Last Word

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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Factual: Life Stories

Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

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Last Word: Stephen Sondheim (pictured), Sir Frank Williams, Jo-Carroll Dennison

Stephen Sondheim (pictured), Sir Frank Williams, Jo-Carroll Dennison

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Stephen Sondheim (pictured), Sir Frank Williams, Jo-Carroll Dennison

Matthew Bannister on a composer, a motor racing team owner and a beauty queen.

Matthew Bannister on composer Stephen Sondheim, motor racing team owner Sir Frank Williams and beauty queen Jo-Carroll Dennison.

Matthew Bannister on 

Stephen Sondheim, the acclaimed composer and lyricist who revolutionised the stage musical. We have a tribute from Imelda Staunton who gave award-winning performances in some of his finest roles. 

Sir Frank Williams, the Formula One motor racing team owner who continued to enjoy great success after breaking his neck in a car crash that left him quadriplegic. His close friend and colleague Sir Patrick Head recalls their long working relationship. 

Jo-Carroll Dennison, the oldest surviving winner of the Miss America beauty contest and one of the first to object to the swim suit round.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: David Benedict and to actor 
Interviewed guest: Imelda Staunton
Interviewed guest: Simon Taylor.
Interviewed guest: Jenny Kirchner 
Interviewed guest: Evan Mills

Archive clips used: BBC TV, The Late Show: Face to Face - Stephen Sondheim 09/10/1995; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Stephen Sondheim 31/12/2000; BBC Sound Archive, Frank Williams Interview 12/07/1980; BBC One, News 29/11/2021;  BBC Radio 1Xtra, Newsbeat 29/11/2021; Watershed Pictures/Formula One Constructors Association, Mansell & Williams 1992; BBC 5Live, News 29/11/2021; BBC Radio 4, Sport On Four 20/09/1986; YouTube, Crash Aftermath - F1 1994 San Marino; BBC One, Six o' Clock News 29/10/1997; BBC Radio 4, Today programme 29/11/2021; Justin Johnson/YouTube Channel, Delta Blues on the Weissenborn Lap Slide Guitar 20/08/2021; British Pathé, Miss America 1940; Miss America Organization/Evan Mills, Jo-Carroll Dennison 100th Anniversary Gala Speech 07/09/2021; Kenco Productions/CBS Television Network, The Phil Silvers Show 1955; Columbia Pictures, Trailer for the Jolson Story 1946; Alliance Productions, Trailer for Prehistoric Women 1950; Television Corporation of America, Abbott and Costello Show S1 E24 The Actors' Home 1953.

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Last Word

Stephen Sondheim (pictured), Sir Frank Williams, Jo-Carroll Dennison

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