Ian McKellen to star as LS Lowry in documentary revealing trove of unheard tapes

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Dalya AlbergeJanuary 14, 2026 at 07:37 PM

AI Summary

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Ian McKellen will star in a BBC documentary, "L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes," which features newly discovered audio recordings of the artist L.S. Lowry from the 1970s. The tapes, the longest interview Lowry ever gave, were recorded in his home and offer personal insights into his life and work. McKellen, a long-time admirer of Lowry, will lip-sync the artist's voice, bringing Lowry's own words to the screen. The documentary explores Lowry's life, the urban landscape of the 20th-century North of England, and the transformation of Salford and Greater Manchester, the areas that heavily influenced his art. The film aims to provide an intimate portrait of the artist through his own reflections and experiences.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Michael Simpson 30% Richard Grossick 30% Tate 40% London 40% Angela Barratt 40% BBC 50% Lancashire ×260% Greater Manchester ×260% Manchester ×270% Salford ×370% Ian McKellen ×690% L. S. Lowry ×10100%

Keywords

ls lowry 100% ian mckellen 90% documentary 80% unheard tapes 80% artist's voice 70% industrial landscapes 60% working-class urban life 60% greater manchester 50% salford 50% lancashire 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Positive

Score: 0.60

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Manchester

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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ls lowry ian mckellen documentary unheard tapes artist's voice industrial landscapes working-class urban life greater manchester salford lancashire

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