
Paul Conroy, Kenith Trodd, Astrid Llewellyn, Jo Purvis
From Last Word by BBC Radio 4
March 13, 2026 · 28 min
About this episode
Matthew Bannister discusses the lives and contributions of Paul Conroy, Kenith Trodd, Astrid Llewellyn, and Jo Purvis.
Matthew Bannister on Paul Conroy, the photojournalist who worked extensively in war zones in the Middle East and the Balkans. He was with the Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin when she was killed in Syria. Kenith Trodd, the TV producer best known for his work with Dennis Potter on series like Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective. Stephen Poliakoff pays tribute. Astrid Llewellyn who skippered the first all-female crew to take part in a Tall Ships Race. Jo Purvis, the DJ who promoted LGBTQ+ ballroom dancing events in the 1970s and 1980s. Interviewee: Stephen Poliakoff Interviewee: Tim Llewellyn Interviewee: Toni Krause Interviewee: Peter Flockhart Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley Archive used: Paul Conroy interview, Music on the Front Line, Music Matters, BBC Radio 3, 03/05/2025; Paul Conroy: My Escape from Homs, Outlook, BBC World Service, 22/01/2013; Caught on a Train, Play for Today, Playhouse, Director: Peter Duffell, Writer: Stephen Poliakoff , BBC Two, 31/10/1980; The Ballroom of Romance, Play for Today, Playhouse, Director: Pat O'Connor, Writer: William Trevor, BBC Two, 05/11/1982…
People in this episode
Host: Matthew Bannister
Guests: Paul Conroy, Kenith Trodd, Astrid Llewellyn, Jo Purvis
Topics covered
- photojournalism
- war zones
- TV production
- LGBTQ+ history
- Tall Ships Race
- cultural contributions
Keywords
- photojournalism
- war zones
- LGBTQ+ ballroom dancing
- Tall Ships Race
- TV production
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio 4
Books & works: Music on the Front Line, Music Matters, Paul Conroy: My Escape from Homs, Caught on a Train, The Ballroom of Romance, Pennies From Heaven, The Singing Detective, Sunday Feature: Dennis Potter - With Aggressive Affection
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