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In Confidence
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Intimate celebrity interview show
In Confidence
Tracey Emin
In Confidence
Stephen Fry
In Confidence
Sheila Hancock
In Confidence
Christopher Hitchens
In Confidence
Cleo Laine
In Confidence
Jackie Mason
In Confidence
Mike Leigh
In Confidence
Peter Hitchens
In Confidence
Shirley Williams
In Confidence
Andre Previn
In Confidence
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
In Confidence
Artist Damien Hirst is the first guest under the unwavering analytical gaze of Laurie Taylor
In Confidence
Think 'Hirst' and you think 'dead animal in a tank' - Damien is well-known for his Natural History series; animals, such as a cow, sheep or a shark, preserved in formaldehyde
In Confidence
As well as giving a fresh angle on taxidermy, Hirst’s work became synonymous with the exciting and distinctive era of British Art of the late 80s, known as the YBAs – the Young British Artists
In Confidence
Pop sensation Lily Allen knocked on record company doors from the age of 16 - her cold calling paid off with a record deal from Warners in 2002
In Confidence
Lily first commandeered the public stage in July 2006, a fully formed phenomenon with a song that would help define that summer, the hugely infectious 'Smile'
In Confidence
By the time Lily released her debut album, 'Alright, Still', her stardom was solidified and the lovable Londoner's public persona cemented
In Confidence
Born Clinton Richard Dawkins in 1941 in Kenya, Dawkins attended Balliol College, Oxford, to study zoology under Niko Tinbergen, the Dutch Nobel prize-winning ethologist whose work was to be the spark for Dawkins' theories
In Confidence
In his first book, The Selfish Gene, Dawkins developed the ideas of his university tutor, Tinbergen, about survival machines and reworked them to incorporate the ideas of natural selection
In Confidence
Dawkins followed The Selfish Gene with many more books, including The Extended Phenotype and The Blind Watchmaker, the latter winning him a 1986 Royal Society of Literature award
In Confidence
Richard's groundbreaking work was acknowledged In 1995 when he was given an Oxford chair, endowed by Microsoft millionaire Charles Simonyi
In Confidence
Versatile actress Kathy Burke caught the acting bug at 16 when she attended the famous Anna Scher school and landed a film role a year later in Scrubbers, a gritty drama about a girl's borstal
In Confidence
Not satisfied with just an acting career, Kathy stepped into the directing chair with the stage play Mr Thomas (1986) written when she was just 22 and performed by Ray Winstone, known for his "tough guy" roles
In Confidence
Having played small parts in several cult movies and plays during her early 20s, Burke got her big break aged 26 in Harry Enfield's Television Programme
In Confidence
Dr David Starkey was born in 1945, the only child of Quaker parents in Kendal. By the time David was 11 he had read the whole of Dickens and large portions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica
In Confidence
Starkey did his doctoral thesis at Cambridge on Henry VIII and later presented an acclaimed series of programmes on the monarch
In Confidence
Starkey has written on the back of such popular television series as Henry VIII, Elizabeth, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Monarchy, which chronicled English rulers from Anglo-Saxon times
In Confidence
David regularly appears on Radio 4's The Moral Maze and was appointed a CBE in the Queen’s 2007 birthday honours
In Confidence
Jonathan Miller has carved out a career as a satirist, theatre and opera director, medical consultant, sculptor and writer
In Confidence
Jonathan has presented television programmes on science and medicine, directed opera at Glyndebourne, produced stage works at the Old Vic and has shared the stage with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett
In Confidence
Illustrator, political cartoonist and comic artist Martin Rowson created the ambitious 'The Wasteland' and 'The Life and Times of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'
In Confidence
Rowson's political cartoons appear in The Guardian and he is chairman of the British Cartoonists' Association
In Confidence
Rowson's first novel, Snatches, is an exploration of love, art, politics, history. His recent book, Stuff, is a memoir of his parents and his adoption
In Confidence
Laurie Taylor also presents BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thinking Allowed’ where he explores the latest research into how society works
In Confidence
Following an acting career, Laurie Taylor became an English teacher and then joined the Sociology Department of the University of York, where he went on to become Professor of Sociology
In Confidence
Danny Baker
Series 2
In a star-studded second series of probing interviews, Professor Laurie Taylor asks the most poignant of questions as terminally ill Christopher Hitchens looks back on his life and colourful career. The outspoken atheist and journalist who has gleefully lambasted everyone from Bill Clinton to Mother Teresa, was diagnosed with cancer during a book tour promoting his memoir, Hitch 22, in June 2010, however, he looks set to maintain his witty directness until the end.
