Through the stories of ten of his greatest works, Mel Giedroyc examines the life of Walt Disney, a much mythologised genius. A man to whom storytelling was an escape from an oppressive father and a respite from periods of depression.

His name is truly iconic, but how much do we really know about this titan of the entertainment industry? Who was the real Walt and why did a man who moulded Western pop culture in his image end up on his deathbed, afraid that he’d be forgotten?

In this episode, the “practically perfect in every way” Mel descends from the clouds to tell the tale of Mary Poppins. The film is a colourful, joy filled romp, but its creation was far from a jolly holiday for Walt Disney. Mel reveals the lengths Disney went to secure the rights to Mary Poppins and the highly antagonistic relationship he had with the author of the original book upon which his iconic film is based.

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4 Show less