Hardtalk in 2022

Stephen Sackur looks back at some of Hardtalk’s most compelling interviews of the year

• 23 mins

02/01/2023 GMT

In-depth, hard-hitting interviews with newsworthy personalities.

• 23 mins

Evgenia Kara-Murza: Has Putin neutralised his Russian opponents?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a prominent Russian opposition activist

• 23 mins

Fawad Chaudhry: Is Pakistan heading for economic meltdown?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a senior figure in Imran Khan’s opposition PTI party

• 23 mins

Waheed Arian: Migration in the Western world

Stephen Sackur interviews a British doctor who fled war in Afghanistan as a child

• 23 mins

Boris Bondarev: Speaking out against Putin

A former Russian diplomat who quit his post after the invasion of Ukraine

• 23 mins

Marilyn Stafford: A life in pictures

A 2019 interview with a pioneering photojournalist

• 23 mins

Jagath Weerasinghe: Sri Lanka's bloody past

Zeinab Badawi is in Sri Lanka to talk to an influential artist

• 23 mins

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Is global free trade possible?

An interview with the director general of the World Trade Organization

• 23 mins

Celso Amorim: Is Brazil becoming ungovernable?

Stephen Sackur interviews President Lula’s foreign policy advisor

• 23 mins

Ruben Vardanyan: Nagorno-Karabakh and Putin

Stephen Sackur speaks to the state minister of the disputed enclave

• 23 mins

Dmytro Kuleba: Is the West's hesitation undermining Ukraine?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Ukraine’s foreign minister

• 23 mins

Leopoldo Lopez: Has Venezuela’s opposition been outmanoeuvred?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Leopoldo Lopez, a key leader of Venezuela’s opposition.

• 23 mins

Robert Malley: What next for US policy on Iran?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the US special envoy for Iran

• 23 mins

Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah: How should international aid work?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the boss of Oxfam Great Britain

• 23 mins

Sergey Karaganov: Is Putin placing bets he cannot win?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a Russian foreign policy strategist and sometime Kremlin adviser

• 23 mins

Zsuzsanna Szelényi: How strong is Viktor Orbán's grip on Hungary?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a prominent opponent of Hungary’s Prime Minister

• 23 mins

Pervez Musharraf: Power in Pakistan

A 2014 interview with the former president of Pakistan, who has died aged 79

• 23 mins

Kira Rudik: Can Ukraine win this war?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a Ukrainian MP who leads the opposition party Golos

• 23 mins

Kenneth Roth: Is the fight for human rights being lost?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the man who led Human Rights Watch for three decades

• 23 mins

Mick Lynch: Strife, strikes and workers' rights

Stephen Sackur speaks to the leader of Britain’s biggest rail union the RMT

• 23 mins

Waris Dirie: The fight against FGM

Stephen Sackur speaks to Somali-born model and activist, Waris Dirie.

• 23 mins

Stefanie Green: The ethics of assisted dying

Stephen Sackur speaks to a Canadian doctor and assisted dying advocate

• 23 mins

Olesya Khromeychuk: Conflict and identity

Stephen Sackur speaks to the British-Ukrainian historian and author

• 23 mins

Ece Temelkuran: Is Erdogan's control of Turkey under threat?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a prominent exiled Turkish writer and critic of the president

• 23 mins

Tikhon Dzyadko: Is there an audience for independent news in Russia?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Rain TV editor, Tikhon Dzyadko

• 23 mins

Félix Maradiaga: Standing up to Nicaragua's president

Stephen Sackur speaks to the recently deported former Nicaraguan opposition leader

• 23 mins

Notis Mitarachi: Has Greece's government lost the confidence of the people?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Greece's asylum and migration minister

• 23 mins

Simcha Rothman: Is Israel plunging into chaos?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a key architect of the government's controversial legal reforms

• 23 mins

Sergei Pugachev: Inside Putin's rise

Sergei Pugachev helped Putin become President. Then they fell out. What does he know?

• 23 mins

Roxane Gay: An unflinching memoir

Stephen Sackur speaks to American writer, academic and cultural commentator Roxane Gay.

• 23 mins

Mustafa Barghouti: Can Palestinians improve their situation?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Palestinian opposition politician Mustafa Barghouti

• 23 mins

James Daunt: Is the books industry a place where creativity and diversity truly thrive?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the CEO of Barnes & Noble James Daunt

• 23 mins

Evgeny Popov: Are cracks appearing at the Kremlin?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a Russian MP and pro-Kremlin TV host

• 23 mins

Petr Pavel: Can Ukraine still count on Europe's support?

