Front Row - 05/01/2009

Presented by Mark Lawson. American writer Garrison Keillor talks about the difference between writing and performing and why Robert Altman didn't want to make the film Garrison suggested. His new novel Liberty is about a political contest in Lake Wobegone. Matthew Parris announces the category-winning authors for the 2008 Costa Book Awards. Jan Dalley, Financial Times Arts Editor, reviews the selection, which will go on to compete for Book of the Year. Stephen Armstrong reviews two new TV sitcoms which start this week. In Life of Riley, Caroline Quentin returns to BBC One to play Maddy, who has just remarried and is about to find out what happens when two families collide. Meanwhile, Plus One sees Daniel Mays star as Rob Black, a man whose girlfriend leaves him to marry Duncan James, former member of the boy band Blue.