The Rudest Man in Britain 

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

The Rudest Man in Britain: 2. Face to Face with John Freeman

The Rudest Man in Britain

2. Face to Face with John Freeman

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Rudest Man in Britain, 2. Face to Face with John Freeman

Simon Fanshawe explores the personal life of outrageous broadcaster Gilbert Harding.

Simon Fanshawe on the life of broadcaster Gilbert Harding - bullish in public and sorrowful in private – until he wept on TV.

"My doctor tells me if I go on drinking and smoking like this I shall drop dead - so I am going to double it".  

Simon Fanshawe continues his investigation through the archives to reveal a picture of this clever, amusing and often outrageous broadcaster who had a deeply troubled and unhappy private life.  

He was lonely, yet could not bear the thought of sharing his life with anybody.  There is no evidence that he had a close relationship with a man or a woman.  

Writer Brian Masters remembers staying with him as a young man.  "If I had a bath he would come in and hand me a towel and that seemed pretty innocent to me at that age.  I could see that it gave him pleasure, so why not?"

The second of a three-part exploration including extracts from:

*  GIlbert Harding on BBC TV's WHAT'S MY LINE hosted by Eamonn Andrews - where he competed with fellow guests Isobel Barnett, David Nixon and Barbara Kelly.

Interviews with:

Gillian Reynolds
Jeffrey Richards
Andy Metcalf
Gavin Henderson
Roger Storey
Brian Masters

Plus BBC TV's FACE TO FACE interview with John Freeman, where Gilbert Harding wept on camera when the questioner touched a nerve. 

Public sympathy for the broadcaster soared after the interview - and then he died on the steps of the BBC after recording Round Britain Quiz, eight weeks later.

Producer: Mike Greenwood

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in January 2014

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Exploring the legacy of former broadcasting star Gilbert Harding.

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