Podcast appearances and mentions of karen krizanovich

Last night was the biggest night in film - the Oscars! The independent film Anora, made for just $5 million, cleaned up winning five awards including best picture and best actress for Mikey Madison - a 25-year-old relative unknown - who was on our programme last month. To give us all the news and highlights, film journalist Karen Krizanovich is in the Woman's Hour studio with Krupa Padhy.The UK data watchdog has launched what it calls a major investigation into TikTok's use of children's personal information. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will inspect the way in which the social media platform uses the data of 13 to 17 year olds to recommend further content to them. Zoe Kleinman, the BBC's technology editor and Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor Director of Digital Humanities at University College London, discuss.Trauma can be a major barrier to seeking medical care. That's according to a new survey from Healthwatch England, which found that women experience trauma more than men and nearly a fifth of respondents who have experienced trauma say they often or fairly often avoid health services. They are calling on the NHS to adopt pocket sized trauma cards for patients to show during appointments, following a successful pilot in Essex. Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, the patients champion, and Laura (not her real name), a survivor of sexual trauma and a sessional counsellor for Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse, join Krupa.What could you do before the internet if you thought you might be a lesbian and needed advice? Did you know there were a number of telephone lines around the country that you could call for advice or just for a friendly listening ear? Writer Elizabeth Lovatt discovered the logbooks of calls made to one of these lines and imagines the calls and tells the history of these help lines in her new book, Thank You For Calling The Lesbian Line. Elizabeth and Lisa Power, sexual health and LGBT campaigner and long-time volunteer at one of these lines, join Krupa to discuss.Twiggy turned the modelling world upside down with her androgynous style, big round eyes, bold eyelashes, and pixie haircut, becoming a defining figure and fashion icon of the swinging 60s. Considered the world's first supermodel, she went on to have a successful career in acting and singing, earning two Golden Globes and a Tony nomination, designed fashion ranges, appeared as a judge on America's Next Top Model, and was awarded a damehood for services to the fashion, arts and charity. Now a new documentary, Twiggy, directed by Sadie Frost, is out in cinemas from Friday. Twiggy joins Krupa.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Kirsty Starkey

How did yesterday's talks between Zelensky and Trump go so wrong? International journalist Nina dos Santos joins Emma Nelson to unpack the disastrous meeting, plus more of the week's news and culture. Then: Georgina Godwin continues her literary tour of Asia and film critic Karen Krizanovich speaks to Fernando Augusto Pacheco ahead of tomorrow's Academy Awards.

To celebrate the 97th Academy Awards, Fernando Augusto Pacheco speaks with the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bill Kramer. Plus, we invite film critic Karen Krizanovich to discuss this year’s nominees. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the trial of South Korea’s impeached president continues, Monocle’s Seoul correspondent, Jeyup S Kwaak, and John Nilsson-Wright join Emma Nelson to discuss what comes next. Also on the programme: is USAID doomed? We delve into the global consequences of freezing US aid. Then: after an eight-month wait, Belgium has a new government. What took it so long? Plus: all the winners from Sundance Film Festival and the Critics’ Choice Awards with Karen Krizanovich. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Israel continues its bombardment of Hezbollah targets, those charged with bringing about a ceasefire suggest progress is being made. We get the latest from Beirut as the region recalculates with the incoming Trump administration. Plus: Aaron Burnett on Germany's elections and Karen Krizanovich brings us the latest from the world of film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Trump appoints Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, Katie Gaddini joins from Washington to discuss the speculations around Trump's cabinet appointments. Plus: violent attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam and Karen Krizanovich joins us for the latest from the world of film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As international calls grow louder for a three-week ceasefire in Lebanon, Allison Kaplan Sommer joins Georgina Godwin to discuss the likelihood of a pause in fighting. Plus: Monocle's Christopher Cermak looks ahead to the Austrian elections and Karen Krizanovich joins us for the latest in the world of film.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Nelson, Latika Bourke and Simon Brooke on the weekend's biggest talking points. We also speak to Monocle's editorial director Tyler Brûlé in Bangkok and Monocle's correspondent in Marseille, Mary Fitzgerald, to assess the mood on the ground since president Emmanuel Macron announced his pick for prime minister. Plus: film critic Karen Krizanovich looks back at the Venice Film Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the art of the film poster with Tony Nourmand, editor and publisher of ‘1001 Movie Posters: Designs of the Times'. We also check in with film critic Karen Krizanovich about how the press is paying close attention to the Venice Film Festival this year and celebrate Stockholm and Vilnius-based ‘Playground' magazine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Hecker joins us in the studio as we discuss Kamala Harris's first day on the campaign trail as the presumptive Democratic nominee. We also explore the EU's shift in its approach to Syria. Also on the programme: we get the latest on the protests in Bangladesh from Sohela Nazneen and hear the top headlines out of the UAE. Plus: a look at the Venice Film Festival line-up with Karen Krizanovich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florian Egli and Samuel Schumacher join Monocle's editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, to discuss the weekend's hottest topics. We also speak to Andrew Beatty, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands News Editor at Agence France-Presse, for the latest developments in New Caledonia, and Monocle's editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, gives us the view from London. Plus: film critic and regular Monocle Radio contributor, Karen Krizanovich, brings us all the gossip from inside the Cannes Film Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We examine Benjamin Netenyahu's alleged scheme to bribe Hamas through Qatar Plus; Tim Bale explains how, in the UK, Tory factions are pulling the strings on Rwanda; Liz Cheney's message to the GOP; and film critic Karen Krizanovich reveals how Japan is breathing life into the US box office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Critics Christina Newland and Karen Krizanovich join Robert Bound to review new Australian horror film ‘Talk to Me'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karen Krizanovich is known in the film industry for her work on major studio feature films as a researcher. As a journalist, she has been published in Wired, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian and Financial Times among others. Broadcasts include BBC1 Breakfast, BBC Radio 4's Front Row, Woman's Hour and BBC World Service. For ten years the writer of Dear Karen, the quite popular comedy column in EMAP's Sky Magazine, Karen's career encompasses voiceover work (she was once the voice of a green M&M), TV presenting and books. Karen has appeared on over 75 different TV shows, including CNN and Newsnight. Secretary of the London Film Critics' Circle and a member of BAFTA, BIFA craft jury, BFDG and  FIPRESCI for whom she was a Cannes jury member in 2023. Karen also conceived, researched and presented Whistledown Production/BBC Radio 4‘s groundbreaking original radio documentary entitled Svelte Sylvia and the Hollywood Trimsters, Tinsel Town's first and arguably greatest fitness and beauty expert who was wiped from history before this documentary. 

