Showing results for "In His Own Words" in Entertainment & Celebrity

When most think of Tolstoy, they think of the great author. For his last 30 years, however, Tolstoy walked a different track. In Conversations with Leo Tolstoy, Simon Parke grants us the honour of sitting with the great man, towards the end of his life, and gives us the chance to chat with him. The conversation is imagined, but not Tolstoy’s answers. This is Tolstoy is his own words, drawn from his extensive books, essays, and letters.

John le Carré was a bestselling author whose books include The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. On this recording we hear - in his own words - about being brought up by his grandparents and feeling deserted by his mother and father. He talks about being creative...

In a fascinating collection of archive interviews with the celebrated writer, presenter and polymath, you can hear - in his own words - the beliefs and aspirations that have shaped him. He talks about his upbringing, a time when Stephen admits he was a rebellious schoolboy and behaved...

In interviews ranging from 1968 to 2009, Paul McCartney talks about touring the UK with Wings (which was then a new band); a mid-70s offer to re-form the Beatles; the early days of the Beatles, and their final break-up. He also discusses his solo albums; receiving the freedom of the City of...

In this fascinating collection of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive, Spike Milligan talks about his life and career as one of the foremost comedy writers and performers of the 20th Century. The interviews included are: It Takes All Sorts, broadcast on BBC Radio, 23 January 1967...

This fascinating selection of extracts provides a vivid audio portrait of Dirk Bogarde, the award-winning actor and accomplished writer and artist who died in 1999. Interviews include: Picture Parade, broadcast on BBC TV, 10 January 1961 (with Robert Robinson); The Movies, broadcast on BBC TV...

Sir John Gielgud was one of his generation's leading actors, who won an Academy Award. In this collection we hear—in his own words—about his family and childhood, deciding to be an actor and his first confident performance. He discusses understudying Noël Coward and failing as Romeo, playing Hamlet for the first time and working with other actors. He also talks about bringing Shakespeare back to the West End, directing plays himself, film vs theatre acting, making mistakes and writing his autobiographies.

Stephen King is one of the world's most successful authors, with a long list of hit novels to his name including Carrie, Misery, The Shining and Doctor Sleep. Here he discusses his life, his writing career and his many achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archives.

Sir Derek Jacobi is an award-winning actor who is famous for his many roles on television, film and on stage. He received a Tony Award for his performance as Benedick in the RSC's production of Much Ado About Nothing and is probably most famous for his TV roles in Cadfael and I, Claudius. In this collection, we hear, in his own words, about his influences, his school years and early acting performances, as well as the many roles he has played.

Sir Richard Branson is a world-famous entrepreneur and businessman. Here he discusses his life and achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive: Pebble Mill, broadcast on BBC One, 15 October 1984 (featuring Bob Langley); Desert Island Discs, broadcast on BBC Radio 4...

In this fascinating collection of archive interviews with the famed lead singer of the Rolling Stones, we hear - in his owns words - about being the voice of his generation. Mick Jagger talks about touring with one of the biggest bands in the world and why he needs to perform. He discusses his...

Peter Ustinov was an actor, director, author and raconteur who won many awards in his lifetime, including Academy Awards, Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs. In this collection we hear - in his own words - about his thoughts on being a writer and director, and those who influenced him. He discusses...

In this fascinating collection of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive, John Mortimer, creator of the much-loved Rumpole of the Bailey, talks about his life and career as a barrister, screenwriter and novelist. The interviews included are: Desert Island Discs, first broadcast BBC Radio 4...

In this fascinating collection of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive, John Betjeman (Poet Laureate 1972) talks about his life and career as one of the foremost poets of the 20th Century. The interviews included are: Asian Club, broadcast on BBC Radio, 7 July 1959 (featuring Arthur...

Cecil Beaton was a portrait and fashion photographer, as well as a diarist and Oscar-winning designer. Here he discusses his life and achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive: At Home: Cecil Beaton, broadcast on BBC Radio, 7th May 1957 (featuring Hywel Davies)...

In interviews ranging from 1960 to 1972, Noël Coward talks about being a legend; whether he is a cynical writer; his early days in acting and about his early reputation for upsetting fellow actors on stage. He also discusses acting with Laurence Olivier; his affection for the Navy; his...

A fascinating programme that brings together archive recordings of Sir Thomas Beecham talking about his life and work, accompanied by some of his finest musical recordings. An insightful soundscape of arguably one of the 20th century's greatest conductors.

A fascinating chance to hear legendary boxer Henry Cooper talk about his life and career, in a selection of interviews taken from the BBC radio and TV archive. The interviews are: Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4 (first broadcast 16 May 1966, featuring Roy Plomley); Parkinson , BBC One (first...

John Lennon was a world famous and influential singer/songwriter and former member of the Beatles. Here he discusses his life and achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive: Tonight, broadcast on BBC TV, 18 June 1965 (featuring Kenneth Allsop); The World of Books...

Regarded by many as the greatest actor of the 20th century, Laurence Olivier enjoyed a stellar career in film, theatre and television, winning multiple awards along the way from the 1920s to the 1980s. In this absorbing collection of archive interviews he discusses his schooldays and early acting career, his drama training, his spells as actor-manager running the Old Vic and the National Theatre (which he helped create), his wartime service and his friendship and collaboration with fellow actors, including John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson.