The Strand (radio programme)
The Strand was the BBC World Service’s daily arts show. It ran from 27 October 2008 to 29 March 2013. It was usually hosted by Harriett Gilbert, with Mark Coles, Audrey Brown, Anna McNamee and Bidisha also presenting.
The name comes from The Strand, a busy London street near the World Service’s old Bush House studios.
Harriett Gilbert described the show as a place to reveal, explore and debate developments in the arts and literature.
The first programme featured Roger Moore talking about his autobiography; a look at Gaza’s cultural life and what people there watch on satellite TV; a review of AC/DC’s Black Ice; and an interview with Steve McQueen about Hunger.
The Strand replaced several other World Service arts programmes, including The Word, The Beat, On Screen, Culture Shock and The Ticket. Other presenters over the years included Lawrence Pollard, Louise Fryer, Rajan Datar, Tim Marlow and Aminatta Forna.
In April 2013, arts topics were moved into Outlook, which was extended to one hour. World Book Club airs in The Strand’s timeslot on the first Saturday of each month, with repeats edited to fit the half-hour format. World Book Club had previously been a half-hour programme on the last Tuesday of each month in the slot of The Word.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:52 (CET).