Stephen Sackur interviews the newly elected president of the Czech Republic

• 23 mins

Bogdan Aurescu: How is Romania handling the pressure from the war on Ukraine?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Romania's Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu.

• 23 mins

David Beasley: Can the world afford to feed its most vulnerable?

Sarah Montague speaks to the chief executive of the World Food Programme David Beasley

• 23 mins

Geoffrey Robertson: The case for international justice

Stephen Sackur speaks to the renowned human rights lawyer

• 23 mins

Minette Batters: Is farming ready for the future?

Stephen Sackur meets the President of the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales

• 23 mins

Richard Neal: How Northern Ireland affects US-UK relations

Stephen Sackur speaks to an influential voice on US policy on Northern Ireland

• 23 mins

Ben Ferencz: The last Nuremberg trials prosecutor

A 2017 interview with the Nuremburg Nazi trials prosecutor, who has died aged 103

• 23 mins

Danny Danon: Is Netanyahu jeopardising Israel’s future?

Israel is in political turmoil with deteriorating security. Can Netanyahu end the chaos?

• 23 mins

Christo Grozev: Investigating Russia

Stephen Sackur speaks to Bellingcat's lead Russia investigator

• 23 mins

Péter Szijjártó: Is Hungary alienating the EU and Nato?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Hungary's foreign minister

• 23 mins

Vladimir Kara-Murza: Defying Putin

A 2017 interview with the Russian activist, who was jailed for 25 years earlier this week

• 23 mins

John Cooper Clarke: Punk and poetry

Stephen Sackur speaks to the pioneering performance poet

• 23 mins

Baaba Maal: Can the Sahel overcome its challenges?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the acclaimed Senegalese musician

• 23 mins

Niels Annen: Germany's new foreign policy

Is Germany set to pivot away from its reliance on Russian energy and Chinese trade?

• 23 mins

Jerry Springer: The king of tabloid TV

A 2014 interview with the controversial TV talk show host, who has died aged 79

• 23 mins

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann: Has war in Ukraine led to a rethink in Germany?

Stephen Sackur talks to the chair of the German parliament's defence committee

• 23 mins

Penpa Tsering: Preserving Tibet's identity

Sarah Montague speaks to the president of Tibet's self-declared government-in-exile

• 23 mins

Karin Kneissl: Vienna’s ties to Moscow and the impact of Austrian neutrality

Stephen Sackur speaks to Austria’s former foreign minister

• 23 mins

Wavel Ramkalawan: Are the Seychelles becoming paradise lost?

Stephen Sackur talks to the president of the Seychelles

• 23 mins

Hartmut Dorgerloh: Where do colonial treasures belong?

Stephen Sackur interviews the director of the Humboldt Forum

• 23 mins

Jane Horrocks: The pathway to empowerment

Stephen Sackur speaks to an actor with an extraordinary range

• 23 mins

Sir Isaac Julien: The lasting impact of art

Zeinab Badawi speaks to an artist whose work is rich with cultural and political messages

• 23 mins

Linton Kwesi Johnson: Struggles of the past and present

Zeinab Badawi speaks to the Jamaican-born British poet

• 23 mins

Fikile Mbalula: Will the ANC pay the price of failure?

Stephen Sackur is in Johannesburg to speak to secretary general of the ANC

• 23 mins

Julius Malema: What would he do with power?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters party

• 23 mins

John Steenhuisen: Is he a credible alternative to the ANC?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the leader of South Africa’s biggest opposition party

• 23 mins

Martin Amis: The 2013 interview

Another chance to hear Stephen Sackur's 2013 interview with the late novelist Martin Amis

• 23 mins

Ama Ata Aidoo: Celebrating women in Africa

A 2014 interview with the acclaimed Ghanaian author, who has died aged 81

• 23 mins

Abdullah Mohtadi: What do Iran's Kurds want?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the leader of the Iranian Kurdish political movement Komala

• 23 mins

Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro): Satire in South Africa

Stephen Sackur speaks to the political cartoonist in Cape Town

• 23 mins

Peter Singer: Is the animal rights movement unstoppable?

The philosopher called for animal liberation 50 years ago - has the movement succeeded?

• 23 mins

Daron Acemoğlu: Who pays the price for technological progress?

