Once Upon A Time...

As part of the BBC's 'Once Upon a Time...' week, Edith Bowman presents your regular round‑up of film and TV soundtracks, featuring a magical celebration of fantasy and adventure.

This week’s show celebrates 90 years of movie magic, featuring music by Harry Gregson‑Williams and John Powell, John Williams, James Horner, Trevor Jones and Angela Morley. From the fairy‑tale magic of Shrek to the dark enchantment of The Dark Crystal, the wonder of The NeverEnding Story, the soaring music of Hook and many more, these scores showcase how fantasy on screen has been brought to life through unforgettable music.

Composer Nitin Sawhney guides us through Harmonising Hollywood, focusing on Howard Shore’s legendary score for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

We also welcome actor and musician Jeff Goldblum, who shares his Pick of the Flicks - a much‑loved score that plays a pivotal role in its film.

The BBC’s ‘Once Upon a Time…’ week celebrates fairytales and storytelling in partnership with the British Library. On BBC Radio 3, Edith Bowman explores fairytales and fantasy in 'Sound of Cinema', actors Pearce Quigley and Lydia Wilson delve into the worlds of princesses, frogs, and spells in 'Words & Music', Sara Mohr-Pietsch charts a course to Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf in 'Music Map', and Elizabeth Alker presents music inspired by enchanted lands, magical creatures, and timeless tales in 'Classical Live' and 'Unclassified'. Just search ‘Once Upon a Time…’ in BBC Sounds. The British Library’s major new exhibition Fairy Tales runs from 27th March – 23rd August 2026.