Pet Shop Boys, Documentary

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Chart - Part 1

20160323

20160709 (6M)

Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary.

In March 1986, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe released their debut album 'please'.

The Pet Shop Boys would go on to sell more than 50-million records, including forty Top 20 singles and four UK number ones.

This special season of four documentaries charts the work of the most successful British music duo of all-time.

In later programmes, we'll be looking at how Neil and Chris have contrasted their success in mainstream music with acclaimed works for ballet, opera and musical theatre.

And, as the Pet Shop Boys release of a brand new album, we'll be asking how they've continued to walk a tightrope between pop and art, silliness and profundity.

But first, it's back to the beginning and their inventive and influential albums released on the iconic British label Parlophone.

In this programme, the Pet Shop Boys discuss 'Please', 'Actually', 'Introspective', 'Behaviour', 'Very' and 'Bilingual'. And Neil and Chris choose their personal favourite album tracks off each.

Introduced by Graham Norton.

Written and produced by Malcolm Prince.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe discuss their first six studio albums.

Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe

Chart - Part 2

20160324

20160710 (6M)

Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary.

In March 1986, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe released their debut album 'please'.

Over the next thirty years, The Pet Shop Boys would go on to sell more than 50-million records, including forty Top 20 singles and four UK number ones.

This season of four documentaries charts the work of the most successful British music duo of all-time.

In later programmes, we'll be looking at how Neil and Chris have contrasted their success in mainstream music with acclaimed works for ballet, opera and musical theatre.

And, as the Pet Shop Boys release of a brand new album, we'll be asking how they've continued to walk a tightrope between pop and art, silliness and profundity.

But first, featuring a new and exclusive interview, Neil and Chris discuss their final five studio albums for Parlophone Records: 'Nightlife', 'Release', 'Fundamental', 'Yes', and 'Elysium'.

And Neil and Chris choose their personal favourite album tracks off each.

Introduced by Graham Norton.

Written and produced by Malcolm Prince.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe discuss their final five studio albums released by Parlophone.

Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe

Collaborate, Part 3

20160330

20160711 (6M)

Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary.

With sales exceeding 50-million records and a catalogue of music that spans twelve top 10 studio albums, 40 top 20 singles, and four UK number one records, pet shop boys are the most successful British music duo of all-time.

From pop divas and musical dramas, to Russian battleships and Danish fairy-tales.

This is the story of Pet Shop Boys creative partnerships and associations - on stage and on screen - as told by their collaborators.

The programme considers how and why Neil and Chris contrast their success in mainstream music with new works for ballet, opera and musical theatre. Highlights to include the BBC Prom, A Man from the Future, the ballet, The Most Incredible Thing, the film, Battleship Potemkin, and the stage musical Closer To Heaven.

With contributors including record producer Trevor Horn, writer Jonathan Harvey, musician Johnny Marr, set designer Es Devlin, choreographer Javier De Frutos, designer Mark Farrow, record producer Stuart Price, artist Wolfgang Tillmans, film-maker Sam Taylor Johnson, journalist Chris Heath and Alan Turing's biographer Andrew Hodges.

Presented by Frances Barber

Written and produced by Malcolm Prince.

The story of the duo's partnerships and associations, as told by their collaborators.

Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe

The Pop Kids, Part 4

20160331

20160712 (6M)

Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary.

From Ambridge to Africa, this is the story of their latest reinvention as a successful global live electronic act. The programme examines how the duo has proved a 'certain strain of tuneful hedonism has no compulsory retirement age' and illustrates how they have often walked a tightrope between pop and art, silliness and profundity.

This final part also covers their move from Parlophone Records which resulted in the creation of a new bespoke label, and it discusses their latest album.

The programme also features a PSB collaboration with Jean Michel Jarre: Brick England.

With guests: music producers Stuart Price and Jean Michel Jarre, musician Johnny Marr, writer Jonathan Harvey, set designer Es Devlin, music programmer Pete Gleadall and PSB biographer Chris Heath.

Written and produced by Malcolm Prince.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe discuss their latest works with Miranda Sawyer.

Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Chart - Part 1	20160323	20160709 (6M)	Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary. In March 1986, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe released their debut album 'please'. The Pet Shop Boys would go on to sell more than 50-million records, including forty Top 20 singles and four UK number ones. This special season of four documentaries charts the work of the most successful British music duo of all-time. In later programmes, we'll be looking at how Neil and Chris have contrasted their success in mainstream music with acclaimed works for ballet, opera and musical theatre. And, as the Pet Shop Boys release of a brand new album, we'll be asking how they've continued to walk a tightrope between pop and art, silliness and profundity. But first, it's back to the beginning and their inventive and influential albums released on the iconic British label Parlophone. In this programme, the Pet Shop Boys discuss 'Please', 'Actually', 'Introspective', 'Behaviour', 'Very' and 'Bilingual'. And Neil and Chris choose their personal favourite album tracks off each. Introduced by Graham Norton. Written and produced by Malcolm Prince. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe discuss their first six studio albums. Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
02	Chart - Part 2	20160324	20160710 (6M)	Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary. In March 1986, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe released their debut album 'please'. Over the next thirty years, The Pet Shop Boys would go on to sell more than 50-million records, including forty Top 20 singles and four UK number ones. This season of four documentaries charts the work of the most successful British music duo of all-time. In later programmes, we'll be looking at how Neil and Chris have contrasted their success in mainstream music with acclaimed works for ballet, opera and musical theatre. And, as the Pet Shop Boys release of a brand new album, we'll be asking how they've continued to walk a tightrope between pop and art, silliness and profundity. But first, featuring a new and exclusive interview, Neil and Chris discuss their final five studio albums for Parlophone Records: 'Nightlife', 'Release', 'Fundamental', 'Yes', and 'Elysium'. And Neil and Chris choose their personal favourite album tracks off each. Introduced by Graham Norton. Written and produced by Malcolm Prince. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe discuss their final five studio albums released by Parlophone. Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
03	Collaborate, Part 3	20160330	20160711 (6M)	Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary. With sales exceeding 50-million records and a catalogue of music that spans twelve top 10 studio albums, 40 top 20 singles, and four UK number one records, pet shop boys are the most successful British music duo of all-time. From pop divas and musical dramas, to Russian battleships and Danish fairy-tales. This is the story of Pet Shop Boys creative partnerships and associations - on stage and on screen - as told by their collaborators. The programme considers how and why Neil and Chris contrast their success in mainstream music with new works for ballet, opera and musical theatre. Highlights to include the BBC Prom, A Man from the Future, the ballet, The Most Incredible Thing, the film, Battleship Potemkin, and the stage musical Closer To Heaven. With contributors including record producer Trevor Horn, writer Jonathan Harvey, musician Johnny Marr, set designer Es Devlin, choreographer Javier De Frutos, designer Mark Farrow, record producer Stuart Price, artist Wolfgang Tillmans, film-maker Sam Taylor Johnson, journalist Chris Heath and Alan Turing's biographer Andrew Hodges. Presented by Frances Barber Written and produced by Malcolm Prince. The story of the duo's partnerships and associations, as told by their collaborators. Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
04	The Pop Kids, Part 4	20160331	20160712 (6M)	Following on from The Pet Shop Boys standing in on Iggy Pop's 6 Music show, another chance to hear a series first broadcast on Radio 2 in March, marking their 30th anniversary. With sales exceeding 50-million records and a catalogue of music that spans twelve top 10 studio albums, 40 top 20 singles, and four UK number one records, pet shop boys are the most successful British music duo of all-time. From Ambridge to Africa, this is the story of their latest reinvention as a successful global live electronic act. The programme examines how the duo has proved a 'certain strain of tuneful hedonism has no compulsory retirement age' and illustrates how they have often walked a tightrope between pop and art, silliness and profundity. This final part also covers their move from Parlophone Records which resulted in the creation of a new bespoke label, and it discusses their latest album. The programme also features a PSB collaboration with Jean Michel Jarre: Brick England. With guests: music producers Stuart Price and Jean Michel Jarre, musician Johnny Marr, writer Jonathan Harvey, set designer Es Devlin, music programmer Pete Gleadall and PSB biographer Chris Heath. Written and produced by Malcolm Prince. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe discuss their latest works with Miranda Sawyer. Documentary series charting the work of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe