired 30 October 2007 • 50 min
Investigation into the profound impact music can have on the human brain. Alan Yentob investigates case studies from neurologist Dr Oliver Sacks' latest book Musicophillia, including a man who developed a passion for piano playing after being struck by lightning and a man whose severe Tourettes disappears when he plays the drums.
3. Helvetica
Aired 6 November 2008 • 50 min
As the popular typeface celebrates its 50th birthday, Imagine screens a shorter version of the witty film by Gary Hustwit about the history of the Swiss-designed “Kate Moss of fonts”.
4. Louise Bourgeois: Spiderwoman
Aired 13 November 2007 • 50 min
Alan Yentob presents a profile of the provocative French-born American artist Louise Bourgeois, who was still producing cutting edge work at the age of 95.
5. How to Get on in the Art World
Aired 20 November 2007
Armed with 5,000 pounds of his own money to spend on art, Alan Yentob immerses himself in the frenzied fun of Frieze Art Fair week in London's Regent Park. He meets artists, dealers and collectors to investigate what is driving the current creative and sales boom in contemporary art, and also to find out what hot tips they can offer a novice collector.
6. The Secret of Life
Aired 19 February 2008
Alan Yentob investigates the appeal of self-help books starting with an examination of the latest bestseller, The Secret.
7. Richard Rogers: Inside Out
Aired 26 February 2008
Alan Yentob traces the career of Richard Rogers, uncovering the influences that have produced some of the greatest landmarks in modern architecture.
8. Marc Newson: Urban Spaceman
Aired 4 March 2008
The acclaimed industrial designer discusses his inspirations.