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HARDtalk

{{Short description|British television and radio series}}

{{For|hard talk|harsh language}}

{{Third-party|date=November 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Hardtalk2.jpg

| caption =

| creator =

| developer =

| presenter = Current:
Stephen Sackur
Zeinab Badawi
Sarah Montague
Former:
Tim Sebastian (1997–2006)

| theme_music_composer = David Lowe

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| editor = Lisa Baxter

| location = Studio TC7, Television Centre (1997–2012)
Studio D, Broadcasting House (2012–2025)

| runtime = 25 minutes

| network = {{ubl|BBC News (UK feed)|BBC News (international feed)|BBC World Service}}

| first_aired = {{Start date|1997|03|31|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2025|03|26|df=y}}

| related = {{ubl|Hardtalk Extra|Hardtalk Extra Time}}

}}

HARDtalk is a BBC television and radio programme which was broadcast on the British and international feeds of the BBC News channel, and on the BBC World Service, from 31 March 1997 to 26 March 2025.

Broadcast times and days vary, depending on broadcasting platform and geographic location.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg2m|title=HARDtalk on the BBC News Channel|publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/hardtalk|title=HARDtalk on BBC World News|publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004t1s0|title=HARDtalk on BBC World Service|publisher=BBC}} HARDtalk is also available on BBC iPlayer in the UK only{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mg2m|title=HARDtalk available on BBC iPlayer|publisher=BBC}} and as a podcast via BBC Sounds.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004t1s0|title=HARDtalk program website via the BBC World Service|publisher=BBC}}

On 15 October 2024, the BBC announced that as part of a series of cuts to its news department, HARDtalk would no longer be broadcast, along with the tech review show Click. Host Stephen Sackur said the news was "depressing" [for the future of in-depth interviews that] "hold to account those who all too often avoid accountability in their own countries".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m07g49004o|title=BBC News job losses aim to save £24m|work=BBC News}} The programme aired its final episode on television on 26 March 2025{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=BBC News - HARDtalk, Finale: The Interviews |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029djk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325204612/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029djk |archive-date=2025-03-25 |access-date=2025-03-25 }} while its last radio episode was aired two days later on 28 March.{{cite web |date=2025-03-28| title=HARDtalk: Coda |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5swl |access-date=2025-03-28}} The radio version was succeeded with a similar programme titled The Interview.

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."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg2m|title=HARDtalk format|publisher=BBC}}

Presenters and interviewees

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| header = Current presenters of HARDtalk

| image1 = Stephen Sackur, Journalist & Presenter (17167554681).jpg

| width1 = 225

| caption1 = Sackur

| image2 = Zeinab Badawi 02.jpg

| width2 = 225

| caption2 = Badawi

| image3 = Sarah Montague -NHS Confederation annual conference, Manchester-11July2011.jpg

| width3 = 225

| caption3 = Montague

| caption4 = Presenters Stephen Sackur, Zeinab Badawi, and Sarah Montague

}}

=Presenters=

Tim Sebastian was the original presenter of HARDtalk when the programme launched in March 1997.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-04-03/meet-stephen-sackur-the-world-famous-interviewer-whos-tougher-than-paxman|title=Meet Stephen Sackur – the world famous interviewer who's tougher than Paxman|first=Martin|last=Fletcher|website=Radio Times|date=3 April 2017}} He hosted the show till March 2007.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/4307489.stm|title=Final farewell|author=Tim Sebastian|website=BBC.co.uk|date=1 March 2007|access-date=27 March 2025}}

Today, HARDtalk is predominantly presented by interviewer Stephen Sackur, who joined in 2006. Other presenters in the past include Zeinab Badawi and Sarah Montague.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldnews/2017/hardtalk-celebrates-20th-anniversary|title=Two Decades of HARDtalking - BBC'S flagship interview programme celebrates 20th anniversary|website=Media Centre|publisher=BBC|date=22 March 2017}}