Tracey Emin has also never been afraid to speak her mind. She’s brazenly exhibited a fragment of her aborted foetus, her dirty knickers and the names of everyone she’s slept with. Nearly 14 years after she fled a Channel 4 interview, drunk and crying for her mum, Taylor quizzes the autobiographical artist.
The success of Stephen Fry’s autobiography proves he has an interesting story to tell. The bi-polar actor, comedian, TV presenter and writer, who was once imprisoned for credit card theft, drives a black taxi for a car, and was best man at Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Laurie’s weddings, also takes his place in Taylor’s hot seat.
The series kickstarts with Shelia Hancock. Also being interviewed are Mike Leigh, Dame Cleo Laine, Peter Hitchens, Baroness Shirley Williams, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Danny Baker, Andre Previn and Jackie Mason.
Stephen Fry: In Confidence
Stephen Fry: In Confidence
Watch: Stephen Fry: In Confidence
Speaking with Laurie Taylor, Stephen Fry discusses the exhausting nature of fame, his mental instabilities, why he doesn't read newspapers and why advert voiceovers aren't beneath him.
Watch: Jackie Mason: In Confidence
Often shocking but never dull, the stand-up comedian discusses his early days as a Rabbi, his YouTube video blogs, the scandals that have dogged his career, and his recent resurgeance.
Watch: Tracey Emin: In Confidence
The feisty Britartist and former wild child discusses her late dad, her art, the inspiration behind My Bed, sex, critics and her rape, abortions and miscarriages, with Laurie Taylor.
Watch: Cleo Laine: In Confidence
In an emotional interview, jazz singer Cleo Laine discusses the concert she gave soon after her husband Sir John Dankworth’s death and their wonderful marriage and career together.
Watch: Danny Baker: In Confidence
The outspoken broadcaster and comedy writer discusses his ousting from Pets Win Prizes, his fabricated Paul Weller interview, and why it's better to the write jokes than perform them.
Watch: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies: In Confidence
The Queen's Master of Music reveals how he ridiculed his headmaster with music, why his audience walked out on his conducting debut, and what inspired his best works.
Watch: Christopher Hitchens: In Confidence
Laurie Taylor questions the terminally-ill atheist and writer about the Iraq War, his rivalry with brother Peter, Christianity and the scores he still has to settle.
Watch: Peter Hitchens: In Confidence
Laurie Taylor probes the pro-Christian columnist on his burning of a Bible, his feuding with his atheist brother and his thoughts on the Iraq War, Christian morality and his critics.
Watch: Andre Previn: In Confidence
In an intimate interview, pianist, conductor and composer discusses his appearance on the 1971 Morecambe and Wise show, his busy schedule and his plans for the future.
Watch: Shirley Williams: In Confidence
Shirley Williams discusses her brave departure from the Labour Party to help found the SDP, and her mother Vera Brittain, also baring all about her personal ambitions and failings.
Watch: Mike Leigh: In Confidence
The Vera Drake and Abigail’s Party director discusses his extraordinary improvisation technique, his time at RADA, the prevalent themes of his films and his latest production, Ecstasy.
Watch: Sheila Hancock: In Confidence
The award-winning actress discusses the war, her West End career, and being the first woman to direct at The National in an interview with Laurie Taylor.
Series 1
Damien Hirst, Lily Allen, Richard Dawkins and David Starkey take Sky Arts 1 into their confidence, along with other colourful and controversial celebrities in intimate high definition interviews. Host Professor Taylor interrogates his guests about the moments of joy and tragedy, the mistakes and successes, and the flaws and strengths that have defined their lives. From wild child chanteuse Lily Allen to modern renaissance man Dr Jonathan Miller, In Confidence exposes what's behind the façade of ten of Britain's most culturally expressive characters.
