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Dustin Hoffman's Quartet reviewed; singer Katy Carr; comedy DVDs

Barry Norman on Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, singer Katy Carr, the pick of stand-up comedy DVDs, the art of the political group photograph, and music for the apocalypse.

With Kirsty Lang.

Barry Norman reviews Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, Quartet. The film is set in a home for retired opera singers and features Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon among the all-star cast.

Katy Carr is a singer, songwriter and aviator. She's half Polish and her album, Paszport, focuses on Polish stories from World War II, including a veteran who escaped from Auschwitz. She reflects on how she turns personal histories into songs.

The release of new DVDs by leading stand-up comedians has become a Christmas tradition. Stephen Armstrong offers his guide to the best of this year's stocking-fillers.

Many of today's newspapers feature a photograph of the Queen and the Cabinet, with the monarch flanked by politicians who are laughing, looking away or unprepared. Jeremy Selwyn, the photographer who took the memorable shot, discusses the art of the group photo.

According to a Mayan prophecy, the world will end on 21 December. Making good use of the remaining time, David Quantick has pulled together a selection of music for an apocalypse.

Producer Olivia Skinner.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Quartet

    Barry Norman reviews Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut 'Quartet'

    Duration: 05:08

  • The Queen and the Cabinet

    Photographer Jeremy Selwyn talks about how he got the shot that dominated the papers today

    Duration: 03:28

  • Katy Carr

    Singer songwriter Katy Carr relects on how her life has shaped her music

    Duration: 09:02

  • Stand-Up DVD's of 2012

    Stephen Armstrong rounds up the best of this years stand-up DVD's

    Duration: 05:38

  • David Quantick

    David Quantick pulls together the best music for an apocalypse

    Duration: 04:27

Stand-Up DVD's 2012

Stephen Armstrong's 2012 recommendations

1. Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern Millican

2. Jack Whitehall Live

3. Frankie Boyle: The Last Days Of Sodom

4. Danny Bhoy: Live At The Festival Theatre

5. Al Murray: The Only Way Is Epic

6. Daniel Sloss Live

7. Rhod Gilbert: The Man With The Flaming Battenberg Tattoo

8. Kevin Hart: Laugh At My Pain and Seriously Funny

9. Stewart Lee: Carpet Remnant World

Broadcast

  • Wed 19 Dec 2012 19:15

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