Great Lives

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Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Matthew Parris

Great Lives: Hilary Devey on Gracie Fields

Hilary Devey on Gracie Fields

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Hilary Devey on Gracie Fields

The life of Dame Gracie Fields is championed by Hilary Devey. From 2016.

4 Extra Debut. Dragons’ Den Hilary Devey on singing star Gracie Fields.  Sebastian Lassandro is expert witness. With Matthew Parris from 2016.

A singer, comedian, music hall and film star from Rochdale,  Gracie Fields was the nation’s darling. But in the midst of World War II, and at the phenomenal peak of her career, our great life fell in love and married an Italian and had to flee to America. She was disowned by the British public who called her a deserter and she was slated in every newspaper.

Championing this week’s Great Life is businesswoman and TV personality Hilary Devey known to viewers of BBC 2's Dragons' Den and Channel 4's The Intern.   Helping her to unravel the life of Gracie Fields is Sebastian Lassandro, President of the Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society. 

Presenter Matthew Parris 

Producer Perminder Khatkar

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2016.

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