Episode 61: Michael Winterbottom On The Music Of 'On The Road', '24 Hour Party People', 'The Trip' And More

Of the many directors we've featured on this show, few can claim to have served up such a diverse body of work as Michael Winterbottom. Michaeal is one of Britain's most inventive and ground-breaking film-makers. From his 1995 debut Butterfly Kiss to controversial love story 9 Songs and gritty docu-drama Road To Guantanamo, he has consistently experimented with subject matter and form - often to critically-acclaimed & award-winning effect, There can be no finer example of his talents than bittersweet comedy The Trip - which starred Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon and was described by Richard Curtis as one of the greatest television programmes of all time. Rather like The Trip, his latest project On The Road blurs the line between fact and fiction. Ostensibly a documentary about a real tour by the band Wolf Alice, the narrative revolves around a relationship between two members of the crew, played by actors Leah Harvey and James McArdle. Though he tends to use source music over score, Michael has worked with composer Michael Nyman on several occasions, Plenty about Mr Nyman during the conversation, as well as music by The Sex Pistols, Richard Strauss, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, Elbow and The Super Furry Animals. This episode is brought to you by Casper Mattresses and Tide Bank. Details of special offers available to you can be heard at the start of the programme.