Riots continue to rock France and threaten to impede preparations for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, Russia expert Jenny Mathers examines the fate of Wagner troops in Africa and we discuss the future of local news in Canada as Meta and Google block content. Plus: film critic Karen Krizanovich on the latest in Hollywood and new space technology is put under the microscope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle's Istanbul correspondent, Hannah Lucinda Smith, unpacks the hard nationalism dominating Turkish politics as provisional results from the run-off election come in. Plus: Prime minister Modi unveils India's new parliament building, and Karen Krizanovich is back from Cannes with all the latest from the Croisette. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonjour from Cannes! This week Anna Smith gives us a taste of the French Riviera live from the Festival de Cannes, catching some friends of Girls On Film out and about at the festival. Anna is joined by fellow critics Wendy Mitchell and Karen Krizanovich who give you their hot tips for films coming out of this year's Cannes, from international indies to big blockbusters. They chat about Phoebe Waller-Bridge's ground-breaking character in the newest instalment of Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. They also discuss the welcome increase in female-led films in the festival this year. Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu's Tiger Stripes is also delved into, alongside other international films from Turkey, Argentina, Belgium, Finland, Mongolia, Italy… Anna also speaks with journalist and critic Valerie Complex, a year after her controversial Deadline article ‘Valerie Complex On Being Black At Cannes: How Microaggressions Marred My Festival Experience'. You can read the article here: https://deadline.com/2022/06/black-at-cannes-deadline-critic-valerie-complex-microaggressions-marred-her-festival-experience-1235037273/ Finally, Anna caught up with See-Saw films' Head of TV and Film for Australia, Liz Watts, for a chat about the business of Cannes, and how it informs the year ahead for the film industry. Films mentioned in this episode include: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, James Mangold, 2023 In Flames, Zarrar Kahn, 2023 The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, Joanna Arnow, 2023 It's Raining in the House, Paloma Sermon-Dai, 2022 If Only I Could Hibernate (Baavgai Bolohson), Zoljargal Purevdash, 2023 Tiger Stripes, Amanda Nell Eu, 2023 The Return or Homecoming (Le retour), Catherine Corsini, 2023 The Delinquents (Los delincuentes), Rodrigo Moreno, 2023 Nine Queens, Fabián Bielinsky, 2000 The Aura (El aura), Fabián Bielinsky, 2005 How to Have Sex, Molly Manning Walker, 2023 About Dry Grasses, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2023 The Old Oak, Ken Loach, 2023 La Chimera, Alice Rohrwacher, 2023 The Piano, Jane Campion, 1993 Titane, Julia Ducournau, 2021 Rosalie, Stéphanie Di Giusto, 2023 Fallen Leaves (Kuolleet Lehdet), Aki Kaurismäki, 2023 The Royal Hotel, Kitty Green, 2023 The New Boy, Warwick Thornton, 2023 Club Zero, Jessica Hausner, 2023 Television mentioned in this episode include: Succession, 2018–2023 Also mentioned in this episode: BFI partners with Diversity in Cannes to celebrate Black women filmmakers during the Cannes Film Festival: https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-diversity-cannes-black-women-filmmakers The Palm Dog Awards: https://www.palmdog.com/ Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold Producer: Lydia Scott Audio Producer: Benjamin Cook Assistant Producer: Eleanor Hardy Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer House band: MX Tyrants Thank you also to our Patreon Supporters and to Campari Lounge.

A Chinese ‘peace' envoy arrives in Ukraine as Volodomyr Zelensky pushes for military supplies abroad, South Africa sticks to its controversial stance on Russia and the EU plans to build internet cables under the Black Sea. Plus: we check in with film critic Karen Krizanovich as the Cannes Film Festival begins, and Monocle's Fiona Wilson talks food diplomacy, as carbonara pancakes are on the menu in Hiroshima ahead of the G7 summit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sex and the movies. It's a perfect combination, except when it isn't. #MeToo has prompted a realisation that onscreen depictions of sex need rethinking - especially when it comes to women. There's a wider understanding of the Male Gaze now, so how is it impacting the way we perceive and discuss female sex and nudity? And can we be more more careful about sex onscreen without losing the intended sexiness? As former sex columnist "Dear Karen" from the 90s, film critic and film production researcher Karen Krizanovich was my first port of call for an overview of onscreen sex and how we critics do - and don't - talk about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ai Weiwei: Making Sense. We look at the new exhibition which opens at the Design Museum in London tomorrow. Plus we review the new Grease prequel Rise of the Pink Ladies, streaming on Paramount+ from tomorrow. Samira is joined by reviewers Nancy Durrant, Cultural Editor of the Evening Standard, and critic Karen Krizanovich. Plus 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement. Two very different new plays marking the anniversary open this week. Agreement at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast dramatizes the negotiations that led to the deal, and Beyond Belief at the Derry Playhouse is a musical about the life of Irish politician John Hume - one of the architects of the peace agreement. Steven Rainey talks to the creative teams behind both productions about marking the moment. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Jerome Weatherald

As a new Channel 4 documentary is released, Nuala McGovern hears more about her life from director Charlie Russell. Who were the female winners at the Academy Awards last night? What were the surprises and omissions? Who gave the best acceptance speeches? We talk to the film critic Karen Krizanovich and speech writer Heidi Ellert-McDermott. Five women who say they were denied abortions despite risks to their lives are suing the State of Texas. In June last year the US supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade, the law that had made abortion a constitutional right for Americans for nearly half a century. Since the court's ruling, a dozen states have made abortion illegal and many others have restricted it. We talk to the BBC's reporter in Washington Holly Honderich about this issue and also hear the latest on the fallout over access to a widely use abortion pill which is becoming increasingly difficult to get. And women in Berlin will soon be allowed to swim topless in public pools after a ruling by the city's authorities. Will it catch on elsewhere? Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Michael Milham.

Emma Nelson, Alex von Tunzelmann and Yossi Mekelberg on the weekend's biggest talking points. We also speak to Karen Krizanovich about the Oscars and Mary Fitzgerald about the latest developments in North Africa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Bound is joined by Karen Krizanovich and Fernando Augusto Pacheco to review the surprises, snubs and stars of this year's Oscar nominations.

Tom Sutcliffe is joined by critics Karen Krizanovich and Michael Billington to review The Fabelmans and the 40th anniversary production of Noises Off. Steven Spielberg's new film, The Fabelmans, is a portrait of the artist as a young man, chronicling the development of Sam Fabelman, a boy drawn irresistibly to film-making. He finds meaning, and achieves some power, through his art. Critics Karen Krizanovich and Michael Billington assess Spielberg's fictional autobiography. They also review the fortieth anniversary production of Noises Off, Michael Frayn's farce about a troubled touring company putting on a farce, as it opens in the West End with a cast including Felicity Kendal, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Joseph Millson. Director Joe Cornish, best known for his sci-fi comedy Attack the Block, talks about heading up a new TV drama series Lockwood and Co. Based on the young adult novels by Jonathan Stroud, it follows a group of teenage ghost hunters. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Kirsty McQuire

