大象传媒

In 1987 the legendary singer and songwriter Ian Dury and actor Jane Horrocks began a relationship while working together on the Jim Cartwright play Road. It was at turns loving and acrimonious as it switched quickly from light to darkness and back again.

This is the story of their love affair told through recently re-discovered letters from him, her diary entries of the time, and specially commissioned music by Micky Gallagher (Ian Dury and The Blockheads, The Clash).

The programme also features some of Dury's extraordinary songs - What A Waste, Reasons To Be Cheerful, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Clever Trevor, My Old Man and material from Mr Love Pants, his final album before his death in 2000. There's also a live recording of Spasticus Autisticus which Dury described as "a war cry" when he appeared on Desert Island Discs. The song was performed by Orbital/Graeae Theatre Company and broadcast worldwide by the 大象传媒 at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics.

Jane Horrocks' diary details the relationship through a conflicted lens - beautiful and direct descriptions of joy and heartache, romance, fear, boredom and comedy. Some of Dury's letters to Horrocks read like a song chorus or a poem.

There are vivid cultural references to the times - from Sylvia Plath's grave to Terence Trent D'Arby, and the film Barfly.

Ian Dury's letters are read by Jud Charlton in an uncanny facsimile of the late singer's voice and character, and Jane Horrocks reflects on bringing her memories, the letters and her diaries together after 35 years, concluding that here was a friendship trampled by a sometimes toxic love affair.

Devised by Jane Horrocks
Produced and Directed by Peter Curran
Sound Design: David Thomas
A Foghorn Company production for 大象传媒 Radio 4