This Is Your Life: Lionel Bart

Lionel BART (1930-1999)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Lionel Bart, composer and lyricist, was surprised by Michael Aspel during rehearsals of one of his shows at the National Youth Theatre in London.

Lionel, who was an accomplished painter, won a scholarship to St Martin's School of Art at the age of 15. His songwriting career began in amateur theatre and he was talent spotted by Joan Littlewood who invited him to join her Theatre Workshop, although he gained widespread recognition through a succession of hits he wrote for Tommy Steele.

Following the success of his first musicals Lock Up Your Daughters and Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, Lionel created the book, music and lyrics for the musical Oliver! which opened to great acclaim in 1960 and became the sensation of the decade - playing an instrumental role in the rebirth of the British musical theatre scene. Oliver! won the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 1963 and the 1968 film version won a total of 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture.

"There's no point in me saying I'm not ready for this - whoever would be? My god! You blew me away man!"

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