Radio Lives

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Radio Lives
Genrebiographic
Running time40 mins
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
Original release23 August 1990 –
5 December 1996
No. of series7
No. of episodes41

Radio Lives was a long running BBC Radio 4 biographical series consisting of portraits of great radio figures. Running over seven series from 1990–96, each episode featured a personality who was influential either on the air or behind the scenes, and was presented by someone with a keen interest in their subject.[1] The programmes demonstrated a striking range of subjects as varied as Edward R. Murrow (the voice of Britain for an American radio audience at the height of the London blitz) to Kenneth Williams, and William Hardcastle (inaugural presenter of The World at One) to Nancy Spain (socialite). Presenters have included Patricia Routledge, Charles Kennedy, Mark Lawson and Humphrey Carpenter.

Programmes[edit]

Series 1, 19 July – 23 August 1990[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer
C. E. M. Joad June Knox-Mawer Julian Hale
Gracie Fields Patricia Routledge Elizabeth Burke
J. B. S. Haldane Professor John Durant Mark Savage
Stephen Potter Mark Lawson Hamish Mykura
Gilbert Harding Brian Masters Nigel Acheson
A. P. Herbert Charles Kennedy Fiona Couper

Series 2, 23 May – 20 June 1991[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer
Derek McCulloch Trevor Hill Simon Elmes
Isobel Barnett June Knox-Mawer Mark Savage
Tommy Handley Phil Smith Julian Hale
J. B. Priestley Ronald Eyre Penny Lawrence
William Hardcastle Christopher Cook Fiona McLean

Series 3, 6 August – 10 September 1992[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer
Mary Stocks Anne Karpf Julian Hale
Jimmy Clitheroe Phil Smith Simon Elmes
Edgar Lustgarten Jonathan Goodman Matt Thompson
Audrey Russell Roisin McAuley Fran Acheson
Edward R Murrow Christopher Cook Fiona McLean
A. G. Street Sean Street

Series 4, 27 May – 1 July 1993[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer
Sir Hugh Greene Alasdair Milne Julian Hale
Jimmy Edwards Nigel Farrell Ronni Davis
René Cutforth Peter White Nigel Acheson
Nancy Spain Natalie Wheen Matt Thompson
Marghanita Laski David Wheeler Louise Purslow
Louis MacNeice Humphrey Carpenter Fiona McLean

Series 5, 9 June – 14 July 1994[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer
Kenneth Williams Russell Davies Simon Elmes
Hermione Gingold Matt Thompson
Chester Wilmot Philip Knightly Julian Hale
Leslie Welch Jon Stock Ann-Marie Evans
Peter Eckersley Derek Robinson Bella Bannerman
R. D. Smith Humphrey Carpenter Fiona McLean

Series 6, 29 June – 3 August 1995[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer(s)
Gerald Priestland Robert Fox Simon Elmes
Frankie Howerd Dylan Winter Matt Thompson
Kenny Everett Robert Sandall Chris Paling
Eamonn Andrews Peter White Nigel Acheson and Kim Normanton
Charles Parker Laurie Taylor Sally Flatman
Jack de Manio Nick Baker Cathy Drysdale

Series 7, 31 October – 5 December 1996[edit]

Subject Presenter Producer
Jon Pertwee Nick Baker Peter Hoare
Brian Redhead Michael Bywater Bob Carter
Liberace Matt Thompson
Freya Stark Peggy Reynolds Sarah Bowen
Russell Harty Richard Coles Fiona Couper
A. J. Ayer Laurie Taylor Julian Hale

References[edit]

  1. ^ Donovan, Paul (1992). The Radio Companion. Grafton. p. 220. ISBN 0-586-090126.