Literature

Oxford has been given another starring role in a feature film. "The Golden Compass" begins at Oxford University and stars Hollywood celebrities like Nicole Kidman and James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

The film is based on the first part of Oxford author Philip Pullman’s best-selling His Dark Materials children's trilogy and many of the scenes were shot on location in the city.

In the book we see an alternative Oxford, an imaginary world, where the heroine Lyra fights against the evil Magisterium.

BBC Oxford's Martin Eastaugh went to meet Philip Pullman in the senior common room at Exeter College, which in Lyra's world is the retiring room of Jordan College, where the opening chapter of the novel takes place.

In this extended web interview Martin started by asking him what he thought of this new adaptation of his story...

The fight against the Magisterium in His Dark Materials trilogy has been seen by some as an attack on the Catholic Church and critics have accused him of peddling "candy-coated atheism". Martin caught up with one of his staunchest detractors the Catholic League President Bill Donohue...

You can also listen to edited highlights of Martin's investigations below: