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Dylan Thomas - Witness; The Essay; King Charles III

Daljit Nagra chooses Witness, The Essay with Andrew Davies and King Charles III reading Fern Hill. From 2013 and 2014.

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's poetry archive to commemorate 70 years since the death of Dylan Thomas - and to celebrate King Charles III - who turns 75 on Tuesday - 14th November.

And for the first time, Daljit reads his own poem We're Lighting Up the Nation - commissioned by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and Buckingham Palace to mark this year's Coronation - originally read by James Nesbitt on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 1 on March 7th 2023.

WITNESS HISTORY - The Death of Dylan Thomas

In November 1953 the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas died in New York aged just thirty-nine.
Witness presents interviews from the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ archives.

Presented and produced by Lucy Burns

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service in November 2013.

THE ESSAY - A Childhood Encounter with Dylan
Andrew Davies reflects on the influence of Dylan Thomas as a child growing up in Wales in the 1950s, with aspirations to be a writer.

Producer: Johannah Smith

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3 in May 2014

Prince Charles reading Fern Hill

The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, recorded reading one of his favourite poems - Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas - originally broadcast to mark National Poetry Day in 2013.

At the time, the Prince was the patron of The Dylan Thomas 100 Festival, a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ festival which celebrated the poet's centenary (in 2013).
Prince Charles said he enjoyed the poem for its "poignant and moving evocation of a rural west Wales childhood".

One of the legacies of Thomas's poetry is that it inspires people to appreciate the incomparable landscape of Wales.

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday 3 October 2013.

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Nov 2023 00:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 Nov 2023 06:00
  • Sun 12 Nov 2023 11:00
  • Sun 12 Nov 2023 17:00
  • Mon 13 Nov 2023 00:00