The Essential Classics Interview 2c1b3h

Sarah's ed by the comedian and author, Helen Lederer.

This week Sarah's guest is the journalist, author and broadcaster, Jonathan Freedland.

Rob's guest this week is the journalist, writer and critic, David Quantick.

Sarah's guest this week is the actress, Pam Ferris.

This week Sarah's ed by the stage and screen actor, Simon Russell Beale.

This week Rob's ed by a film producer and educator who left school with 3 O-Levels and now has 45 honorary degrees: David Puttnam. His choices include music by Mozart, Schumann, Beethoven and Vivaldi.

Composer, record producer and Goldfrapp member Will Gregory s Rob in the studio this week. Will's far-ranging choices include Perotin, Monteverdi, Mahler, Berio and Stravinsky.

Rob's guest this week is the actor and comedian Omid Djalili, who talks about his love of dance, the need for a thick skin in stand-up comedy, and his ion for music, including works by Gershwin, Prokofiev and Louis Prima.

Sarah's ed by the gardener and broadcaster Monty Don, who talks abut his career and chooses some favourite music, including Bach's Mass in B Minor, Beethoven's 'Eroica' Symphony, and Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary.

Director and writer Mike Leigh talks to Rob about his films (including his most recent, Mr Turner), his new production of The Pirates of Penzance for ENO, and his eclectic tastes in music, from Gilbert and Sullivan to Mozart to Bartok.

The screen and stage actor Martin Shaw is Sarah's guest this week. He discusses playing various roles, from Elvis Presley to Inspector George Gently, and chooses music by Bach, Richard Strauss, Puccini and Handel.

Sarah's ed by the chef, restaurateur and broadcaster Michel Roux, who shares his ion for cooking and music, including works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Verdi and Tchaikovsky.

This week Rob's ed by the performance poet John Hegley, a distant relation of Rameau. John's eclectic choices include music by Bach, Jim Parker, Debussy and Elvis Costello.

This week Rob is ed by the historian and crime novelist, Lady Antonia Fraser. She tells him about her conversion to Catholicism, what it was like to have her work read by her late husband, Harold Pinter, and her experience of playing Bridge with Mitsuko Uchida, including music by Byrd, Beethoven and Adams.

Rob's ed by the stage and screen actor, Charles Dance, who talks about his involvement with Game of Thrones and chooses music by Mendelssohn, Wagner and Bach.

Rob's ed by the stage and screen actor, Charles Dance, who talks about his involvement with Game of Thrones and chooses music by Mendelssohn, Wagner and Bach.

Film and stage director Declan Donnellan shares some of his favourite pieces of classic music, including works by Mozart, Field and Sondheim.

Rob's guest this week is the celebrated screen and stage actress, Gerladine James. She chooses music including Ives' Holidays Symphony, Wagner's Das Rheingold and Bach played by Pablo Casals.

Rob's ed by the playwright, novelist and critic Bonnie Greer, who talks about her career and chooses some American classics (Copland, Barber, Adams) as well music by Vaughan Williams and Bach.

Sarah's guest this week is the actress Julia Sawalha, who picks out some great music classics, and talks about her many acting roles, including Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous.