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The Secret Life of Mary Poppins

Victoria Coren Mitchell explores the complex life of Mary Poppins author PL Travers, looking at her 20-year battle with Walt Disney, whose 1964 film version she loathed.

In 1964 the Mary Poppins film premiered in Hollywood to world acclaim. But one person loathed it. She was PL Travers, the author of the books. This Culture Show special presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell explores the dark and complex life of the writer; her 20-year battle with Walt Disney, the strange adoption of her child (he was one of twins), and how the film version overshadowed her writings but made her rich. With contributions from Emma Thompson, Cameron Mackintosh and PL Travers's granddaughter.

58 minutes

Music Played

  • Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, Matthew Garber & Karen Dotrice

    Chim Chim Cher-Ee

  • Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews

    Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

  • Jonathan La Croix

    Red Rover

  • David Marsden

    Mourning Morning After

  • Pete Lockett

    Red Desert Calling

  • David Marsden

    Hint of Spring

  • Andy Hopkins

    Pretty in Pink

  • Adam Saunders & Mark Cousins

    Dark Spell (Underscore)

  • Luke Richards

    Glimmer of Hope

  • Adam Saunders & Mark Cousins

    Manhattan Story

  • Jon Boorman

    Record

  • Roger Abaji & Claude Sacre

    Tragic Premonition

  • Pierre Adenot

    Debacle

  • Adam Saunders & Mark Cousins

    Hidden Kingdom

  • Fuze

    Ether Tone Version 1

  • Mary Poppins Orchestra

    Overture: Mary Poppins

  • Philippe Guez

    Coming Shadow

  • 尘煤尘

    We Have A Map Of The Piano

  • Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke

    Jolly Holiday

  • Mark Allaway & Andy Prosser

    Minimal Grooves

  • Debbie Wiseman

    Teaser

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Run

  • Richard M. Sherman & Julie Andrews

    Feed The Birds

  • Julie Andrews

    A Spoonful Of Sugar

  • Andy Hopkins

    Hidden In The Shadows

  • Ray Davies

    Freedom Of The City

  • Jonathan La Croix

    Little Secret

  • Evelyn Glennie, Barrie Gledden & Chris Bussey

    Mind journey

  • Mary Poppins Orchestra

    Penguin Dance

  • David Tomlinson & Dick Van Dyke

    Fidelity Fiduciary Bank

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Waterways

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Life

  • Maxine Sullivan

    My Curly-headed Baby

  • Katie Herzig

    Lost And Found

  • David Tomlinson, & Dick Van Dyke & The Londoners

    Let's go fly a kite

  • Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews

    Chim Chim Cher-Ee

  • Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews

    Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

  • Irwin Kostal, Walt Disney Studio Orchestra and Chorus

    Mary Poppins Overture

  • 尘煤尘

    We Have a Map of the Piano

  • Julie Andrews

    A Spoonful Of Sugar

  • Richard M. Sherman

    Penguin Dance

  • Eric Coates

    (By The) Sleepy Lagoon

  • Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson & The Londoners

    Let's Go Fly a Kite

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell
Director Andrew Thompson
Series Editor Janet Lee
Participant Emma Thompson
Participant Cameron Mackintosh

Broadcasts

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