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Neil Gaiman; Seduced and Abandoned; Literary mistranslations

Neil Gaiman on his new Doctor Who short story, movie industry documentary Seduced and Abandoned, literary mistranslations, fictional jokes about real people, and singer Angel Blue.

With Mark Lawson.

Seduced and Abandoned is a new documentary made by the actor Alec Baldwin and the writer/director James Toback. The film was shot in Cannes and depicts the difficulties faced by filmmakers trying to find funding for their projects, with contributions from Ryan Gosling and Diane Kruger. Ryan Gilbey reviews this movie about the movie business.

In Doctor Who's 50th anniversary year 11 authors have been commissioned to write short stories about the 11 Doctors. It was announced today that the final author in the series is Neil Gaiman who has written a story about Matt Smith's Doctor, called Nothing O'Clock. He talks to Mark about creating his own villain and why Margaret Thatcher makes a cameo appearance.

As Channel Four receives complaints about the latest joke about Prince Harry's social life, we ask media lawyer Duncan Lamont about the use of irony as a defence - when is a joke not a joke, in terms of fictional wisecracks about real people.

Californian soprano Angel Blue, a former model, is an award-winning opera singer, recently performing at the Wigmore Hall in London. Angel Blue discusses singing with Plácido Domingo, how she prepares for a performance, and her former life as a beauty queen.

Today the world of academia reports that translators of Beowulf have misinterpreted the opening line of the epic poem for at least 200 years. Translator Amanda Hopkinson looks at accidental and deliberate mistranslations as well as untranslatable phrases in literature.

Producer Dymphna Flynn.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Seduced and Abandoned

    Duration: 03:53

  • Neil Gaiman

    Duration: 07:58

  • Literary mistranslations

    Duration: 05:02

  • Angel Blue

    Duration: 06:09

  • Fictional jokes about real people

    Duration: 04:41

Seduced and Abandoned

Seduced and Abandoned is in cinemas from 8th November, certificate 15.

Neil Gaiman

Nothing O’Clock by Neil Gaiman is published later this month.

Angel Blue

Angel Blue is currently working on a new album, including her recent Rosenblatt Recital, which will be available next year.


Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterMark Lawson
Interviewed GuestNeil Gaiman
Interviewed GuestDuncan Lamont
Interviewed GuestAmanda Hopkinson
ProducerDymphna Flynn

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 Nov 201319:15

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