An economist assesses the impact of technological advances on economic wellbeing

• 23 mins

Andy Burnham: Can power in the UK be decentralised?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the mayor of Manchester

• 23 mins

16/06/2023 GMT

In-depth, hard-hitting interviews with newsworthy personalities.

• 23 mins

Daniel Ellsberg: The dangers of military might

Another chance to listen to our 2022 interview with the Pentagon Papers whistleblower

• 23 mins

Shashi Tharoor: Is India on the right path?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the Indian opposition politician and writer

• 23 mins

Dmytro Kuleba: Will Ukraine get the help it needs?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister

• 23 mins

Patrick Verkooijen: Is climate change inevitable?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation

• 23 mins

Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover: Can the Anglican church hold together?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the Church of England’s first black woman bishop

• 23 mins

Anielle Franco: Can Brazil tackle racial inequality?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the Brazilian minister of racial equality

• 23 mins

Jennifer Morgan: Is the rich world doing enough to combat climate change?

Zeinab Badawi speaks to Germany's special envoy on international climate action

• 23 mins

Peter Boghossian: Has academia been corrupted by ‘woke’ ideology?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a controversial philosopher

• 23 mins

Ann Leslie: What does it mean to be a foreign correspondent?

A 2008 interview with the acclaimed journalist, who has died aged 82

• 23 mins

Albin Kurti: Is Kosovo's leader inflaming tensions with Serbia?

Stephen Sackur is in Pristina to speak to Kosovo’s Prime Minister

• 23 mins

María Corina Machado: The existential fight for Venezuela

Stephen Sackur speaks to Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado.

• 23 mins

Laurence Boone: Can France's government deal with social divisions?

Zeinab Badawi speaks to France’s Europe minister

• 23 mins

Tomás Saraceno: What does 'being human' mean?

Stephen Sackur interviews one of the world’s most innovative contemporary artists

• 23 mins

Mikhail Zygar: Is Putin in a vulnerable position?

Zeinab Badawi speaks to a dissident Russian journalist and writer

• 23 mins

Gabriel Boric: Can the new left bring change to Chile?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the Chilean president

• 23 mins

Lewis Pugh: Pushing the limits of the human body

An extreme swimmer trying to draw attention to the impacts of climate change

• 23 mins

Agnes Callamard: Is Amnesty facing a credibility crisis?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the secretary general of Amnesty International.

• 23 mins

Isabella Tree: Is rewilding a pathway to a healthier planet?

Does rewilding show a pathway to a healthier planet or put eco-principles above people?

• 23 mins

Kwame Kwei-Armah: Are audiences prepared to engage?

A theatre director whose work poses questions about race, identity, equality and justice

• 23 mins

Imran Khan: Is Pakistan heading for political chaos?

The former prime minister of Pakistan thinks he can stage a comeback

• 23 mins

Andriy Khlyvnyuk: What is war doing to Ukraine’s culture?

Stephen Sackur speaks to a Ukrainian rock star who swapped his guitar for a gun

• 23 mins

Nathan Law: Has China eradicated dissent in Hong Kong?

Stephen Sackur speaks to an exiled Hong Kong democracy activist

• 23 mins

Lord Goldsmith: Is a green backlash reshaping politics?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the UK’s former environment minister

• 23 mins

John Cooper Clarke - where does his word magic come from?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the pioneering performance poet John Cooper Clarke.

• 24 mins

Lucy Prebble: How are writers facing the future?

Stephen Sackur speaks to one of the writers behind hit TV show Succession

• 23 mins

Sam Rainsy: Has Cambodia's opposition been outfoxed?

Stephen Sackur speaks to an exiled Cambodian opposition leader

• 23 mins

Jasvinder Sanghera: Abuse and the Church of England

Stephen Sackur speaks to an advocate for survivors of abuse

• 23 mins

Dominic Lee: Is China scaring investors away from Hong Kong?

Stephen Sackur talks to a Hong Kong lawmaker who's backing Beijing's security crackdown

• 23 mins

25/08/2023 GMT

In-depth, hard-hitting interviews with newsworthy personalities.

• 23 mins

Feargal Sharkey: Britain's dirty water problem

Stephen Sackur speaks to a former punk rock star turned environmental campaigner

• 23 mins

Peter Boehringer: Is the AfD a threat to German stability?

Stephen Sackur meets the vice chairman of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party

• 23 mins