Mary’s exploration of the world of arts and culture continues as she asks: why do we have to act our age? And what happens when we don’t?\n\nHow does age-blind casting, like Ian McKellen in a new production of Hamlet, change the way we perceive creative work? Former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh has written a play she can perform for the rest of her life – Mary finds out why. Author Lionel Shriver, whose new novel is about a married medical couple who vow to help each other die when they reach 80, explores why her characters change their minds as they age.\n\nAnd if what we wear reflects our age, what does Mary’s love of trainers say about her? Britain’s best loved classicist visits a new sneaker exhibition with cultural historian and fashion expert Shahidha Bari, and together they try on some of the more unusual pairs.
Source: BBC 2
Series 4: 2. When Mary Met Hillary Clinton
In this very special episode of Inside Culture, Mary Beard meets former US Secretary of State, First Lady, senator and presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.\n\nIn a wid ...
17-09-2024
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 3
This week, Mary is inhabiting the worlds of architecture and fashion to analyse how we live now, during a pandemic. With Eddie Izzard, Shahida Bari and Ayesha Hazarika, she disc ...
23-08-2023
BBC 2
Series 5: Episode 5
In the final episode of the series, Mary Beard brings her trademark wit and probing curiosity to an interview with a very special guest - British-Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, w ...
04-04-2022
BBC 2
Series 5: 4. Can Art Save The Planet?
Shahidha Bari teams up with artists, poets, comics and musicians to investigate the role that the arts can play in exploring and processing the most challenging crisis of our ti ...
28-03-2022
BBC 2
Series 5: 3. The Art Of Crying
Mary Beard is joined by the Oscar-winning actor and screenwriter Emma Thompson to talk tears. Together, they dissect some of Emma’s most famous on-screen weeps and explore ...
21-03-2022
BBC 2
Series 5: 2. Back To The 90s
Whether it’s in fashion and music or on our TV and cinema screens, the 90s are well and truly back. Shahidha Bari takes a look at the reasons why. She meets up with Ian Br ...
14-03-2022
BBC 2
Series 5: 1. Women On Top
Mary Beard explores how thousands of years of stories and images stereotyping women have shaped our thinking and what this means for women who are in positions of power today.\n ...
09-03-2022
BBC 2
Series 4: 5. Down Under
Mary Beard investigates the ongoing history of creative connection and cultural exchange between Britain and Australia and asks what that relationship looks like today.\n\nMary ...
09-11-2021
BBC 2
Series 4: 4. How We Read
Shahidha Bari takes the reins for this episode of Inside Culture, which celebrates the joy of books and asks whether the way we read is changing.\n\nIn Leicester, Shahidha drops ...
01-11-2021
BBC 2
Series 4: 3. Back To School
Mary Beard asks why we are drawn to literature, theatre, TV and film that take us ‘back to school’.\n\nMary meets ex-teacher and best-selling author Philip Pullman t ...
25-10-2021
BBC 2
Series 2: 5. Other Worlds
Mary Beard focuses on other worlds, by talking to cultural creatives who make them for our exploration and delight. Mary talks to Booker Prize winner Marlon James about his Dark ...
08-03-2021
BBC 2
Series 5: 2. Back To The 90s
Whether it’s in fashion and music or on our TV and cinema screens, the 90s are well and truly back. Shahidha Bari takes a look at the reasons why. She meets up with Ian Br ...
14-03-2022
BBC 2
Series 4: 5. Down Under
Mary Beard investigates the ongoing history of creative connection and cultural exchange between Britain and Australia and asks what that relationship looks like today.\n\nMary ...
09-11-2021
BBC 2
Series 3: Episode 5
In the final episode of the series, Mary Beard hands over the reins to cultural historian Shahidha Bari. She explores the importance of self-expression: from the clothes we wear ...
30-06-2021
BBC 2
Series 1: Episode 3
This week, Mary is inhabiting the worlds of architecture and fashion to analyse how we live now, during a pandemic. With Eddie Izzard, Shahida Bari and Ayesha Hazarika, she disc ...
23-08-2023
BBC 2
Series 3: Episode 2
Mary Beard embraces finally being on the move - whilst acknowledging we are not going very far!\n\nWhat do we lose from arts and culture when we cannot travel? Mary meets James ...
09-06-2021
BBC 2
Series 4: 2. When Mary Met Hillary Clinton
In this very special episode of Inside Culture, Mary Beard meets former US Secretary of State, First Lady, senator and presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.\n\nIn a wid ...
17-09-2024
BBC 2
Series 2: Episode 6
In a special programme to end this series, Mary is in conversation with British writer Jed Mercurio. He’s the mastermind behind hit show Line of Duty, returning for a new ...
18-03-2021
BBC 2
Series 5: 3. The Art Of Crying
Mary Beard is joined by the Oscar-winning actor and screenwriter Emma Thompson to talk tears. Together, they dissect some of Emma’s most famous on-screen weeps and explore ...
21-03-2022
BBC 2
Series 4: 4. How We Read
Shahidha Bari takes the reins for this episode of Inside Culture, which celebrates the joy of books and asks whether the way we read is changing.\n\nIn Leicester, Shahidha drops ...
01-11-2021
BBC 2