Entertainment Headlines
Argentina rock star Spinetta dies
Argentine rock musician Luis Alberto Spinetta dies aged 62 after suffering lung cancer.
Berlin to open with French drama
A drama set around the French Revolution, starring Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette, will launch the Berlin Film Festival later.
VIDEO: James Marsh on his IRA thriller
British filmmaker James Marsh's new film Shadow Dancer is to be screened at the Berlin Film Festival.
Connolly lands Hobbit dwarf role
Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly will play a dwarf warrior in Peter Jackson's Hobbit films, the director announces.
Tom Hiddleston on his Oscar double
Tom Hiddleston "enormously proud" of being in two films up for best picture
VIDEO: 'Ham?' Pork lunch angers Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is busy a global star, but she took time out from her hectic schedule to have a chat with BBC Breakfast's Bill Turnbull about her latest film, The Muppets.
Medical drama House to end run
The show, which stars British actor Hugh Laurie, will finish after the current eighth season ends.
Get To Know The Song Of The Year Nominees: Mumford And Sons' 'The Cave'
The band's performance during last year's awards show gave the song a second life.
VIDEO: Beaton's portraits of the Queen
How photographer Cecil Beaton captured Elizabeth II
Vampire story sucks in film bids
The evacuation of a remote archipelago in 1930 is linked to a vampire infestation in a new comic which could be turned into a film.
VIDEO: Polka dot obsessed at the Tate
One of the most enduring and colourful figures in modern art, Yayoi Kusama, reveals her exhibition at Tate Modern.
Kate attends Lucian Freud preview
The Duchess of Cambridge carries out her first solo public engagement, attending a preview of a new Lucian Freud exhibition in central London.
Singer Tabor sweeps folk awards
Veteran singer June Tabor wins four prizes at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in Salford, three of which are shared with her collaborators The Oysterband.
VIDEO: Bankski: Russia's mystery street artist
The mysterious Russian street artist, 'Pavel 183', is being compared to Britain's Banksy.
Thistle And Shamrock: Songs Of Robert Burns
Hear a variety of artists in the intoxicating embrace of the Scottish bard's songs, including Rod Paterson, June Tabor and Eddi Reader.
China's Demolition Derby Turns History Into Rubble
Historic buildings in Beijing are being demolished in the pursuit of quick profit. Even the home of the architect who urged Mao Zedong to preserve Beijing's old city has fallen to the wreckers' ball, sparking considerable outrage. And the epidemic of destruction is spreading to new buildings, too.
A Ballet Dancer's Workout Music? Classical, Of Course
Jared Angle, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, says he loves to listen to Prokofiev, Handel and Philip Glass when he's working out.
On 'Karimba,' Peruvian Band Melds World Sounds
The band Novalima is undeniably Peruvian, but the music on their new album Karimba is infused with sounds from around the world including dub, salsa and club music.
The Dark Romance Of Cults' 'You Know What I Mean'
A classic love story: Boy meets girl, girl's father sabotages boy's fire acrobatics. You know the drill.
In Russia, Punk-Rock Riot Girls Rage Against Putin
Anti-government protests in Russia are taking many forms — one of the latest is a feminist collective's performance in Red Square of a song criticizing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The guerrilla group says it plans more exploits before March's presidential elections.
VIDEO: Michelle Obama's sack race triumph
Michelle Obama has been showing off her fitness prowess in a series of chat show appearances in the US.
A Mom And A Baby Find Out What's Really Rural In California
Most moms probably don't want their babies around pot growers, but San Francisco-based writer-photographer Lisa Hamilton is totally cool with it.
Stage chiller hits the big screen
Harry Potter star is spooked in the Woman in Black
Finding 'Life, Death And Hope' In A Mumbai Slum
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo spent more than three years in Mumbai's Annawadi slum. In her new book, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, she profiles people living in extreme poverty — right in the shadow of luxury hotels.
