The Many Faces of Dame Helen Mirren is an entertaining and revealing journey through the career of one of Britain's best loved actors. She was a performer who frequently courted controversy in her younger years and who has retained a sensual aura in later life. Her portrayal of Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect revolutionised British crime drama and made her a household name but it was her Oscar winning performance as The Queen that propelled her to international stardom. In recent years she has balanced Hollywood commitments with a return to her first love - the stage.
Looking at the lives of famous people. A programme tracing the extraordinary career of one of Britain's finest actors in comedy and drama. Robbie Coltrane talks candidly about his career as well as featuring exclusive interviews with JK Rowling, Jimmy McGovern, Keith Allen, Peter Richardson, Mike Newell, John Sessions, Rupert Grint and Gerladine Somerville. The multi-award winning actor has gone from edgy alternative comedian to performing in one of the most well-known roles in the Harry Potter films. Showing the funniest and finest moments of Robbie's career, this is a rollercoaster ride through the career of one of our most loved and respected performers.
A programme tracing the extraordinary career of one of Britain's most versatile stars. Michael Crawford was a child actor who hit the 60s at just the right time. His first film The Knack was an award winning cult success that saw him rub shoulders with the Beatles. A surprise move to the stage caught the eye of Gene Kelly and led to a lead role for Michael in the film Hello Dolly - one of the last great Hollywood musicals. The programme features a new interview with Michael in which he reveals he's not a natural singer or dancer - the Hello Dolly producers wanted to overdub his most famous song. That song is now a cult classic but his Hollywood success was short lived and he spent some time working in his wife's cushion factory before landing his best known part as Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do Ave Em.
Telling the story of one of the Carry On films most well known faces.
Celebrating the extraordinary career of entertainer Stanley Baxter, whose shows captivated huge audiences for twenty years before the cost of his epics priced him off our screens. Tracing his origins to Scotland's variety and review stages, his story is told by admiring fans including Michael Grade, Barry Cryer, Bill Oddie and Gregor Fisher.
Programme telling the story of Ronnie Barker, a quiet dedicated actor who might have been a bank manager but went on to become one of the country's favourite comedy stars. Ben Elton, Michael Grade, David Renwick and Josephine Tewson are among friends and colleagues who remember his genius. Famed as one half of the Two Ronnies and the likeable convict Fletcher in Porridge, he was also a prolific writer and admired actor in serious roles.
