Tonight, BBC Two are broadcasting the first edition of a new, four-part series, Artsnight. Each week will see a different guest editor heading up the programme, and kicking off proceedings is actor, ERC member and all-round figure of righteousness Maxine Peake. Her edition "celebrates voices marginalised by mainstream culture and asks why class, gender and politics seem to have dropped out of view" and features Jessica Hynes and Carol Morley talking about the role of women in film and theatre, a look at the life of Salford writer Shelagh Delaney and a profile of Betty Tebbs, the trade unionist. It also takes in a performance by firm tQ favourites Sleaford Mods, with Jason Williamson and Andrew Robert Lindsay Fearn playing ‘Tiswas’ from last year’s Divide And Exit to an audience of a pint-supping Peake and two slightly aghast older gentlemen.
Now, courtesy of the producers, take a look at it above. Future editions will feature Lynn Barber, Armando Iannucci and Chris Dercon, the Tate Modern director, as guest editors, with Mark Ronson, Jon Ronson, Kate Tempest and Nick Cave among those featured. Tune in from 11 pm, with full programme details here.
