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BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

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Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

Music

As a tribute to Dame Edna's alter-ego, another chance to hear his Radio 2 show from 2020.

Another chance to hear Barry Humphries on Radio 2 in a programme first broadcast in 2020. Barry died in April 2023 aged 89.

Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces: Series 3: The Sound of the Wind in the Willows

The Sound of the Wind in the Willows

Series 3

BBC Radio 2 - Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces, Series 3, The Sound of the Wind in the Willows

In the last programme in the series, Barry recalls his favourite childhood listening.

Barry recalls the soundtrack to his childhood, including Fraser Simpson's music for 'Toad of Toad Hall'.  Barry says, 'to this day, that music has a near-hypnotic effect on me'.

In this final programme in the series, Barry Humphries recalls the soundtrack to his early life growing up in Melbourne, Australia during the 1930s & '40s.  Barry's preferred childhood listening was Fraser Simpson's music for 'Toad of Toad Hall'.  Barry says: "to this day, that music has a near-hypnotic effect on me.  It is utterly charming.  We didn't have a river-bank in Healsville, just outside of Melbourne, but we did have a creek and, in my mind, I somehow transplanted the setting of The Wind in the Willows to where I lived in Australia.  The Wild Wood, where the stoats and the weasels lived, brought to my mind, the terrifying Australian Bush."

In the 1930s and '40s, inhabitants of Barry's home city of Melbourne were convinced they were living in a rather remote part of the English home counties.  This was reflected in many ways, not least, in the music they listened to on the wireless or gramophone.  

Musical delights on offer in this programme include:
'Just Like in a Story Book' - Layton and Johnstone, 'Other People's Babies' - Norah Howard, and the highly risqué 'I'm an Old Norman Castle' - Annette Mills, 'Everything Stops for Tea' - Jack Buchanan...

Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces: Series 3

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Barry Humphries transports listeners back to the first half of the 20th century.

Barry Humphries returns to Radio 2 with his turntable time machine to transport listeners back to the first half of the 20th century.

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Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

Series 3

The Sound of the Wind in the Willows

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