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Margaret Keane, Keith Smith, Mario Fiorentini, Brenda Fisher

Matthew Bannister on artist Margaret Keane, entrepreneur Keith Smith, partisan Mario Fiorentini and swimmer Brenda Fisher.

Matthew Bannister on

Margaret Keane (pictured), the American artist whose paintings of children with 'Big Eyes' became hugely popular in the 1960s. Her identity as the painter was kept secret by her husband who claimed the works as his own.

Keith Smith, the market trader who co-founded the Poundland chain of shops.

Mario Fiorentini, Italy’s most decorated partisan, who risked torture and death to fight the German occupation of his country.

Brenda Fisher, the long distance swimmer from Grimsby who became an international celebrity after breaking the women’s speed record for swimming the English Channel.

Producer: Emily Finch

Interviewed guest: Larry Karaszewski
Interviewed guest: Steve Smith
Interviewed guest: Philip Cooke
Interviewed guest: Alessandro Portelli
Interviewed guest: Lucy Wood
Interviewed guest: Peter Winchester MBE

Archive clips used: Westinghouse Broadcasting Company / Mike Douglas Entertainments, The Mike Douglas Show - Interview with Margaret Keane 1972; Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service, Outlook - Margaret Keane interview 30/12/2014; Duane Anderly, 1964 Lost Interview with Walter and Margaret Keane from YouTube; The Weinstein Company / Silverwood Films / Tim Burton Productions, Big Eyes (film clip) 2014; Express & Star YouTube Channel, Founder of Poundland, Keith Smith opens his grounds up for a festival 25/06/2015; Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Antiques Roadshow: Series 41 - Pioneering Women Special 10/06/2018; Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sound Archive, Swim The Channel 17/08/1951.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Aug 2022 20:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Clip

Margaret Keane

Born 6 September 1927; died 22 June 2022 aged 94.

Last Word spoke to screenwriter Larry Karaszewski.


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Keith Smith

Born 16 August 1942; died 12 August 2022 aged 79.

Last Word spoke to his son Steve Smith.

Mario Fiorentini

Born 7 November 1918; died 9 August 2022 aged 103.

Last Word spoke to senior lecturer in Italian history and culture Professor Philip Cooke and to Italian scholar Alessandro Portelli.

Brenda Fisher BEM

Born 9 June 1927; died 2 August 2022 aged 95.

Last Word spoke to journalist and author Lucy Wood and to champion swimmer Peter Winchester MBE.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 26 Aug 2022 16:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Sun 28 Aug 2022 20:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Podcast

  • Last Word

    Radio 4's weekly obituary programme