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James Rhodes: My love letter to music

British concert pianist James Rhodes is a star in the world of classical music. His career is a testament to overcoming unimaginable trauma.

British concert pianist James Rhodes is a star in the world of classical music. He's won awards, had several hit albums, performed in top venues all over the world and Oscar-nominated actor Andrew Garfield will play him in a biopic. His career is a testament to overcoming unimaginable trauma. James is a survivor of child sexual abuse. As a result, he turned to self-harm and even contemplated suicide. This is the story of how music became his lifeline.

This interview was first broadcast on 1 August, 2019. Since then, Spain - where James lives - has overhauled its system of protection against child sexual abuse. The new legislation was passed largely through James' efforts and is named after him: Rhodes Law.

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Maryam Maruf

Picture: James Rhodes
Credit: Getty Images

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39 minutes

Podcast