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Eleanor Bron, The Great Wave, Ken Dodd

Eleanor, at 80, on her career in the 60s' satire boom, Help with the Beatles, films and theatre, a play about North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens and Ken Dodd's comedy.

Eleanor Bron will be 80 on Wednesday. She is still working - she will be in Scottish Opera's production of Ariadne auf Naxos this year. Talking to Samira Ahmed she looks back over her long career, from the satire boom with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, through working with The Beatles in Help and roles in classical theatre such as in The Duchess of Malfi.

The Great Wave at the National Theatre explores the abduction in the 1970s of Japanese citizens by North Korea. A look at these kidnappings through the eyes of one fictionalised family opens up questions of identity and belonging. Samira talks to the playwright Francis Turnly and the director Indhu Rubasingham about this little known aspect of far eastern politics .

Following the announcement of the death of Sir Ken Dodd, Matthew Sweet discusses the role and significance of this jester who brought the comedic techniques of variety to television, and had extraordinary mass appeal.

Presenter: Samira Ahmed

Producer: Julian May.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Eleanor Bron

    Duration: 11:55

  • The Great Wave

    Duration: 08:23

  • Ken Dodd

    Duration: 07:30

Eleanor Bron

Eleanor Bron

Eleanor Bron is appearing in at the Theatre Royal Glasgow on 22, 24 and 28March 2018, and at the Festival theatre Edinburgh on 05 and 07 April 2018.

Images:

Main image and image to the left: Eleanor Bron

The Great Wave

The Great Wave

The Great Wave is at the Dorfman Theatre, in the , London until 14 April 2018.

Image: Kae Alexander

Image credit: Mark Douet

Sir Ken Dodd

Sir Ken Dodd
RIP Sir Ken Dodd 1927 - 2018

Broadcast

  • Mon 12 Mar 2018 19:15

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