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Dame Vera Lynn: We’ll Meet Again

A birthday tribute celebrating the life and work of Dame Vera Lynn, including exclusive access to Dame Vera as she watches home movies and videos from the past with her daughter.

This one-hour programme is a birthday tribute celebrating the life and work of Dame Vera Lynn, including exclusive access to Dame Vera as she watches home movies and videos from the past with her daughter Virginia. It tells the story of a working-class girl from Essex who changed the lives of so many and whose career spanned a whole century - singing at seven to help pay the family bills, falling accidentally into the limelight and still singing right up to today.

Dame Vera can't read music. She has never had singing lessons and even refused to change her singing style to fit in with the fashions of the day. Yet she sang at the Queen's sixteenth birthday and calls the royal family her friends. We meet the war heroes whose hearts she touched as she brought memories from Britain to the front line and find out how celebrities like Miriam Margolyes, Barry Humphries, Tim Rice and Sir Paul McCartney are still touched by Dame Vera's voice.

We discover why she is a national treasure and see her humility shine through - she really can't understand what all the fuss is about, despite being one of the greatest female singers this country has ever produced.

Available now

59 minutes

Audio described

Last on

Mon 2 Jun 202501:25

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:06

    Vera Lynn

    Wishing (feat. Fela Sowande)

  • 00:09

    Vera Lynn

    If You Love Me (I Won't Care)

  • 00:11

    Vera Lynn

    Up the Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire

  • 00:13

    Vera Lynn

    Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye

  • 00:13

    Vera Lynn

    Harbour Lights

  • 00:16

    Vera Lynn

    Close Your Eyes

  • 00:20

    Vera Lynn

    There's a Land of Begin Again

  • 00:25

    Vera Lynn

    Faraway Places

  • 00:27

    Vera Lynn, Jay Wilbur and His Orchestra

    It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow

  • 00:23

    Vera Lynn

    The Loveliest Night Of The Year

  • 00:25

    Vera Lynn

    Dream

  • 00:29

    Vera Lynn

    Show Me The Way

  • 00:31

    Vera Lynn

    I Will Wait For You

  • 00:34

    Vera Lynn

    When They Sound The Last 'All Clear'

  • 00:36

    Vera Lynn

    There'll Always Be an England

  • 00:40

    Vera Lynn

    When You Hear Big Ben

  • 00:42

    Vera Lynn

    When I Grow Too Old To Dream

  • 00:55

    Katherine Jenkins & Vera Lynn

    We'll Meet Again

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra.
  • 00:58

    Vera Lynn

    As Time Goes By

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterKatie Derham
ParticipantVera Lynn
Interviewed GuestFergus Anckorn
Interviewed GuestRoy Welland
Interviewed GuestStan Holland
Interviewed GuestBen Evans
Interviewed GuestPaul McCartney
Interviewed GuestBarry Humphries
Interviewed GuestTim Rice
Interviewed GuestMiriam Margolyes
Interviewed GuestVirginia Lewis-Jones
Camera OperatorJoe Taylor
Camera OperatorIan Potts
Camera OperatorTom Sweetland
SoundSam Diamond
On-line editingTom Knowles
Graphic DesignerMitch Wood
Production CoordinatorSharlyna Wolfsheimer
Production ManagerAlex Barraki
Assistant ProducerJessie Potts
Film EditorTim Thompsett
Executive ProducerLiz Mills
ProducerSue Hills
DirectorSue Hills
Production CompanyCaptive Minds

Broadcasts

More from Dame Vera Lynn at BBC Music

More from Dame Vera Lynn at BBC Music

Clips, news stories and a profile of the iconic British singer.