Andrew Marr, Lily Cole, Richard Wilson and Martha Lane Fox will be among the presenters of a new 30-part arts series on BBC2, Artsnight, filling a gap left by The Culture Show and the demise of The Review Show.
The new Friday night series was described by BBC4 editor Cassian Harrison, who will oversee it, as a “topical weekly show … which will appeal not only to those who are passionate about the arts but will also engage new viewers”.
Described as the “cultural partner to Newsnight”, each 30-minute programme will be curated by a different “major player” in British contemporary culture.
Marr will look at Renaissance writers beyond Shakespeare, Wilson the legacy of Samuel Beckett, and Cole – expecting her first child – will explore Cyril Connolly’s infamous statement that the “pram in the hall” is the “enemy of good art”.
Lane Fox will discuss the relationship between art and science, and whether they are still seen as two separate cultures, with another episode to be fronted by Samira Ahmed looking at modern British photographers.
The 30-part run comes after BBC2 bid farewell to its long-running arts and culture series The Review Show, which switched to BBC4 before being axed last year.
Another long-running BBC2 arts series, The Culture Show, is not currently in production, returning in recent months with the occasional “special”.
Artsnight, commissioned by BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw, piloted in March with guest editors including Maxine Peake, Armando Iannucci, Tate Modern’s Chris Dercon and Lynn Barber, who interviewed Mark Ronson and will be part of its new run.
The BBC’s director of arts Jonty Claypole said the series, which will begin next month, was “cultural access with a strong point of view”.
“Artsnight is British culture as experienced by the movers and shakers behind it,” he said. “From Enniskillen to the Edinburgh Festivals, we’re putting artists, writers and decision-makers centre-stage to see the latest trends, ideas and events through their eyes.”
