Main content

Jonathan Pryce, Far from the Madding Crowd, Ronnie Wood, Frances Bacon

Jonathan Pryce on playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Carey Mulligan in a film version of Far from the Madding Crowd, and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood on his teenage diaries.

With John Wilson.

Jonathan Pryce - whose roles have ranged from King Lear to The Engineer in Miss Saigon - discusses playing Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, a Globe Theatre production in which Jessica is played by Pryce's own daughter. He also tells John why, despite his dislike of fantasy series, he took on the role of the High Sparrow in Game of Thrones.

The new film adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel Far From the Madding Crowd, starring Carey Mulligan, is reviewed by Hardy's biographer Claire Tomalin.

With the news today that two self-portraits by Francis Bacon are going on public display for the first time after being rediscovered in a private collection prior to their auction, we ask Oliver Barker, Sotheby's Senior International Specialist in Contemporary Art, what we should bid for a bit of Bacon.

Plus guitarist Ronnie Wood on the recently discovered diary he wrote when he was 17 and playing with The Birds, 10 years before he joined the Rolling Stones. A limited edition facsimile of the diary is about to be published (Β£495), called How Can It Be? A Rock & Roll Diary. Ronnie Wood looks back over the events of 50 years ago and the characters he mixed with including Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and Pete Townshend.

Producer: Ella-mai Robey.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Jonathan Pryce

    Duration: 08:48

  • Claire Tomalin reviews Far from the Madding Crowd

    Duration: 06:17

  • Frances Bacon self portraits for sale

    Duration: 03:37

  • Ronnie Wood

    Duration: 08:52

Jonathan Pryce

Jonathan Pryce

Jonathan Pryce talks to John about taking on the role of Shylock in .

The Merchant of Venice runs at Shakespeare's Globe until 7 June 2015.

Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood talks to John Wilson about his teenage diaries.

Photo: Jerome Weatherald

Far from the Madding Crowd

Far from the Madding Crowd

A new film adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd is reviewed by Claire Tomalin.

Far from the Madding Crowd is released on Friday 1 May.Β  Certificate 12A.

Frances Bacon

Frances Bacon
Oliver Barker discusses the sale of two Frances Bacon self portraits.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Wilson
Interviewed Guest Jonathan Pryce
Interviewed Guest Claire Tomalin
Interviewed Guest Oliver Barker
Interviewed Guest Ronnie Wood
Producer Ella-mai Robey

Broadcast

  • Mon 27 Apr 2015 19:15

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Arts Digital

The best of British culture live and on demand.

Inspire

Inspire

A season discovering where artists find inspiration and helping listeners get creative.

Podcast