The conservatives and Labour party appear to be agreed on one issue on the political agenda – that is childcare. Both parties realise it will be a key battleground in the general election with polling suggesting it is of particular concern in some of the red wall seat which the conservatives need to hold onto if they are to stay in government. The UK's childcare system is one of the most expensive in the world and ranked one of the least effective according to a recent report by UNICEF. Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson joins Nuala McGovern in the studio to discuss her party's plans for reform which she says will compare with Aneurin Bevan's creation of the National Health Service. What is the role of a best friend at a deathbed? ‘We All Want Impossible Things' a new novel by Catherine Newman is funny and rude as well as very sad and it's a celebration of all sorts of love. Ash's best friend is dying and her heart is breaking but life does go on, until it stops. Catherine Newman joins Nuala to explain what inspired the book When she was 19, Chanel Contos was playing a drinking game with friends. Someone asked ‘what's the kinkiest thing you like to do during sex? Her 17-year-old friend replied, ‘It's not really that kinky, but I guess choking.' Now 24, and listed as one of the BBC's 100 Women, Chanel wants to challenge the normalisation of sexual choking (and other acts such as spitting or slapping). She's joined on the programme by writer Rachel Thompson, author of Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom and what We Can Do about it. They discuss why these acts are so prevalent, and whether women and girls are feeling pressured into them. Could the state pension age be raised again from 67 to 68 and what would it mean for women? We talk to the former pensions minister and conserative peer Baroness Ros Altmann. And we hear the latest about female nominations at the Oscars with film critic Karen Krizanovich. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Studio Manager: Donald McDonald

Django and Smut welcome Kitty back to the Cultpix Studio to look back (slapping alert) in 2022 and ahead to 2023. We start off with what we did over the holiday, mainly the Christmas and Swedish films that were posted, plus a shout out to our three last pod guests: Jimmy, Adrian and Lisa. We go around the proverbial table to pick out personal favourites from the past year, whether film, theme week, podcast guests, event or other. We do an In Memoria of some of the Cultpix greats that passed away in the past year, including funny/sexy Kitten Natividad, "Cannibal Holocaust" director Ruggero Deodato, Tim Lucas' wife, muse and partner Donna and even Olivia Newton John. There is self-congratulation galore as we note how Cultpix has grown over 150% in the past year, even as the like of N****ix lost 500,000 members in UK alone. We count down the top ten most watched film on Cultpix in 2022, all of them with a sexy theme, with a fierce battle for the top medal position between Danish erotica compilation and Swedish erotica compilation, but the winner is a film that 'gives porn a good name.'We look at the top films that people find on Cultpix from sites like Letterboxd, JustWatch and PlayPilot, including "Anita - Swedish Nymphet" (1972), Fleischer Studio's "Superman" serial (1941-1943), and Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will" (1935). There is also a good story abput how that last one ended up published on DVD and on Cultpix. A special mention to our biggest fans and members on social media and IRL - would you believe we get letters sent to us? And you won't guess what's in them. A special mention of members Tightsbury, Lee Bailes, Karen R, Dr Retro, John Corbyn, Cousin H, Disapproving Swede and many more. Looking ahead to 2023 we already have lots of theme weeks and films lined up. We will have more theme weeks with Herschel Gordon Lewis and Doris Wishman.  Films from Japan's Daiei studio (NB: Scandinavia only), including Gamera - gigantic flying, fire-breathing turtle; Daimajin – a giant stone statue comes to life; and Zatoichi the blind masseur, gambler and sword fighter. There will be more films by the extremely productive Swedish director Arne Mattsson, who single-handedly started the myth of 'Swedish Sin' with his film "One Summer of Happiness" (1951). We will feature All Channel Films (NB: USA only): Theme week 1: 7 80's horror/slasher/gore films. Theme week 2: A mixed bag of cult movies from 1969-1991, including classics like I Drink Your Blood (1970) and three Vice Academy comedies – basically Police Academy ripoffs. We also have Czech classics (wonderful films from the 60's; vampires, sci-fi and fantasy) and more films from Hungary (Hungarian westerns!!!). That's just a little taster of things to come on Cultpix. It's going to be a fun 2023. Please be sure to get in touch with us, because unlike most DJs, we DO take requests. 

We report as world leaders meet in Bali for the G20 summit. Plus, Kurdish militants deny involvement in the weekend's Istanbul attack, the Taliban move to implement sharia law in Afghanistan, Austria's political scandal and Karen Krizanovich wraps up headlines in film.

Is Vladimir Putin ‘exacting vengeance' on the Ukrainian people? Plus: Serbia and Kosovo are told to stop squabbling, Bloomberg's Yuan Potts has the business news and film critic Karen Krizanovich joins us from Elstree Studios.

Django Nudo, Smut Pedler and Kitty Lash devote the 50th episode of Cultpix Radio to celebrate the life and career of the first true male adult star Harry Reems.Born Herbert Streicher into a Jewish Bronx family in 1947, Harry Reems pursued stage acting in New York but did stag loops to help pay for the rent. The pimply kid with the big nose had come out of the Marine Corps with a hard body, plus he could act. Kitty Lash found Bucky Beaver's Stags Loops and Shorts (1970)  quite the turn on with its authentic and sweaty humping; in Ape Over Love (1970) Harry goes full gorilla (fake suit); while Mondo Porno (1971) foreshadows obscenity troubles to come, though the "judge for yourself" of the erotic "case studies" got Kitty purring again.Deep Throat (1972) gave Harry fame and notoriety as he became the only US actor to ever be charged for appearing in a film. The case(s) dragged on until 1977 and contributed to his alcoholism. Late in life the love of a good woman saved him as he became a 'church gypsy': "I am not religious. I'm spiritual, 100 percent," he said. He also won belated recognition in the documentary "Inside Deep Throat" (2005). While converting to Christianity he kept his stage name and was happy to discuss his porn past. A Touch of Genie (1974) is what you'd get if Woody Allan had made porn in the 70s, though "Deeps Jaws" (19xx) is also genuinely sexy and funny is Deep Jaws (1976).  All beautifully restored by Vinegar Syndrome. The Love Witch (1970) sees Harry do an 'Alex Guinness' and playing multiple parts - with on-screen Batman-style f/x! Sherlick Holmes (1975) sees him playing the great detective, in More (1975) he is Detective Dick (!) Copper, while Dark Dreams (1975) is a hallucinogenic sex and horror trip.Harry was shooting films in Sweden and Germany while his legal appeal was under way in the 1970s.: Justine & Juliette (1975) and Bel Ami (1976) are literary adaptations with a veneer of cultural respectability, but primarily gorgeously shot XXX features. Strangest Harry film of all is the non-nude SS Operation Wolfcub (1983) where he's a mercenary infiltrating a neo-Nazi training camp in Swedish forests. Harry made a return in the 1980s. Trashy Lady (1985) is Harry doing a reverse My Fair Lady on too-classy mob moll Ginger Lynn, while in China and Silk (1984) Harry plays a cop.  For anyone wishing to learn more about Harry we recommend the New York Magazine article 'The Afterlife of a Porn Star' by Dave Itzkoff, as well as the excellent podcasts by the Rialto Report here, here and here. Of course we also have a Harry Reems Spotify playlist.

