Barry Humphries: Barry's Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

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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 5: Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things?

Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things?

Series 5

BBC Radio 2 - Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces, Series 5, Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things?

Barry Humphries plays culturally thrilling songs from the first half of the 20th century.

Barry Humphries brings listeners another enthralling selection of thought provoking songs, inspired by the love affair between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

In this episode, Barry Humphries once again draws inspiration from the affair of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson. The song ‘Edward VIII’ by Lord Caresser, was the first to make reference to the 1936 scandal.  Barry recalls how his grandparents sailed back to Britain, from Australia, to partake in the festivities surrounding the Coronation. When they started their journey, Edward VIII was due to be crowned.  However, by the time they arrived in Britain, he had abdicated and it had been announced that his brother would become King George VI instead. The abdication of Edward VIII, in 1936, was supposedly the royal scandal to end all royal scandals.

Featured artists in this episode include: Jack Hylton ('Why Don’t Somebody Tell Me These Things'), Elsie Carlise ('Little White Lies'), Arthur Hall ('The Flapper Wife'), Lord Caresser ('Edward VIII'), Florie Forde ('Girls, Study Your Cookbook')... 

The early 20th century was full of sandal. It seems that, despite the strict standards of the era, under the surface, practically everyone was at it in one way or another!

BARRY SAYS: 'I recall that when my paternal grandparents sailed back to Britain, from Australia, for a special trip to be part of the festivities surrounding the Coronation in 1937, their journey involved spending months on a ship. That’s months!  Not days or hours. When they started their journey, the coronation was due to be that of Edward VIII, however, by the time they arrived in Britain, he had abdicated and his brother Bertie, was to be crowned as King George VI instead. They did manage to purchase, at a discount, a beautiful Edward VIII coronation souvenir mug.'

Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces: Series 5

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 returns to Radio 2 with his turntable time machine.

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Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

Series 5

Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things?

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