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Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

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Book of the Week: Damian Barr - Maggie and Me

Damian Barr

Sian Preece

Allegra McIlroy

Book of the Week: Damian Barr - Maggie and Me: Episode 1

Factual: Life Stories

Maggie and Me

Episode 1

Damian Barr - Maggie and Me

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Damian Barr - Maggie and Me, Episode 1

A boy in a steelworking town in the 1980s finds an unlikely heroine in Maggie Thatcher.

4 Extra Debut. In a small Scottish steelworking town in the 80s, as strikes spread across Britain, young Damian finds an unlikely heroine in Maggie Thatcher. From June 2013.

Damian Barr reads his touching and entertaining memoir of growing up in a small Scottish steelworks town in the 80s.

On 12th October 1984 young Damian's world explodes. He watches in panic as his mum rips off her wedding ring and packs their bags. Later that night he is glued to the news as Margaret Thatcher miraculously survives the IRA bomb that has blown apart the Grand Hotel in Brighton. As his own life descends into chaos, he knows that he too must survive.

In the shadow of the Falklands war, milk snatching, and the strikes that are spreading across Britain, tensions flare up in the heart of his own community. As the local Ravenscraig steelworks and his dad's job come under threat, Damian holds onto Maggie's advice to work hard and escape.

Written and read by Damian Barr.
Abridged by Sian Preece



Producer: Allegra McIlroy.

BBC Radio 4

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

Damian Barr's reads his entertaining memoir of growing up in a Scottish steelworking town

Damian Barr's reads his moving and entertaining memoir of growing up in a Scottish steelworking town amidst the strikes of the 1980s.

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