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Episode details

Radio 4,18 Dec 2020,28 mins

John le Carré (pictured), Patience Thomson, Doug Scott, Dame Barbara Windsor

Last Word

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Matthew Bannister on The author John le Carré , the pen name of David Cornwell, who drew on his own experiences as a spy to elevate the espionage novel to new heights. Patience Thomson, the educator who devoted herself to helping children with reading difficulties and set up a publishing house to create books for them. Michael Morpurgo pays tribute. Doug Scott, the pioneering mountaineer who was the first Englishman to climb Mount Everest. His friend Sir Chris Bonington recalls Doug’s adventures. Dame Barbara Windsor – the much loved actor who went from Carry On to Eastenders. Interviewed guest: Adam Sisman Interviewed guest: Sir Chris Bonnington Interviewed guest: Denise Prior Interviewed guest: Alice Thomson Interviewed guest: Michael Morpurgo Producer: Neil George

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