HARDtalk 1997
- Status
- Returning Series
- First Aired
- April 1, 1997
- Last Aired
- May 9, 2012
- Format
- 29 seasons · 287 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~143.5 hours (30 min/ep)
- Network
- BBC News
What is HARDtalk?
HARDtalk is a television program that premiered in 1997, focusing on the presentation of in-depth interviews. The series is characterized by its approach to journalism, which involves asking hard-hitting questions while addressing sensitive topics.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1997
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 287
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Apr 1, 1997
- Last aired
- May 9, 2012
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC News
- Genres
- Talk
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 8.7/10 from 3 votes
- Format
- 29 seasons · 287 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~30 minutes
- Status
- Returning Series
- Network
- BBC News
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 287 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
HARDtalk is a television program that premiered in 1997, focusing on the presentation of in-depth interviews. The series is characterized by its approach to journalism, which involves asking hard-hitting questions while addressing sensitive topics. Throughout the course of the show, the production features famous personalities drawn from all walks of life. These guests engage in conversations that explore the highs and lows of their personal and professional experiences. By facilitating these candid discussions, the program aims to provide viewers with a detailed look into the lives of its participants. The format relies on the direct questioning of subjects to uncover significant insights regarding their backgrounds and achievements. As an archival record of contemporary discourse, the series maintains a consistent focus on the intersection of public figures and the complex narratives that define their careers. The show remains a notable example of interview-based television that prioritizes investigative inquiry and emotional depth in its interactions with guests from various fields of influence.
Should you watch it?
“Celebrities reveal their triumphs and struggles in candid, hard‑hitting interviews.”
- Deep personal insights from notable figures
- Thought‑provoking questions explore sensitive topics
- Content may include emotionally heavy subjects
Watch it if you enjoy candid conversations that delve into personal highs and lows.
Rated TV‑PG, the series handles mature themes with a respectful, interview‑style approach.
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Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 28 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Edward Said Palestinian Intellectual Mytharc Apr 1, 1997
- E2 Alan Rusbridger - Editor, the Guardian, London Core Apr 8, 1997
- E3 George Melly, English Jazz and Blues Singer, Critic, Writer Core Apr 15, 1997
- E4 Dmitri Hvorostovsky (opera singer baritone) Core May 19, 1997
- E5 Iyad Sarraj Consultant Palestinian Delegation Camp David Core May 29, 1997
- E6 Robert Mugabe President of Zimbabwe Core Jun 6, 1997
- E7 Jackie Collins Core Jun 9, 1997
- E8 Sir George Solti - Orchestral and Operatic Conductor Core Jun 11, 1997
