Peter Skellern Tribute With Sir Tim Rice

For the next hour Sir Tim Rice, will be celebrating the life and career of his friend and colleague, the boy from Bury and a true troubadour Peter Skellern who died earlier this year. He was best known for the beautiful ballad 'You're A Lady' a top 3 hit which shot him to fame in 1972, he had 2 further chart hits and continued making albums. But his expansive career went from musical theatre to musical comedy, writing and performing six autobiographical programmes for the BBC followed by a series of musical plays called 'Happy Endings' and was a regular guest on Radio 4's 'Stop The Week'. Let's face it you know you've made it when you get selected to be taken on that 'Desert Island' by Alison Steadman, David Blunkett, Richard Branson and Adelaide Hall. You're the top guest on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special. You have Victoria Wood performing a clever parody, with a brass band and heavenly choir in 'A Simple Northern Boy', you appear in 2 Royal Variety Performances, where he met Sir Richard Stilgoe spawning their hugely successful musical team. He also composed theme tunes including TV's 'Billy Liar' and achieved cult status in 1982 when he co-wrote 'One More Kiss Dear' with Vangelis, featured in Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner'. He even formed the first 'Oasis' with singer Mary Hopkins and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. But the one thing he never forgot was his Lancashire roots, his voice was always authentic and his songs often featured a brass band and a choir. Peter was a committed Christian and last year was ordained as a priest. Please join Sir Tim Rice, who will be welcoming friends and colleagues, Sir Richard Stilgoe, Joe Stilgoe, Ken Bruce, Aled Jones and many others to celebrate the life of this talented performer.

Sir Tim Rice pays tribute to the talents of Peter Skellern who died earlier this year.