Mark Lawson Talks to...

Mark Lawson talks to Brian Cox, ahead of his lead role in the BBC4 Westminster drama, On Expenses. In this candid interview, Cox talks about his passion for portraying complex and difficult characters, but also about his personal psychological battles and the low point in his career when he almost gave up acting.

Mark Lawson talks to the enfant terrible of the British art world, Tracey Emin, famed for her unmade bed and the tent embroidered with the names of everyone she had ever slept with. The 1990s wild child talks in detail about her unconventional childhood and the traumatic adolescent experiences which inspired much of her controversial work.

Veteran 'home economist' Marguerite Patten reflects on nine decades of cookery. From learning to cook as a child, to being one of the first celebrity TV chefs to her performances at the Palladium, to writing over 170 books, she explains what has motivated her to keep going and how, in her early 90s, she shows little sign of slowing down.

Claudia Roden, the cookery writer who brought us Middle Eastern recipes long before couscous and houmous were on every supermarket shelf, talks to Mark Lawson about her memories of growing up Jewish in Cairo in the 1930s, the true origins of pasta, and going kosher for her award-winning Book of Jewish Food.

Mark Lawson talks to the award-winning actor Timothy Spall about his life and career. Spall reflects on his working-class roots and the joys and anxieties of being a 'professional depicter', as well as his personal fight with leukaemia. He rose to prominence in classic stage and television drama, but it was his work with director Mike Leigh that established him as one of the country's best-loved character actors in films such as Life is Sweet and Secrets and Lies. His sensitive and humane performances as Britain's last hangman Albert Pierrepoint and Dickens's Fagin speak of his fascination with the human condition and his desire to play all sorts of funny looking people.

Mark Lawson talks to notorious literary bad boy Martin Amis ahead of the BBC dramatisation of his book Money. In this revealing interview Amis speaks candidly about his relationship with his father Kingsley Amis, which survived the breakup of his parents' marriage and his father's disinterest in reading Martin's books. Amis also reveals how his sister Sally was a 'victim of the sexual revolution' whose consequent struggles in life influenced his latest book The Pregnant Widow.

Mark Lawson talks to the Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave about her life and career. She reflects on her legendary acting family, political activism and the loss of her daughter, actress Natasha Richardson. Redgrave rose to prominence as a Shakespearean heroine before becoming a key part of the 1960s New Wave film movement. After a succession of challenging stage and film roles she remains one of our finest dramatic actresses, as renowned for her humanitarian concerns as her performances.

Renowned broadcaster and satirist David Frost talks about his life and career.

Mark Lawson talks to the internationally-acclaimed actress Julie Walters about her life and extraordinary career. In this fascinating interview she explores her working class roots, struggles with self-confidence and finding peace at 60. Walters rose to prominence as a comic actress best known for her collaboration with Victoria Wood, before embarking on a succession of stage and film roles that catapulted her into the nation's heart. She remains one of our most revered actresses whose recent biographical performances as Mary Whitehouse, Mo Mowlam and euthanasia campaigner Anne Turner have cemented her position as one of the most versatile and celebrated actresses of her generation.

Mark Lawson talks to the much-loved actress Alison Steadman about her life and career. In this rare in-depth interview she explores her early gift for mimicry, passion for improvisation and her joy of working with some of the greatest writers in the country. Steadman won over both theatre and television audiences alike as the grotesquely comic Essex hostess Beverly in Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party. Alongside her beloved Candice-Marie in Nuts in May, her propensity for sharp wit and characterisation soon established her as a rising star in British television. Steadman has gone on to draw accolades in every decade with standout performances in The Singing Detective, Pride and Prejudice, The Worst Week of My Life and, as another Essex icon, Pamela in Gavin and Stacey.

Mark Lawson talks to the iconic singer Sir Tom Jones about his life in and out of the limelight. Jones reflects on his modest upbringing in a coal mining community from the early pub tours in his native south Wales to achieving international acclaim - and the accompanying pressures of fame. Since the 1960s Jones's unique voice and charisma established him as the quintessential pop star and sex symbol with hits such as It's Not Unusual and What's New Pussycat? After a succession of number one records, he moved to the USA where he hosted television shows and toured tirelessly. For five decades he has remained one of the most recognisable voices in popular music. Given his success at 70, a new album and new image, Sir Tom shares some of his most memorable life experiences and his dreams for the future.

Mark Lawson talks to the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern about his life and career in television drama. In this insightful interview McGovern shares his memories of working-class Liverpool, how his own struggle with speech drove his love of words, and the lasting impact of being 'steeped in Catholicism'. After his breakthrough role on Channel Four's Brookside, McGovern went on to pursue his passion for socially and emotionally powerful stories. His fascination with faith and the human conscience was deftly explored in ITV's Cracker and his interrogation of contemporary issues brought him acclaim for Hillsborough, Dockers and Sunday. Despite a foray into feature films in the controversial Priest, McGovern has remained resolutely smitten with the small screen, most notably in The Lakes, The Street and his latest BBC drama, Accused.

Mark Lawson talks to the revered actor Simon Russell Beale, hailed as 'the greatest actor of his generation'. In this reflective interview, Russell Beale discusses his life on and off stage and the pleasure and pressure of taking on some of the most distinguished roles in history. He offers valuable insights into how he approaches his diverse roles - from princes to psychopaths, boarding school boys to ballerinas - as well as his changing career as he now approaches fifty. Having begun life as a St Pauls chorister, Russell Beale's theatrical prowess was cemented with Best Actor plaudits for Hamlet, Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night, as well as delighting audiences with performances in London Assurance, Spamalot, The Winter's Tale and Deathtrap. Having enthralled television audiences in his BAFTA award-winning drama Dance to the Music of Time, Russell Beale continues to demonstrate his versatility on screen, from performing Sondheim in the BBC Proms and presenting BBC Four's documentary series Sacred Music, to one of his best loved roles as the home secretary in Spooks.