HARDtalk

Last updated

HARDtalk
Hardtalk2.jpg
Presented byCurrent:
Stephen Sackur
Zeinab Badawi
Sarah Montague
Former:
Tim Sebastian (1997–2006)
Theme music composer David Lowe
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationsStudio TC7, Television Centre (1997–2012)
Studio D, Broadcasting House (2012–2025)
EditorLisa Baxter
Running time25 minutes
Original release
Network
Release31 March 1997 (1997-03-31) –
26 March 2025 (2025-03-26)
Related
  • Hardtalk Extra
  • Hardtalk Extra Time

HARDtalk is a BBC television and radio programme which was broadcast on the British and international feeds of the BBC News channel, and on the BBC World Service, from 31 March 1997 to 26 March 2025.

Contents

Broadcast times and days vary, depending on broadcasting platform and geographic location. [1] [2] [3] HARDtalk is also available on BBC iPlayer in the UK only [4] and as a podcast via BBC Sounds. [5]

On 15 October 2024, the BBC announced that as part of a series of cuts to its news department, HARDtalk would no longer be broadcast, along with the tech review show Click . Host Stephen Sackur said the news was "depressing" [for the future of in-depth interviews that] "hold to account those who all too often avoid accountability in their own countries". [6] The programme aired its final episode on television on 26 March 2025 [7] while its last radio episode was aired two days later on 28 March. [8] The radio version was succeeded by a similar programme titled The Interview.

Format

HARDtalk provided "in-depth interviews with hard-hitting questions and sensitive topics being covered as famous personalities from all walks of life talk about the highs and lows in their lives." [9]

Presenters and interviewees

Final presenters of HARDtalk
Stephen Sackur, Journalist & Presenter (17167554681).jpg
Sackur
Zeinab Badawi 02.jpg
Badawi
Sarah Montague -NHS Confederation annual conference, Manchester-11July2011.jpg
Montague

Presenters

Tim Sebastian was the original presenter of HARDtalk when the programme launched in March 1997. [10] He hosted the show till March 2007. [11] From 2007 until its cancellation, HARDtalk was predominantly presented by interviewer Stephen Sackur, who joined in 2006. Other presenters included Zeinab Badawi and Sarah Montague. [10] [12]

Selected interviewees

HARDtalk has interviewed many public figures of historical significance, including:

Spin-offs

HARDtalk Extra

HARDtalk Extra—a series of "interviews with people from the arts and culture," predominantly presented by Gavin Esler.

Interviewees include: Brenda Blethyn, Robin Gibb, Debbie Harry, Marie Helvin, Grayson Perry, Ian Rankin, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Patrick Swayze. [39] [40]

HARDtalk Extra Time

HARDtalk Extra Time—a spin-off of "in-depth interviews with the athletes, coaches, and power brokers in the world of sport."

Among those interviewed by Rob Bonnet, include: Nicola Adams, Roger Bannister, Jonah Lomu, David Rudisha, and Murray Walker. [41] [42]

References

  1. ↑ "HARDtalk on the BBC News Channel". BBC.
  2. ↑ "HARDtalk on BBC World News". BBC.
  3. ↑ "HARDtalk on BBC World Service". BBC.
  4. ↑ "HARDtalk available on BBC iPlayer". BBC.
  5. ↑ "HARDtalk program website via the BBC World Service". BBC.
  6. ↑ "BBC News job losses aim to save £24m". BBC News.
  7. ↑ "BBC News - HARDtalk, Finale: The Interviews". 25 March 2025. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "HARDtalk: Coda". 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "HARDtalk format". BBC.
  10. 1 2 Fletcher, Martin (3 April 2017). "Meet Stephen Sackur – the world famous interviewer who's tougher than Paxman". Radio Times .
  11. ↑ Tim Sebastian (1 March 2007). "Final farewell". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  12. ↑ "Two Decades of HARDtalking - BBC'S flagship interview programme celebrates 20th anniversary". Media Centre. BBC. 22 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Maya Angelou interview on HARDtalk".
  14. ↑ "Kofi Annan talks to Zeinab Badawi". BBC.
  15. ↑ "Benazir Bhutto speaks with HARDtalk". BBC.
  16. ↑ Sackur, Stephen (13 June 2010). "Hugo Chávez grants rare interview to western media". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ "Noam Chomsky speaks to Stephen Sackur". BBC.
  18. ↑ "Michael Collins signs up for HARDtalk interview". BBC.
  19. ↑ "F. W. de Klerk speaks with HARDtalk". BBC.
  20. ↑ "Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talks to Zeinab Badawi". BBC.
  21. ↑ "William Frankland signs up for HARDtalk interview". BBC.
  22. ↑ "Mikhail Gorbachev gives HARDtalk interview". BBC.
  23. ↑ "Bernice King interviewed for HARDtalk". BBC.
  24. ↑ "Nelson Mandela speaks with HARDtalk". BBC.
  25. ↑ "Mira Marković interviewed for HARDtalk". BBC.
  26. ↑ Administrator (17 May 2008). "BBC 'HardTalk' interview with Dr M". Malaysia Today.
  27. ↑ Webmaster, M. T. (2 October 2018). "MUST WATCH: BBC HARDtalk with Dr Mahathir Mohamad". Malaysia Today.
  28. ↑ "Robert Mugabe interviewed for HARDtalk". BBC.
  29. ↑ "Nadia Murad speaks to Sarah Montague". BBC.
  30. ↑ "Olusegun Obasanjo signs up for HARDtalk". BBC.
  31. ↑ "Teodoro Obiang gives HARDtalk interview". BBC.
  32. ↑ "Stephen Sackur speaks to Michel Platini". BBC.
  33. ↑ "Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to Zeinab Badawi". BBC.
  34. ↑ "Thein Sein gives HARDtalk interview". BBC.
  35. ↑ "Nina Simone gives HARDtalk interview". BBC.
  36. ↑ "Hugh Thompson Jr talks with HARDtalk". BBC.
  37. ↑ "Desmond Tutu talks with HARDtalk". BBC.
  38. ↑ "Roger Waters talks with HARDtalk". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  39. ↑ "About HARDtalk Extra". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  40. ↑ "HARDtalk Extra episodes". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  41. ↑ "About HARDtalk Extra Time". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  42. ↑ "HARDtalk Extra Time episodes". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
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