Nihal Arthanayake to front new Sunday evening interview show and extended Headliners podcast

May 20 – BBC Radio 5 Live is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new show hosted by Nihal Arthanayake.

He will front a new Sunday evening show (8pm-10pm) for unrivalled long form interviews into the worlds of art, books, sport, music, film and TV.

Nihal’s Headliners podcast is being extended too with additional and exclusive material that won’t be heard on the Sunday programme. He will depart his current afternoon slot to present the new show.

Nihal is one of the country’s best interviewers and consistently creates the most engaging and fascinating conversations with some of the biggest names in arts and culture.

The new show continues this in a new slot where Nihal will bring his unique blend of insight, wit and curiosity to Sunday evenings.

This format gives more time for in-depth, one-to-one conversations and thought-provoking discussions with a host of big-name guests.

In the past Nihal has interviewed high profile guests including Sir Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Geri Halliwell-Horner and KSI, and listeners can expect to hear from this calibre of guest on the new programme.

These interviews will also be released in the Headliners podcast each week on BBC Sounds.

Nihal Arthanayake says: “I’m incredibly excited to have been given my own space on BBC Radio 5 Live to purely do what I love most about broadcasting, in-depth interviews with fascinating people. I want to create something distinct and unique for a new audience on Sunday evenings as well as my podcast. I want both to become a time for my listeners to be inspired and celebrate creativity and culture in all its forms.”

Heidi Dawson, Controller, BBC Radio 5 Live, says: “Nihal is an outstanding broadcaster and interviewer, and this new programme gives him the opportunity for to showcase the best long form interviews that he is so good at.

“The brilliant Headliners podcast is also going to be supersized – packed with all the interviews from the show plus exclusive unheard extras from the guests.”

Further details on the schedule will be announced in due course.