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Front Row - Author C J Sansom, The Switch and Dinner for Schmucks

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With Mark Lawson. Novelist C J Sansom discusses whether there are historical parallels between Tudor spin-masters and today's politicians, as he publishes a new Matthew Shardlake novel set during an ill-advised war. Two new American films re-work existing stories. Jennifer Aniston stars in The Switch, which is loosely based on the short story Baster, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jeffrey Eugenides. Dinner for Schmucks, with Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, was inspired by Francis Veber's play and film Le Diner de cons. Natalie Haynes reviews. The Mercury Prize 2010 Albums of the Year winner is announced next week. Front Row talks to two music teachers from schools which seem to have produced more than their fair share of Mercury nominees, past and present. Punk band The Sex Pistols are launching their own brand of perfume. For Front Row, David Quantick considers other music stars whose names appear on bottles of scent. Producer Claire Bartleet.