Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Childhood | 20201102 | 20240729 (BBC7) 20240730 (BBC7) 20201103 (R4) | He was the creative force behind some of the 20th century's biggest hits. A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from legendary songwriter Don Black. It's a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. He begins with his childhood - and how he came to manage singer Matt Monro. Written and read by Don Black. Abridged in five parts by Polly Coles. Don Black on his childhood - and how he came to manage Matt Monro. Songwriter Don Black recalls his childhood and how he came to manage singer Matt Monro. Warm and moving memoir. From 2020. A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Black shares the stories behind some of his most iconic numbers, as well as delightful anecdotes of his collaboration with the industry's brightest stars. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. |
| 02 | Vicissitudes | 20201103 | 20240730 (BBC7) 20240731 (BBC7) | A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. In this episode, Don Black talks about working with Jule Styne, an embarrassing moment with Tom Jones, as well as ruminating on the vicissitudes of failure. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. Read by Don Black. Don Black talks about working with Jule Styne and an embarrassing moment with Tom Jones. Don Black talks about working with Jule Styne, an embarrassing moment with Tom Jones and the vicissitudes of failure. From 2020. A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Black shares the stories behind some of his most iconic numbers, as well as delightful anecdotes of his collaboration with the industry's brightest stars. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. |
| 03 | Musicals | 20201104 | 20240731 (BBC7) 20240801 (BBC7) 20201105 (R4) | A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. In this episode, Don Black talks about the pain of writing lyrics for musicals and how he once collaborated with Robbie Williams. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. Read by Don Black. Abridged by Polly Coles. Produced by Clive Brill. Don Black talks about the pain of writing lyrics for musicals. Don Black talks about the pain of writing lyrics for musicals and how he once collaborated with Robbie Williams. From 2020. A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Black shares the stories behind some of his most iconic numbers, as well as delightful anecdotes of his collaboration with the industry's brightest stars. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. |
| 04 | Olympics | 20201105 | 20240801 (BBC7) 20240802 (BBC7) 20201106 (R4) | A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Don Black talks about how he wrote the lyrics for the theme tune to the 1992 Olympics to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. And the search for the new lyricists of today. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. Read by Don Black Abridged by Polly Coles Produced by Clive Brill Don Black talks about writing the lyrics for the theme tune to the 1992 Olympics to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. From 2020. A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Black shares the stories behind some of his most iconic numbers, as well as delightful anecdotes of his collaboration with the industry's brightest stars. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. |
| 05 | Favourites | 20201106 | 20240802 (BBC7) 20240803 (BBC7) 20201107 (R4) | A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Don Black talks about his favourite musicals including West Side Story and My Fair Lady. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. Read by Don Black. Abridged by Polly Coles. Produced by Clive Brill. Don Black talks about his favourite musicals. Don Black talks about his favourite musicals including West Side Story and My Fair Lady. Songwriter's moving memoir. From 2020. A warm and wonderfully moving memoir from the legendary songwriter and creative force behind some of the twentieth century's biggest hits. Black shares the stories behind some of his most iconic numbers, as well as delightful anecdotes of his collaboration with the industry's brightest stars. The Sanest Guy in the Room is a celebration of a life in music and a touching tribute to Black's ultimate inspiration, his wife Shirley. |