The documentary LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes will premiere on Wednesday, 25 February, on BBC Two. The programme features previously undisclosed interviews with the renowned British artist LS Lowry, captured in audio recordings from the last four years of his life. These Ian McKellen unheard tapes reveal intimate conversations that enrich the understanding of Lowry’s life and work.
Sir Ian McKellen Brings LS Lowry’s Voice to Life
A first-look clip from the documentary showcases Sir Ian McKellen performing as Lowry by lip-syncing to the authentic audio tapes. In a recreated interview, McKellen portrays Lowry speaking with a young researcher named Angela, played by Annabel Smith. Set with McKellen sitting holding a plate of food and Smith opposite him, the scene captures the dynamic between artist and interviewer, bringing the unheard dialogue vividly to life.
Behind the Dialogue: Life and Art Through Lowry’s Words
The recordings were originally made during Lowry’s final years but cover his entire personal history, including his account of selling his first painting at the age of 34. The documentary weaves these conversations into a broader narrative about the rapid changes in Greater Manchester, where Lowry lived and painted prolifically throughout his life.
As the documentary synopsis explains,
“But Lowry’s personal narrative also tells a bigger story, of a seismically changing Greater Manchester, where he lived, worked and painted so prolifically.”
Ian McKellen Reflects on Playing Lowry and His Connection to the Artist
Sir Ian McKellen shared insights into preparing for the role and what he discovered about Lowry’s personality during the project. He noted the rarity of Lowry’s interviews and how those available seemed rehearsed. However, the unheard tapes reveal a different side—a man who appeared genuinely pleased by the interviewer’s company and eager to engage in conversation.
McKellen said,
“LS Lowry has throughout my lifetime, I think, been the most popular painter in the United Kingdom. So, it’s natural that people should be interested in the man as well as his considerable body of work.”
He added,
“But he didn’t give many interviews and those that he did on-record are rather stilted, in that he seems to have worked out his answers in advance.”
Regarding the unseen tapes, McKellen explained,
“I think the main impression [in these unheard interviews] we get is of a man who is happy to be answering questions. He doesn’t feel that Angela is intrusive in any way. In fact, he clearly likes being in her company and only occasionally is he wrong-footed as she delves a bit closer into matters that he perhaps hasn’t sorted out, in his own mind.”
He also reflected,
“I think what I’ve found as an actor, trying to match the sound of his words to my face and body, is that he was very much enjoying being in her company.”
Broadcast Details and Viewing Options
LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes will be available to watch on BBC Two at 9 pm on Wednesday, 25 February, as well as on BBC iPlayer thereafter. The documentary marks fifty years since Lowry’s passing and offers a rare glimpse into the man behind some of Britain’s most iconic paintings.
About the Documentary’s Author and Contributors
The documentary and its coverage were reported by James Hibbs, a Drama Writer for Radio Times. Hibbs brings experience across various streaming platforms and channels, with a background that includes PR work for a B2B agency and the international TV production company Fremantle. He holds a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
