I love the intimacy and immediacy oF radio. You’re right there, as a listener and as an interviewer. More than anything, I love listening.
I’m a regular on Radio 4 where, for a time, I hosted Front Row - Dolly Parton, Javier Marías and Brad Pitt were among my favourite guests. In 2021, I hosted my own series for BBC Radio called Guide Books, which considered how books might help us with the messy business of living. Our themes included The Body and Grief and our guests included Sarah Perry and Helen Macdonald. The series was a ‘pick’ in the Radio Times, Guardian and Telegraph and you can catch is on BBC Sounds now. In 2023, I hosted Whose Truth Is It Anyway? which considered the truth we (don’t) tell in memoir, fiction and autofiction.
I’m also making stand-alone documentaries for radio and at work on a podcast (it is possible the world doesn’t need another one).
As well as hosting shows I’ve written plays and essays for radio. These include Summer Son, a little ghost-love story about a gay student trapped on campus one summer because he can’t go home. And an essay for From Our Home Correspondent on my continued quest to find glow worms.
my literary Salon is still available as a podcast and features hundreds of readings and interviews including world premieres and UK firsts. You can listen here:
Listen to the literary salon on itunes
From 2008-2023, Damian Barr's Literary Salon tempted the world's best writers to read exclusively from their latest greatest works and share their own personal stories. Star guests included Yaa Gyasi, David Nicholls, John Waters, Jenni Fagan, Diana Athill and Louis de Bernières - all in front of a live audience at leading glamourous locations and online.
