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Hugh Bonneville

Michael Berkeley's guest is the actor and writer Hugh Bonneville.

Hugh Bonneville is one of the most familiar faces on British TV and film. You might know him as the Earl of Grantham from Downton Abbey, or the long-suffering Mr Brown in the Paddington films, or the baffled Ian Fletcher in the London Olympics sitcom Twenty Twelve and its 麻豆社-centred sequel W1A.

Hugh was captivated by acting from an early age, staging his own plays at home and even making the tickets to sell to his family.

More recently he鈥檚 has branched out into writing, with a memoir Playing Under the Piano and a children鈥檚 book Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room, which is inspired by some of the events of his childhood.

Hugh's selection of music includes works by Beethoven, Strauss, Elgar and Faure.

Presenter: Michael Berkeley
Producer: Clare Walker

Available now

48 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Nov 2025 12:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Gabriel Faur茅

    Pie Jesu (Requiem)

    Singer: Elly Ameling. Orchestra: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jean Fournet.
    • Faur茅: Requiem; Pavane.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 4.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata No 32 in C minor, Op 111 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Stephen Kovacevich.
    • Piano Sonatas Opp. 90. 101 & 111.
    • EMI.
    • 9.

  • Gregorio Allegri

    Miserere mei Deus

    Performer: David Briggs. Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Singer: Gerald Finley. Singer: Timothy Beasley-Murray. Director: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Allegri: Miserere; Choir of King's College, Cleobury.
    • EMI.
    • 2.

  • Patrick Doyle

    Much Ado Abouth Nothing (Overture)

    Conductor: David Snell. Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Much Ado About Nothing (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Epic Soundtrax.
    • 2.

  • John Lunn

    Theme from Downton Abbey

    Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: James Fitzpatrick.
    • Downton Abbey.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 1.

  • Richard Strauss

    4 Last Songs (September)

    Singer: Lise Davidsen. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Esa鈥怭ekka Salonen.
    • Lise Davidsen Sings Wagner and Strauss.
    • Decca.
    • 11.

  • Samuel Barber

    Adagio for Strings

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Barber: Orchestral Worlks Volume 2: Cello Concerto / Medea Suite / Adagio for St.
    • Naxos.
    • 11.

  • Edward Elgar

    Enigma Variations, Op 36 (Variation 9, 'Nimrod')

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Simon Rattle on EMI Classics.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 1.

  • Damian Montagu

    The Path Towards Tomorrow (from In a South Downs Way)

    Performer: Robert Sword. Performer: Dave Gale. Performer: Stewart Prosser. Performer: Will Spencer. Ensemble: Tippett Quartet.
    • In A South Downs Way.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Sun 9 Nov 2025 12:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

Podcast

  • Private Passions

    Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical passions.