- E9 Ehud Barak Israeli Prime Minister 1999-2001 Core Jun 18, 1997
- E10 Tung Che Hwa - First Chief Executive of Hong Kong After Transfer of Sovereignty Core Jun 30, 1997
- E11 Lillian Hochhauser - impressario Core Jul 9, 1997
- E12 Episode 12 Core Jul 10, 1997
- E13 Isabel Fokine - grand-daughter Mikhail Fokine Core Aug 5, 1997
- E14 Princess Diana Special BBC World 1030 Core Sep 1, 1997
- E15 Princess Diana Funeral Special BBC World Core Sep 5, 1997
- E16 "Dalai Lama" of Tibet Core Oct 2, 1997
- E17 Ute Lemper - Singer Core Oct 7, 1997
- E18 HARDtalk with Nelson Mandela Core Oct 14, 1997
- E19 Sylvie Guillem - Ballet Dancer Core Oct 14, 1997
- E20 Valery Giscard D'Estaing President of France 1974 -1981 Core Oct 17, 1997
- E21 Andrei Kozyrev - First Foreign Minister of Russia Under Boris Yeltsin (1991-1996) Core Oct 30, 1997
- E22 Eddie Izzard British Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Writer Core Nov 12, 1997
- E23 Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan Core Nov 17, 1997
- E24 Yehudi Menuhin - Violinist and Conductor Core Nov 18, 1997
- E25 General Alexander Lebed - Russian Military Officer & Politician Core Nov 21, 1997
- E26 Ismail Merchant - Film Producer Core Nov 26, 1997
- E27 Tom Clancy Mytharc Nov 27, 1997
- E28 Yehudi Menuhin Mytharc Nov 28, 1997
Season 2 · 31 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Donald Trump - American Business Magnate Mytharc Jan 5, 1998
- E2 Caspar Weinberger Core Jan 7, 1998
- E3 Episode 3 Core Jan 20, 1998
- E4 Newt Gingrich 50th Speaker U.S. House of Representatives 1995-1999 (President Clinton) Core Feb 2, 1998
- E5 Romano Prodi Italian Prime Minister 1996-1998 and 2006-2008 and economist Core Feb 5, 1998
- E6 Bobby Charlton Manchester United and England Footballer Core Feb 9, 1998
- E7 Sheikh Ahmed Yassin Founder of Hamas Core Feb 11, 1998
- E8 Thabo Mbeki President of South Africa 1999-2008 Core Feb 24, 1998
- E9 Gloria Stuart 'Old Rose' "Titanic" Core Mar 17, 1998
- E10 Peter Fonda American Acting Dynasty Core Mar 20, 1998
- E11 Jon Landau Producer 'Titantic' Core Mar 24, 1998
- E12 Oscars Special Core Mar 29, 1998
- E13 Steve Forbes Editor in Chief Forbes Magazine, Twice Republican Nominee Core Apr 13, 1998
- E14 Lord Carrington British Foreign Secretary 1079-82 NATO Secretary General 1984-1988 Core Apr 14, 1998
- E15 George Mitchell Core Apr 20, 1998
- E16 Maya Angelou American Author, Poet President Clinton's Inauguration 1993 Core May 4, 1998
- E17 Antoinette Sibley Prima Ballerina Royal Ballet London Core May 18, 1998
- E18 Ian McKellen Actor Core May 20, 1998
- E19 Richard Rogers, Architect Core May 21, 1998
- E20 Vaclav Havel Writer, President Czech Republic 1993-2003 Core Jun 12, 1998
- E21 Darcey Bussell - Ballet Dancer Core Jun 29, 1998
- E22 Peter Ustinov Core Jun 30, 1998
- E23 Douglas Hurd - British Foreign Secretary 1989-95 Core Jul 1, 1998
- E24 Cyd Charisse - American Actress and Dancer Core Jul 6, 1998
- E25 Benazir Bhutto Prime Minister of Pakistan 1993-1996 Core Aug 10, 1998
- E26 Anatoly Chubais, Russia Deputy Prime Minister 1992 - Under President Yeltsin Core Sep 1, 1998
- E27 Abbas al-Janabi Core Nov 2, 1998
- E28 John Peel Core Nov 3, 1998
- E29 King Hussein of Jordan Core Nov 16, 1998
- E30 Michael Flatley Mytharc Nov 17, 1998
- E31 Plato Cacheris Mytharc Dec 14, 1998
