Great Lives

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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.

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

Great Lives Podcast New

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Matthew Parris

Greg Jenner

Ruth Leon

Miles Warde

Great Lives: Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly

Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly

'Horrible Histories' consultant Greg Jenner on his all time favourite - Gene Kelly.

4 Extra Debut. Historian Greg Jenner nominates the Hollywood star Gene Kelly.  Ruth Leon is expert witness.  With Matthew Parris.  From 2018.

Public historian Greg Jenner has always loved Gene Kelly.

 "So much better than he had any right to be."

Born in Pittsburgh in 1912, Gene Kelly was a broad-shouldered Irish American whose first love was ice hockey.  But according to his biographer, Ruth Leon, he revolutionised movie-making by making the camera dance. 

Kelly's great films are Singin in the Rain,  On The Town and An American in Paris - with extracts and archive of Gene speaking, this is a joyful celebration of the great age of Hollywood musicals.

Presented by Matthew Parris. 

Producer Miles Warde

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2018.

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