Maurice Chevalier

French entertainer Maurice Chevalier is interviewed about his life and career by a panel of three:

* Penelope Mortimer - journalist and novelist

* Colin MacInnes - journalist and novelist

* Carl Wildman - author

Sadly the full programme from 1963 no longer exists, but this is a long extract.

Then in his 70s, Chevalier speaks openly about how much he owes to English vaudeville and music hall.

He reveals his use of the then new-fangled stage microphone, touches on his working class roots, his adored mother and two bouts of depression.

He's also questioned about his stage persona as the sophisticated, romantic, Frenchman versus the real Chevalier.

Maurice Chevalier died aged 83 in 1972.

Launched in 1952 on the BBC Home Service, Frankly Speaking was a novel, ground breaking series. Unrehearsed and unscripted, the traditional interviewee/interviewer pairing was initially jettisoned for three interviewers firing direct questions. Early critics described it as 'unkempt', 'an inquisition' and described the guest as prey being cornered, quarry being pursued - with calls to axe the unscripted interview. But the format won out and eventually won over its detractors.

Unknown or very inexperienced broadcasters were employed as interviewers, notably John Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge and Penelope Mortimer.

Only 40 or so of the original 100 programmes survive.

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in May 1963.