Season 3 · 27 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Louise Arbour Mytharc Jan 20, 1999
- E2 Shimon Peres Core Jan 25, 1999
- E3 Margaret Cook Core Jan 28, 1999
- E4 John Fashanu Core Feb 8, 1999
- E5 Javier Solana Core Feb 9, 1999
- E6 David Shayler Core Feb 24, 1999
- E7 Gerry Robinson Core Feb 25, 1999
- E8 Ben Kingsley Core Mar 10, 1999
- E9 Nina Simone Core Mar 25, 1999
- E10 Roberto Benigni Core Mar 29, 1999
- E11 Mark Chavanduka Core Apr 19, 1999
- E12 Paddy Ashdown Core May 13, 1999
- E13 Griff Rhys Jones Core May 14, 1999
- E14 Richard Dreyfuss Core May 20, 1999
- E15 Rod Steiger Core May 25, 1999
- E16 Terry Pratchett Core May 27, 1999
- E17 Saeed Jaffrey Core May 31, 1999
- E18 Harold Pinter Core Jun 1, 1999
- E19 Shaun Pollock Core Jun 3, 1999
- E20 Mushahid Hussain Core Jun 23, 1999
- E21 Olara A. Otunnu Core Jun 25, 1999
- E22 Ike Turner Core Jun 29, 1999
- E23 Christiaan Barnard Core Nov 8, 1999
- E24 Helmut Kohl Core Nov 9, 1999
- E25 Edward Heath Core Nov 10, 1999
- E26 Kyaw Win Mytharc Dec 13, 1999
- E27 Sartaj Aziz Mytharc Dec 14, 1999
Season 4 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Walter Cronkite Mytharc Feb 11, 2000
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 18, 2000
- E3 David Irving Core Apr 28, 2000
- E4 Mo Mowlam Core Apr 30, 2000
- E5 Rajesh Pilot Mytharc May 26, 2000
- E6 Kathy Olds Core Jul 14, 2000
- E7 Mikhail Gorbachev Core Sep 15, 2000
- E8 Tina Sinatra Core Oct 30, 2000
- E9 Vaira Vike-Freiberga Mytharc Nov 10, 2000
- E10 Harvey Goldsmith Mytharc Nov 17, 2000
Season 5 · 30 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Jan 15, 2001
- E2 Simon Napier-Bell Core Apr 17, 2001
- E3 Bob Geldof Core Jul 13, 2001
- E4 Nick Griffin Core Aug 5, 2001
- E5 Thabo Mbeki Core Aug 6, 2001
- E6 Cyril Ramaphosa Core Aug 7, 2001
- E7 Craig Williamson Core Aug 8, 2001
- E8 Patricia de Lille Core Aug 9, 2001
- E9 Tokyo Sexwale Core Aug 10, 2001
- E10 Ayanda Ntsaluba Core Aug 13, 2001
- E11 Albie Sachs Core Aug 14, 2001
- E12 Shane Warne Core Sep 3, 2001
- E13 Gerard Houllier Core Sep 4, 2001
- E14 Sebastian Coe Core Sep 5, 2001
- E15 Ellen MacArthur Core Sep 6, 2001
- E16 Sepp Blatter Core Sep 7, 2001
- E17 Woody Allen Core Sep 9, 2001
- E18 Rafiq Hariri Core Nov 12, 2001
- E19 Arnaud Montebourg Core Nov 13, 2001
- E20 Benjamin Netanyahu Core Nov 14, 2001
- E21 Dr Hanan Ashrawi Core Nov 15, 2001
- E22 Ellen Burstyn Core Nov 16, 2001
- E23 Farouk Al-Shara Core Nov 18, 2001
- E24 Han Seung-soo Core Nov 19, 2001
- E25 John Major Core Nov 20, 2001
- E26 Marcia Grey Harden Core Nov 21, 2001
- E27 Northern Ireland Core Nov 22, 2001
- E28 Patrick Lekota Core Nov 23, 2001
- E29 Peter Mandelson Mytharc Nov 25, 2001
- E30 Wolfgang Petritsch Mytharc Nov 26, 2001
Season 6 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Jack Straw Mytharc Jan 9, 2002
- E2 Episode 2 Core Aug 5, 2002
- E3 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Core Sep 9, 2002
- E4 Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Core Sep 11, 2002
- E5 Simba Makoni Mytharc Sep 16, 2002
Season 7 · 14 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Feb 26, 2003
- E2 Episode 2 Core Feb 27, 2003
- E3 Danielle Pletka and Jeremy Corbyn Core Mar 10, 2003
- E4 Episode 4 Core Mar 31, 2003
- E5 Episode 5 Core Apr 14, 2003
- E6 Episode 6 Core Apr 24, 2003
