Being Here - The Peter Sellers Story

Thirty years after Peter Sellers's death, Alexander Armstrong profiles the life and times of the man who brought laughter to millions.

Armstrong explores how a one-time drummer and banjo player from Southsea become the toast of Hollywood and one of Britain's greatest comedy exports.

Sellers became famous for his vocal skills in The Goons as well as his chameleon-like ability to adopt many different personas. He was a Goon, Inspector Clouseau and Dr Strangelove - but there was much more to Sellers than these comic creations. This documentary considers the films, and also the other radio work, the chart success (with multi-selling comedy LPs), and Sellers's life off-stage.

Sellers features extensively in the programme, via the BBC's archives, while friends like Eric Sykes, Denis Norden and writer John Antrobus are on hand to make sense of this comedic genius. Actress Liz Fraser talks about his early film days while Simon Williams and Valerie Leon reflect on the latter ones. Sir Michael Parkinson also recalls his memorable interview with Sellers.

To those who knew him, Sellers could be difficult at times, but many of the friends he made stayed with him throughout his life. To those who grew up watching him on the big screen or listening to him on the radio, the name Peter Sellers meant only one thing - laughter.