HARDtalk 1997
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
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.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about HARDtalk — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is HARDtalk worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 28 episodes
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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.
✓ Renewed / Returning Renewal tracker
Explore HARDtalk
Where to watch Episode ratings heatmap How long to watch Facts & FAQ Similar shows More from BBC News
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on HARDtalk.