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Before They Were Famous

Comedy: Spoof

Comedy. Ian Leslie uncovers the first literary attempts of the world's best-known writers

Comedy. Ian Leslie presents the spoof documentary series that brings to light the often surprising first literary attempts of the world's best-known writers

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Before They Were Famous: Series 1

Ian Leslie

Anna Silver

Claire Broughton

Before They Were Famous: Series 1: Episode 2

Series 1

Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 - Before They Were Famous, Series 1, Episode 2

Ian Leslie with more surprising first literary attempts of the world's best-known writers.

Ian Leslie with more surprising first literary attempts of the world's best-known writers. With Alex Lowe. From August 2013.

Ian Leslie presents the comedy show which brings to light the often surprising first literary attempts of some of the world's best known writers.

A project of literary archaeology, Leslie has found evidence in the most unlikely of places - within the archives of newspapers, periodicals, corporations and universities - showcasing the early examples of work by writers such as Jilly Cooper during her brief and unfortunately unsuccessful foray into the world of war reporting, and Hunter S Thompson in his sadly short-lived phase working in the customer relations department for a major American Airline.

These are the newspaper articles, advertising copy, company correspondence and gardening manuals that allow us a fascinating glimpse into the embryonic development of our best loved literary voices - people we know today for their novels or poems but who, at the time, were just people with a dream...and a rent bill looming at the end of the month.


Produced by Anna Silver and Claire Broughton
A Hat Trick production for BBC Radio 4.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Ian Leslie presents a comedy show that brings to light the often surprising first literary attempts of the world's best-known writers

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