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Mad About the Boy

Noël Coward wrote Mad about the Boy in 1932 to celebrate the powerful appeal of the silent movie star. From 2004.

Noël Coward wrote 'Mad about the Boy' in 1932 for the review 'Words and Music' to celebrate the powerful appeal of the silent movie star.

Most recently it's been taken up as a gay anthem.

Sheridan Morley, Sir John Mills, Maria Aitken and Kit Hesketh-Harvey explain why this has become the most recorded number of all Coward's work.

Series about music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of our necks.

Producer: Lucy Lunt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2004.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 21 Dec 202400:00

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Jan 201618:30
  • Sat 16 Jan 201600:30
  • Tue 1 Sep 202018:30
  • Wed 2 Sep 202000:30
  • Fri 8 Mar 202420:30
  • Fri 20 Dec 202410:00
  • Fri 20 Dec 202416:00
  • Sat 21 Dec 202400:00

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.

Podcast