Front Row - 15/09/2009

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Mark Knopfler is best known as the frontman of rock group Dire Straits. He discusses his long career in the band and as a solo artist, the inspiration for his hit records and learning to play guitar in his sleep. Mark Billingham and Natalie Haynes give their verdicts on Dan Brown's follow-up to The Da Vinci Code, which is published today. Away We Go, directed by Sam Mendes, follows a young couple about to start a family who go on a road trip around America looking for the perfect location to bring up a child. Dave Eggers discusses writing the screenplay with his partner Vendela Vida. Troy Kennedy Martin's career as a screenwriter began in 1958 with a play for the BBC. He wrote the original version of The Italian Job, co-created the TV series Z Cars and wrote the 1980s drama serials Reilly, Ace of Spies (based on the book by Robin Bruce Lockhart) and Edge of Darkness. His death from cancer at the age of 77 was announced today. Jonathan Powell pays tribute.