We discuss the new docudrama by French director François Ozon, which deals with a complex and ongoing case of child abuse in the French Catholic church. Ben Rylan's guests are film critics Karen Krizanovich and Tim Robey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss female relationships, the queer gaze and the beauty of Céline Sciamma's latest film. Ben Rylan is in conversation with Karen Krizanovich, Caspar Salmon and Chiara Rimella.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Bryan, Francesca Gavin and Karen Krizanovich join Robert Bound to give their two cents on the TV, films and art exhibitions to see this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Django Nudo and Smut Peddler welcome Kitty Lash back for a nostalgia-filled look back at some lesser known films that only ever made it out on VHS. Django challenges his fellow presenters with "VHS was a SHIT format - fight me!" It sees them give a spirited defence of the mini-monolith like home entertainment format. And what's with the @kadivideo IG account of new films released on VHS. Are they real? Is it all fuelled by anemoia - n. 'nostalgia for a time you've never known'?Doctor Yes: The Hyannis Affair (1983) - Film roles dried up Brit Ekland when she hit 40 and so she had to do erotic thrillers, including this one that looks like a day-time soap opera, but with nudity. We play the weird intro, that pretty much gives away the whole plot. (No #SPOILER warnings in the 80s?) Heavenly Bodies (1984) - Dance-offs and aerobics were clearly big in the 80s. This one is more blue collar gritty than flashy Flashdance. But there is no denying the pulsating energy of the synth-heavy score.Hollywood Hot Tubs (1984) - B-movie queen Jewel Shepard DOESN'T get naked in this low budget comedy, but there is Russ Meyer's missus Edy Williams putting her charms on full display. Adult director Chuck Vincent also did non-XXX films in many different genres, three of which are included here. Definitely one for the late night cable channels like USA and Cinemax (aka Skinmax). How to Get Revenge (1984) - Linda Blair clearly didn't have a good agent in the 80s. After a series of women-in-prison films, she did this spoof instructional video on how to get revenge. The suggestions might land you in trouble with the law, so don't take this oddity too seriously. Underground Aces (1981) - Some VHS can't even be sold, and Smut Peddler found this for free in a flea market bin. It has an impressive cast, including  Dirk Benedict (The A-Team) Melanie Griffith, Frank Gorshin (the Riddler) and Michael Winslow (Police Academy's sound machine), in what is basically a Car Wash-knock off about parking valets, with very 80s humour. Cleo/Leo (1989) - A surprisingly good gender-switch comedy in which adult star Veronica Hart is the gorgeous female body a chauvinist male pig finds himself trapped in. Director Chuck Vincent would often use actors from the adult entertainment industry in more conventional films, albeit still with lots of nudity. Kitty Lash loved it, except the music which she hated.  Bad Blood (1989) - Misery-style horror of mother who thinks her recently returned biological son is a reincarnation of her late husband. Georgina Spelvin (Devil in Miss Jones) and Randy Spears prove that XXX-stars can have acting chops in this Chuck Vincent R-rated horror. 

The United Nations calls for a demilitarised zone around Europe's largest power plant; we're live in Freetown as violent protests continue in Sierra Leone over the high cost of living; this week's What We Learned; and film news with Karen Krizanovich.

The British-born actor and singer Olivia Newton-John has died at the age of 73. Best remembered for playing the iconic role of Sandy in the musical film Grease. We pay tribute with Stockard Channing who played Rizzo in Grease, and the film critic Karen Krizanovich and Olivia Moore who is currently playing her in the stage version in London's west end. Brit & Mercury prize winner Heather Small on ‘Colour My Life', her first album in sixteen years. For the album, she teamed up with the London Metropolitan Orchestra to re-imagine all of her Top 10 hits as well as release new songs and covers. What is it like to live with a chronic but hidden illness? Poppy Nash is a textile artist who lives with type 1 diabetes and one of her latest works The Art of Dying 2.0 is a full-scale installation of bedclothes and bedding, examining the experience of living in isolation as a ‘vulnerable' person through the pandemic. Ione Gamble lives with Crohn's disease. She's the founder & editor of the art, fashion and culture publication, Polyester and has now written a book, Poor Little Sick Girls. The overturning of Roe v Wade in the USA has put abortion very much at the top of the news agenda. Our 2019 series in which women spoke, often for the first time, about their abortions seems even more relevant now. Today, a woman we are calling Kerry talks about the abortion she had when she was 18 and her certainty then and now that this was the right choice for her. Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Dianne McGregor

How is Russia likely to respond to Nato's show of unity in Madrid? Plus: we explore Emmanuel Macron's attempts to build a ‘government of action' in France, Bloomberg's Yuan Potts brings us the day's business news and we hear a film roundup from the critic Karen Krizanovich.

National Theatre Wales is about to open a new production described as a live documentary performance, Circle of Fifths. With cast and stories drawn from the local community, and taking place inside and out, it combines film, performance, storytelling, live music and dance, to tell stories of life, death and grief. The director Gavin Porter joins Front Row to explain how it will work. Because of the bad behaviour of human the world keeps coming to an end. Fortunately there is an organisation of people who can reset time to before disaster, take action and so save the planet. That's the premise of a new eight part action television series starring Paapa Essiedu. Karen Krizanovich and Kerry Shale review The Lazarus Project. They have also been watching the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande in which Emma Thompson plays a retired R.E. teacher who has never had an orgasm. So, she hires sex worker Leo Grande, played by Daryl McCormack, to teach her about the pleasures of sex. In the process both learn a good deal about themselves. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Sarah Johnson Photo credit: Mei Lewis, Mission Photographic

Kitty Lash joins Django Nudo and the Smut Peddler in the studio once again. We kick off with the 800th film posted to Cultpix and the release of Thriller - A Cruel Picture on BluRay, with some Deluxe Limited Edition copies still available form our webshop. Kroger Babb called himself 'America's Fearless Showman', and will always be known for the exploitation classic Mom and Dad (1945) that he whipped up controversy for, self distributed and made it the third biggest BO hit of the 1940s. He deployed every trick in the book, while inventing several new ones himself, to get maximum publicity for his films and pull in the punters. A selection of his most famous/notorious films are now on Cultpix: Child Bride (1938) - An expose of the practice of older men marrying young girls in the Ozarks. Shirley Mills was just 12 when she filmed the controversial skinny dip scene. The films was meant to draw attention to the problem of child marriages, but Kroger Babb maximised the shock value, bypassing the Hays code by claiming it was 'educational'. She Should'a Said No! (1948) - Robert Mitchum and Lila Leeds were bust for drugs at a Hollywood party, but while his career recovered, this became her only lead role and an example of the dangers of the Devil's Weed. Blends Film Noir and exploitation. One Too Many 1950 - Female alcoholism is tackled in this drama that Kroger spiced up with several music numbers. "Is There One in Your House?" the tagline asked. The story of an alcoholic woman trying to hide her booze dependance. Her secret love of liquor destroyed Helen Mason's concert pianist career and family. Why Men Leave (1951) - Housewife who thinks film exec hubby is cheating on her hires Hollywood make-up expert to glam up. Kroger sold $10 make-up kits in the cinemas showing this film.   Halfway to Hell (1954) - “The Picture the Communists Are Trying to Stop!” Kroger himself provided the inflamatory opening statement himself form his desk in this red-under-the-bed anti-Communist documentary. It actually makes the point well that there wasn't much distinguishing Stalin and Hitler. Karamoja (1955) - "They wear only the wind and live on blood and beer," was the tagline for this documentary about tribes in Uganda. Lots of tribal boobies. Kipling's Women (1961) - Supposedly "A Picturization of Rudyard Kipling's Immortal Poem---The Ladies." This was one of the first 'nudies' to get widespread distribution in US. Schlock distribution maestro Kroger Babb "four-walled" it, by renting the cinemas for a flat fee and taking all of the box office collections.There's a Spotify playlist of course.

