[1] The programme's title came from the Strand, a busy street in London close to the World Service's former studios at Bush House on Aldwych.
Mark Coles, who previously hosted The Beat and The Ticket on the World Service, is also a music journalist and won the Sony Reporter of the Year Award in 1993.
The Strand replaced a number of existing World Service arts programmes such as The Word, The Beat, On Screen, Culture Shock and The Ticket.
[3] Editions were also presented by Lawrence Pollard, Louise Fryer, Rajan Datar, Tim Marlow, and Aminatta Forna.
World Book Club, an hour-long programme, occupies some of The Strand's slots in the schedule on the first Saturday in each month and during repeats on following days.