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Janet Ellis presents a portrait of fondly-remembered comedy actress Irene Handl.

Friends, including Eric Sykes, Liz Fraser, Julia McKenzie and Leslie Phillips, remember Irene’s passion for her work - and for her confounded chihuahuas.

Irene was a late starter who found instant success on the stage in her 30s.

She found a niche playing cockney mums, despite coming from a wealthy background herself, and also wrote two acclaimed novels, including ‘The Sioux’, which Noel Coward described as displaying "a very strongly developed streak of genius".

Producer: Claire Jones

First broadcast on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 in November 2002.