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The Great, Eavan Boland, the origin of the blues

The Favourite writer Tony McNamara on Channel 4's satirical drama The Great, the 鈥渙ccasionally true story鈥 about the rise of Catherine the Great.

The Great, a new ahistorical comedy from The Favourite writer Tony McNamara arrives on Channel 4 this month. Describing itself as 鈥渁n occasionally true story鈥, it is a satirical drama about the rise of Catherine the Great, staring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. McNamara talks period dramas, historical inaccuracies and contemporary characters.

The great Irish poet Eavan Boland has just posthumously won the Costa Poetry Prize. Boland's collection The Historians continues her reflections on the power of history and memory, of secrets and hidden histories, and of centring women鈥檚 stories. Tom is joined by Jody Allen Randolph, a friend and leading scholar of Eavan鈥檚 work, and actress Niamh Cusack reads from the collection.

The genre that helped define American music and describe the Black American experience is the subject of a new series of album releases which trace the genesis of blues, ragtime, hokum and gospel from the mid-1920s. Matchbox Bluesmaster Series claims to be the most comprehensive survey of the origins of Black American blues music - Kevin Le Gendre assesses the success of its first instalment.

Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe
Producer: Simon Richardson
Studio Manager: John Boland

Available now

28 minutes

The Great

The first episode of is available on All 4 and the series continues on Channel 4 on Sunday 10th January at 9pm


Main image shows Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great (c) Channel 4/Jason Bell

Country Blues and Ragtime Blues Guitar

Matchbox Bluesmaster Series Vol.1 - Country Blues and Ragtime Blues Guitar 1926-30 is released on the Matchbox Bluesmaster label on January 8th 2021.

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 Jan 2021 19:15

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