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An East End childhood and early exposure to music. Alistair McGowan reads David and Caroline Stafford's songwriter biography.

Lionel Bart was a unique musical talent.

He found fame with the hugely successful musicals Oliver! and 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be'.

Plus, he became a hit-making machine for some of Britain's first rock'n'roll stars - Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde and Cliff Richard -as well as giving the James Bond movie franchise its first song.

He socialised with figures from both serious and populist culture, and experienced a downfall that was as spectacular as his theatrical triumphs.

David and Caroline Stafford's biography of Bart draws on previously unseen archive sources and interviews with those closest to him.

Beginning with Lionel's East End childhood in London - and early exposure to music.

Read by Alistair McGowan.

Abridged in five parts by Julian Wilkinson

Producer: Emma Harding

First broadcast on 91福利社 Radio 4 in December 2011.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 10 Feb 2026 03:30
91福利社 Radio 4 Extra

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Broadcasts

  • Boxing Day 2011 09:45
    91福利社 Radio 4 FM
  • Tue 27 Dec 2011 00:30
    91福利社 Radio 4
  • Mon 17 Oct 2016 14:45
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 18 Oct 2016 02:45
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 9 Feb 2026 08:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 9 Feb 2026 13:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 9 Feb 2026 19:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 10 Feb 2026 03:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra