Season 6

Lauren Laverne presents the magazine show which casts a critical eye over the arts. Comedians Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson reveal why phone-ins are ripe for ridicule and preview the new series of their BBC Radio 4 spoof Down the Line. The naughty brothers of British art, Jake and Dinos Chapman , talk to Mark Kermode about their controversial new show at Tate Liverpool, Bad Art for Bad People, and there's a look at how porn culture is entering the mainstream. Plus, Lauren Laverne picks out the five bands to watch out for in including the View and the Brian Jacket Letdown.

Leonardo DiCaprio talks about his controversial new film, Blood Diamond, while presenter Lauren Laverne visits the small seaside town of Anstruther in Fife, home to the Fence Collective and one of Britain's most vibrant alternative music scenes. Mark Kermode meets Christopher Guest and asks him about his new film, For Your Consideration. Andrew Graham-Dixon examines the work of Hogarth and Canaletto, two 18th-century artists who portrayed contemporary life very differently.

This week's smorgasbord of the arts includes a look at what happened when Bill Bailey joined forces with the BBC Concert Orchestra for his cosmic shindig. Comedians Stewart Lee, Phill Jupitus and Robin Ince pay tribute to 1980s comic Ted Chippington. Danny Robins infiltrates the alternative folk scene and actor Patrick Stewart talks to presenter Lauren Laverne about the differing demands of Shakespeare and Star Trek. Plus there's music from pop phenomenon Mika.

The stars of Shaun of the Dead and new movie Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost talk about gun-slinging action movies, and the show goes on the road with new rave pioneers, the Klaxons. Andrew Graham-Dixon reviews Citizens and Kings: Portraits in the Age of Revolution, 1760-1830, the new exhibition at the Royal Academy, and Bat for Lashes play live in the studio. Plus the first of 50 Culture Show plaques is awarded and viewers give their suggestions as to where they think deserves a plaque.

Art critic Ben Lewis expresses grave doubts about the work of artist duo Gilbert and George as their retrospective opens at Tate Modern, while musician Brett Anderson and Janet Street-Porter offer a riposte. Director Michel Gondry talks to Mark Kermode about his next film, The Science of Sleep. Musician Nick Cave talks about his latest project, Grinderman, and there's a behind-the-scenes look as designer Duro Olowu launches his new collection.

Everything Is Average Nowadays: at least according to Kaiser Chiefs' eagerly anticipated second album - they explain why. Ahead of tomorrow's Oscars ceremony, Mark Kermode offers his highly coveted alternative awards, the Kermodes, to those he thinks deserve praise but who won't be acknowledged by the Academy. Tom Dyckoff assesses architect David Adjaye 's ambition to build spaces that bring communities together, and acclaimed tenor Juan Diego Florez speaks to Zina Saro-Wiwa . Presented by Lauren Laverne.

Bryan Ferry chats with Lauren Laverne about his new album of Bob Dylan covers, the return of Roxy Music, and also performs live in the studio. Verity Sharp talks to composer Thomas Ades in his first TV interview for seven years, David Lynch discusses an exhibition of his paintings and his latest film Inland Empire with Andrew Graham-Dixon , Maximo Park give a sneak preview of their second album, and there's a look at the battle between two islands to be known as the inspiration for Father Ted's Craggy Island.

The smorgasbord of the arts returns with a typically diverse menu, which includes Rowan Atkinson discussing his new film Mr Bean 's Holiday, Canadian rock band Arcade Fire playing from their new album, Neon Bible, and violinist Maxim Vengerov giving a special performance. Plus there's a look behind the scenes at the Glasgow Comedy Festival.

This week art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon meets up with land artist Andy Goldsworthy in a Yorkshire field as he prepares for a major new exhibition. Mark Kermode is on the road with Zina Saro-Wiwa to hand out plaques for popular culture hotspots and Damon Gough talks about what it means to be British. With music from singer/songwriter Joan Wasser.

In the last of the current run, mavericks take centre stage. Comedian Frank Skinner takes his life in his hands when he celebrates the 50th birthday of the Fall's irrepressible hell-raiser Mark E Smith. Actor John Simm joins Lauren Laverne at the bar to talk about the last ever episode of Life on Mars (on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC1), while Mark Kermode hits the streets of Nottingham to meet uncompromising film director Shane Meadows for a pint in his local and Andrew Graham-Dixon is in Wakefield for the opening of land artist Andy Goldsworthy 's exhibition. There's also a look at the amazing creations of designer Hussein Chalayan at Paris Fashion Week.

The Canadian art-rockers are notoriously reluctant to give interviews, but Lauren Laverne meets front man Win Butler and his brother Will. Plus there's an exclusive acoustic performance of the title track from the new album Neon Bible and a cover of Guns of Brixton.