HARDtalk explained

Presenter:	Current: Stephen Sackur Zeinab Badawi Sarah Montague Former: Tim Sebastian (1997–2006)
Theme Music Composer:	David Lowe
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Editor:	Lisa Baxter
Location:	Studio TC7, Television Centre (1997–2012) Studio D, Broadcasting House (2012–)
Runtime:	25 minutes
Last Aired:	present

HARDtalk is a BBC television and radio programme broadcast on the UK feed of BBC News channel, on International feed of BBC News channel, and on the BBC World Service.

Broadcast times and days vary, depending on broadcasting platform and geographic location.^{[1] [2] [3]} HARDtalk is also available on BBC iPlayer^[4] and as a podcast via BBC Sounds.^[5]

Format

HARDtalk provides "in-depth interviews with hard-hitting questions and sensitive topics being covered as famous personalities from all walks of life talk about the highs and lows in their lives."^[6]

Presenters and interviewees

Presenters

HARDtalk is predominantly presented by interviewer Stephen Sackur. Other presenters, include Zeinab Badawi and Sarah Montague.

Tim Sebastian was the original presenter when the programme launched in March 1997.^{[7] [8]}

Selected interviewees

HARDtalk has interviewed many public figures of historical significance, including:

• Mahathir Mohamad^{[9] [10]}
• Maya Angelou^[11]
• Kofi Annan^[12]
• Benazir Bhutto^[13]
• Hugo Chávez^[14]
• Noam Chomsky^[15]
• Michael Collins^[16]
• F. W. de Klerk^[17]
• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan^[18]
• William Frankland^[19]
• Mikhail Gorbachev^[20]
• Bernice King^[21]
• Enrico Letta
• Nelson Mandela^[22]
• Mira Marković^[23]
• Robert Mugabe^[24]
• Nadia Murad^[25]
• Olusegun Obasanjo^[26]
• Teodoro Obiang^[27]
• Cyril Ramaphosa^[28]
• Thein Sein^[29]
• Nina Simone^[30]
• Hugh Thompson, Jr^[31]
• Desmond Tutu^[32]
• Roger Waters^[33]

Spin-offs

HARDtalk Extra

HARDtalk Extra—a series of "interviews with people from the arts and culture," predominantly presented by Gavin Esler.

Interviewees include: Brenda Blethyn, Robin Gibb, Debbie Harry, Marie Helvin, Grayson Perry, Ian Rankin, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Patrick Swayze.^{[34] [35]}

HARDtalk Extra Time

HARDtalk Extra Time—a spin-off of "in-depth interviews with the athletes, coaches, and power brokers in the world of sport."

Among those interviewed by Rob Bonnet, include: Nicola Adams, Roger Bannister, Jonah Lomu, David Rudisha, and Murray Walker.^{[36] [37]}

External links

• • HARDTalk website via the BBC World Service
• Web site: Two Decades of HARDtalking.
• Web site: Meet Stephen Sackur.

Notes and References

1. Web site: HARDtalk on the BBC News Channel. BBC.
2. Web site: HARDtalk on BBC World News. BBC.
3. Web site: HARDtalk on BBC World Service. BBC.
4. Web site: HARDtalk available on BBC iPlayer. BBC.
5. Web site: HARDtalk program website via the BBC World Service. BBC.
6. Web site: HARDtalk format. BBC.
7. Web site: Meet Stephen Sackur – the world famous interviewer who's tougher than Paxman. Martin. Fletcher. Radio Times. 3 April 2017.
8. Web site: Two Decades of HARDtalking - BBC'S flagship interview programme celebrates 20th anniversary. Media Centre. BBC. 22 March 2017.
9. Web site: Administrator . 2008-05-17 . BBC 'HardTalk' interview with Dr M . Malaysia Today . en-US.
10. Web site: Webmaster . M. T. . 2018-10-02 . MUST WATCH: BBC HARDtalk with Dr Mahathir Mohamad . Malaysia Today . en-US.
11. Web site: Maya Angelou interview on HARDtalk.
12. Web site: Kofi Annan talks to Zeinab Badawi. BBC.
13. Web site: Benazir Bhutto speaks with HARDtalk. BBC.
14. Web site: Hugo Chávez grants rare interview to western media. The Guardian. Stephen. Sackur. 13 June 2010.
15. Web site: Noam Chomsky speaks to Stephen Sackur. BBC.
16. Web site: Michael Collins signs up for HARDtalk interview. BBC.
17. Web site: F. W. de Klerk speaks with HARDtalk. BBC.
18. Web site: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talks to Zeinab Badawi. BBC.
19. Web site: William Frankland signs up for HARDtalk interview. BBC.
20. Web site: Mikhail Gorbachev gives HARDtalk interview. BBC.
21. Web site: Bernice King interviewed for HARDtalk. BBC.
22. Web site: Nelson Mandela speaks with HARDtalk. BBC.
23. Web site: Mira Marković interviewed for HARDtalk. BBC.
24. Web site: Robert Mugabe interviewed for HARDtalk. BBC.
25. Web site: Nadia Murad speaks to Sarah Montague. BBC.
26. Web site: Olusegun Obasanjo signs up for HARDtalk. BBC.
27. Web site: Teodoro Obiang gives HARDtalk interview. BBC.
28. Web site: Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to Zeinab Badawi. BBC.
29. Web site: Thein Sein gives HARDtalk interview. BBC.
30. Web site: Nina Simone gives HARDtalk interview. BBC.
31. Web site: Hugh Thompson Jr talks with HARDtalk. BBC.
32. Web site: Desmond Tutu talks with HARDtalk. BBC.
33. Web site: Roger Waters talks with HARDtalk. BBC. 3 April 2023.
34. Web site: About HARDtalk Extra. bbc.co.uk . BBC.
35. Web site: HARDtalk Extra episodes . bbc.co.uk . BBC.
36. Web site: About HARDtalk Extra Time. bbc.co.uk . BBC.
37. Web site: HARDtalk Extra Time episodes. bbc.co.uk . BBC.