As part of his examination of American TV network HBO, Greg Dyke speaks to Alan Ball, the award-winning and mortality-obsessed writer of American Beauty, Six Feet Under and forthcoming vampire drama True Blood.

The British director who worked on Prime Suspect, The Damned United and directed John Adams for HBO talks to Greg Dyke about the experience of working with the broadcaster.

We speak to the award-winning writer of US dramas The Wire and Generation Kill, about the importance of casting when it comes to creating believable characters. Visit BBC iPlayer to watch our full item, in which Burns...

See extra material from Lauren Laverne’s interrogation of David Simon, the creator of The Wire, in which she questions him about breaking the rules of TV storytelling.

Lauren Laverne takes David Simon, the uncompromising creator of HBO's The Wire, in for questioning. In an exclusive interview, she discovers the secret to the labyrinthine US cop series' success and asks Simon why he...

The writer and academic talks about her time on Big Brother and Orwell's 1984.

Interview with the broadcaster and journalist about her time in the Big Brother house.

Interview with the speechwriter and political analyst about his time in the Big Brother House in 2005.

The writing talent behind cult hit Peep Show, Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, tell us about the writers and performers who have influenced their work. Contains some strong language.

James Corden and Ruth Jones, acclaimed actors and writers of Gavin and Stacey, put their friendship to the test by answering questions about each others' foibles.