David Nobbs, Frances Kelsey, Kyril Zinovieff, Elio Fiorucci, Harry Pitch
Reeta Chakrabarti on comic writer and novelist David Nobbs, scientist Frances Kelsey, British spy Kyril Zinovieff, Italian fashion designer Elio Fiorucci and musician Harry Pitch.
Last Word is presented by Reeta Chakrabarti this week. She will be remembering:
The comic writer and novelist David Nobbs - we speak to his friend and fellow writer Jonathan Coe about the man who invented the 1970s anti-hero Reginald Perrin;
Frances Kelsey, the scientist whose concerns about the drug Thalidomide prevented it from being approved in the US;
Kyril Zinovieff, who as a child in Russia saw Rasputin, and as a spy for Britain encountered Hitler;
The Italian fashion designer Elio Fiorucci, who introduced the world to skintight vinyl jeans;
And the musician Harry Pitch, the harmonica player who performed everywhere from jazz clubs to opera houses.
Producer: Neil George.
Last on
David Nobbs (pictured)
Last Word spoke to his friend and fellow writer, Jonathan Coe.
Born 13 March 1935; died 9 August 2015 aged 80.
Frances Kelsey
Reeta spoke to Adam Bernstein of the Washington Post.
Born 24 July 1914; died 7 August 2015 aged 101.
Kyril Zinovieff
Reeta spoke to his great niece, Sofka Zinovieff.
Born 11 September 1910; died 31 July 2015 aged 104.
Elio Fiorucci
Last Word spoke to Sonnet Stanfill, head curator at V&A fashion and to Terry Jones, co-founder of iD Magazine.
Born 10 June 1935; died 19 July 2015 aged 80.
Harry Pitch
Born 9 May 1925; died 15 July 2015 aged 90.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Reeta Chakrabarti |
| Producer | Neil George |
| Interviewed Guest | Jonathan Coe |
| Interviewed Guest | Adam Bernstein |
| Interviewed Guest | Sofka Zinovieff |
| Interviewed Guest | Sonnet Stanfill |
| Interviewed Guest | Terry Jones |
Broadcasts
- Fri 14 Aug 201516:00BBC Radio 4 FM
- Sun 16 Aug 201520:30BBC Radio 4
Podcast
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Last Word
Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
