Paul O'Grady - My Life Upon the Wicked Stage

Paul O'Grady presents a special concert featuring some of his favourite music from the Mermaid Theatre in London.

One of Britain's best loved entertainers, Paul was born on 14th June 1955 in St Catherine's Hospital, Birkenhead, and he has woven his career through a variety of jobs. These include civil servant, barman, carer, drag act ,actor, TV presenter and radio presenter here on Radio 2.

In his teens Paul was a keen member of his local amateur dramatic society - the Unity Youth Theatre. Lily Savage made her first steps on the boards on 7th October 1978 at the Black Cap pub in Camden Town. For her debut act she mimed to a Barbra Streisand record - Nobody Makes a Pass at Me, from a show called Pins and Needles by Harold Rome.

Paul went on to play a number of roles on the West End stage - including Miss Hannigan in Annie and the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

In tonight's Sunday Night is Music Night he's let loose with conductor Mike Dixon and the 60 piece BBC Concert Orchestra to present a selection of his favourite music - with a dash of comedy thrown in.

So expect musical theatre with a bit of classical and opera too. The programme includes selections from the Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne musical Gypsy and the theme to Paul's all time favourite television show - The Avengers.

First broadcast in 2012.