- E7 Episode 7 Core Jun 24, 2003
- E8 Episode 8 Core Aug 14, 2003
- E9 Episode 9 Core Sep 8, 2003
- E10 Episode 10 Core Oct 13, 2003
- E11 Episode 11 Core Nov 20, 2003
- E12 Episode 12 Core Dec 23, 2003
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Dec 25, 2003
- E14 Episode 14 Mytharc Dec 29, 2003
Season 8 · 11 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hamas: Khaled Meshaal Mytharc Jan 12, 2004
- E2 Sir John Stevens Core Jan 19, 2004
- E3 Episode 3 Core Feb 16, 2004
- E4 Episode 4 Core Feb 26, 2004
- E5 Episode 5 Core Feb 27, 2004
- E6 Episode 6 Core Jun 16, 2004
- E7 Episode 7 Core Jul 9, 2004
- E8 Episode 8 Core Oct 5, 2004
- E9 Episode 9 Core Dec 22, 2004
- E10 Stem Cell Debate Mytharc Dec 23, 2004
- E11 Trading Blows Mytharc Dec 24, 2004
Season 9 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 9 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Jan 7, 2005
- E2 Final Farewell Core Jan 14, 2005
- E3 Episode 3 Core Feb 23, 2005
- E4 Amartya Sen Core Mar 7, 2005
- E5 Jack Welch Core Mar 9, 2005
- E6 Marek Belka Core Mar 11, 2005
- E7 Episode 7 Core Apr 18, 2005
- E8 Episode 8 Core Jun 14, 2005
- E9 Episode 9 Core Aug 10, 2005
- E10 Episode 10 Core Aug 22, 2005
- E11 Episode 11 Core Nov 29, 2005
- E12 Episode 12 Mytharc Dec 12, 2005
- E13 Episode 13 Mytharc Dec 20, 2005
Season 10 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 10 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc Jan 16, 2006
- E2 A New Plan for Iraq Core Jan 23, 2006
- E3 Theresa May Core Jan 30, 2006
- E4 Nicholas van Hoogstraten Core Feb 2, 2006
- E5 Episode 5 Core Feb 4, 2006
- E6 Carl Bernstein Core Mar 1, 2006
- E7 Vandana Shiva Core May 26, 2006
- E8 Tyrone Brooks Core Aug 16, 2006
- E9 Jose Ramos Horta Core Sep 29, 2006
- E10 Nobel Dialogue, Part One Mytharc Sep 29, 2006
- E11 Nobel Dialogue, Part Two Mytharc Sep 29, 2006
- E12 The Dalai Lama Core Sep 30, 2006
- E13 Alain Minc Core Oct 2, 2006
- E14 Dan Gillerman Core Oct 4, 2006
- E15 Hilary Benn Core Oct 9, 2006
- E16 Imad Moustapha Core Oct 16, 2006
- E17 James Dyson Core Oct 23, 2006
- E18 José Maria Aznar Core Oct 30, 2006
- E19 Juan Lopez Aguilar Core Nov 13, 2006
- E20 Pascal Lamy Core Nov 20, 2006
- E21 Paul Rusesabagina Core Nov 27, 2006
- E22 Sir Jeremy Greenstock Core Dec 4, 2006
- E23 Zac Goldsmith Mytharc Dec 11, 2006
- E24 Zalman Shoval Mytharc Dec 18, 2006
Season 11 · 91 episodes
Open the complete Season 11 guide & lore primer →- E1 Ian Cheshire Mytharc Jan 4, 2007
- E2 John Varley Core Jan 5, 2007
- E3 Barney Pityana Core Jan 8, 2007
- E4 Rory Stewart Core Jan 9, 2007
- E5 Nick Clegg Core Jan 10, 2007
- E6 Iraq's Vice-President Core Jan 15, 2007
- E7 Keith Ellison Core Jan 17, 2007
- E8 Carne Ross Core Feb 6, 2007
- E9 Derek Wall Core Feb 21, 2007
- E10 Abdullah Dardari Core Feb 22, 2007
- E11 David Lammy Core Feb 26, 2007
- E12 Lotfi Raissi Core Feb 27, 2007
- E13 Ayaan Hirsi Ali Core Feb 28, 2007
- E14 Stephen Rapp Core Mar 5, 2007
- E15 Alon Liel Core Mar 6, 2007
- E16 Freshta Raper Core Mar 22, 2007
- E17 Keith Mann Core Jun 14, 2007
- E18 Amre Moussa Core Jul 18, 2007
- E19 Episode 19 Core Jul 19, 2007
- E20 Lord Adebowale Core Jul 23, 2007
- E21 Professor Richard Dawkins Core Jul 23, 2007
- E22 Episode 22 Core Jul 24, 2007
- E23 Episode 23 Core Jul 25, 2007
- E24 Episode 24 Core Jul 30, 2007
- E25 Alastair Campbell Core Jul 31, 2007
