# Independent People (TV program)

Independent People (Icelandic: Sjálfstætt fólk), was an Icelandic television interview and talk show hosted by Jón Ársæll Þórðarson, journalist and psychologist. The program was aired on the TV channel Stöð 2 in Iceland from 2001 to 2015. It has been nominated eight times to the Edda Awards: in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011, and it received the awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Independent People was produced by Steingrímur Jón Þórðarson and Sky Productions and was aired weekly early Sunday nights on Stöð 2 / Channel 2, from September until May.
Jón Ársæll interviewed people of all ages. His youngest was 15-year-old singer Yohanna and the oldest interviewees were in their nineties. Normally, but not always, they were also well known in Iceland.

## Guests

| 2012 | Aired |
| Magnús Kjartansson Musician | 08.01.2012 |
| Margrét Frímannsdóttir former politician | 15.01.2012 |
| Þorsteinn Kjartansson "Steini í Hippakoti" | 22.01.2012 |
| Pétur Kristján Guðmundsson | 29.01.2012 |
| Jón Óttar Ragnarsson and Margrét Hrafnsdóttir Producers in LA | 05.02.2012 |
| Eiríkur G. Stephensen and Hjörleifur Hjartarson Musicians in Hundur í óskilum | 12.02.2012 |
| Sigurður Ragnar Þórðarson - Siggi Stormur | 19.02.2012 |
| Theoóór Júlíusson Actor | 26.02.2012 |
| Þórunn Erna Clausen Actress | 04.03.2012 |
| Reynir Traustason | 11.03.2012 |
| Ari Eldjárn Comedian | 18.03.2012 |
| Vigdís Hauksdóttir politician | 25.03.2012 |
| Stefán Karl Stefánsson Actor | 01.04.2012 |
| Einar Bollason | 15.04.2012 |
| Margrét Pála Ólafsdóttir] | 22.04.2012 |
| Hugrún Ragnarsson - Huggy | 29.04.2012 |
| Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir Bishup | 06.05.2012 |
| Völundur Snær Völundarson Chef | 13.05.2012 |
| Anita Briem Actress in LA | 30.09.2012 |
| Jóhannes Jónsson Iceland/Bonus | 07.10.2012 |
| Áslaug Magnúsdóttir Moda Operandi NY | 14.10.2012 |
| Friðrik Pálsson Rangá | 21.10.2012 |
| Anna Mjöll Ólafsdóttir Singer in LA | 28.10.2012 |
| Jón Björgvinsson Foreign Correspondent for RUV | 04.11.2012 |
| Helgi Hjörvar politician | 11.04.2012 |
| Illugi Gunnarsson politician | 18.11.2012 |
| Jón Jónsson musician | 25.11.2012 |
| Styrmir Gunnarsson | 02.12.2012 |
| 2011 | Aired |
| Edda Heiðrún Backman Actress | 11.12.2011 |
| Amal Tamimi Politician | 04.12.2011 |
| Guðrún Ebba Ólafsdóttir | 27.11.2011 |
| Þorsteinn Guðmundsson Actor / Comedian | 20.11.2011 |
| Sigurður Pétursson - Iceman in Greenland - Ísmaðurinn á Grænlandi Part One | 06.11.2011 |
| Sigurður Pétursson - Iceman in Greenland - Ísmaðurinn á Grænlandi Part Two | 13.11.2011 |
| Gísli Gíslason Entrepreneur/Attorney | 30.10.2011 |
| Gísli Rúnar Jónsson Actor/Director/author | 27.11.2011 |
| Karólína Lárusdóttir Artist/Painter | 16.10.2011 |
| Karl Berndsen Hairdresser/Make-up Artist | 09.10.2011 |
| Ástþór Skúlason Farmer | 02.10.2011 |
| Erró - Guðmundur Guðmundsson Artist in Paris | 25.09.2011 |
| Lalli Johns | 22.05.2011 |
| Björgvin Franz Gíslason Actor | 15.05.2011 |
| Guðmundur Steingrímsson Politician/Musician | 08.05.2011 |
| Bjartmar Guðlaugsson Musician | 01.05.2011 |
| Friðrik Dór Jónsson Musician | 17.04.2011 |
| Hilmir Snær Guðnason Actor | 10.04.2011 |
| Eyjólfur Kristjánsson Musician | 03.04.2011 |
| Jóhannes Kristjánsson Actor/Impersonator | 20.03.2011 |
| Ketill Larsen Actor | 13.03.2011 |
| Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson Actor | 27.02.2011 |
| Hrafn Gunnlaugsson Film Director | 20.02.2011 |
| Þór Saari Politician | 13.02.2011 |
| Steindi Jr. - Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson - Actor | 06.02.2011 |
| Vala Grand | 30.01.2011 |
| Sigrún, Sævar and Óli Pétur Homeless people | 23.01.2011 |
| Simmi og Jói - Sigmar Vilhjálmsson og Jóhannes Ásbjörnsson Radio hosts and owners at HamburgerFactory | 16.01.2011 |
| Icelanders in China | 09.01.2011 |
| 2010 | Aired |
| Gunnar Eyjólfsson Actor | 19.12.2010 |
| Ragnar Bjarnason Singer | 12.12.2010 |
| Tora Victoria | 05.12.2010 |
| Ólafur Jónsson Scientist | 28.11.2010 |
| Jóhann Friðgeir | 21.11.2010 |
| Elín Hirst Journalist | 14.11.2010 |
| Valgeir Guðjónsson and Ásta Kristrún Ragnarsdóttir | 07.11.2010 |
| Sigurður Guðmundsson in China | 31.10.2010 |
| Jónína Benediktsdóttir and Gunnar Þorsteinsson Priest at Krossinn | 24.10.2010 |
| Bjarni Karlsson Priest | 17.10.2010 |
| Ásdís Rán - Icequeen - Celebrity | 10.10.2010 |
| Ögmundur Jónasson Politician | 03.10.2010 |
| Hendrikka Waage Jewellery Designer | 26.09.2010 |
| Helgi Vilhjálmsson Owner at Goa/KFC | 06.06.2010 |
| Andri Snær Magnason Author | 30.05.2010 |
| Gaui Litli - Guðjón Sigmundsson | 16.05.2010 |
| Gylfi Magnússon Politician | 09.05.2010 |
| Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Musician | 02.05.2010 |
| Fár undir fjöllum - Volcano at Eyjafjallajökull | 25.04.2010 |
| Davíð Þór Jónsson Comedian/Priest | 18.04.2010 |
| Birgitta Jónsdóttir Politician | 11.04.2010 |
| Pétur Þorsteinsson Neologist and Vicar | 04.04.2010 |
| Halldór Einarsson at Henson | 28.03.2010 |
| Baltasar Kormákur Film Director/Producer | 21.03.2010 |
| Gunnar Sigurðsson | 14.03.2010 |
| Bubbi Morthens Musician | 07.03.2010 |
| Spaugstofan Comedy Group | 28.02.2010 |
| Geir Jón Þórisson Police Superintendent | 21.02.2010 |
| Haffi Haff | 14.02.2010 |
| Steingrímur Hermannsson Former Politician | 07.02.2010 |
| Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Politician | 31.01.2010 |
| Krýsuvík | 24.01.2010 |
| Einar Már Guðmundsson Author | 17.01.2010 |
| Fjölnir Þorgeirsson Snooker Champion | 10.01.2010 |
| 2009 | Aired |
| Ólafur Elíasson Artist | 27.12.2009 |
| Vilhjálmur Eyjólfsson Farmer at Hnausum | 20.12.2009 |
| Andrea Róberts | 13.12.2009 |
| Ármann Þorvaldsson Former UK Head at Kaupthing Bank Part 2 | 06.12.2009 |
| Ármann Þorvaldsson Former UK Head at Kaupthing Bank Part 1 | 29.11.2009 |
| Katrín Júlíusdóttir Politician | 22.11.2009 |
| Geirmundur Valtýsson Musician | 15.11.2009 |
| Gérard Lemarquis | 08.11.2009 |
| Flosi Ólafsson - In Memoriam - Actor | 01.11.2009 |
| Magnús Eiríksson Musician | 25.10.2009 |
| Sverrir Þór Sverrisson - Sveppi - TV personality | 18.10.2009 |
| Ingólfur Þórarinsson - Ingó og Veðurguðirnir - Musician | 11.10.2009 |
| Heiðar Jónsson | 04.10.2009 |
| Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir Actress | 27.09.2009 |
| Helgi Björnsson | 20.09.2009 |
| Dalai Lama | 07.06.2009 |
| Sigrún Pálína Ingvarsdóttir Part 2 | 31.05.2009 |
| Sigrún Pálína Ingvarsdóttir Part 1 | 24.05.2009 |
| Vilhjálmur Bjarnason Businessman and lecturer at University of Iceland | 17.05.2009 |
| Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson Journalist/Politician | 10.05.2009 |
| Valgerður Matthíasdóttir | 03.05.2009 |
| Politicians | 26.04.2009 |
