British Comedy Guide
Charlie Chaplin
Great Lives - Charlie Chaplin

Great Lives - Charlie Chaplin

  • Radio documentary
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2018
  • 1 episode

Mark Steel talks about Charlie Chaplin. Also features Matthew Parris and Simon Louvish.

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Key details

Genre
Documentary
Broadcast
2018
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
1
Features
Matthew Parris, Mark Steel, Simon Louvish and Charlie Chaplin
Producers
Perminder Khatkar
Company

Mark Steel makes the case for Charlie Chaplin being one of the most radical comedians of his time. He reckons it's sad that most see Chaplin as that bloke who wore a bowler hat, had a funny walk, waved a cane around and wasn't even that funny. Mark argues that Charlie Chaplin's silent films and his "Tramp" character make sense if you look at the upheavals in society that were occurring alongside his career.

Mark says that while Chaplin was standing up for the working class, the irony was that he became the richest rebel. Also joining Mark Steel is Simon Louvish author of Chaplin: The Tramps Odyssey.

Additional details

Production
Studio

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Tuesday 25th December 2018 at 4:30pm on BBC Radio 4
Episode length
30 minutes
Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 26th December 2021 at 5:30am on Radio 4 Extra
  • Saturday 25th December 2021 at 5:30pm on Radio 4 Extra
  • Saturday 25th December 2021 at 7:30am on Radio 4 Extra

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