BBC Radio 4 Extra

The Freedland Files

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

03/03/2018

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Freedland Files

Author Michael Freedland opens his audio archives

Marking the 90th Academy Awards ceremony, Michael Freedland, opens his audio archives for the very first time. From 2018.

Made to mark the 90th Academy Awards ceremony in 2018, Michael Freedland, the prolific author and broadcaster, opens his audio archives for the very first time.

 As a writer, presenter and interviewer for over fifty years Freedland has an extensive collection of material which contains the biggest Oscar winning names in film, great entertainers and leading public figures.

In this special 4 Extra showcase recorded from his Bournemouth home he explores the private recordings made for his book and article research along with extracts from his radio documentaries and reveals some of the lesser-known tales of the great stars of stage and screen. 

Many of the selections from his archives have never been broadcast before and along with key material from the iconic names of Hollywood such as Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, Hope and Crosby, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, James Cagney we also hear exclusive interview recordings with Morecambe and Wise and a fascinating not to be missed conversation with Margaret Thatcher before she became prime minister. 

Michael Freedland passed away in October 2018. 

Producer: Stephen Garner

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in March 2018.

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