Damien Hirst
Video: Watch Damien Hirst on In Confidence >>
Tom Baker
Video: Watch Tom Baker on In Confidence >>
Will Self
Video: Watch Will Self on In Confidence >>
David Starkey
Video: Watch David Starkey on In Confidence >>
Kathy Burke
Video: Watch Kathy Burke on In Confidence >>
Martin Rowson
Video: Watch Martin Rowson on In Confidence >>
Lily Allen
Video: Watch Lily Allen on In Confidence >>
Watch Richard Dawkins reveal a softer side to his fundamental atheism and a deep concern over the future of America:
“I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings or anything like that … I’m all for poetic metaphors and things but I’m also interested in what’s true.”
“America is almost splitting into two species, there’s the sort of educated ones … and then there is the Sarah Palin tendency which actively resents intelligence.”
Prolific and controversial artist Damien Hirst reflects on personal self doubt:
“I think there were a lot of people with their pens ready to put ‘auction is a failure’ ‘artist sells nothing’… After the success I had at the auction, I was definitely expecting them to smash me down the next time I surfaced.”
Outspoken historian Dr David Starkey looks back on his school days and puts his success down to good fortune:
“The day of starting school is one of those I can remember every single minute of it in the sense of rejection, fury and determination that I would never go through this again.”
“Every single thing that has happened to me in the media has happened as a result of accident, I think my entire life really has been accident.”
Interviewer Laurie Taylor describes his revealing conversations with his fascinating guests:
"In Confidence isn’t about the product, or the plug. It's probing. Exploratory. Confrontational, and sometimes uncomfortable. This is television for people who don’t like their meat being cut up for them.”
Follow In Confidence on Twitter to experience the In Confidence treatment – get beyond your everyday façade and share revelatory tweets - what's your earliest memory? What did you always want to be when you grew up? What’s your guilty secret? What do you really think about your neighbours?!
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Latest comments
Dave
Tue 30 March 2010, 12:50
This is a great guest list and im really looking forward to this series!
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Martin Moseling
Tue 18 May 2010, 21:56
I think a lot more research and a little less provocation on the part of Laurie Taylor might have revealed more about Ann Widicombe and left less egg on the professorial face!
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Paul Barnes
Wed 9 June 2010, 13:24
Guests in order of interestingness
Very interesting
1. Tom Baker
2 = Jonathan Miller
2 = Will Self
Interesting
1 = Richard Dawkins
1 = Martin Rowson
2. David Starkey
Quite interesting
1. Kathy Burke
2. Ann Widdecombe
3. Damien Hirst
Not very interesting
Lily Allen
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faith
Wed 16 June 2010, 09:38
Why can’t I access Richard Dawkins’ interview?
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Andrew Harkin
Sat 26 March 2011, 17:32
Why is your website so bloody difficult to navigate? I wanted to know who was on the ‘In Interview’ series,and when each programme was due to be shown. I still don’t know! Am I meant to guess? Why can’t you just provide a series link like BBC4 do?
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Juliette Goddard
Thu 21 April 2011, 15:55
Tracey Emin was fantastic
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John Reilly
Sat 23 April 2011, 06:11
Just watched the Peter Hitchens interview. It was really good to have the opportunity to hear Peter expand on his views in a considered and genial fashion. Fascinating. (Much like the interview with his brother)
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Emma C
Wed 11 May 2011, 09:21
Echo Andrew Harkin of 26 March - could you have made your website any more impenetrable? Perhaps ask a guinea pig to use it and demonstrate just how much hard work it is…
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Alan Mitchell
Sat 14 May 2011, 12:02
A link that is easy to use would make so much sense
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Thomas Sturrock
Sun 22 May 2011, 14:22
I have tried for weeks to use the search function on my Sky+ HD box to find the programme In Confidence. I was particularly interested in the programme with Tracey Emin. As a result of the series name starting with the name of the guest the series itself could not be found unless a guest name was known in the actual week of the search. For the search function on the Sky+ HD box to work properly the name of the programme, I believe should have been In Confidence - xxx xxxxx and not xxx xxxxx - In Confidence.
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Bright27Cheryl
Sun 1 January 2012, 14:00
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