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Dame Vera Lynn

Mark Coles looks at the life of Dame Vera Lynn, whose song We'll Meet Again was in the Queen's recent address and is striking a chord during the coronavirus crisis.

Dame Vera Lynn's story is well known. She's regarded by many as one of Britain's national treasures. Dubbed 'the forces sweetheart' during the Second World War, her songs like 'We'll Meet Again' and 'There'll Always Be An England' became synonymous with hope and survival during dark times.

It's rare for us to profile someone so iconic. But courtesy of a mention by the Queen in her recent address to the nation, at 103 years old Vera Lynn is trending again. She even has a number one single on the UK iTunes chart. Mark Coles talks to her family and close friends to find out what she makes of all the attention. And, perhaps more importantly, why - 80 years on - her best known song 'We'll Meet Again' is striking a chord during the coronavirus crisis.

Producer Smita Patel
Researcher Bethan Head

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Thu 18 Jun 2020 21:45

Broadcasts

  • Sat 18 Apr 2020 19:00
  • Sun 19 Apr 2020 05:45
  • Sun 19 Apr 2020 17:40
  • Thu 18 Jun 2020 21:45

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