In this episode, Marina Hyde looks at the new additions to Downing Street, Hadley Freeman interviews Hollywood actor Will Arnett, Sirin Kale tries her hand at quiz show Mastermind, and David Robson examines why we’re so stressed about stress

In the first episode of our new podcast, screenwriter Russell T Davies tells Grace Dent about his childhood in Swansea, the delights of Woolworth’s pork and egg pies, and how his husband’s death informed his TV series It’s a Sin

This final episode in the Brasil Music Exchange series is dedicated to the very best new music from Recife and Rio de Janeiro. What put Recife on the map was the ground-breaking Manguebeat cultural movement that kick-started an unprecedented creative explosion and long-time major music capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is most associated with bossa nova and samba. Join us in this farewell to the Paralympics with this explosive last episode

São Paulo is a megacity of over 20 million people and it’s the buzz at the heart of the independent music scene in Brazil. We feature music from the forefront of the SP new wave right now, with Metá Metá and their “apocalyptic afropunk”, the gorgeous pop melodies of Tulipa, indie rock princes Holger and hip hop star Criolo.

This episode is dedicated to Northern Brazil with new sounds from Amazonas state, Pará, Ceará and beyond. Right now a northern influence is taking the whole country by storm. Raw tecnobrega beats, twangy guitarrada riffs and bouncy carimbó rhythms are working their way into the national soundtrack. We go to the source

This is the Brasil Music Exchange Paralympic special, bringing you the best new music direct from Brazil! This show is powered by Brazil’s bass-heavy beats - from dub and hip hop to sci-fi ragga. We go nationwide and check out the new Bahia Bass scene with tracks by Som Peba and A.MA.SSA. We play Rio rasteirinha by OMULU and outer-space bass by São Paulo’s sants and Cybass. Plus deep dub masters Digitaldubs, tropical bass kings Tropkillaz, hip hop maverick MC Sombra and more!

This is the last episode of the Brasil Music Exchange! Over the past month we’ve brought you the best that Brasil has to offer. In this final episode Jody Gillett celebrates the women of new Brazilian music. Our all-female playlist includes the São Paulo vanguard sounds of Juçara Marçal, Tulipa and Céu, Bahia’s new voice Jurema, veteran carimbó queen Dona Onete and much more.

Brasil Music Exchange brings you the best new music direct from Brazil! This episode features cover versions of vintage classics and long-lost gems by the new generation. Our ever diverse playlist goes from samba to ska, choro to forró. Playlist highlights include the traditional Bahian choir As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã, São Paulo young guns Bixiga 70 and the deep treasure that is Goma-Laca.

Brasil Music Exchange brings you the best new music direct from Brazil. This show puts the spotlight on outstanding recent releases from across the country. The playlist features national stars Criolo and Emicida, solo debuts by Donatinho and Russo Passapusso and new tracks from Anelis Assumpção and folk disrupter Siba. We go from hip hop to samba-rock, afro-punk to indie pop. Come connect with the independent artists reinventing the sound of Brazil

We’re continuing our trip across Brazil with great new sounds from the heart of the country. This show dedicated to the central zone focuses on music from the capital, Brasilia, rock city Goiânia and indie hub Belo Horizonte. Our playlist highlights include rising psychedelic stars Boogarins, alt-rock storytellers A Fase Rosa and blazing Brazilian hip hop by Flávio Renegado and Flora Matos.

Artists in Brazil have a secret weapon - the incredible heritage of a country that is a bonafide musical giant. Right now they are also plugged into global currents and making their own innovative, unique and super-accessible music. This show is a whirlwind trip featuring 12 new tracks from artists across the whole country, from the deep south right up to the Amazon.

The Guardian’s Ben Beaumont-Thomas plays some of the best tracks from the new slew of crate-digging labels

Stewart Lee joins us for a cruise through the alternative comedy scene in the 80s and the bands that helped soundtrack it

Super producer John McEntire from Tortoise gives us a snapshot of Chicago’s alternative music scene through the ages from Howlin’ Wolf to Jim O’Rourke

Leftfield folk singer Richard Dawson takes us on a trip through the outer fringes of unaccompanied singing

Soap dodgers Saul and Lias from Fat White Family play us an hour of their favourite weird and woozy outsider ballads