Showing results by publisher "BBC Audio" in Arts & Entertainment

Stephen Fry traces the evolution of the mobile phone, from hefty executive bricks that required a separate briefcase to carry the battery, to the smartphones available today. There are more mobile phones in the world than there are people on the planet. Stephen Fry talks to the backroom boys who made it all possible, and here’s how the technology succeeded in ways that the geeks had not necessarily intended.

Alex Edelman, the 25-year-old Bostonian native and winner of the prestigious Best Newcomer Award at the 2014 Edinburgh Comedy Festival, brings his unique wit to a discussion of the issues that affect the millennial generation. This collection includes two of his BBC Radio 4 series.

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 favourite Stones songs and is extraordinarily open about some of his personal experiences, which have included drugs and alcohol, prison and being anti-establishment.

This fascinating collection of archive interviews with the acclaimed playwright, whose centenary was celebrated in 2011, begins in 1969 with a radio appearance on Out This Week. It culminates with an interview for Kaleidoscope in 1977, recorded a few months before his death. In between are several major radio features on Rattigan's life and work, in which he discusses the craft of playwriting, the state of commercial theatre, comparisons with Coward and Pinter and more.

Using scripts by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens, The Goon Show was recreated with a 'genetic' theme for one night at the Playhouse Theatre in London. Taking part were Andrew Secombe (son of Harry), Jon Glover (as the voices of Spike Milligan), and Jeffrey Holland (taking on the Peter Sellers roles), with announcements by Christopher Timothy (son of original Goon Show announcer, Andrew) and Lance Ellington singing in for his father Ray.

In interviews ranging from 1963 to 2009, Shirley Bassey talks about her childhood in Tiger Bay, being a tomboy and how she began her singing career. As well as clothes, concerts and controversially performing in Sun City (South Africa), she also talks in detail about her long career in show business.

A leading light of British stage and screen from the 1950s onwards, Ian Carmichael made a career out of playing the amiable, bumbling nincompoop in films such as Private's Progress and I'm All Right Jack, and TV shows including Bachelor Father and The World of Wooster. This dithering persona was expanded and amplified in his first radio comedy, Play It Cool. Written in 1964 by Beyond Our Ken's Eric Merriman, it sees him joined by Carry On's Joan Sims and radio veteran Hugh Paddick (Beyond Our Ken, Round the Horne) for a series that mixes music and comedy to provide a slice of 1960s cool.

When Garda officer Detective Sergeant Roisin MacKenna is called to the scene of a murder not far from the border between the North and South of Ireland she soon finds that boundaries, both geographical and moral, become blurred.

Spanking New on 7 is BBC7's first original comedy series. Compered by Robin Ince (from BBC2's The Office, E4's The Pilot Show and Radio 4's The In-Crowd) it showcases new or unknown stand-up comedians.

Strap in for an hour of rip-roaring comedy as Clever Peter bring you a pygmy hippo, a mystery voice, a leap across a ravine, and a sexy clown. This is the complete first series of the debut Radio 4 show from this award winning sketch team. From the team that brought you Cabin Pressure and Another Case of Milton Jones comes the massively bonkers and funny Clever Peter, hot off the Edinburgh Fringe and wearers of tri-coloured jerseys.

F Scott Fitzgerald's last and unfinished novel, a gorgeous, excruciating, heady tale based on his painful experiences working as a Hollywood screenwriter. Haunted by the death of his wife, 1930s studio head Monroe Stahr works 18-hour days, crammed with meetings, set visits, script brainstorms and screenings. The "last of the princes", he's making the studio millions and seems bulletproof. Then one day, an earthquake breaks two water mains, sending a river of water through the studio.

John le Carré was a best-selling author whose books include 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 as a means of escapism, by telling stories about his absent parents, as well as hating public school where he suffered severe beatings.

Whoops! John Inverdale presents another hilarious selection of resounding clangers from the very sporting BBC Sports Department. Here are the gremlins, giggles, goofs and gaffes that can turn an innocent sports report into a commentator's nightmare - and a listener's dream. So 'corpse' with the Test Match Special team, relish 'own goal' innuendoes with guileless correspondents and ride the turbulent sound waves of technical disasters.

A 15-part BBC Radio 4 series exploring the origins of the Post Office, how it became a cherished national institution, and how it adapted to globalisation and commercialisation. It’s called Royal Mail but it should be known as the People s Post. Launched in 1516 by Henry VIII, it was intended to support royal communications and bolster intelligence.

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches.

This fascinating collection of archive interviews with Muhammad Ali begins in 1965, with an interview with Harry Carpenter, and culminates with a TV interview with Joanna Lumley in 1989. Along the way Ali makes several famous appearances on Parkinson in the 1970s and talks to David Frost in The Frost Interview. The 1980s find him answering questions about his impending retirement and rumours that he is suffering from Parkinson's disease.

In this fascinating collection of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive, Martina Navratilova talks about her life and career as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

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 film-making, his knighthood and writing 'Private Lives' for his friend Gertrude Lawrence.

Patrick Troughton battles to save mankind in this classic six-part "lost" television adventure, with linking narration by Frazer Hines. The TARDIS brings the Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria to the south coast of present-day Earth. Something nasty is lurking in the gas pipelines of the North Sea, and before long the nearby refinery is under attack. Landing on a foam-covered beach, the travellers are at first mistaken for saboteurs.

A BBC Radio 4 drama by Mark Wheatley, originally broadcast as the ‘Afternoon Play’ on 13 May 2010.Fraser once tracked clients who jumped bail. Then he added a little twist to the business by helping people disappear instead, which is why Kathryn gives him a call.Starring Lia Williams as Kathryn and Neil Pearson as Fraser. Also includes Tessa Nicholson, Michael Shelford and Miche Doherty in the cast. Produced by Eoin O'Callaghan.