| Páll at Húsafell | 19.04.2009 |
| The Munks at Reyðarfjörður | 12.04.2009 |
| Bjarni Benediktsson Politician | 05.04.2009 |
| Siggi Hall Celebrity Chef | 29.03.2009 |
| Musicians | 22.03.2009 |
| Katrín Jakobsdóttir Politician | 15.03.2009 |
| Auður Haralds Author | 08.03.2009 |
| Guðný Halldórsdóttir Director | 01.03.2009 |
| Gunnar Marel Eggertsson Maker of Viking Ship Íslendingur | 22.02.2009 |
| Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson Politician | 15.02.2009 |
| Þorvaldur Gylfason Economist | 08.02.2009 |
| Protestants | 01.02.2009 |
| Svava Johansen Fashion Chain NTC | 25.01.2009 |
| Arnþór Helgason | 18.01.2009 |
| Oddur F. Helgason Genealogist | 11.01.2009 |
| Best of 2008 | 04.01.2009 |
| 2008 | Aired |
| Sæmi Rokk - Sæmundur Pálsson - Policeman and Dancer | 21.12.2008 |
| Rúni Júll - Rúnar Júlíusson - In Memoriam - Musician | 14.12.2008 |
| Stefán Máni Sigþórsson Author | 07.12.2008 |
| Akeem Richard Oppong TV host | 30.11.2008 |
| Geir H. Haarde Politician | 23.11.2008 |
| Valdís Óskarsdóttir Film Editor | 16.11.2008 |
| Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Former President of Iceland | 09.11.2008 |
| Sverrir and Magnus at Kirkjubæjarklaustur | 02.11.2008 |
| Haunted House at Hjalteyri | 26.10.2008 |
| Björgvin G. Sigurðsson Politician | 19.10.2008 |
| Lýður Árnason Doctor/Film Producer | 12.10.2008 |
| Jón Ólafsson Businessman | 05.10.2008 |
| Hugleikur Dagsson Author | 28.09.2008 |
| Best of 2008 | 22.06.2008 |
| Hafsteinn at Flatey | 15.06.2008 |
| Kristinn Jón Guðmundsson | 08.06.2008 |
| Bjarni Haukur Þórsson Actor | 01.06.2008 |
| Beggi og Pacas Celebrities | 25.05.2008 |
| Jakob Frimann Magnússon | 18.05.2008 |
| Best of Jón Gnarr and Pétur Jóhann | 11.05.2008 |
| Sturla Jónsson Protestant | 04.05.2008 |
| Ari Garðar Georgsson Chef | 27.04.2008 |
| Bragi Ásgeirsson Painter | 20.04.2008 |
| Geir Ólafsson Singer | 13.04.2008 |
| Ólöf Pétursdóttir | 06.04.2008 |
| Halla Linker Part 2 | 30.03.2008 |
| Halla Linker Part 1 | 23.03.2008 |
| Egill "Gilz" Einarsson | 16.03.2008 |
| Gísli Örn Garðarsson | 09.03.2008 |
| Alexandra Kjuregej Argunova Artist | 02.03.2008 |
| Bergþór Pálsson Opera Singer | 24.02.2008 |
| Ingvi Hrafn Jónsson TV presenter | 17.02.2008 |
| Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir Politician | 10.02.2008 |
| Jón Gnarr | 03.02.2008 |
| Hafliði H. Jónsson | 27.01.2008 |
| Vigdís Grímsdóttir Author | 20.01.2008 |
| Gylfi Ægisson Musician | 13.01.2008 |
| Kristján Tómas Ragnarsson Doctor at Mount Sinai | 06.01.2008 |
| 2007 | Aired |
| Best of 2006-2007 | 20.05.2007 |
| Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson | 13.05.2007 |
| Mugison Musician | 06.05.2007 |
| Kjartan Ragnarsson] Actor | 29.04.2007 |
| Halla Margret Árnadóttir Singer | 22.04.2007 |
| Kristján Jóhannsson Singer | 08.04.2007 |
| Pétur Jóhann Sigfússon Actor | 01.04.2007 |
| Elías Davíðsson | 18.03.2007 |
| Einar Bárðarson Agent | 11.03.2007 |
| Barði Jóhannsson - Bang Gang - Musician | 04.03.2007 |
| Bjarni Ármannsson Former CEO at Islandsbanki | 25.02.2007 |
| Arnþrúður Karlsdottir Owner of Radio Saga | 18.02.2007 |
| Eggert Magnússon Chairman of Westham United | 11.02.2007 |
| Jón Magnússon Politician | 04.02.2007 |
| Bjarni Harðarson Journalist | 28.01.2007 |
| Best of 2006-2007 | 14.01.2007 |
| Best of 2006-2007 | 21.01.2007 |
| Kjartan Halldórsson | 07.01.2007 |