Artsnight to return for fifth series

Topical arts magazine show Artsnight will return to Friday nights on BBC Two for a fifth series, with a host of curators including comedian David Baddiel and Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church just two of the names lined up.

“I loved John Updike and David Bowie, and find it unbearable that, in my opinion, we will never see their like again. But the old art forms are dying as the great purveyors of them die, and the new art forms are small. Great now can only be spelt with a small g.”  David Baddiel

Others lined up to curate include Sir Nicholas Serota, director of Tate art museums and galleries, writer and broadcaster Paul Mason and novelists Lionel Shriver, Meg Rosoff and Val McDermid. The series will also feature an in-depth interview-based profile of rock band Mumford & Sons from award-winning journalist Lynn Barber.

The first episode of Artsnight airson Friday 6th May is curated by David Baddiel and sees the comedian and novelist travel to New York to discover whether the myth of the Great Man, as embodied by huge priapic figures such as Picasso, Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer and Jackson Pollock, has become untenable. David says:  In other episodes, Sir Nicholas Serota asks why does contemporary art matter, Paul Mason curates his pick from the international roster of writers and thinkers at this year’s Hay Festival and Charlotte Church investigates the creative possibilities of the voice.

“I am delighted to announce Artsnight’s return for a fifth series on Friday nights on BBC Two. This series again offers the best of topical arts with thought-provoking curators from across the cultural world, from novelist Val McDermid and singer Charlotte Church to Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate Art Museums and Galleries and an interview with Mumford and Sons from award-winning journalist Lynn Barber, hopefully we will be offering something for everyone.” – Mark Bell, Head of Arts Commissioning TV

Artsnight piloted in February 2015 with four episodes, followed by a second series in June 2015 for six episodes, a third series of twelve episodes in September 2015 and a fourth series of seven episodes in January 2016. The series editor is Janet Lee and it was commissioned by Mark Bell, Head of Arts Commissioning.