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Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover

Bluebirds? Over Dover? Ian Hislop delves into the somewhat chequered history of Dame Vera Lynn's legendary wartime anthem. From May 2004.

Dame Vera Lynn's wartime classic is British, original, but not entirely without controversy. Ian Hislop discovers the chequered history of this musical mainstay of the British nation in its finest hour. Could it really be a song weighed down by politics, propaganda and even a touch of plagiarism? And what about those bluebirds - have you ever seen any in the Dover area?

Ian meets Dame Vera Lynn, veterans, musicologists and even an ornithologist in his quest to find the hidden meaning of this classic wartime song.

30 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Mar 201701:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

Broadcasts

  • Mon 21 Mar 201114:30
    BBC Radio 7
  • Sat 17 Mar 201207:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 7 Dec 201307:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 20 Mar 201706:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 20 Mar 201713:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 20 Mar 201720:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 21 Mar 201701:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra