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BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

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

Book of the Week

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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: Olivier

Toby Jones

Clive Brill

Philip Ziegler

Book of the Week: Olivier: Episode 2

Factual: Life Stories

Olivier

Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Olivier, Episode 2

Olivier begins his stellar rise in the London theatre, but has less success in Hollywood.

Newlywed Olivier begins his stellar rise in the London theatre, but Hollywood proves less generous. Read by Toby Jones.

Published when the National Theatre turned 50 in 2013, Philip Ziegler's biography, based on previously unseen letters and diaries, tells the story of Laurence Olivier as he developed his craft, focusing on his career path from early school days through rep theatre to Hollywood, before returning to triumph in his greatest role ever, as the first director of the National Theatre.

Episode 2:
Newlywed Olivier begins a stellar rise in the London theatre, with a big break from Noel Coward. But Hollywood is less generous and he returns home to make a film with Vivien Leigh.

Reader: Toby Jones

Producer: Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4.

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Biography of Laurence Olivier, based on previously unseen letters and diaries

Philip Ziegler's biography of Laurence Olivier, based on previously unseen letters and diaries. Read by Toby Jones

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