A portrait of J.M.W. Turner written and presented by David Thompson

'Though thoroughly modest, yet he had a full appreciation of his own merits, and no-one so much enjoyed his exquisite pictures as he did himself. It was a matter of real sorrow to him to part with any favourite picture, and on more than one occasion, when he had been looking graver than usual, and I have asked if anything vexed him, he has said, "No, only I've been sending some of my children away today."'
J.M.W. Turner was born 200 years ago on Shakespeare's birthday, 23 April 1775. Few people in his lifetime knew or understood him. But there are many written accounts of his appearance, his behaviour and his conversation which, taken together with Turner's own writings, provide a vivid human portrait of England's greatest painter.
with Anthony Nicholls as J.M.W. Turner
and BETTY BASKCOMB, JOHN BOLL, KATE COLERIDGE, GARARD GREEN, MICHAEL SHANNON, PETER WILLIAMS
Producer ALAN HAYDOCK
(Anthony Nicholls is in 'A Family and a Fortune' at the Apollo Theatre, London)