Front Row Folgen

25 years after Joanne Harris introduced readers to the soothing delights of Chocolat, she's released her new book Vianne. It’s the prequel that explains how her heroine found her way into the world of high end French confectionery. A new exhibition at the British Museum sheds light on the provenance of popular images of the Hindu god Ganesha, the Buddha and Jain enlightened teachers. We talk to curator Sushma Jansari about Ancient India: living traditions, alongside expert in Indian ritual art, Professor Partha Mitter.The 2025 Cannes Film Festival is well underway. We get the latest from Daily Telegraph Critic, Robbie Collin.Rumours abound about the planned axing of the Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Alison Cole, head of the Cultural Policy Unit think tank, tells us what this could mean for the arts.Presenter Samira Ahmed. Producer Harry Graham

David Benedict and Viv Groskop review Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are, a surreal story of brunch and existential dread; French film about about grassroots music, The Marching Band and Daniel Kehlmann’s new novel, The Director, about a real life German filmmaker navigating the Third Reich.Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Simon Richardson

Colin Bulfield, Executive Producer of the new film Ocean With Attenborough, talks about working with the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker Sir David Attenborough on his latest project, an exploration of the vital importance of healthy oceans to our planet which is in cinemas around the country now. Current exhibitions at V&A Dundee and the British Library in London shed light on the history and future of garden design. Curator James Wylie and academic and author Becca Voelcker discuss how gardens reflect society, how they have influenced other fields such as art and philosophy, and what gardens might look like in 50 years time. And librettist Emma Jenkins and composer Toby Hession talk about how their new operetta for Scottish Opera and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, A Matter of Misconduct!, which is inspired by political scandals, the No.9 Downing Street press briefing room and classic British comedy from Hancock's Half Hour to The Thick of It. Presenter: Kirsty Wark Producer: Mark Crossan