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Shinzo Abe (pictured), Mona Hammond OBE, Lorna de Smidt, Monty Norman

Kirsty Lang on Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, actor Mona Hammond, activist Lorna de Smidt, and composer Monty Norman.

Kirsty Lang on

Shinzo Abe - Japan’s longest-serving prime minister who sought to end a wartime legacy of defeat and occupation and to tackle the economy through ‘Abenomics’.

Actor Mona Hammond is best known for her TV role in Eastenders.

Lorna de Smidt, the anti-apartheid and anti-racist activist who cut her political teeth in the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa in the late 1960s.

And Monty Norman - Composer and singer who wrote the James Bond main theme and a string of successful musicals as well.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Nakano Koichi
Interviewed guest: Dr Kristin Surak
Interviewed guest: Michael Buffong
Interviewed guest: Graham de Smidt
Interviewed guest: Matthew Sweet

Archive clips used: ´óÏó´«Ã½ News, Report on death of Shinzo Abe, 08/07/2022; ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4, The World This Weekend, Votes counted for Japanese election, 29/07/2007; ´óÏó´«Ã½ One, Eastenders 25/10/2010; Humphrey Barclay Productions for Channel 4, Desmond's S01E04 26/01/1989; ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4, The Archers 28/12/2003; ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, Storm Damage (1989), 23/01/2000; Paramount Pictures/ Albert S. Ruddy Productions/ Alfran Productions, The Godfather Part 1 (1972); ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4, News Bulletin19/03/2001; ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two Omnibus - Monty Norman interview 17/10/1982.

Available now

28 minutes

Shinzo Abe

Born 21 September 1954; died 8 July 2022 aged 67.

Last Word spoke to Professor of comparative politics Nakano Koichi and to Assistant Professor in sociology Dr Kristin Surak.

Mona Hammond OBE

Born 1 January 1931; died 4 July 2022 aged 91.

Last Word spoke to artistic theatre director Michael Buffong.

Lorna de Smidt

Born 1943; died July 2022 aged 78.

Last Word spoke to her husband Graham de Smidt.

Monty Norman

Born 4 April 1928; died 11 July 2022 aged 94.

Last Word spoke to broadcaster and journalist Matthew Sweet.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Jul 2022 16:00
  • Sun 17 Jul 2022 20:30

Podcast