Django Nudo and the Smut Peddler are joined in the studio by Kitty Lash to explore the weird and wonderful world of Mondo films. First we explore parallels between Netflix's "Clark" (2022) and "I - a Summer Lover" (1972), the former starring Bill Skarsgård while the latter his dad Stellan Skarsgård and both getting nude while sleeping with mother/daughters, as well as "The Vicious Breed" (1955).  Having argued over definitions of 'Mondo' and whether it is right to call tribes 'tribes', we dive into mondo movie maelstrom: Pigalle Crossing of Illusions (1973) - Spy thriller about stripper smuggling microfilm, but really just an excuse to show off lots of striptease and erotic acts from Moulin Rouge and other Pigalle venues. Include cowboy acts. (In Paris? Pourquois cowboys?) Mondo Balordo (1964) -  Boris Karloff guides us through a world "throbbing and pulsing with love, from the jungle orgies of primitive tribes to sin-filled evenings of the London sophisticate." And Bedouin pimps - or maybe Lebanese.  Mondo Freudo & Mondo Bizarro (1966) - We have visionary American 'scumbags' Lee Frost and Bob Cresse to thank for adding an American twist to the Mondo genre with their Olympic International films. "Possibly the creepiest of all the Mondo films," according to Kitty, but sexy in bits depending on your fetish and "strangely erotic". Mondo Bizarro also has an opening credit sequence and music track ripe to be ripped off by Quentin Tarantino. The Wild Wild World of Jayne Mansfield (1968) - In which we are taken on a tour of Rome and Paris by Jayne Mansfield, before she is then killed in a car accident (though not decapitated). Graphic, horrific footage from the crash. Made after her death, the film is narrated by a Mansfield sound-alike, talking about getting her bum pinched in Rome and interviewing tranny beauty queens. Her death car can be seen as part Scott Michael's Dearly Departed tours of Los Angeles.  Mondo Pazzo, aka Mondo Cane 2 (1963) -  Sequel to their ground-breaking shockumentary Mondo Cane is another beautifully photographed but equally disturbing crackpot travelogue of global gross-outs and international insanity. Kwaheri (1964) - We now go into darkest Africa. Warning from Kitty Lash: this Mondo film was the most stomach churning, with the open skull brain surgery by the African witch doctor. Cannot be unseen! Plus "wild orgies of the body and mind." Malamondo (1964) - Early Mondo film about weird teens doing things like skiing nude, distinguished by the soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. The score does not so much support the pictures as beautiful photography seemingly there "to give visual accompaniment to a hauntingly sublime score."Mondo Keazunt (1955) - Four Italians cross the "Green Hell" of the Amazon, with snake fights and piranhas eating a cow alive. Keazuntheit! Don't miss the sublime Spotify Mondo score collection and we promise to have Kitty Lash back soon. We end with a brilliant Mondo radio ad.

Former White House staffer Linda Chavez assesses the effect of the Capitol Hill riot on the Republican Party. Plus: a Belarusian opposition leader is jailed for 18 years; why Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has turned on him; and Karen Krizanovich reviews the year in film.

Robert Bound is joined by film critics Simran Hans and Karen Krizanovich to review Denis Villeneuve's epic new sci-fi blockbuster, ‘Dune'.

Django Nudo and the Smut Peddler adopt their most outrageous French accents in honour of attending the Festival Lumiere and MIFC (International market for classic films) in Lyon, France, where cinema was born 125 years ago. We have had meetings with film libraries and rights holders from all over the world, who first try to sell us their beautifully restored 4K masters of the classics of cinema. We tell them, 'no, give us your dirtiest horror and exploitations films, the bottom of the barrel.' In the end it was amazingly productive and we have leads with a dozen or so title holders, so expect east European science fiction and south European thrillers in the months to come. We also made many new friends and saw a lot of interest for the 'Do You Believe In Swedish Sin' book, that will be appearing in film book shops all over Europe soon. There is a quick plug for this coming Cult Tuesday screening with Everyman Cinemas in the UK of "She Freak" (1967) with a special introduction by Karen Krizanovich.The main focus this week is a big haul of vintage exploitation films from the darkest recesses of the Something Weird Video archive.  Thematically it is first 'Girls from the City'. In  "All of Me" (1963) is yet another sexploitation variation on the old Good-Girl-who-comes-to-the-big-Bad-City-to-be-a-model story which unexpectedly detours into Nudist-Camp territory.  "Babette" (1968) is a surprisingly subversive gem that aggressively celebrates sexual anarchy. "Copenhagen Call Girls" (1964) exudes a bizarre, almost exotic, mixture of grimy black & white sexploitation and Benny Hill-style humour.  But the highlight of Copenhagen Call Girls is without a doubt the groovy, inspired surf-guitar score provided by an obscure group of Beatles-wannabes calling themselves THE SHARKS.The second theme is 'Girls from the country', with "The Night of the Cat" (1973) is a shot-in-Charlotte, North Carolina, celluloid catastrophe about a woman who becomes an avenging "catwoman" and takes on the mob. "Garden of Eden" (1954) is the "Gone With the Wind" of nudist movies! Sadly New York censors held up the release so long that when it was finally released it was overrun by less quality nudist films.  "Love Goddesses of Blood Island" (1966) sees an astronaut wash ashore and become the sex slave of the Love Goddesses of Blood Island, where previous male guests have been reduced to severed heads on poles.  Last and without an obvious theme, "The Girl from S.I.N." (1966) is a silly sci-fi spoof with an invisible woman who keeps reappearing in the nude. The lead character is called Poontang Plenty, which has to be the ultimate James Bond knock-off name. The discover that the problem with taking an invisibility pill is that you never know when you might become visible while stark naked.  Finally "Twisted Sex, Vol. 17" (1960) is a cavalcade of vintage trailers and loos, with D.N. and S.P. having fun taking turns reading out the titles featured, including "The Smut Peddler" (1965) and "The Ultimate Degenerate" (1969), which seems like an appropriate pairing. As always we play plenty of music, dialogue and clips from all the films for your enjoyment. 

