Edith Sitwell

British avant garde poet and critic Dame Edith Sitwell answers questions posed by a panel of three:

* Margaret Lane - writer
* Lionel Hale - critic
* Paul Dehn - Oscar-winning screenplay writer

Aged 68 when interviewed, she recalls her childhood influences and shares her belief in the popularity of poetry.

Dame Edith died aged 77 in 1964.

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 September 1955.