'Angry young man' author of 'Room at the Top', John Braine answers the questions posed by John Bowen, Peter Duval Smith and George Scott.

Aged 37 when interviewed, he talks about his Yorkshire, working class background and the impact of his success.

John Braine was born in 1922 and died in 1986.

Launched in 1952 on the BBC Home Service, Frankly Speaking was a novel, ground breaking series. Unrehearsed and unscripted, the traditional interviewee/interviewer pairing was initially jettisoned for three interviewers firing direct questions. Early critics described it as 'unkempt', 'an inquisition' and described the guest as prey being cornered, quarry being pursued - with calls to axe the unscripted interview. But the format won out and eventually won over its detractors.

Only 40 or so of the original 100 programmes survive.

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in 1959. Show less