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Colin Firth; Hostages

Arts news with Kirsty Lang, including Colin Firth on The Railway Man, new TV drama Hostages, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sound of 2014 winner Sam Smith, and a tour of stage designer Es Devlin's studio.

With Kirsty Lang.

Colin Firth talks about his new film, The Railway Man, a true story in which he plays Eric Lomax, a British Army officer who is tormented as a prisoner in a Japanese labour camp during World War II. Decades later, Eric learns that the Japanese interpreter he holds responsible for much of his treatment is still alive, and sets out to confront him. Colin also considers the fine art of pretending to be patrician - and Paddington Bear as Mr Darcy.
Hostages is a new US TV drama, hot on the heels of Â鶹ԼÅÄland and - like it - based upon an Israeli TV series. Hostages stars Toni Collette as a top surgeon in Washington DC, who - together with her family - gets caught up in the middle of a grand political conspiracy. Sarah Crompton, arts editor of the Telegraph, reviews.

Es Devlin is a stage designer whose work has ranged from west end theatre productions, to designing the London Olympics closing ceremony, and creating tour-sets for artists including Kanye West, Pet Shop Boys and Take That. Es takes Kirsty around her studio where she is preparing work for Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House, Harry Hill's new musical I Can't Sing and Miley Cyrus's upcoming tour. She discusses working in genres as diverse as opera, theatre and pop music, and why she feels stage directors should get more credit.

Singer Sam Smith is tipped for success after winning Â鶹ԼÅÄ's Sound Of 2014; previous winners include Adele, Jessie J and Haim. Smith, who topped the charts in 2013 with his Naughty Boy collaboration, La La La, is also the winner of the BRIT Critics' Choice. He talks to Kirsty about his reaction to receiving both awards and his plans for the year ahead.

Producer: Rebecca Nicholson.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Colin Firth - The Railway Man

    Duration: 10:11

  • Hostages

    Duration: 04:24

  • Sam Smith - winner of Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sound Of 2014

    Duration: 04:47

  • Es Devlin

    Duration: 08:24

Es Devlin

Es Devlin

Designer Es Devlin with Kirsty Lang.


Devlin has created stage sets forÌýAmerican Psycho - currently at The Almeida Theatre in London; the X-Factor musical written by Harry Hill,ÌýI Can’t Sing, which opens at the end of February; Don Giovanni which opens on 1 February at the Royal Opera HouseÌýand Miley Cyrus’sÌýtour which comes to the UK in May 2014.

Ìý


The Railway Man

Main image of Colin Firth in , which is out in selected UK cinemas from today, Friday 10 January 2014, certificate 15.Ìý

Hostages

The US drama begins from tomorrow, Saturday 14 January, at 9.00pm on Channel 4.

Â鶹ԼÅÄ - Sound Of 2014 winner

The winner, chosen from a longlist of 15 most exciting new acts, is singer songwriter Sam Smith.

debut single Money on My Mind is released on 16 Feb and hisÌýalbum In The Lonely Hour will be released on 26 May 2014.Ìý

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Lang
Interviewed Guest Colin Firth
Interviewed Guest Sarah Crompton
Interviewed Guest Es Devlin
Interviewed Guest Sam Smith
Producer Rebecca Nicholson

Broadcast

  • Fri 10 Jan 2014 19:15

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