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In the Psychiatrist's Chair

Factual: Life Stories

Psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare conducts in depth interviews with prominent people.

Psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare conducts in depth interviews with prominent people from different walks of life.

In the Psychiatrist's Chair: Les Dawson

Factual

Les Dawson

25/04/2014

BBC Radio 4 Extra - In the Psychiatrist's Chair, Les Dawson

Les Dawson's interview with Dr Anthony Clare recorded the week before his death in 1993.

Les Dawson's earnest and open interview with Dr Anthony Clare recorded the week before the comedian's death. From May 1993.

Comedian Les Dawson's earnest and open interview with Dr Anthony Clare recorded the week before his death in 1993. 

In published transcripts of the interview, Clare says he felt privileged to have been given the interview and described Les as being "in good humour and talked, joked, clowned and recalled memories of his life with an energy and gusto that was infectious." At the time of its first broadcast, it formed part of the BBC's tribute to, as Clare put it, "a funny, generous, wise and happy man". 

Born in Dublin, author Anthony held a doctorate in medicine, a master's degree in philosophy and was a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. After becoming a regular on BBC Radio 4's Stop the Week in the 1980s, he became Britain's best-known psychiatrist and earned his own vehicle, In the Psychiatrist's Chair. Starting in 1982, this series ran until 2001 and also transferred to TV. Series highlights include conversations with Bob Monkhouse, Cecil Parkinson and Gerry Adams. 

Anthony Clare died suddenly in Paris aged 64 in 2007.

Produced for BBC Radio 4 by Michael Ember Associates. From September 1993.

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Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

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