Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 01 | Keep The Home Fires Burning | 20161226 | Ivor Novello becomes a household name during the Great War with Keep the Home Fires Burning. Presented by Donald Macleod David Ivor Davies, who later changed his name to Ivor Novello, was born in Cardiff in 1893. His mother Clara Novello Davies was a singer and music teacher, who had once performed for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. Mam soon recognised her son's talents, and so sent young Ivor off to school in Gloucester, and then to Oxford where he was awarded a choral scholarship. Once Novello's voice broke, he left Oxford and soon found himself living in London with his mother, where he taught music and regularly visited the theatre. He started composing songs at this time, and it was in 1914 that he penned his first big hit, the patriotic Keep the Home Fires Burning, which made him a household name during World War One. Glamorous Night - Overture New World Show Orchestra Kenneth Alwyn, conductor The Dancing Years - Waltz Of My Heart Christopher Northam, piano Careless Rapture - The Manchuko John Stoddart, tenor (Captain Mellish) Linden Singers Spring of the Year Gordon Langford, piano Up There Kitty Whately, soprano Simon Lepper, piano John McCormack, tenor The Victor Studio Orchestra Josef A. Pasternak, conductor Megan Jerome Kern and Ivor Novello, arr. Henri Jaxon Theodore and Co - orchestral medley BBC Concert Orchestra Keith Lockhart, principle conductor Theodore and Co - What a Duke should be Jeremy Northam, voice Theodore and Co - Any Old Where Donald Macleod explains how Ivor Novello became a household name during World War One. |
| 2016 | 02 | The Next Valentino | 20161227 | Ivor Novello becomes a star of stage and screen on both sides of the Atlantic. Presented by Donald Macleod During World War One Ivor Novello became a Flight Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service but, having crashed two planes, soon found himself transferred to a safer desk job in London where he could enjoy the thriving world of wartime West End Theatre. In between his war work, Novello was now composing for the stage including shows such as Arlette, Our Nell and The Golden Moth. It was during this time that he met Edward Marsh, a senior figure in the Civil Service who introduced Novello to Winston Churchill and also the actor Robert Andrews. Bobbie became Novello's partner for the rest of his life, and supported and encouraged him in his emerging career as an actor and writer for stage and screen. Soon Novello found himself working with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, and with his highly appealing good looks, he became something of a matinee-idol. Keep the Home Fires Burning Gordon Langford, piano The Chandos Concert Orchestra Stuart Barry, conductor Guy le Feuvre & Ivor Novello Arlette - orchestral medley BBC Concert Orchestra Keith Lockhart, principle conductor The Dancing Years - My Dearest Dear Mary Ellis, soprano Ivor Novello, piano The Drury Lane Theatre Orchestra Charles Prentice, conductor Arlette - It's Just A Memory Kitty Whately, soprano Simon Lepper, piano First Up The Golden Moth - Nuts in May Lorna Dallas, soprano Studio Ensemble Bless You - And Her Mother Came To Jeremy Northam, voice Christopher Northam, piano Our Nell - The Land of Might Have Been Studio Orchestra Careless Rapture - Love Made the Song I Sing to You John Stoddart, tenor (Captain Mellish) Patricia Bartlett, soprano (Mrs Winton) Linden Singers New World Show Orchestra Kenneth Alwyn, conductor Careless Rapture - Music in May Patricia Bartlett, soprano (Penelope Lee) Careless Rapture - The Bridge of Lovers Patricia Johnson, mezzo-soprano (Madame Simonetti) How Ivor Novello becomes a star of stage and screen on both sides of the Atlantic. |