Mark Lawson talks to prolific writing duo Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais about their careers, spanning the breakthrough comedy The Likely Lads and Porridge to their latest foray into drama, Spies of Warsaw. They also speak about their reputation for rescuing foundering Hollywood scripts and the day-to-day joys of their working 'marriage'.\n \nClement and La Frenais began writing together in a London pub in the 1960s. With their trademark combination of dramatic plot lines and sharp naturalistic dialogue, they have created classic British comedy, from The Likely Lads to Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.\n \nAmong the first scriptwriters to get regional dialects and working-class situation comedy onto the small screen, Clement and La Frenais had a passion for the movies. Now LA residents, their film work, including scripts for The Commitments (1991), Still Crazy (1998) and The Bank Job (2008) has ensured they are busier than ever, more than forty years after their first comedies aired on the BBC.
Source: BBC 4
Terry Wogan
Mark Lawson talks to legendary broadcaster Terry Wogan about his life and 50-year career. In this thoughtful interview Terry explores his early years growing up in Ireland, reca ...
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BBC 4
Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin talks to Mark Lawson about his life and work, including how his parents and his younger son, who was born with a rare genetic condition resulting in severe learning d ...
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BBC 4
Alan Bennett
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BBC 4
Michael Parkinson
The interviewer turns interviewee as Michael Parkinson sits in the guest's chair, talking to Mark Lawson about turning to journalism to avoid life in the Yorkshire coalmines, hi ...
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BBC 4
Sir Anthony Sher
Antony Sher talks to Mark Lawson about growing up as a white South African, working with his partner Gregory Doran and bringing Shakespeare to life.
15-10-2023
BBC 4
Phil Collins
Phil Collins made his name as the drummer and then the lead singer of Genesis, before embarking on a successful solo career with hits including In the Air Tonight. In the 1980s ...
29-09-2023
BBC 4
Martin Amis
Mark Lawson talks to notorious literary bad boy Martin Amis ahead of the BBC dramatisation of his book Money. In this revealing interview, Amis speaks candidly about his relatio ...
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BBC 4
Stephen King
Horror writer Stephen King talks to Mark Lawson about his life and work.
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BBC 4
Barry Cryer
With a comedy career which kicked off in strip clubs, Barry Cryer became a Windmill regular in the 1950s. A brief foray into musicals and the West End stage followed with Expres ...
15-02-2022
BBC 4
Terry Wogan
Mark Lawson talks to legendary broadcaster Terry Wogan about his life and 50-year career. In this thoughtful interview Terry explores his early years growing up in Ireland, reca ...
27-07-2024
BBC 4
Phil Collins
Phil Collins made his name as the drummer and then the lead singer of Genesis, before embarking on a successful solo career with hits including In the Air Tonight. In the 1980s ...
29-09-2023
BBC 4
Jonathan Pryce
From princes to professors and cardinals to comedians, star of stage and screen Jonathan Pryce is one of Britain's most versatile actors. Here he talks to Mark Lawson about his ...
24-03-2015
BBC 4
Barry Cryer
With a comedy career which kicked off in strip clubs, Barry Cryer became a Windmill regular in the 1950s. A brief foray into musicals and the West End stage followed with Expres ...
15-02-2022
BBC 4
Martin Amis
Mark Lawson talks to notorious literary bad boy Martin Amis ahead of the BBC dramatisation of his book Money. In this revealing interview, Amis speaks candidly about his relatio ...
06-08-2023
BBC 4
Sir Anthony Sher
Antony Sher talks to Mark Lawson about growing up as a white South African, working with his partner Gregory Doran and bringing Shakespeare to life.
15-10-2023
BBC 4
John Le Carre
John le Carre converses with Mark Lawson about his fragmented childhood, life in the diplomatic service, working with Alec Guinness and his book A Most Wanted Man. Le Carre work ...
31-05-2021
BBC 4
Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin talks to Mark Lawson about his life and work, including how his parents and his younger son, who was born with a rare genetic condition resulting in severe learning d ...
15-06-2024
BBC 4