Main content

Jill Murphy (pictured), Len Gibson, Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, Nanci Griffith

Matthew Bannister on author Jill Murphy, prisoner of war Len Gibson, artist Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, country singer Nanci Griffith.

Matthew Bannister on:

The children鈥檚 author Jill Murphy who based her best-selling stories of the Worst Witch on her own schooldays.

Len Gibson, the former prisoner of war from Sunderland who worked on the notorious Burma railway and later taught Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics to play guitar.

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, the acclaimed artist noted for her exquisite Japanese-influenced paintings of flowers and cats.

Nanci Griffith, the singer and songwriter from Texas who was known as the 'queen of folkabilly'.

Producer: Lucy Wai

Interviewed guest: Bob Harris
Interviewed guest: Alexandra Gladwell
Interviewed guest: Brian Burnie
Interviewed guest: Pamela Todd
Interviewed guest: Alice Strang
Interviewed guest: Duncan Macmillan

Archive clips used: 大象传媒, Jackanory Words or Pictures 1995; C大象传媒/ZDF, The Worst Witch 2017; 大象传媒, Woman's Hour 2016; Pathe News, Japanese planes 1943; WarGen, The War Memories of Len Gibson 2019; Daft as a Brush charity, Dave Stewart tribute to Len Gibson 2021; 大象传媒, Conversation with Artists 1982; 大象传媒, Words and Music 1994; 大象传媒, Bob Harris' Country 2012.

Available now

28 minutes

Jill Murphy

Born 5 July 1949; died 18 August 2021 aged 72.

Last Word spoke to her friend and agent, Pamela Todd.

Len Gibson BEM

Born January 3 1920, died July 31 2021 aged 101.

Last Word spoke to his granddaughter Alexandra Gladwell and to his friend, Brian Burnie.

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder

Born 24 September 1931; died 23 August 2021 aged 89.

Last Word spoke to art curator Alice Strang and her friend and biographer, Duncan Macmillan.

Nanci Griffith

Born 6 July 1953; died 13 August 2021 aged 68.

Last Word spoke to friend and broadcaster Bob Harris.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 3 Sep 2021 16:00
  • Sun 5 Sep 2021 20:30

Podcast