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Peter O'Toole, Lord Roberts of Conwy, Colin Wilson, Joan Fontaine, Ronnie Briggs

Obituary series. Matthew Bannister on actor Peter O'Toole, Welsh Office Minister Lord Roberts of Conwy, author Colin Wilson, actress Joan Fontaine, Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs.

Matthew Bannister on:

The actor Peter O'Toole, acclaimed for his performances as Lawrence of Arabia and Jeffery Bernard and notorious for his hell raising exploits.

The long serving Welsh Office minister Lord Roberts of Conwy - a passionate champion of the Welsh language.

The author Colin Wilson, who was hailed as a major new talent when he published The Outsider at the age of 24, but, despite writing many other books, never repeated his mainstream success.

The Hollywood star Joan Fontaine, best known for playing the second wife in Hitchcock's Rebecca, who carried on a long term feud with her sister Olivia De Havilland.

And the Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs.

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28 minutes

Peter O'Toole (pictured)

Matthew spoke to his agent, Steve Kenis and to Michael Freedland who wrote his biography.

Born 2 August 1932; died 14 December 2013 aged 81.

Lord Roberts of Conwy

Matthew spoke to the Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones and to Lord Barry Jones.

Born 10 July 1930; died 13 December 2013 aged 83.

Colin Wilson

Last Word spoke to his friend Colin Stanley.

Readings by Steve Toussaint.

Born 26 June 1931; died 5 December 2013 aged 82.

Joan Fontaine

Last Word spoke to the film historian Christopher Frayling.

Born 22 October 1917; died 15 December 2013 aged 96.

Ronnie Biggs

Criminologist Professor Dick Hobbs considers his life and career.

Born 8 August 1929; died 18 December 2013 aged 84.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Matthew Bannister
Producer Laura Northedge

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Dec 2013 16:00
  • Sun 22 Dec 2013 20:30

Podcast