Sir Ian McKellen to portray British icon in “compelling” and “immersive film” for the BBC

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A new BBC documentary will feature Sir Ian McKellen as the artist L.S. Lowry. Called L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, the film will air on BBC Two and be available on iPlayer, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Lowry’s passing.

An upcoming BBC documentary will include interviews with the artist, along with photos taken by Angela Barratt that show him at his most personal and thoughtful.

Filmed at Ian McKellen’s home, the performance features McKellen lip-syncing to recordings of Lowry’s voice, bringing the artist’s life story to life – from his youth to his passing.

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The actor, known for his work in Lord of the Rings, said he felt honored to play the part of the famous painter.

“To give play to Lowry through his own voice has been a unique privilege,” he began.

These recordings offer a personal look into the artist’s mind, revealing his hopes, disappointments, and sense of humor. For those who appreciate his art, it’s fascinating and wonderful to hear him speak for himself again.

Angela Barratt, meanwhile, will be voiced by renowned stage actor Annabel Smith.

The documentary, L.S Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, not only shares a personal look into Lowry’s life, but also examines how the changing face of Salford and Greater Manchester – the area he painted so often – shaped his art. It shows the dramatic changes to the region’s industrial scenery and how that impacted his work.

Mark Bell, an editor at BBC Arts, explained that the documentary celebrates 50 years of Arena’s insightful and daring approach to storytelling.

With this year marking both the 50th anniversary of L.S. Lowry’s death and Arena’s own half-century of bold, thoughtful filmmaking, the timing for this film is particularly significant, he explained.

The brilliant choice of Ian McKellen and Annabel Smith to play the roles beautifully reflects the real-life dynamic between Lowry and Angela, creating a wonderfully authentic connection between the actors and the characters they portray.

I loved that this movie wasn’t just a biography of the artist; it really showed you what life was like in Greater Manchester during the 20th century. It felt like a glimpse into a whole different world and time, and that’s what made it so special.

Further broadcast details will be announced soon.

L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes will air on BBC Two and iPlayer.

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2026-01-15 19:50