BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

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Lives in a Landscape

Factual: Life Stories

Documentary series telling original stories about real lives in Britain today

Lives in a Landscape: Series 16

Lives in a Landscape: Series 16: Episode 3: Spirit of Battle

Episode 3

Episode 3: Spirit of Battle

Series 16

Spirit of Battle

BBC Radio 4 - Lives in a Landscape, Series 16, Spirit of Battle

Alan Dein zigzags Britain hot on the heels of a wrestler breaking into the big time.

Alan Dein trails one young wrestler, Gareth Pugh, from the drama of the ring to his quiet village in Wales, as he tries to break through to the big time.

Wrestling, which used to draw millions of viewers to the box on Saturday afternoons in the 1970's, is still going strong in theatres up and down the country. Characters like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks have given way to The Avalanche, Tony Spitfire and Thunder who throw each other about and continue to delight and appal passionate audiences.

Alan Dein follows Gareth Pugh, a young wrestler touring the UK circuit. Known by the Welsh name Caden Lay (Spirit of Battle), Gareth is breaking into the big time having just turned professional. Alan takes a wild ride from the booming ringside along endless motorways into changing rooms and training gyms to Gareth's village in mid-Wales. There, in the family home, he discovers the source of Gareth's spirit of battle and learns how his dream to become a wrestler was born.

Producer Neil McCarthy.

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

Stories about real lives in Britain today, presented by Alan Dein

Documentary series telling original stories about real lives in Britain today. Presented by Alan Dein

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Lives in a Landscape

Series 16

Episode 3: Spirit of Battle

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