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Freddie Mercury was a global superstar.

Bohemian Rhapsody was the most streamed song of the 20th century, Queen's Greatest Hits is the best-selling album of all time in the UK.

One billion viewers watched the Tribute Concert held after his death.

But hardly anyone seems to know Mercury's real name.

Farrokh Bulsara was born 80 years ago in Zanzibar on 5th September 1946. He died on November 24th, 1991, aged just 45.

He spent his teenage years drinking chai in Mumbai, fled a brutal revolution on British-protected soil, and settled into London's Parsi Zoroastrian community. He never spoke about these things – and the press never enquired.

So what would we ask if he were a star today?

Sathnam Sanghera talks to Farouk Topan, a contemporary from Zanzibar, to find out what life would have been like there.

Friend and biographer Lesley-Ann Jones tracks the transition from Farrokh to Freddie, and reveals his favourite food was always lamb dhansak.

Sathnam unearths old Â鶹Éç interviews, including Queen back stage at Live Aid and Elton John paying tribute to his close friend. He speaks to super-fan Matt Lucas on how we misread Freddie’s sexuality, and asks Bob Harris about racist music crowds.

Sathnam asks why Queen played in apartheid-era South Africa, and finds out why the Great British public never realised Mercury was gay.

And he discovers Arabic and Persian lyrics in some of Queen’s most famous songs.

Producer: Hannah Sander

First broadcast on Â鶹Éç Radio 4 in November 2021.

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