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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Sep 10

Wow! Archive on 4: Do You Speak English? has been shortlisted for an award from the Association for International Broadcasters. Making the documentary led me to a trove of radio and TV programmes broadcast abroad to teach English that I and most people in the UK had never heard before. #BBCSounds

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Reposted by Josephine McDermott

Andy Bass @andybassny.bsky.social · Jul 25

50 years ago today, July 25, 1975:

The landmark musical A CHORUS LINE opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre. The show, conceived and directed by Michael Bennett, won nine Tony Awards and ran for a then-record 15 years. It became a tourist attraction and helped revitalize Times Square.

Donna McKechnie appears on the cover of the August 1975 issue of After Dark magazine wearing the iconic red leotard and wrap skirt from her role as Cassie Ferguson in A CHORUS LINE. For her performance in the original Broadway production, McKechnie went on to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, and a Theatre World Special Award.

Kelly Bishop portrayed Sheila Bryant in the original Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE. For her performance in the role, Bishop won the 1976 Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) and the 1976 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

Marvin Hamlisch composed the music for A CHORUS LINE, for which he won a Tony Award for Best Original Score, Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He also received a Grammy nomination for Best Cast Album. His classic song “One” from the album is described by Playbill magazine as “one of the best-known theatre anthems in musical history.”

A plaque commemorating the 15-year run of the original Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE is affixed to a wall in the lobby of the Shubert Theatre at 225 West 44th Street in New York City. It was dedicated by Gary Stevens and Alan George on October 30, 1991. At the time, the musical was the longest running show in Broadway history. It is now the seventh longest.

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 25

“I hope I get it. I hope I get it…” 🎶 It’s 50 years since the premiere of A Chorus Line. Baayork Lee who was in the original cast describes what it was like to make musical history.

Witness History - A Chorus Line - BBC Sounds

Broadway hit A Chorus Line premieres in 1975

www.bbc.co.uk

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 20

The story of the passion and drive behind the creation of Voice of America and its reporting in the 1940s was an important one to tell so I’m thrilled my programme ‘The Start of Voice of America’ was a BBC Radio 4 pick of the week #VOA

Antaine Mac Aoidh @antainemacaoidh.bsky.social · Jul 20

Pick of the Week from the green of Portrush this evening, with @freyamcc.bsky.social teeing us off at 1815, including @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social @laurenlaverne.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Pick of the Week, Freya McClements

Freya McClements presents a selection of the best bits of audio across the BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 16

After long negotiations in 2015, solving Greece’s debt crisis came down to 17 hours of talks between EU leaders. Greece’s then finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos tells me what happened behind closed doors in the early hours #bbcworldservice #Greece

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 14

In 1942 Eugene Kern walked into the #VoiceofAmerica office looking for a job. He was put to work straight away producing a Finnish show unable to speak a word. Hear his account of the start of the dismantled broadcaster set up to counter Nazi propaganda

Witness History - The start of Voice of America - BBC Sounds

The broadcaster Voice of America was created in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda

www.bbc.co.uk

Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 3

Back to the Future is 40-years-old today! Did you know the DeLorean started out as a refrigerator? youtube.com/watch?v=dCVG...

Creating Back to the Future, 40 years on - Witness History podcast, BBC World Service

YouTube video by BBC World Service

youtube.com

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jun 14

Nigeria has pardoned Ken Saro-Wiwa 30 years after his execution. The writer stood up against oil producers in the Niger Delta. In 2014 Witness History spoke to his friend and fellow campaigner Ledum Mitee #BBCWorldService

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Witness History - The Execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa - BBC Sounds

In 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists were executed by the Nigerian regime.

www.bbc.co.uk

Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · May 9

Archaeologist Khalil Hariri risked everything - and was even shot at - when he rescued 400 artefacts from the clutches of the Islamic State group 10 years ago in Palmyra. Today’s Witness History on the BBC World Service www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Witness History - Rescuing Palmyra’s treasures from the Islamic State group - BBC Sounds

In 2015 Khalil Hariri risked his life to save centuries-old archaeology in Syria

www.bbc.co.uk

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Mar 25

It’s 10 years since a history-making phone call. President Goodluck Jonathan phoned his election opponent to concede defeat. It was the first time it had happened in Africa’s biggest democracy, Nigeria. President Jonathan’s media aide recalls the moment
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Witness History - Goodluck Jonathan’s phone call that changed Nigeria - BBC Sounds

President Goodluck Jonathan's call to Muhammadu Buhari to concede election defeat in 2015

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Josephine McDermott

Paul French @chinarhyming.bsky.social · Mar 10

There are so many bonkers aspects to the story of defector Thae Yong-Ho - NK’s Ealing embassy, trying to close a London barbers that made fun of KJU’s haircut - but there’s also the tragic & brave stories of those who now live in London’s “Little Pyongyang”, New Malden. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Feb 26

“It’s like falling in love, discovering a new continent and winning a great victory all at one” What a description of a scientific discovery! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... #MaxPerutz #Chemistry #Haemoglobin

Witness History - Discovering the structure of haemoglobin - BBC Sounds

Dr Max Perutz made one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century

www.bbc.co.uk

Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Feb 16

Thank you @owainwynevans.bsky.social for choosing Mary Fisher’s interview about her ‘Whisper of AIDS’ speech for Witness History as a Pick of the Week @maryfisher.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Pick of the Week - Owain Wyn Evans - BBC Sounds

Turn up the volume to 11 with a selection of the best bits of radio from the last week.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Feb 12

In 1992 Mary Fisher didn’t expect to see her sons aged 4 and 2 grow up. She gave a speech to challenge the stigma of HIV and AIDS. It’s ranked one of the most important of the 20th century in the US. She reflected on it with me for Witness History

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Witness History - Mary Fisher's 'A Whisper of Aids' speech - BBC Sounds

Mary Fisher set out to fight the prejudice faced by those with HIV and Aids

www.bbc.co.uk

Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jan 19

“One of my standout favourites of the week” from Claudia Hammond on Pick of the Week www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Archive on 4 - Do You Speak English? - BBC Sounds

How the BBC taught the world English through radio and television

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Josephine McDermott

Z.M. @schoolstreets.bsky.social · Jan 14

This is such a lovely and fascinating programme by @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social about how the BBC used to teach English on the World Service. Worth it for the received pronunciation ABBA alone!

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Archive on 4 - Do You Speak English? - BBC Sounds

How the BBC taught the world English through radio and television

www.bbc.co.uk

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jan 12

How wonderful! Thanks for letting me know.

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Josephine McDermott @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social · Jan 7

Delighted that Archive on 4: Do You Speak English? is a Radio Times @radiotimes.bsky.social Pick of the Week. So many World Service gems uncovered including China’s Follow Me. Radio 4, Saturday at 20:00

Cutting from the Radio Times showing Walter and Connie

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