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Michael Heath

Kirsty Young interviews cartoonist Michael Heath.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the cartoonist Michael Heath.

He's been working for newspapers and magazines for sixty years and sold his first drawing to the Melody Maker in the 1950s. For the past twenty five years he's been the cartoon editor of The Spectator magazine.

Born in London in 1935, his early schooling was interrupted by the Second World War and by the age of twelve he was still unable to read and write. Both his parents drew professionally and after one unhappy year at art college, Michael left to pursue a freelance career as a cartoonist.

During his prolific career, Michael has created many cartoon strips including 'Great Bores of Today' which ran for nearly thirty years in Private Eye and 'The Regulars' which was centred on his Soho drinking crowd who included the writer Jeffrey Barnard and the artists Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud.

Producer: Sarah Taylor.

Available now

36 minutes

Last on

Fri 12 Aug 2016 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Clip

Music Played

  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Thelonious Monk

      Criss Cross

      • Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2.
      • Blue Note Records.

  • Bud Powell

    Dance of the Infidels

    • The Best of Bud Powell on Verve.
    • Verve.

  • Henry Hall & His Orchestra

    The Teddy BearΒ’s Picnic

    Singer: Val Rosing.
    • The ChildrenΒ’s Classics Collection.
    • Unknown.

  • Max Miller

    Max In An Air Raid (I Never Slept A Wink All Night)

    • The Cheeky Chappie.
    • EMI Comedy Classics.

  • Jack Buchanan

    Take a Step

    • Jack Buchanan with Elsie Randolph.
    • Pavilion Records.

  • The Quintet

    All The Things You Are

    • Jazz at Massey Hall.
    • Decca.

  • Fred & Adele Astaire & Julian Jones & His Orchestra

    Funny Face

    • Crazy Feet!.
    • Living Era.

  • Charlie Parker with Strings

    Lover

    • The Master Takes.
    • Verve.

  • BOOK CHOICE

    Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith

  • LUXURY ITEM

    Artist's painting set

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Michael Heath
Producer Sarah Taylor

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Aug 2016 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 12 Aug 2016 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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