David Mamet's latest play, The Christopher Boy’s Communion is about a couple in New York whose son is facing trial charged with an appalling crime. First performed on the stage in Los Angeles last year, it’s premiers in the UK in the form of a radio play next week. He discusses the tricky issues it deals with and how he adapted a lengthier stage play it for radio (BBC Radio 4, Monday 8 March 8, 1415) In this week’s Friday Review, critics Karen Krizanovich and Jan Asante discuss two films with different perspectives on feminism: The Glorias, written and directed by Julie Taymor and starring Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore, which focuses on the life of the American feminist, writer and activist Gloria Steinem, and the US high school drama Moxie, directed by and starring Amy Poehler. American writer Danielle Evans talks to Kirsty about her second short story collection, The Office of Historical Corrections, which offers a kaleidoscopic exploration of what it is to be African American in the modern USA and uses the short story form to meditate on themes of history and memory. Our occasional series dedicated to moments of joy returns with games writer Jordan Erica Webber, who argues that even at the end of the universe one can find peace and happiness as in the game Outer Wilds. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Jerome Weatherald

As International Women’s Day approaches, and peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban continue, what are the most pressing issues facing women in Afghanistan? Emma is joined by BBC Afghan reporter Mahjooba Nowrouzi, and scholar and women’s rights advocate Dr Orzala Ashraf Nemat. Actor, Sue Johnston has spoken about the sexism older women face in theatre and screen. Johnston 77, has been cast as 61 year old Sean Bean’s mother in Jimmy McGovern’s new BBC prison drama. Thirty years ago she played Sean Bean’s wife in a 1992 episode of Inspector Morse. Actor, Dame Harriet Walter and film journalist and broadcaster, Karen Krizanovich discuss why female actors age into older roles, while male actors remain in similar parts throughout their careers. Pregnant women who lose their babies should be given two weeks' paid bereavement leave, according to campaigners. At the moment only women who lose their baby after 24 weeks are entitled to statutory leave. Taylor Moss, who had a stillbirth at 23 weeks, has started a petition to change the law after she was not entitled to any time off. Her campaign is being backed by Cherilyn Mackrory, the Conservative MP who co-chairs the baby loss All Party Parliamentary Group. Taylor joins Emma to discuss her experience of loss, her impetus for starting the petition, and what she hopes to achieve. Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Mahjooba Nowrouzi Interviewed Guest: Dr Orzaa Ashraf Nemat Interviewed Guest: Dame Harriet Walter Interviewed Guest: Karen Krizanovich Interviewed Guest: Taylor Moss

Our culture correspondent Fernando Augusto Pacheco, film critic Karen Krizanovich and Monocle’s culture editor Chiara Rimella tell us how 2020 unfolded in the film and music industry – and what they’re looking forward to in 2021.

Ryan Murphy’s new film, The Prom, bursts into song and dance as four down-on-their-luck Broadway stars descend on a small Indiana town in support of a girl who just wants to go to the high school Prom with her girlfriend. The cast includes Meryl Streep, James Corden and Nicole Kidman and the critical reception in the US has been polarised; what does our reviewer Karen Krizanovich make of it? When theatre director Rebecca Frecknall and playwright Chris Bush began rehearsals for the show that would re-open London's Almeida Theatre after lockdown they had the title, Nine Lessons and Carols, but nothing else. They talk to Kirsty about creating a production, from scratch, with a cast that must maintain social distance; a show that addresses these dark times, but warmly welcomes an audience back to the theatre with lights, sound, and stories. A comic strip “Our Plague Year” by artist and illustrator Nick Burton, conceived in collaboration with HOME in Manchester, draws parallels between the Great Plague which struck England in the 17th century and the current Coronavirus epidemic. Set in the Derbyshire village of Eyam which, when The Plague took hold, famously chose to cut off all contact with the outside world to stop the contagion spreading. But it’s not just doom gloom and death, the strip is full of dark humour and makes readers wonder whether human society has really changed all that much between then and now. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Julian May

US President-elect, Joe Biden, is calling for an urgent bipartisan agreement in Congress to help people who've lost their jobs because of the pandemic. The government of Denmark has pledged to give up its North Sea oil production by the year 2050 in order to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; we hear more from Steven Mufson at the Washington Post. Efforts in the US by the Trump administration to restrict the use of the H-1B professional visa were blocked this week by a court in California; the BBC's Mike Johnson reports. Warner Brothers has said all its films in 2021 will be streamed in the US as soon as they're released. So can the multiplex survive? We hear from Karen Krizanovich is a UK-based film critic and film industry expert. And we're joined throughout the programme by Will Murray, a reporter for Australia's Nine News. (Picture of Joe Biden by Alex Wong for Getty Images)

Robert Bound is joined by film critics Tim Robey and Karen Krizanovich to review David Fincher’s latest film, ‘Mank’, the story of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz as he battles for credit on the Oscar-winning ‘Citizen Kane’. Set during the golden age of Hollywood, it stars Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried.

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, Front Row’s Lockdown Artist in Residence, continues his weekly live performances from the empty Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. Tonight he plays an energetic piece by the American minimalist composer Philip Glass, Etude No.9. What has been the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our mental health and how might being creative at home help our mental wellbeing at this challenging time? Dr Daisy Fancourt is leading the UK’s biggest study looking at the impact the coronavirus crisis has had on our mental health. She explains their findings so far and the potential impact craft can have on mental wellbeing. And embroiderer Ekta Kaul and maker Joe Hartley discuss how their own practice has changed under lockdown, the online tutorials they’ve been running and how you can start making at home yourself. We mark the loss of the great afrobeat drummer Tony Allen whose death has been announced at the age of 79 with an interview for Front Row from 2014. And novelist Sara Collins and critic Karen Krizanovich review Hollywood, the Netflix series from Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy, and the new Lionel Shriver novel The Motion of the Body Through Space. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Sarah Johnson Studio manager: Matilda Macari

Grosvenor House's relationship with the United States began before the hotel was built and remains as strong today. Arthur Octavius Edwards designed the hotel for the US market and even had a sales office on Fifth Avenue to sell bedrooms. Today, half of Grosvenor House's guests each year are from the USA and the hotel restaurant, JW Steakhouse is an American steakhouse (with a world-famous cheesecake). In this episode. journalist, writer and broadcaster from Chicago, Karen Krizanovich, explains why Grosvenor House is so special to her and her fellow Americans.

We discuss female relationships, the queer gaze and the beauty of Céline Sciamma’s latest film. Ben Rylan is in conversation with Karen Krizanovich, Caspar Salmon and Chiara Rimella.

This week on The Stack we look at the Oscars… in print. We welcome film critic Karen Krizanovich to discuss how the coverage of the event has changed through the years and speak with Gwilym Mumford – editor of ‘The Guide’, the Saturday cultural supplement of ‘The Guardian’ newspaper – and Ben Zauzmer, author of ‘Oscarmetrics’.

Charlize Theron discusses her new film Bombshell, for which she's been Oscar nominated, in which she stars alongside Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. It tells the true story of female Fox News presenters and personnel in New York who set out to expose the CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment in 2016. The street gangs of Lagos are the setting for a new adaption of Oliver Twist for Radio 4. Writer Ayeesha Menon discusses how she transposed the story to Nigeria and what parallels she saw between the refugee crisis today and Victorian London. Police procedural and the supernatural collide in a new Sky Atlantic drama, The Outsider, based on a book by Stephen King and starring Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo. Karen Krizanovich reviews. Monday 27th January is the first day of Independent Venue Week which aims to promote smaller music venues. We speak to the initiative's founder Sybil Bell on why they need support. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Hannah Robins

Scott Bryan, Francesca Gavin and Karen Krizanovich join Robert Bound to give their two cents on the TV, films and art exhibitions to see this season.

