The Culture Show

The Culture Show was a weekly BBC Two magazine programme that ran from 2004 to 2014, covering books, art, film, architecture, music, visual fashion, and the performing arts.

It launched in November 2004 with a 60-minute Thursday evening slot at 7:30pm. Verity Sharp was the first main presenter, sharing duties in the initial run with Kwame Kwei-Armah and Andrew Graham-Dixon. The debut series featured segments on film director Martin Scorsese, conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, the then-obscure indie rock group Kaiser Chiefs, and contemporary visual artist Anselm Kiefer. The launch editor, George Entwistle, had previously edited BBC Two’s flagship current affairs programme *Newsnight*.

Edward Morgan took over as editor in summer 2005. In April 2006, the show moved to Saturday nights, was shortened to 45 minutes, and began regular presentation by Lauren Laverne. It also started producing occasional spin-off specials, including an hour-long interview with Steven Spielberg for his 60th birthday, a programme on Michael Palin’s work, and interviews with Lou Reed and Arcade Fire. In January 2010, the team made a one-hour special covering the launch of BBC Radio 4’s *A History of the World in 100 Objects*.

The main presenter role shifted over time. After a long period with Laverne as anchor, by January 2010 Andrew Graham-Dixon had returned to that position. Other regular presenters and reporters included Mark Kermode, Tom Dyckhoff, Clemency Burton-Hill, Mark Radcliffe, Tim Samuels, Matthew Sweet, Annie Mac, and Danny Robbins. Guest presenters in the 2006/07 series included Stewart Lee (interviewing his hero, comedian Ted Chippington), Frank Skinner (meeting singer Mark E. Smith), author Grace Dent (watching television in her caravan), *Guardian* television columnist Charlie Brooker (criticising Saturday night talent shows), and Russell Brand (presenting a segment on Oxford University). Sue Perkins occasionally presented editions.

Under Edward Morgan’s editorship, each edition included at least one live musical performance. Musical guests in the 2006/07 season included Field Music, Babyshambles, Manic Street Preachers, Underworld, Mika, Faithless, Jarvis Cocker, Sting, Carlos Acosta, Bryan Ferry, Antony and the Johnsons, Paul McCartney, and The Tiger Lillies.