The film actor and director Richard E. Grant is to make his radio presenting debut on Classic FM with a brand new programme delving into the lives and the music of Hollywood?s greatest film composers.
Richard E. Grant?s Great Movie Composers begins on Sunday, July 23 at 2pm. During the course of the series, Grant will turn the spotlight on film composers Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Michael Nyman, Howard Shore, Patrick Doyle and John Williams.
Doyle in particular is a composer Richard knows well ? he composed the soundtrack to Grant?s directorial and screen-writing debut Wah-Wah, the critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical film which was released this month.
A Classic FM listener, Richard discovered a love for classical music at the tender age of eight, when he says, ?my parents had a large classical music record collection and played a lot of Beethoven. The loud and dramatic sections were perfect for a revved up 8 year old to identify with. I was taken to see AIDA in Rome when I was 12 and have been an opera lover ever since.?
Speaking about the new programme Classic FM Station Manager Darren Henley said: ?Richard has a passion for classical music and an immense knowledge of film soundtracks which shines through in this series. We?re thrilled to have him on Classic FM?.
Richard said: ?As a long time Classic FM devotee, it is a privilege and a great pleasure to be asked to host this great new series.? Richard studied drama at Cape Town University where he co-founded a multi-racial, ensemble called the Troupe Theatre Company. He acted in many Troupe productions, including Fanshen, Total Eclipse and Steven Berkoff’s Agamemnon. He also directed versions of Metamorphosis and The Threepenny Opera. Arriving in London in 1982, Grant initially worked as a waiter in Covent Garden but quickly won roles on the stage, culminating in his 1984 nomination from Plays and Players Magazine as Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in “Tramway Road” at the Lyric Theatre.
His first film was the award winning TV production Honest, Decent and True, but his big break came with the 1986 cult classic Withnail and I. Since then, Richard has appeared in 34 films and worked with some of America’s greatest directors – Robert Altman, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese.
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