Radio 2 Remembers...

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Broadcast

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Barry Humphries

20231228

Radio 2 celebrates the extraordinary life and career of Barry Humphries with some assistance from his most famous characters Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson & Sandy Stone. Born on 17th February 1934, he had no plans to retire. Even at the age of 89, he was wowing audiences on tour with what turned out to be his final one-man show. Barry was a consummate performer to the end, not least, because he's left us wanting so much more!

Barry's autobiographical reflections and some of his rarely-heard recordings are among the treats for listeners. Plus, Barry's most recent collaborators evaluate his place in entertainment history and, Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, mother of a family of renowned classical musicians, including Sheku Kanneh-Mason (winner of BBC Young Musician 2016), reveals the huge breadth of his creative influence, as Dame Edan's version of 'Peter and the Wolf' is the family's absolute favourite. Not wanting to be out done by Prokofiev, Sir Les Patterson also introduces extracts from the musical pastiche 'Peter and the Shark'.

Barry was just a month away from recording his seventh series of his acclaimed Radio 2 series, 'Barry's Forgotten Musical Masterpieces', when he died unexpectedly on 22nd April 2023 in Sydney (less than a year away from his 90th birthday). Writing about his beloved radio show in an article for The Radio Times in 2022, he maintained, 'of all the things I do, this is my favourite!' and he hoped to be remembered as, 'a radio personality' like those entertainers, who'd inspired him, when he was a little boy listening to the wireless. In 1959, Barry sailed away from sunny, spotless Melbourne, after dropping out of university. In London, his first job in London was doing nightshifts in an ice cream factory in Acton.

Radio 2 dives into the world of Barry Humphries with assistance from Dame Edna & Sir Les.

Dame Edna, Sir Les & internationally renowned artist Meow Meow pay tribute to Barry Humphries, in this celebration of the comedy legend's extraordinary life & career.

A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment

Cilla Black At The BBC

20231225

Sir Cliff Richard celebrates one of our biggest musical stars – Cilla Black – moving into the world of television presenting, with an innovative and hugely successful BBC series which prompted ITV, many decades later, to make her the Queen of Saturday Night TV once again on Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.

Contributors to Cilla Black at the BBC, many of whom appeared and worked on the TV show, include Jimmy Tarbuck, Cilla's son Robert Willis, Gillian Reynolds, Joe Brown, Sir Tim Rice, George Layton, Bob Harris, Tony Blackburn, Mike Batt, arranger and musician Mike Vickers and Hank Marvin from The Shadows. They will talk about their memories and appreciation of Cilla's talent alongside archive clips and musical numbers from the series, some not heard since the original broadcast and believed lost until now. Sir Cliff was of course a close friend and appeared on Cilla many times, singing with her and helping the country choose the Song For Europe.

‘Cilla', as it was called, was a ground-breaking live TV series on Saturday nights on BBC One. It contained light entertainment and reality elements, all hosted with Cilla's sense of humour, infectious personality and warm connection with both big name guests and the public both at home and out and about.

Sir Cliff Richard introduces a special programme remembering Cilla and her BBC TV series

Sir Cliff Richard introduces memories from Cilla's son Robert, alongside insights from those who worked with and appeared on Cilla's ground breaking BBC TV light entertainment show

A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment

Paul O'grady At The BBC

20231219

20231227 (R2)

Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life and career.

From his early years growing up in Birkenhead to his breakthrough as his alter ego Lily Savage, Paul was always a compelling storyteller. Here, he recounts the strong female characters in his early life, working at the DHSS in Liverpool, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and the impact that had on his life, particularly at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where he would spend 8 years perfecting the character of Lily Savage. These are recounted in his BBC interviews with Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs, Steve Wright, Jools Holland, Gay Britannia and Inheritance Tracks. Plus a look back at his long running Radio 2 series, Paul O'Grady On The Wireless.

Introduced By Zoe Ball.

Remembering much loved comedian, actor, writer and Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady.

A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment

Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life from his early years growing up in Birkenhead to showbiz stardom.

Paul O'grady At The BBC

20231227

Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life and career. From his early years growing up in Birkenhead to his breakthrough as his alter ego Lily Savage, Paul was always a compelling storyteller. Here he recounts the strong female characters in his early life, working at the DHSS in Liverpool, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's and the impact that had on his life, particularly at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where he would spend 8 years perfecting the character of Lily Savage. These are recounted in his BBC interviews with Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs, Steve Wright, Jools Holland, Gay Britannia and Inheritance Tracks.

Remembering much loved comedian, actor, writer and Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady.

Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life from his early years growing up in Birkenhead to showbiz stardom.

Sir Michael Parkinson

20231219

20231226 (R2)

Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz, whilst giving an insight into Michael's passion for music and how that has contributed to the nation's appreciation of culture. The show features highlights from Michael's famous interviews with Oscar Peterson, Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney, Buddy Rich and more. And Jamie also recalls how it was Michael who changed his whole career in music by giving him the opportunity to perform on his television chat show in 2003.

Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson.

A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment

Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz.

Sir Michael Parkinson

20231226

Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson.

Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
Barry Humphries	20231228		Radio 2 celebrates the extraordinary life and career of Barry Humphries with some assistance from his most famous characters Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson & Sandy Stone. Born on 17th February 1934, he had no plans to retire. Even at the age of 89, he was wowing audiences on tour with what turned out to be his final one-man show. Barry was a consummate performer to the end, not least, because he's left us wanting so much more! Barry's autobiographical reflections and some of his rarely-heard recordings are among the treats for listeners. Plus, Barry's most recent collaborators evaluate his place in entertainment history and, Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, mother of a family of renowned classical musicians, including Sheku Kanneh-Mason (winner of BBC Young Musician 2016), reveals the huge breadth of his creative influence, as Dame Edan's version of 'Peter and the Wolf' is the family's absolute favourite. Not wanting to be out done by Prokofiev, Sir Les Patterson also introduces extracts from the musical pastiche 'Peter and the Shark'. Barry was just a month away from recording his seventh series of his acclaimed Radio 2 series, 'Barry's Forgotten Musical Masterpieces', when he died unexpectedly on 22nd April 2023 in Sydney (less than a year away from his 90th birthday). Writing about his beloved radio show in an article for The Radio Times in 2022, he maintained, 'of all the things I do, this is my favourite!' and he hoped to be remembered as, 'a radio personality' like those entertainers, who'd inspired him, when he was a little boy listening to the wireless. In 1959, Barry sailed away from sunny, spotless Melbourne, after dropping out of university. In London, his first job in London was doing nightshifts in an ice cream factory in Acton. Radio 2 dives into the world of Barry Humphries with assistance from Dame Edna & Sir Les. Dame Edna, Sir Les & internationally renowned artist Meow Meow pay tribute to Barry Humphries, in this celebration of the comedy legend's extraordinary life & career. A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment
Cilla Black At The BBC	20231225		Sir Cliff Richard celebrates one of our biggest musical stars – Cilla Black – moving into the world of television presenting, with an innovative and hugely successful BBC series which prompted ITV, many decades later, to make her the Queen of Saturday Night TV once again on Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. Contributors to Cilla Black at the BBC, many of whom appeared and worked on the TV show, include Jimmy Tarbuck, Cilla's son Robert Willis, Gillian Reynolds, Joe Brown, Sir Tim Rice, George Layton, Bob Harris, Tony Blackburn, Mike Batt, arranger and musician Mike Vickers and Hank Marvin from The Shadows. They will talk about their memories and appreciation of Cilla's talent alongside archive clips and musical numbers from the series, some not heard since the original broadcast and believed lost until now. Sir Cliff was of course a close friend and appeared on Cilla many times, singing with her and helping the country choose the Song For Europe. ‘Cilla', as it was called, was a ground-breaking live TV series on Saturday nights on BBC One. It contained light entertainment and reality elements, all hosted with Cilla's sense of humour, infectious personality and warm connection with both big name guests and the public both at home and out and about. Sir Cliff Richard introduces a special programme remembering Cilla and her BBC TV series Sir Cliff Richard introduces memories from Cilla's son Robert, alongside insights from those who worked with and appeared on Cilla's ground breaking BBC TV light entertainment show A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment
Paul O'grady At The BBC	20231219	20231227 (R2)	Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life and career. From his early years growing up in Birkenhead to his breakthrough as his alter ego Lily Savage, Paul was always a compelling storyteller. Here, he recounts the strong female characters in his early life, working at the DHSS in Liverpool, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and the impact that had on his life, particularly at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where he would spend 8 years perfecting the character of Lily Savage. These are recounted in his BBC interviews with Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs, Steve Wright, Jools Holland, Gay Britannia and Inheritance Tracks. Plus a look back at his long running Radio 2 series, Paul O'Grady On The Wireless. Introduced By Zoe Ball. Remembering much loved comedian, actor, writer and Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady. A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life from his early years growing up in Birkenhead to showbiz stardom.
Paul O'grady At The BBC	20231227		Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life and career. From his early years growing up in Birkenhead to his breakthrough as his alter ego Lily Savage, Paul was always a compelling storyteller. Here he recounts the strong female characters in his early life, working at the DHSS in Liverpool, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's and the impact that had on his life, particularly at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where he would spend 8 years perfecting the character of Lily Savage. These are recounted in his BBC interviews with Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs, Steve Wright, Jools Holland, Gay Britannia and Inheritance Tracks. Remembering much loved comedian, actor, writer and Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady. Comedian, drag queen, actor, writer and much loved Radio 2 presenter Paul O'Grady looks back on his life from his early years growing up in Birkenhead to showbiz stardom.
Sir Michael Parkinson	20231219	20231226 (R2)	Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz, whilst giving an insight into Michael's passion for music and how that has contributed to the nation's appreciation of culture. The show features highlights from Michael's famous interviews with Oscar Peterson, Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney, Buddy Rich and more. And Jamie also recalls how it was Michael who changed his whole career in music by giving him the opportunity to perform on his television chat show in 2003. Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson. A celebration of the stars that have lit up the airwaves and defined popular entertainment Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz.
Sir Michael Parkinson	20231226		Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz, whilst giving an insight into Michael's passion for music and how that has contributed to the nation's appreciation of culture. The show features highlights from Michael's famous interviews with Oscar Peterson, Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney, Buddy Rich and more. And Jamie also recalls how it was Michael who changed his whole career in music by giving him the opportunity to perform on his television chat show in 2003. Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson. Jamie Cullum pays tribute to Michael Parkinson in this special programme. Jamie will be celebrating their unique relationship and shared love of jazz.