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Lionel Bart begins work on his musical masterpiece, 'Oliver!'. Alistair McGowan reads David and Caroline Stafford's 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 new biography of Bart draws on previously unseen archive sources and interviews with those closest to him.

Today, Bart gives Cliff Richard his first number one and begins work on his own musical masterpiece, 'Oliver!' Read by Alistair McGowan.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson
Produced by Emma Harding.

15 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 28 Dec 2011 09:45
  • Thu 29 Dec 2011 00:30
  • Wed 19 Oct 2016 14:45
  • Thu 20 Oct 2016 02:45

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