=Selected interviewees=

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

{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|

  • Mahathir Mohamad{{Cite web |last=Administrator |date=2008-05-17 |title=BBC 'HardTalk' interview with Dr M |url=https://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/05/17/bbc-hardtalk-interview-with-dr-m/ |access-date= |website=Malaysia Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Webmaster |first=M. T. |date=2018-10-02 |title=MUST WATCH: BBC HARDtalk with Dr Mahathir Mohamad |url=https://www.malaysia-today.net/2018/10/02/bbc-hardtalk-02-10-2018-mahathir-mohamad/ |access-date= |website=Malaysia Today |language=en-US}}
  • Maya Angelou{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02004dc|title=Maya Angelou interview on HARDtalk}}
  • Kofi Annan{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09zg272|title=Kofi Annan talks to Zeinab Badawi|publisher=BBC}}
  • Benazir Bhutto{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldnews/2017/hardtalk-celebrates-20th-anniversary|title=Benazir Bhutto speaks with HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Hugo Chávez{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/13/hugo-chavez-bbc-hardtalk-interview|title=Hugo Chávez grants rare interview to western media|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Stephen|last=Sackur|date=13 June 2010}}
  • Noam Chomsky{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ntgyq|title=Noam Chomsky speaks to Stephen Sackur|publisher=BBC}}
  • Michael Collins{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004482|title=Michael Collins signs up for HARDtalk interview|publisher=BBC}}
  • F. W. de Klerk{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cl6fj|title=F. W. de Klerk speaks with HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b4ld6f|title=Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talks to Zeinab Badawi|publisher=BBC}}
  • William Frankland{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bxr2bz|title=William Frankland signs up for HARDtalk interview|publisher=BBC}}
  • Mikhail Gorbachev{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04t4bd1|title=Mikhail Gorbachev gives HARDtalk interview|publisher=BBC}}
  • Bernice King{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ckdkh|title=Bernice King interviewed for HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Enrico Letta
  • Nelson Mandela{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ny23z|title=Nelson Mandela speaks with HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Mira Marković{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08qslxz|title=Mira Marković interviewed for HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Robert Mugabe{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldnews/2017/hardtalk-celebrates-20th-anniversary|title=Robert Mugabe interviewed for HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Nadia Murad{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0728jkb|title=Nadia Murad speaks to Sarah Montague|publisher=BBC}}
  • Olusegun Obasanjo{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08qlxkw|title=Olusegun Obasanjo signs up for HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Teodoro Obiang{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pygy5|title=Teodoro Obiang gives HARDtalk interview|publisher=BBC}}
  • Michel Platini{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008ct5p|title=Stephen Sackur speaks to Michel Platini|publisher=BBC}}
  • Cyril Ramaphosa{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09q09ly|title=Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to Zeinab Badawi|publisher=BBC}}
  • Thein Sein{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n3s87|title=Thein Sein gives HARDtalk interview|publisher=BBC}}
  • Nina Simone{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08lxqtk|title=Nina Simone gives HARDtalk interview|publisher=BBC}}
  • Hugh Thompson, Jr{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08lxqhf|title=Hugh Thompson Jr talks with HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Desmond Tutu{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hv4hl|title=Desmond Tutu talks with HARDtalk|publisher=BBC}}
  • Roger Waters{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3cstlgh|title=Roger Waters talks with HARDtalk|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 April 2023}}

}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007t9t1|title=About HARDtalk Extra| website= bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}{{cite web| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007t9t1/episodes/guide|title=HARDtalk Extra episodes | website= bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}

=''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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n13xtmd7|title=About HARDtalk Extra Time| website= bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n13xtmd7/episodes/guide|title= HARDtalk Extra Time episodes| website= bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{BBC programme|title=HardTalk}}
  • [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004t1s0 HARDTalk website] via the BBC World Service
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldnews/2017/hardtalk-celebrates-20th-anniversary|title=Two Decades of HARDtalking}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-04-03/meet-stephen-sackur-the-world-famous-interviewer-whos-tougher-than-paxman|title=Meet Stephen Sackur}}
  • {{IMDb title|id=0386208|title=HardTalk}}

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{{BBC News}}

{{BBC World Service}}

Category:BBC news radio programmes

Category:BBC television news shows

Category:BBC television talk shows

Category:BBC World News original programming

Category:BBC World Service programmes

Category:British talk radio programmes

Category:1997 British television series debuts

Category:1997 radio programme debuts

Category:2025 British television series endings

Category:2025 radio programme endings

Category:2000s British television series

Category:2010s British television series

Category:2020s British television series