Lauren Greenfield interviews Imelda Marcos in this fascinating new documentary, which takes a look at the life of the former first lady of the Philippines and the controversies surrounding her husband’s dictatorship. Ben Rylan, Karen Krizanovich and Jason Solomons review.

We discuss the new docudrama by French director François Ozon, which deals with a complex and ongoing case of child abuse in the French Catholic church. Ben Rylan’s guests are film critics Karen Krizanovich and Tim Robey.

Antony Gormley’s new exhibition at the Royal Academy in London features a series of new artworks which are monumental in size, scale and weight, from a 5000kg suspended piece of iron to a gallery flooded with 33,000 litres of seawater, weighing 56 tons. Idoya Beitia, the Royal Academy’s Head of Exhibitions Management, discusses the greatest logistical challenge the gallery’s ever faced. From Ryan Murphy, the creator of Glee, Nip/Tuck and Pose, now comes The Politician. Karen Krizanovich reviews the Netflix drama, set in a super-rich California, which follows Payton Hobart in his ambition to become US President, but first he must win his High School election where all the candidates will do anything to win. The show stars Dear Evan Hansen’s Ben Platt alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Bette Midler. Actor and writer Dolly Wells discusses directing her first feature film Good Posture, and working with her long-time collaborator and best friend Emily Mortimer, with whom she also made the hit HBO TV series Doll & Em. Presenter John Wilson Producer Jerome Weatherald

Quentin Tarantino's 9th offering to the world (he's said he'll only do 10, then retire from directing) is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, part fable, part historical love letter to LA in the 60s. It deals with the point when The Manson Family drove a stake through the heart of the 1960s peace and love movement. Actually is a play by Annie Ziegler at London's Trafalgar Studios, dealing with the aftermath of an accusation of rape on a college campus Dora Maurer was born in Hungary in 1936 and has a retrospective exhibition at Tate Modern, looking at more than 70 years of diverse creativity Tea Obreht won a slew of the most prestigious literary prizes for her previous (debut) novel. Her latest, just published, is Inland, a story about pioneers in America and the camel corps Andrew Davies is well known for his highly-acclaimed TV adaptations of classic literary works. He has just made Sanditon for ITV, based on the barely-begun work Jane Austen was writing when she died. He has said that he said all her material in the first half of the first episode, but the series runs to 8 episodes; how Austen-esque can it be? Tom Sutcliffe's guests are Stephanie Merritt, Ryan Gilbey ad Karen Krizanovich. The producer is Oliver Jones Podcast Extra recommendations: Karen: Dearly Departed podcast Ryan: The work of Horace Ove Stephanie: Pericles at London's Globe Theatre Tom: Tom Holland's Dominion and Peter Sedgley's Colour Cycle 3

Booksmart stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever join Anna for a special episode celebrating Olivia Wilde's terrific new comedy about two friends looking for a party. Meanwhile, film critic Karen Krizanovich joins Girls On Film to review the movie and share hilarious highlights. This episode was recorded at the Mayfair studios of Cameo, a female-run audio production house & broadcast PR consultancy. For more info, go to www.cameopro.com.  Girls on Film is an HLA production, produced by Hedda Archbold and Jane Long.

Is it time to challenge stereotypical ideas about male and female sexual desire? We hear from women who think so. According to Dr Wednesday Martin research in recent years has suggested that much of what we've been told by scientists is untrue, for instance the assertions that men have a stronger libido than women and that men struggle with monogamy more than women do. She joins award-winning comedian and playwright Fran Bushe to discussIt's a week since Theresa May announced her resignation as Conservative Party Leader – we look at the reaction to her stepping down and discuss the news highlights of the week with director of Civil Exchange, Caroline Slocock, Co-founder and editor of Black Ballad, Tobi Oredein and journalist Sonia Sodha.When we talk about men and women's levels of sexual desire, do we too often default to using narrow, stereotypical categories? According to Dr Wednesday Martin research in recent years has suggested that much of what we've been told by scientists up till now is untrue, for instance the assertions that men have a stronger libido than women and that men struggle with monogamy more than women do. She joins award-winning comedian and playwright Fran Bushe to discuss.Booksmart is a new film about best friends and academic overachievers Amy and Molly who on the eve of their graduation from school discover they may have spent too much time studying and not enough time partying. It has been described as one of the most perfect coming-of-age films. We speak to the journalist and writer Karen Krizanovich and film student Sophie Foxley.Presenter: Jenni Murray Producer: Helen Fitzhenry

Keanu Reeves returns to cinemas in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, reprising his role as the super-assassin. He takes pride in performing most of the action scenes and discusses working with the director Chad Stahelski, himself a former stuntman. Paul Gambaccini remembers the singer-turned-movie-star Doris Day whose death at the age of 97 was announced today. Research recently published in the British Medical Journal reports that regular sexual activity between couples is on the decline. The authors cite 'diversionary stimuli' such as smartphones and Netflix as distractions that could be impeding intimacy. Culture writers Louis Wise and Karen Krizanovich explore whether art can function as an effective aphrodisiac. Presenter Shahidha Bari Producer Jerome Weatherald

Ben Rylan and film critics Tim Robey and Karen Krizanovich dissect the highs and the lows of this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Robert Bound, Ben Rylan and Karen Krizanovich discuss the politics and prosthetics of ‘Vice’, Adam McKay’s new biopic of former US vice-president Dick Cheney.

Karen Krizanovich explains the appeal of three of the biggest recent hit TV releases still provoking discussion: Bird Box and Sex Education on Netflix, and Bros: After the Screaming Stops on BBC iPlayer.The contemporary video artist Bill Viola has been paired with the Renaissance master Michelangelo in the Royal Academy's new exhibition, Bill Viola/Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth. It sets out to show the preoccupation of both artists with the nature of human experience and existence. Critic Waldemar Januszczak gives his response to the exhibition and its thesis.The Art Fund, the charity that raises money to acquire art for the nation, has revealed that it is to disband its volunteer network by the end of the year. Its director Stephen Deuchar explains the decision.The death has been announced of the great literary editor and writer Diana Athill. She worked with many celebrated authors including Jean Rhys, Molly Keane and VS Naipaul. In recent decades she became known as a brilliant and unsentimental writer of memoir. The writer Damian Barr was a close friend, and reflects on Athill's life and work.Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Edwina PitmanMain image: Bros

Following on from their hit episode about feminist porn, Anniki Sommerville, Lisa Williams and Cherry Healey discuss sex on screen more broadly: why do film and TV sex scenes so often show a woman coming to a screaming climax after a few thrusts, and does this do a disservice to both women and men? The Shape of Water, Trainwreck, Fleabag and Don't Look Now are among the titles discussed, and they set out ‘the Hotbed test' as a way for listeners to assess how accurate a screen sex scene is to real life. Lastly, Lisa interviews Karen Krizanovich, the former Sky magazine sex columnist turned film critic, about the Naughty Nineties, bad advice, growing up with a straight-talking mother, and why she loves Sharon Stone. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Robert Bound talks film and music with film critic Karen Krizanovich and broadcaster Baylen Leonard. Plus: we discuss the merits of a short story and head to Kenya for the global countdown.