AUDIO: HMRC 'have egg on face' over Redknapp
Lord Sugar told Radio 5 live that the trial of Harry Redknapp for alleged tax evasion was an attempt by authorities to make an example of a high profile personality, which backfired.
Lovefilm boss moves to Mothercare
Simon Calver is to become the chief executive of Mothercare after seven years as head of online movie rental firm Lovefilm.
Donald Hall: A Poet's View 'Out The Window'
The 83-year-old former poet laureate reflects on how life has changed as he's grown older. "My body causes me trouble when I cross the room, but when I am sitting down writing, I am in my heaven — my old heaven," he says.
Three Gatsby stage plays planned
Three different stage versions of the American classic novel The Great Gatsby are set to take place later this year, it is announced.
VIDEO: Fire destroys TV chef's kitchens
The cookery school kitchens at TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage headquarters in Devon have been severely damaged by fire.
Coogan reaches hacking settlement
Comedian Steve Coogan and ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne are among the latest people to have settled their claims for damages over News of the World phone hacking.
VIDEO: Fry: Judges don't get Twitter
Stephen Fry has said that judges need to understand social media better in terms of the law.
Watch St. Vincent As A Giant Crumbling Sculpture In 'Cheerleader'
Watch the new video for the Strange Mercy track, in which Annie Clark plays an oversized museum sculpture.
In Pictures: Yayoi Kusama retrospective
Yayoi Kusama's dotty retrospective at the Tate
Chuck Prophet's 'Beautiful' Homage To San Francisco
Prophet has described his new album, Temple Beautiful, as a "love letter to San Francisco." Rock critic Ken Tucker says you don't have to be a Bay Area native to enjoy Prophet's melodies.
VIDEO: Dame Judi Dench on the red carpet
Dame Judi Dench attended the premiere of her new film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in London on Tuesday night.
Nuclear power plant in jelly bid
A Caithness nuclear power plant's dome, the SS Great Britain and Belgrave Hall Museum are in the running for a jelly replica.
Two Rowdy Talk Shows Showcase Vintage Humor
Both The David Susskind Show and The Sid Caesar Show featured large, unwieldy guest rosters and entertaining, timely jokes. A vintage episode of Susskind's show and a reunion of Caesar's writers are now available on DVD. TV critic David Bianculli says both offerings are laugh-out-loud funny.
Nickelback lead Juno nominations
Nickelback, Drake and Feist are among the artists nominated for more than one prize at Canada's Juno music awards.
Arctics to play Metallica event
Arctic Monkeys will play at the first Orion festival, being put on by Metallica in the US.
Valentine's Day Song Dedications
On this special Valentine's Day edition of All Songs Considered, our listeners dedicate songs to the people they love.
BBC warned over News Channel cuts
The BBC Trust says that the BBC's 24 hour news channel is reaching record audiences, but warns that budget cuts must not affect its distinctiveness.
'Revolution 2.0': How Social Media Toppled A Dictator
Egyptian activist Wael Ghonim offers a rousing firsthand account of the Egyptian popular uprising and the power of social media to catalyze political change.
Lembit Opik stars in music video
Former Liberal Democrat MP Lemit Opik is the star of a new music video by unsigned band The Good Suns.
Simpsons fans attempt TV record
Fans of the US TV show will try to break the record for marathon TV viewing this week.
VIDEO: Folk acts prepare for awards night
Acts prepare for Radio Two Folk awards in Manchester
Mars-Jones wins Hatchet Job prize
Critic Adam Mars-Jones wins the inaugural Hatchet Job of the Year award for his scathing review of Michael Cunningham's latest book, By Nightfall.
VIDEO: Tatum: No risks in Hollywood
The Vow stars Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams talk music and the lack of originality in Hollywood.
Dead Skeletons: A Spiritual Battle Song
"Dead Mantra" always returns to its core sentiment: that "he who fears death cannot enjoy life."
Stand-up comedy Qatari-style
Is Qatar ready for stand-up comedy?
GPU helps put Muppets on screen
How a graphics chip advances aided the puppets' return
