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4 Extra Debut. An East End childhood and early exposure to music. Alistair McGowan reads David and Caroline Stafford's songwriter biography.

Lionel Bart was a unique musical talent. He found fame with the hugely successful musicals Oliver! and 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be', but he was also a hit-making machine for some of Britain's first rock'n'roll stars - Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde and Cliff Richard, as well as giving the James Bond movie franchise its first song.

He socialised with figures from both serious and populist culture, and experienced a downfall that was as spectacular as his theatrical triumphs.

David and Caroline Stafford's biography of Bart draws on previously unseen archive sources and interviews with those closest to him.

Today, Lionel's East End childhood and early exposure to music. Read by Alistair McGowan.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson
Produced by Emma Harding.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 18 Oct 2016 02:45

Broadcasts

  • Boxing Day 2011 09:45
  • Tue 27 Dec 2011 00:30
  • Mon 17 Oct 2016 14:45
  • Tue 18 Oct 2016 02:45

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