27 September 2015
Newsdesk
A programme that explores a truly poignant time in history and great icon this Autumn is John Lennon’s Last Day (Thursday 8th October, 10-11pm), performed by Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire, Harry Potter as Professor Quirinus Quirrell).
This single voice, dramatic monologue sits between drama and documentary and is an utterly compelling story of John Lennon’s last day. On Monday, the 8th of December, 1980, one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century was shot dead in New York City. Lennon would have turned 75 on October 9th2015, but his life was cut tragically short. This docu-drama, written by first-time radio writer and partially sighted Stephen Kennedy from Dublin, charts the events of that infamous day.
Hart guides us through the events of that day in forensic detail and his narration is woven together with the voice of Lennon himself – both from archive recordings and from the music that made him a legend.
Liverpool actor Ian Hart, who has played Lennon on three separate occasions, says: “There will always be interest and intrigue into every part of his life, and now we take a sensitive look at the incomprehensible day when he was tragically taken from this world too soon.”
Writer Stephen Kennedy says: “I’m delighted to have my first radio drama commissioned by BBC Radio 2 and ecstatic to have Ian Hart performing in it. In my opinion, no actor has ever captured John Lennon’s character better than Ian did in the film Backbeat. He has extraordinary talent.”
John Lennon’s Last Day – airing Thursday 8th October, 10-11pm (single docu-drama) BBC Radio 2.
