Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Chris chats with TV composer Simon May who has written the themes to Eastenders, Howard's Way and Eldorado. Chris also discovers Writtle in Essex, the hottest place in the UK and Father Brian D'Arcy has a special Marilyn Monroe based Pause For Thought.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Tue 5 Aug 2014 06:30
麻豆约拍 Radio 2

More episodes

Previous

King of the Road

Next

The Great British Bake Off begins!

See all episodes from The Chris Evans Breakfast Show

Music Played

  • Aerosmith

    Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

    • Greatest Hits.
    • UMC.

  • Alice Cooper

    No More Mr Nice Guy

    • Millennium Classic Rock Party (Various Artists).
    • Rhino.

  • The Banana Splits

    The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)

    • Television's Greatest Hits Vol. 5: In Living Color (Various Artists).
    • TVT Records.

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Three Little Birds

    • Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend.
    • Island.

  • David Bowie

    Sound And Vision

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.

  • The Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band

    The Floral Dance

    • Sleepy Shores - Instrumental Classics.
    • Old Gold.

  • The Crystals

    Then He Kissed Me

    • The Best Of The Crystals.
    • Phil Spector Int.

  • The Dickies

    Banana Splits

  • Bob Dylan

    Just Like A Woman

    • The Best Of Bob Dylan.
    • Columbia.

  • Jessie J

    Price Tag (feat. B.o.B)

    • (CD Single).
    • Lava Records.
    • 1.

  • Billy Joel

    It's Still Rock and Roll To Me

    • Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol.2.
    • CBS.

  • The Kinks

    The Village Green Preservation Society

    • Castle.

  • The Kinks

    Have A Cuppa Tea

  • The La鈥檚

    There She Goes

    • Love - 38 All Time Love Classics.
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Ray LaMontagne

    Trouble

    • (CD Single).
    • Echo.

  • Mamas Gun

    Red Cassette

    • (CD Single).
    • Candelion.

  • Maroon 5

    Maps

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
    • 001.

  • Dean Martin & Helen O鈥機onnell

    How D'Ya Like Your Eggs In The Morning?

    • Cool Couples (Various Artists).
    • Sanctuary.

  • Simon May

    The Holiday Suite

    • New Vintage - The Best Of Simon May.
    • Artist Record Company.

  • Simon May

    Eldorado Theme

  • Simon May

    Trainer

  • Glenn Miller

    In The Mood

    • Big Bands (Various Artists).
    • Music & Memories.

  • New Edition

    Candy Girl

    • Now 1983 - The Millennium Series.
    • EMI.

  • Nico & Vinz

    Am I Wrong

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.
    • 1.

  • Not Given

    SW EASTENDERS THEME

  • Pilot

    Magic

    • 25 Years Of Rock'n'Roll Vol.2 (1974).
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Elvis Presley

    Burning Love

    • Presley - The All Time Greatest Hits.
    • RCA.

  • Queen

    Hammer To Fall

    • Queen - Greatest Hits II.
    • Parlophone.

  • Boz Scaggs

    What Can I Say

    • Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees.
    • CBS.

  • Space

    The Ballad Of Tom Jones (feat. Cerys Matthews)

    • Simply The Best Radio Hits (Various).
    • Warner E.S.P..

  • Emma Stevens

    Make My Day

    • (CD Single).
    • Emma Stevens Music.
    • 001.

  • Sylvia

    Y Viva Espana

    • The Best Summer Ever (Various Artist.
    • Virgin.

  • The Tams

    Hey Girl Don't Bother Me

    • The Classic Soul Years - 1964 (Vario.
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Ward Thomas

    Push for the Stride

    • (CD Single).
    • WTW.
    • 1.

  • Marti Webb

    Always There

    • New Vintage - The Best Of Simon May.
    • Artist Record Company.

Pause For Thought

From Father Brian D鈥橝rcy a Catholic Passionist priest:

On 5th August 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead at her home in Brentwood ,Los Angeles. She was 36 years old.

I鈥檝e always had a soft spot for Marilyn perhaps because we shared聽 a June 1st birthday.

She had a difficult聽 start in life. There was a family history of mental illness; her mother was in and out of psychiatric hospitals. Marilyn had multiple carers, lived in orphanages and foster homes and suffered from chronic insomnia, depression and a stutter.

She was also an extremely bright and talented woman who acted in over 30 films, recorded 40 songs and was the recipient of 17 awards.

She was philosophical about life. 鈥� If you can鈥檛 handle me at my worst then you sure as hell don鈥檛 deserve my best鈥� she wrote. She explained the extremes of her life like this-: 鈥淓verything happens for a reason鈥nd sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.鈥�

Marilyn had many relationships, only some of which were happy and none enduring. Most fascinating of all was her short marriage to sports聽 superstar Joe Di Maggio. He was a living legend for the NY Yankees and聽 when he saw Marilyn in a film fell hopelessly in love. When they met, at first, she had no idea who he was. They married after a brief courtship and were apparently happy together.

One day Di Maggio went to see her work on the set of Seven Year Itch 鈥� the very day she filmed the iconic hot-air-lifting -her- dress scene. Di Maggio was distraught because his precious wife allowed herself to be demeaned as they repeatedly re-shot the scene. That night they dined, had a flaming row and parted forever.

But Di Maggio remained in love with Marilyn until he died. Each year on the anniversary of their marriage he personally placed a dozen red roses on her grave.聽 Asked why he did it he replied: 鈥淚f she had known how much I loved her she wouldn鈥檛 be in that grave.鈥�

What a lovely lesson in love..

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 Aug 2014 06:30
    麻豆约拍 Radio 2

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

麻豆约拍 Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.