Carr contributed to a small number of BBC radio programmes in the 1960s and was interviewed occasionally on BBC radio and TV. These interviews and appearances are included here, out of interest, and I will add broadcasts about Carr that are available to listen to, as I find them. I suspect that BBC Sounds will add more.
(Last updated on 11/8/2023)
BBC Home Service, 8th July 1964, repeated 5th April 1966
Written Work
The BBC Genome web site states: J.L. Carr describes his eleven years hard labour writing his first novel which was published earlier this year.
BBC Home Service, 22nd September 1965 at 21:08, repeated 5h April 1966 at 22:45
A Great Headmaster: T.R. Dawes
The BBC Genome web site states: From 1908 until 1930 T. R. Dawes was headmaster of the Secondary School in the Yorkshire mining town of Castleford and had among his pupils Henry Moore. J L. Carr, writer and headmaster, who was himself a "pup" at Castleford in Dawes' time, talks with affection of this eccentric and imaginative man.
The talk was repeated on 5th April 1966.
BBC Radio 3, Sunday 11th February 1968 at 17:55; repeated Sunday 14th April 1968 at 17:35
The Old Timers: Some tales of Beadle County
The BBC Genome web site states: J. L. Carr, English novelist and journalist, spent two periods as a teacher in Huron, South Dakota, a year in 1938 and another year in 1956. During his first visit he met Huron's 'Historical Society' - old frontiersmen who themselves had made the history they were attempting to set down. On his second he found himself the only survivor able to complete their work.
BBC Radio 4, 6th June 1969 at 20:25, repeated 15th August 1969 at 20:20
The Interval: The end of the Middle Ages
The BBC Genome web site states: J.L.Carr, who was born near Thirsk, describes how the Middle Ages ended some forty years ago on the Vale of Mowbray.
BBC One TV, 3rd June 1981
Paperbacks
The BBC Genome web site states: Terry Jones takes over this week and looks at the independent publishers and their authors. His guests include author and play-wright Fidelis Morgan and novelist and publisher J.L.Carr.
BBC Two TV, 22nd October 1982
Did you see...?
The BBC Genome web site states: The weekly television review presented by Ludovic Kennedy, who discusses The Woodhouse Road (BBC1), Bookshow (BBC2) and Laurence Olivier - A Life (LWT) with novelist and Irish Times journalist Maeve Binchy , writer and independent publisher J L Carr and biographer and Punch columnist Hunter Davies.
BBC Radio 4, 9th June 1983
Bookshelf
Christopher Matthew talks to J.L. Carr about 'A Month in the Country' and other publications.
BBC Two TV, 30th June 1984
Saturday Review
The BBC Genome web site states:Comment and discussion of current ideas from the arts and media presented by Russell Davies and Minette Marrin including...J.L.Carr...a sculptor and writer who runs his one-man publishing house from an upstairs room in Kettering in Northamptonshire. His novel, The Harpole Report, drawn from his experiences as a headmaster has just been published in paperback.
NEW: Recording on YouTube of a TV programme of the Booker prize award ceremony held at the Guildhall in London on 31st October 1985
Booker Prize 1985
Melvin Bragg introduces the ceremony with a panel discussion of the shortlisted novels led by Hermione Lee with John Carey, Germaine Greer and Paul Theroux. Carr is shown at 1:16, he describes the novel at 6:36 and the discussion of The Battle of Pollocks Crossing begins at 33:25.
BBC Radio 4, 17th March 1988
Conversation Piece, 23 minutes
The BBC Genome web site states: Sue McGregor goes to Kettering to meet J. L. Carr, novellist, sculptor and publisher of small books (so that in cold bedrooms only one hand need suffer exposure) and some not so small. The programme was repeated on 19th March.
Parts of this interview were used in BBC Radio 4 Front Row
in 2003, used to be available here, but I can't get it to work any more. I have a copy.
BBC Radio Northampton, 1990
Unknown, 54 minutes
Arnold Peters interviews J.L Carr, interspersed with music selected by Carr. I have a copy.
BBC Radio 4, 1st September 1992
Kaleidscope
The BBC Genome web site states: The studio guest is the author and publisher J.L.Carr.
Carr was the subject of several programmes, a few of which are listed here because they can be listened to.
Frank Muir, BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs, 4th October 1976
Frank Muir selected The Harpole Report
as his book to take to his desert island. The episode can be heard by people living in the UK at BBC Sounds: here.
Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 7th May 2003
Byron Rogers was interviewed by Mark Lawson about his biography of Carr and extracts of an interview Carr gave with Sue McGregor were played. It used to be available here. It may be that the BBC are moving their recordings onto BBC Sounds. I shall look out for it there.
The Essay, BBC Radio 3, Friday 9th March 2012
Ed Smith on cricket in A Season in Sinji
. It can be heard by people living in the UK at BBC Sounds: here.
I have only come across one podcast relating to J.L. Carr so far. I am sure that there are more; please let me know.
Backlisted, a site Giving life to old books, has a discussion between John Mitchinson, Andy Miller and Lissa Evans about A Month in the Country, recorded in 2015.
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