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Nick Park on his Thrill-o-Matic; Othello; Cultural Exchange - Mohsin Hamid

A ride on Nick Park's latest creation the Thrill-o-Matic, Cultural Exchange with Mohsin Hamid, and a review of the National Theatre's new Othello production. With Mark Lawson.

With Mark Lawson

Animator Nick Park has adapted his most famous characters Wallace & Gromit for the small screen, the big screen, the 麻豆社 Proms and now the theme park. He invites Mark to take a turn on his new ride - the Thrill-O-Matic - as it opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

More from the Cultural Exchange project, in which 75 leading creative minds share their passion for a book, film, poem, piece of music or other work of art. Tonight Mohsin Hamid, author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, selects the groundbreaking sci-fi novel Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon.

The 1937 book is a history of life in the universe, in which a human from England is transported out of his body and finds himself able to explore space and other planets. Considered by Arthur C Clarke as one of the finest science fiction books ever written, Star Maker also was loved by Winston Churchill and Virginia Woolf.

Nicholas Hytner gives Othello a modern military setting, in a new staging starring Adrian Lester in the title role, with Rory Kinnear as Iago. Hermione Lee assesses whether this National Theatre production casts a fresh light on the play.

ITV's latest sitcom, Vicious, features Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi as an elderly gay couple, with Frances de la Tour as their best friend. Writer and critic Philip Hoare has watched it and discusses whether Vicious lives up to its name.

Producer Ekene Akalawu.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Adrian Lester

    An interview with Adrian Lester

    Duration: 06:16

  • Nick Park and Wallace & Gromit

    Nick Park and Wallace & Gromit

    Duration: 10:19

  • Vicious

    A review of tv show Vicious

    Duration: 05:13

  • Cultural Exchange: Mohsin Hamid

    Cultural Exchange: Mohsin Hamid

    Duration: 05:59

Wallace & Gromit on the Thrill-O-Matic

Wallace & Gromit on the Thrill-O-Matic
Wallace & Gromit on the Thrill-O-Matic

Mark Lawson and Nick Park in the van

Mark Lawson and Nick Park in the van
Mark Lawson and Nick Park in the van

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Ekene Akalawu
Presenter Mark Lawson
Interviewed Guest Nick Park

Broadcast

  • Wed 24 Apr 2013 19:15

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