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An East End childhood and early exposure to music. Alistair McGowan reads David and Caroline Stafford's songwriter biography.

Lionel Bart was a unique musical talent.

He found fame with the hugely successful musicals Oliver! and 'Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be'.

Plus, he became a hit-making machine for some of Britain's first rock'n'roll stars - Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde and Cliff Richard -as well as giving the James Bond movie franchise its first song.

He socialised with figures from both serious and populist culture, and experienced a downfall that was as spectacular as his theatrical triumphs.

David and Caroline Stafford's biography of Bart draws on previously unseen archive sources and interviews with those closest to him.

Beginning with Lionel's East End childhood in London - and early exposure to music.

Read by Alistair McGowan.

Abridged in five parts by Julian Wilkinson

Producer: Emma Harding

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.

15 minutes

On radio

Monday08:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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