JEDDAH: Award-winning British actor Idris Elba will be the first guest on a new talk show produced by the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle “Ithra Dialogues: Up Close With” will launch on Saturday, June 13 and is billed as “a new cultural window for the public.” The series promises live discussions with “famous creators, celebrities and experts in various fields,” including film, science, design, architecture and fashion. The inaugural session will be streamed live on Ithra’s YouTube channel at 4 p.m. and audience members will be able to submit questions on YouTube or through Twitter using the hashtag #Ithratalks. BACKGROUND The inaugural session will be streamed live on Ithra’s YouTube channel and audience members will be able to submit questions on YouTube or through Twitter using the hashtag #Ithratalks. The series will cover a variety of topics including film, science, design, architecture, and fashion. The series will cover a variety of topics including film, science, design, architecture, and fashion. Elba, who won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy four times for his portrayal of the titular detective in the BBC’s crime drama “Luther,” will discuss his life and career, as well as the region’s filmmaking industry in a session moderated by Saudi director Ali Alsumayin. The second session, scheduled for June 20, will feature renowned American astrophysicist, author, and TV presenter, Neil deGrasse Tyson. The third session, scheduled for June 27, will see Kjetil Thorsen — Norwegian architect and founding partner of Snøhetta, the design firm behind Ithra’s iconic headquarters — discuss the design and construction of the building with the head of the Ithra Advisory Group, Fatima Al-Rashid. Ithra organized similar dialogue sessions in 2019, hosting Indian actor Salman Khan, Oscar-winning American actor Cuba Gooding Jr., and French former footballer Thierry Henry in two public events as part Ithra’s Creativity Season (Tanween).