 | | BBC ONE Tuesday 6 January 2009 | |
Dot finally realises what Nick is really up to, in tonight's visit to Albert Square. Elsewhere, Tanya is devastated when she hears what has happened to Lauren. Meanwhile, is Janine is up to her old tricks again? Dot is played by June Brown, Nick by John Altman, Tanya by Jo Joyner, Lauren by Madeline Duggan and Janine by Charlie Brooks. JM3 | | BBC TWO Tuesday 6 January 2009 | |
The Culture Show – Martin Freeman Goes To Motown
Tuesday 6 January
10.00-10.30pm BBC TWO (Schedule amendment 5 January) |
In this special edition of The Culture Show, marking the 50th anniversary of Motown Records, actor Martin Freeman – an obsessive Motown fan – makes his trip of a lifetime. Visiting both Detroit and Los Angeles, he encounters some of the major and minor characters who played a part in the massive success story that was Motown. In Detroit he meets, among others: Duke Fakir, the last surviving member of the original Four Tops; Sylvia Moy, who wrote the lyrics for Stevie Wonder's Uptight; Motown producer Clay McMurray, who used to work in Quality Control for the label and pushed for the release of Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour; former DJ Scottie Regan who, from the label's earliest days, played Motown records to a largely white radio audience; and Martha Reeves, lead singer of Martha And The Vandellas, who now sits on Detroit City Council. In addition, to Martin's absolute delight, he also meets three of the original Funk Brothers, the backing musicians who were vital to the development of the Motown sound in the Sixties. And guitarist Eddie Willis, bass player Bob Babbitt and drummer Uriel Jones stage an impromptu gig for him. From Detroit, Martin travels to Los Angeles, following the same path that Motown itself took when the label moved west in 1972. Here he meets three of The Jackson 5 – Marlon, Tito and Jackie Jackson; Mary Wilson of The Supremes and Otis Williams of The Temptations, who talks movingly about the recent death of the brilliant producer and writer Norman Whitfield, the man who brought funk to Motown. Songwriters Lamont Dozier and Brian and Eddie Holland talk to Martin about their string of hits for the label, including Where Did Our Love Go and Reach Out I'll Be There; and Martin also meets one of the first white artists to release a record on Motown, Chris Clark. With musical interludes throughout, the film tells the story of Motown from a fan's perspective. Martin's encounters with the people behind the scenes are, for him, just as thrilling as his conversations with the biggest stars. This programme will be a treat for anyone who loves Motown music. An extended 45-minute version of The Culture Show – Martin Freeman Goes To Motown will be shown on Friday 9 January at 11.35pm on BBC Two. TM | 
