Titanium

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

Derek Riddell

William Ash

Sarah Ovens

Alun Raglan

Stephen Marzella

Anita Sullivan

Kate McAll

Anita Sullivan - Titanium

Drama

BBC Radio 4 - Anita Sullivan - Titanium

The story of Gagarin's first space flight through the eyes of his training partner Titov.

Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's first space flight recalled by his training partner, Gherman Titov. Stars Derek Riddell and William Ash.

History rarely remembers who came second. 

If Yuri Gagarin had so much as sneezed on the 12th of April 1961, the honour of being the first man in orbit would have gone to his training partner, Gherman Titov. 

But Gagarin didn't sneeze and a disappointed Titov had to climb back down the launch tower. 

A few months later Titov did launch successfully in Vostock II. He completed 17 earth orbits (got space-sick, ate and slept) and is still the youngest person ever to have gone into space. But he's largely unheard of because he wasn't 'first.

This is the story of the two cosmonauts - their training, their selection, the flight and its aftermath - told through Titov's eyes as he waits at Chkalovsky Airbase for Yuri to return from what should have been a routine training flight on the 27th March 1968. 

Drama written by Anita Sullivan - originally broadcast to mark the 50th anniversary of Gagarin's flight, 

Gherman Titov  .... Derek Riddell 
Yuri Gagarin .... William Ash
Private Baskov .... Sarah Ovens
Nikolai Kaminin .... Alun Raglan 
Sergei Korolev .... Stephen Marzella 

Director:  Kate McAll

A BBC/Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast  in April 2011.

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