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Betty Driver: So Little Time

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15/10/2012

BBC Radio 2 - Betty Driver: So Little Time

Bill Kenwright pays tribute to the singer and Coronation Street actress Betty Driver.

The story of singer and actress Betty Driver, in her own words. Bill Kenwright, who played son to Betty's character in Coronation Street, pays tribute to the much-loved actress.

Another chance to hear 'Betty Driver: So Little Time'. This is the story of singer and actress Betty Driver, told in her own words. Bill Kenwright - who played son to Betty's character in Coronation Street - pays tribute to the much-loved actress.

In her 90th year, Betty gave an interview about her life, which has never been broadcast until now. It provides Betty's own account as the thread running through this celebratory programme to mark the first anniversary of her death.

The interview was originally set up at her home in Cheshire, for BBC Radio 2 documentary 'The Bands That Mattered'. On the day of the interview it was snowing heavily outside, so Betty filled producer Tony Staveacre in with other scenes that made up her hectic life story; a wretched childhood, a bullying ambitious mother, an alcoholic father, a failed marriage, heartache and breakdown.

But running through it all was a cheery and indomitable spirit, and a love of popular music and performing that kept her going through the dark years. In the second half of her life, Coronation Street provided Betty with the loving family that she'd never had.

The documentary features clips from ancient films, in which Betty usually played a chirpy singing waitress, and music galore - the hit songs that Betty recorded in the 1930s and sang on BBC broadcasts providing the perfect soundtrack to the story of her life, including We Mustn't Miss the Last Bus Home, I'll Take Romance, What Goes on Here in My Heart, The World Will Sing Again, and So Little Time.

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