- E26 Greg Dyke Core Aug 1, 2007
- E27 Achim Steiner Core Sep 3, 2007
- E28 Alec Erwin Core Sep 10, 2007
- E29 Alexander Lebedev Core Sep 17, 2007
- E30 Alexandra Shulman Core Sep 18, 2007
- E31 Anders Dahlvig Core Sep 19, 2007
- E32 Anthony Loyd Core Sep 20, 2007
- E33 Anwar Ibrahim Core Sep 24, 2007
- E34 Arthur Edwards Core Sep 25, 2007
- E35 Avi Arad Core Sep 26, 2007
- E36 Bishop Kevin Dowling Core Sep 27, 2007
- E37 Boris Berezovsky Core Oct 1, 2007
- E38 Carren and Ron Clem Core Oct 2, 2007
- E39 Charles Clarke Core Oct 3, 2007
- E40 Charles Nqakula Core Oct 4, 2007
- E41 Chris Patten Core Oct 8, 2007
- E42 David Satterfield Core Oct 9, 2007
- E43 Decima Francis Core Oct 10, 2007
- E44 Eric Edelman Core Oct 11, 2007
- E45 Farouq Al-Sharaa Core Oct 15, 2007
- E46 Gary Kasparov Core Oct 16, 2007
- E47 George Galloway Core Oct 17, 2007
- E48 Ghazi Hamad Core Oct 18, 2007
- E49 Hassan Wirajuda Core Oct 22, 2007
- E50 Helen Zille Core Oct 23, 2007
- E51 Isaac Herzog Core Oct 24, 2007
- E52 Ishmael Beah Core Oct 25, 2007
- E53 Iyad Allawi Core Oct 29, 2007
- E54 Jack Lang Core Oct 30, 2007
- E55 James Rogers Core Oct 31, 2007
- E56 Janet Napolit Core Nov 1, 2007
- E57 Jasvinder Sanghera Core Nov 5, 2007
- E58 Jay Garner Core Nov 6, 2007
- E59 Johnathan Bennett Core Nov 7, 2007
- E60 Lee Smolin Core Nov 8, 2007
- E61 Lord Chris Patten and John Bolton Core Nov 12, 2007
- E62 Marina Litvinenko and Alex Goldfarb Core Nov 13, 2007
- E63 Mark Dybul Core Nov 14, 2007
- E64 Martha Karua Core Nov 15, 2007
- E65 Michael Eavis Core Nov 19, 2007
- E66 Mikheil Saakashvili Core Nov 20, 2007
- E67 Moazzam Begg Core Nov 21, 2007
- E68 Morgan Tsvangirai Core Nov 22, 2007
- E69 Nicholas Burns Core Nov 26, 2007
- E70 Nuhu Ribadu Core Nov 27, 2007
- E71 Orji Kalu Core Nov 28, 2007
- E72 Paul Deighton Core Nov 29, 2007
- E73 Paul Skinner Core Dec 3, 2007
- E74 Pernando Barrena Core Dec 4, 2007
- E75 Pierre Lellouche Core Dec 5, 2007
- E76 Prof. Margaret Stanley Core Dec 6, 2007
- E77 Reg Keys Core Dec 10, 2007
- E78 Richard Lugar Core Dec 11, 2007
- E79 Roberta Combs Core Dec 12, 2007
- E80 Rohitha Bogollagama Core Dec 13, 2007
- E81 Saeb Erekat Core Dec 17, 2007
- E82 Senator Jeff Bingaman Core Dec 18, 2007
- E83 Senator Radoslaw Sikorski Core Dec 19, 2007
- E84 Sharon Looremeta Core Dec 20, 2007
- E85 Sir Paul Nurse Core Dec 24, 2007
- E86 Tareq al-Hashemi Core Dec 25, 2007
- E87 Tony Benn MP and Lord Tebbit Core Dec 26, 2007
- E88 Victoria Nuland Core Dec 27, 2007
- E89 Yasser Abed Rabbo Core Dec 28, 2007
- E90 Yisrael Medad Mytharc Dec 29, 2007
- E91 Yvo de Boer Mytharc Dec 31, 2007
Season 16 · 1 episodes
Open the complete Season 16 guide & lore primer →- E70 Norman Finkelstein - Political Scientist Mytharc May 9, 2012
Frequently asked questions
What type of program is HARDtalk?
HARDtalk is a talk‑show series that presents in‑depth interviews with famous personalities.
When did HARDtalk first air?
The series premiered in 1997.
What rating does HARDtalk have?
It carries a TV‑PG rating.
What topics are covered in the interviews?
The interviews address sensitive topics and the personal highs and lows of the guests.
How would you describe the interview style?
The show uses hard‑hitting questions to explore the guests' experiences.
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