大象传媒

This year it will be 30 years since the death of performance artist, Leigh Bowery. Yet his influence on popular culture remains. From Alexander McQueen, RuPaul and Lady Gaga 鈥� he has inspired many of popular culture鈥檚 most recognised and feted. He died of an AIDS related illness on New Year鈥檚 Eve in 1994.

Nick Grimshaw plunges into the colourful, sensuous, and downright outrageous world of Leigh Bowery. From bottomless trousers to live 鈥渂irths鈥� on stage, Leigh was a giant of a man who knew how to shock and enjoyed doing it. He was a fixture of the 80鈥檚 club scene and his flamboyant and body-contorting costumes and his ability to shock continues to resonate.

Leigh knew no boundaries 鈥� his vision was limitless. The costumes he designed and the acts he performed for his trips to cult nightclub, Taboo, are the stuff of legend, so much so that it was turned into a stage musical. He was also immortalised many times by the artist Lucian Freud who captured Leigh鈥檚 bulk and beauty in his distinctive and raw paintings.

Nick Grimshaw speaks to those who knew and collaborated with him. Singer Boy George, dancer and choreographer Michael Clark, writer and fashion critic Charlie Porter and Leigh鈥檚 best friend and biographer Sue Tilley.

Boy George tells us about his first encounter with Leigh Bowery and how his work influenced him. Sue Tilley describes some of his most outrageous performances 鈥� you had to be there. Michael Clark talks about the controversial costume that spelt the end of his creative partnership with Leigh. And Charlie Porter argues that Bowery鈥檚 work should have been taken more seriously at the time and explains how Leigh wanted to break the stigma of AIDS.

Leigh wanted to be famous and his wish has come true. His influence on fashion and club life can be seen in an exhibition 鈥極utlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80鈥檚 London at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London and in 2025 his life and work will be celebrated at Tate Modern.

From Freud to fashion, performance art, sexual identity and gender politics, this programme re-examines an artist who defied category and whose legacy resonates today.

Presenter: Nick Grimshaw
Producer: Belinda Naylor