I'd like to start an (un)official Mark Lawson fan club.
The guy who introduces Front Row many nights of the week on R4, 7.15-7.45pm, after the Archers.
He seems to be able to empathise and get the best in interview from a wonderful range of creative folk (unlike say Melvyn Bragg on the old South Bank Show who always seemed either aloof and superior or clumsily matey/crawly with guests. He's better now on R4 doing In Our Time). OK, I realise the overall Front Row programme will have been put together with a production team and over-arching is an all powerful producer/programme editor so I don't pour all the credit for the series on ML.
But he has a great broadcasting voice, it's easy to hear his enthusiasm (or otherwise) in his voice, he seems game for anything, he's always meticulously prepared and well-informed (if he's interviewing an author, he's read the book and knows which bits he likes, unlike the appalling Richard Bacon on R5) I'm a fan!
Are you?
Perhaps we can observe and list on here, the best bits as they are broadcast, week by week.
Tonight he did a truly painful interview with Obama's half-brother, George, a Kenyan gangster (yes, really!) because a play based on him opened tonight in Leicester. The guy couldn't/wouldn't say anything longer than 3 words and refused to answer many of the questions. The team must have wondered if the item was usable. But it was worth hearing and it went out, and ML even wryly back-refrred to it later saying something like "I hope this guest has more to say than the last one!"
Anyone else a fan? I promise I'm not his agent or a family member!
Last three letters contd - 2026
