Tune in to BBC Radio 2 tonight to hear Gavin talk about Jacques Brel in Marc Almond’s three part documentary ‘Behind the Brel: The Story of a Musical Genius‘ in which Almond delivers a personal exploration of the life and works of the Belgian singer.

Other contributors include Rod McKuen, who made If You Go Away famous; his daughter France Brel; Seasons In The Sun singer Terry Jacks; the French-Irish singer Camille O’Sullivan; Momus (aka singer Nick Currie); opera singer Toby Spence; Peter Straker; translator Paul Buck; singer-songwriter Robb Johnson, who released an album celebrating the work of Brel on his own record label; actress Elly Stone; and Jean-Michel Boris from the Paris Olympia, where Brel performed his last concert.

Part 1 – 16 March at 11.30pm – an introduction to Brel with a special look at Ne Me Quitte Pas.
Part 2 – 23 March at 11.30pm – examines the darker side of Brel, the poetry and the interest in death.
Part 3 – 30 March at 11.30pm – looks at Brel’s unconventional lifestyle.

You can listen to Radio 2 live online tonight from 11.30pm GMT. The programme will also be available on iPlayer for a week after it has aired.

www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

Gavin Friday and Patrick McCabe will be talking to Tom Dunne on Newstalk.ie on Friday morning July 31st at 11am GMT.

Listen online at Newstalk.ie