The South Bank Show

Season 30

2006 · 11 episodes · 11h 0m in all

Episodes

1. 1

   1. Armando Iannucci

   12 Feb 2006 · 60 min

2. 2

   2. Manga Mania

   19 Feb 2006 · 60 min

   The iconic Dusty Springfield remains the 'white lady of soul' and in this compelling South Bank Show, her moving and dramatic story is told in its entirety for the first time. An array of intimate friends, lovers and show business talents go on record to describe the intense highs and lows of Dusty's swinging life, before her untimely death in 1999. Born Mary O'Brien in London as war began in 1939, in the 60's as Dusty Springfield, she came to represent renewed British optimism and modernity, epitomising swinging London. A plain convent educated girl, Dusty's transformation of herself into a blonde glamour icon was a remarkable act of will. A lesbian with a great deal to lose and a great deal to hide, Dusty hid for many years behind the mask of the Girl Singer. The unique qualities of her voice attracted the creme de la creme of songwriters and producers; she had close relationships with Burt Bacharach, Carole King, and Gamble and Huff, the men who created the sound of Philadelphia Soul. Dusty made herself an expert on black American soul music after she fell in love with Motown. Her career waned in the seventies and she fled to America, where she floundered in variety shows. She moved to Los Angeles where she struggled with drink, drugs and self harming. She later returned to Britain to critical acclaim when she re-invented herself in partnership with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe better known as the Pet Shop Boys. Dusty's life is nothing if not dramatic, although this can never obscure her remarkable gifts as a musician and performer, which have continued to be rediscovered by new generations. A soul searching South Bank Show, on arguably Britain's greatest ever Pop Diva, Dusty Springfield.

3. 3

   3. John Rutter

   12 Mar 2006 · 60 min

4. 4

   4. PD James

   26 Mar 2006 · 60 min

5. 5

   5. Dusty Springfield

   9 Apr 2006 · 60 min

6. 6

   6. Seu Jorge

   4 Jun 2006 · 60 min

7. 7

   7. Romeo and Juliet

   11 Jun 2006 · 60 min

8. 9

   9. George Michael: I'm Your Man

   17 Nov 2006 · 60 min

   Melvyn Bragg interviews George Michael regarding Michael's return to touring on the "25 Live" tour, as well as George Michael performs in the studio rehearsing songs for the tour.

9. 10

   10. Peter Blake

   19 Nov 2006 · 60 min

10. 11

    11. Nick Park & Aardman Animations

    26 Nov 2006 · 60 min

11. 12

    12. Steve Reich

    10 Dec 2006 · 60 min