A season of classical musicals from the BBC’s archives is coming to BBC Radio 4 Extra for the first time.
The musicals include Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls, which was recorded for BBC Radio 2 in 1994. Is stars Homeland actor Mandy Patinkin and Benidorm’s John Challis, perhaps best known for playing Boycie in Only Fools And Horses.
Mandy Patinkin also takes the lead in Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein’s Carousel as carnival barker Billy Bigelow, whose romance with Maine factory worker Julie Jordan is at the detriment of both their jobs.
Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1994 musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber, tells the story of Jesus’ last week through the eyes of Jesus (played by Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley) and Judas (The Who’s Roger Daltrey).
The season starts on 16th July with Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street from 1994. It tells the take of a barber seeking revenge after escaping from an unjust imprisonment. Julia McKenzie stars as accomplice Mrs Lovett.
The schedule is comprised of Guys and Dolls on 23 July, Carousel on 30 July, Jesus Christ Superstar on 6 August, and Robert Wright and George Forrest’s Kismet on 13 August (1994).
“I’m thrilled the BBC is repeating Guys and Dolls, that show was very special,” said John Challis.
“I’d love to do another one, although I’m often asked for The Rocky Horror Show and I just don’t look good in tights.”
All of the musicals come from BBC Radio 2’s back-catalogue of exclusive recordings from the 1990’s. They will be followed by selected programmes from elsewhere in the BBC archives, including behind the scenes and interviews with the composers and playwrights.
The musicals and their companion programmes will be broadcast on Saturdays from 16th July to 13th August between 9am and noon.
BBC Radio 4 Extra is available on DAB digital radio, digital television, in apps and online. It was known as BBC7 until spring 2011.