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Driving Miss Daisy; Des O'Connor

Des O'Connor on being back on stage, Vanessa Redgrave in Driving Miss Daisy, and Frank Cottrell Boyce on his sequel to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

With Mark Lawson.

Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones star in a new stage production of Driving Miss Daisy, the Pulitzer prize-winning play which inspired an Oscar-winning film. Peter Kemp reports from the opening night.

Des O'Connor has worked as an entertainer for over 45 years, including over 1000 appearances on the London Palladium stage. Now - at the age of 79 - he is making his debut in a West End musical, in Dreamboats and Petticoats. He reflects on his career, including the jokes made by Morecambe and Wise.

Frank Cottrell Boyce has written sequels to Ian Fleming's children's adventure Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, with the blessing of the Fleming Estate. He discusses the challenges of continuing a children's classic.

The Swedish poet Tomas Transtroemer has won the 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature. Writer Anders Roslund reflects on how the news has been received in Sweden.

Producer Jerome Weatherald.

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30 minutes

Last on

Thu 6 Oct 201119:15
BBC Radio 4

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Chapters

  • Driving Miss Daisy

    • Driving Miss Daisy

      A review of Driving Miss Daisy.

      Duration: 05:16

  • Des O'Connor

    • Des O'Connor

      An interview with the entertainer Des O'Connor.

      Duration: 10:36

  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again

    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again

      Author Frank Cottrell Boyce on writing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again.

      Duration: 06:31

  • 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature

    • 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature

      The Swedish poet Tomas Transtroemer has won the 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature. Writer Anders Roslund reflects on how the news has been received in Sweden.

      Duration: 05:23

Broadcast

  • Thu 6 Oct 201119:15
    BBC Radio 4

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