Film critics Karen Krizanovich and Tim Robey bring some Hollywood glamour to Midori House as they discuss the latest features to hit the big screen. Plus: we find out about Musicity in Seoul and discuss a controversial festive issue in Amsterdam.

Tom Edwards is joined in the studio by film critics Karen Krizanovich and Jason Solomons to discuss their highlights of this year’s London Film Festival. We also head to the Frankfurt Book Fair to find out about its partnership with Georgia next year.

Kit Harington on playing his own ancestor in Gunpowder, the new BBC1 drama series about the 17th Century plot to blow up Parliament. Kele Okereke, lead singer of Bloc Party, talks to Stig about his new solo album Fatherland, which includes a love duet with Olly Alexander, and he performs live in the studio. As 80's supersoap Dynasty returns with a remake on Netflix, Karen Krizanovich gives her verdict. As artists such as Liam Gallagher, Beck and St Vincent release albums on coloured vinyl discs, is this becoming a new trend?Download today's podcast for an extra live performance by Kele Okereke and an interview with the creators of TV series Porridge, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Timothy Prosser.

As news breaks of a new all-female film version of William Golding's classic Lord of the Flies, the novelist Joanne Harris and film critic Karen Krizanovich join Andrea Catherwood to discuss whether it's a good idea. Patti Cake$ stars Danielle Macdonald as an unlikely rapper with talent but little opportunity. It's the first film for writer-director Geremy Jasper and won a warm reception at the Sundance Film Festival. Critic Mark Eccleston reviews.The American writer Nicole Krauss' books include The History of Love, which became an international bestseller, and Great House - both were shortlisted for the Orange Prize. Ten years ago she was chosen as one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists. Now her first book for 7 years, Forest Dark, is published: a contemplation of identity and shaking off the stories we tell about ourselves. She talks about the novel's characters including 68-year-old former New York lawyer Epstein... and a novelist called Nicole. The Market Theatre is bringing its award-winning production of The Suitcase from Johannesburg to Hull and the northeast. It's about a young couple who leave their village hoping for a better life in Durban. It doesn't work out and when the husband steals a suitcase - with no idea what's inside - life really unravels. It is, says director James Ngcobo, very different from the anti-apartheid, oppositional theatre that made the Market famous around the globe in the years of struggle. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Sarah JohnsonImage: Jheri (played by Siddharth Dhananjay) and Patti Cake$ (played by Danielle Macdonald). Credit: Twentieth Century Fox.

Ben Rylan is joined by film critics Karen Krizanovich and Anna Smith in the studio to see what’s on at the cinema this week. We also head to Amsterdam for Uitmarkt Festival, meet the artist Molly Parkin ahead of her new exhibition and for this week’s global countdown we jump into a German time machine.

Tom Edwards is taken on a trip to the cinema by film critics Karen Krizanovich and Tim Robey as they discuss August’s movie releases, we learn about Maud Russell, a woman whose diary tells stories of high society during the Second World War and we meet Charlie Fink, the former frontman of indie-folk outfit Noah and the Whale, who has set his sights on the stage.

Ben Rylan chats to film critics Karen Krizanovich and Tim Robey about this month’s cinema releases, we get to grips with the latest podcast sensation ‘S-Town’ and we take the temperature of Canada’s music scene. Plus: we discover the must-see theatre production in London this week and the number-one single in the Chinese charts.

Olivier award-winning writer and director behind The Play What I Wrote, The Painkiller and I Can't Sing! The X-Factor The Musical, Sean Foley is serious about comedy. He tells Kirsty why he's brought Moliere to the West End in his new version of The Miser,with a cast of comic heavyweights including Griff Rhys Jones and Lee Mack in his theatrical debut.Controversial new film Elle is a psychological thriller about the fall out after a successful business woman suffers a violent rape in her own home, and is described by its star Isabelle Huppert as 'post-feminist'. Elle is the first feature film in a decade from director Paul Verhoeven known for titles such as Basic Instinct and Showgirls. To discuss the director's complex depiction of women in his films, Kirsty is joined by journalist Karen Krizanovich. As the Olivier Awards nominations are announced, Kirsty speaks to Sonia Friedman whose productions have received a record breaking 31, and to David Babani, artistic director of the self funding Menier Chocolate Factory, who's received 9.Composer Kate Whitley has set Malala Yousafzai's 2013 UN speech to music for a new BBC Radio 3 commission. Speak Out uses extracts from Malala's speech about every girl's right to an education and will be premiered by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales on 8th March and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 the same evening. Kate Whitley explains the significance of this commission and about her involvement with the Multi-Story Orchestra which brings classical music to unexpected places. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Rebecca Armstrong.

This week we review ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ and ‘20th Century Women’, and preview the Berlin Film Festival.

Samira Ahmed talks to percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, who is inviting the residents of Kings Cross, London to help her create a new musical work over the next twelve months. Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, reviews the film Christine, which stars Rebecca Hall as American newscaster Christine Chubbuck, who killed herself live on TV in 1974. Karen Krizanovich discusses the extraordinary television and film career of Mary Tyler Moore, whose death was announced today. British director Garth Jennings, whose previous films include Son of Rambow and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, ventures into the world of animation with the hit American musical comedy Sing. And Andrea Rose reviews a new exhibition at Turner Contemporary Margate, featuring 40 international artists working with knitting, embroidery, weaving and sewing. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Timothy Prosser.

‘La La Land’ just won big at the Golden Globes and hits UK cinemas this week. Karen Krizanovich is in the studio to discuss the appeal of the musical as well as new drama ‘Manchester by the Sea’ and quaint French comedy ‘Irreplaceable’.

Oliver Stone's new film Snowden stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the controversial employee of the National Security Agency in the US who leaked thousands of classified documents to the press in 2013. Science journalist Angela Saini reviews. The Christmas books market has been flooded this year with titles that poke fun at everything from Ladybird to I-Spy books. Author Bruno Vincent explains his modern take on Enid Blyton's The Famous Five series, and journalist Cathy Rentzenbrink discusses the phenomenon that is shaking up the bestseller lists this year.Following the recent reaction from actors about inappropriate behaviour on film sets, writer Karen Krizanovich and actor Malcolm Sinclair give their take on the issue.The artist Wynford Dewhurst, born in Manchester in 1864, was a proud Brit and a devoted Francophile. He was a conservative by nature who championed Impressionism at the time it was regarded as a radical art movement. Dewhurst was passionate about the work of Claude Monet and his mastery of Monet's technique led to him being dubbed Manchester's Monet. Curator Roger Brown discusses an artist who played an important role in opening British minds to the Impressionists.Presenter Samira Ahmed Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Matthew Sweet looks at today's announcement of this year's Oscar nominations focusing on the politics of the foreign film awards with critics Ian Christie, Karen Krizanovich and Phillip Bergson. TV dramatist Russell T Davies discusses his new projects for Channel 4, E4 and 4OD, Cucumber, Banana and Tofu which explore the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life.