Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🎨

Mark Kermode

arts Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Mark Kermode is a prominent English film critic, musician, and broadcaster. He explores the world of cinema and music through many different media. He works as a journalist, a radio presenter, and a television host. He also writes books and hosts popular podcasts. His work helps audiences understand the meaning behind movies and songs. By sharing his professional opinions, he contributes to the wider culture of arts and media.

Kermode uses several methods to share his critical views. He writes detailed reviews for newspapers like The Observer and The Guardian. He also contributes to the British Film Institute's magazine, Sight and Sound. On the radio, he discusses new film releases with listeners. He has hosted shows on BBC Radio 1, Radio 5 Live, and Scala Radio. He also uses digital formats like podcasts and video blogs. This variety allows him to reach many different types of people.

His career includes many distinct roles in the arts. As a critic, he evaluates the quality of films and music. As an author, he has written books such as It's Only a Movie and Hatchet Job. He also wrote three volumes for the BFI's Modern Classics series. These books focus on specific films like The Exorcist and The Shawshank Redemption. He is also a musician in a skiffle band called the Dodge Brothers. In this group, he plays the double bass, which is a large string instrument.

Kermode's journey began in print journalism. He started writing for Manchester's City Life and later moved to London. He wrote for publications like Time Out and NME. In 1988, he began broadcasting on LBC. He later moved to BBC Radio 5, where he became a resident film reviewer. He spent many years working with his collaborator, Simon Mayo. Together, they hosted the BBC Radio 5 Live show Kermode and Mayo's Film Review from 2001 to 2022. This long-running program won a Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in 2009.

His work is significant within the British media landscape. He served as the chief film critic for The Observer for ten years. This role lasted from September 2013 until September 2023. He also hosts MK3D at the British Film Institute. This is the longest-running live show at the BFI South Bank. Every year, he produces lists of the best and worst films. These lists provide a yearly overview of his critical preferences. His top film of 2023 was Past Lives, while he named Megalopolis as the worst of that year.

Kermode has participated in many notable events and projects. He co-wrote and presented the BBC Four series Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema between 2018 and 2021. He has also worked on many film documentaries. These include projects about films like The Devils and The Wicker Man. Since 2008, his band has provided live music for silent films. They play alongside films such as Hell's Hinges and White Oak. He even recorded audio commentaries for various film releases on DVD and Blu-ray.

His career connects many different fields of study and art. He holds a PhD in English from the University of Manchester. His thesis focused on the subject of horror fiction. This academic background supports his deep analysis of cinema. He also connects music and film through his work on Scala Radio. His interest in the Isle of Man connects him to Manx culture and festivals. Through all these roles, he remains a dedicated student of storytelling.

581 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.