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

Iconic Actor To Bring LS Lowry's Voice Back to Life in New Documentary, Featuring Rarely Heard Audio Tapes.

A 15-year-old battle with the Tate museum has come full circle for Sir Ian McKellen, who is set to star in a BBC documentary that will bring to life the voice of renowned artist LS Lowry. The film, titled L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, reveals an intimate glimpse into the artist's thoughts and experiences through previously unheard audio recordings.

Recorded in 1970s, these tapes capture Lowry reminiscing about his life and sharing personal anecdotes that have never been heard before. McKellen will be lip-syncing these recordings on screen to bring back to life the Lancashire-born artist. The actor described the role as a "unique privilege".

These newly unearthed recordings provide an authentic look at Lowry's thoughts, ambitions, regrets, and sense of humor. For fans who admire his work, it is a rare opportunity to delve into the life of this iconic artist.

Lowry's paintings have become synonymous with working-class urban life, mill scenes, and industrial landscapes in 20th-century northern England. The artist learned his craft at Manchester's Municipal College of Art and Salford School of Art while working as a rent collector by day.

The BBC documentary will also explore the transformation of Salford and Greater Manchester during Lowry's lifetime and how it influenced his work. A long-time advocate for Lowry, director Michael Simpson stated that these recordings reveal an artist with wit, contradiction, and possibly surprising depth – far removed from the 'simple man' myth.

Lowry was often excluded from London galleries due to his northern roots, leading art critic Julian Spalding to stage exhibitions of his work in cities like Sheffield and Manchester. The documentary promises to deliver a fresh perspective on this iconic artist's life and work, shedding light on an era that has previously been overlooked by the art establishment.

The L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes documentary will be released on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer soon, offering viewers a rare chance to experience the voice of one of Britain's most beloved artists through his own words.
 
OMG, you know what's wild? I was just watching this crazy documentary about street art in Tokyo last night 🀯... it's like, these artists are literally painting on the side of buildings and trains, no regard for the law or anything πŸ˜‚. Anyway, back to Lowry, I'm so down for an actor bringing his voice back to life πŸ’β€β™‚οΈ. Sir Ian McKellen is gonna be amazing in that role, he's got such a distinctive voice it'll totally transport you to another time and place πŸ•°οΈ. And can we talk about how underrated Lowry is? I mean, his paintings are so iconic, but you never hear about the guy himself, just his art 🎨. That documentary sounds like a must-watch for anyone interested in art history or just wanting to learn more about this fascinating guy πŸ€“
 
I think it's bloody fantastic that they're bringing LS Lowry's voice back to life like this πŸŽ₯! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear the guy's thoughts on life, art, and everything in between? It's like we're getting a glimpse into his mind, you know? And Ian McKellen is just perfect for the role - he's got that authority and presence that'll make those recordings sound like they're coming straight from Lowry himself. I love how this documentary will show us that there's more to Lowry than just his paintings - it's about his life, his struggles, and what made him tick. Can't wait to watch it! πŸ‘
 
🎨 just watched some vids of LS Lowry's paintings and i'm low-key blown away by how ahead of his time he was 🀯 considering it's 2025, his work still feels so relatable to our current social issues πŸ“ˆ like the struggles of working-class people and urban decay πŸŒ† anyone else think we're due for a resurgence in lowry-esque art? πŸ€‘ btw did you know that in 2019 there were over 2 million visitors to the Tate Britain's LS Lowry exhibition? πŸš€ and it's crazy to think that these recordings are finally being shared with the world 🌟
 
omg this is like literally so cool 🀩, I mean who wouldn't wanna hear LS Lowry's voice again? it's like he's speaking straight to you from another era, ya know? and Ian McKellen as the voice of Lowry is a genius move - can u imagine him lip syncing those old recordings? πŸ˜‚πŸŽ­ it's like a whole new level of immersive experience. I love how the documentary also explores how Lowry was often excluded from the art establishment because of his northern roots, it's like, totally relevant today 🀝 and i'm so here for that fresh perspective on his life and work πŸ“Ί
 
oh my gosh, i am literally so stoked about this new doc on ls lowry 🀩! i mean, can you imagine bringing back his voice after all these years? it's like getting a glimpse into the mind of someone who lived an entire different era ⏰. and that michael simpson is like, totally in tune with what makes lowry special - wit, contradiction, depth... we don't know much about artists until they're dead, you know? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ it's so cool that these tapes are finally out in the open and i get to experience his thoughts and humor for myself 😊. and on top of that, learning more about how salford and greater manchester influenced his work... like, i'm totally down for exploring some local history πŸŒ†!
 
I think it's so cool that Sir Ian McKellen is going to bring LS Lowry's voice back to life like this! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear what the guy had to say? πŸ€” These old audio tapes are like a treasure trove of insight into his thoughts and feelings. And to think he was often excluded from London galleries because of where he was from - it's crazy how that can affect your life. Anyway, I'm definitely watching this doc when it comes out! πŸ“Ί
 
OMG, finally some art doco that doesn't feel like a total snooze fest πŸ™„! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear from Lowry himself? It's like getting a masterclass in art history and storytelling all wrapped up in one. And can we talk about how iconic Lowry's work is? Like, his paintings are literally synonymous with northern England, you know? I've always loved the contrast between his humble background as a rent collector and his talent for creating these stunning artworks πŸŽ¨πŸ’Ό. McKellen narrating the tapes is genius – it's like he's bringing Lowry to life in a whole new way πŸ•Ί. Fingers crossed this doco gets the attention it deserves, maybe we'll finally see Lowry get the recognition he deserves? ⚑️
 
Man I'm super stoked about this new docu on LS Lowry πŸŽ₯πŸ“š! You know how we're always hearing about how he was like just some simple guy from Manchester, right? But these tapes show a different side of him, all witty and stuff πŸ˜‚. It's like, totally fascinating to hear his thoughts on art and life, especially considering how excluded he was from the London galleries scene πŸ€”. Ian McKellen lip-syncing his voice is gonna be wild! Can't wait to see this docu, it's like a fresh perspective on someone we thought we knew so well πŸ”. The BBC is killing it with these documentaries, always bringing up new info and insights about our cultural heroes πŸ’‘
 
I think this is so cool that they're finally bringing Lowry's voice back to life! As a parent, I love seeing documentaries about famous artists and their stories. It's like getting a peek into their world and learning something new πŸ€“. I can imagine Ian McKellen doing the lip-syncing part and it would be amazing to see what Lowry had to say all those years ago. My kids are always curious about art and history, so this documentary sounds like a perfect watch for us - we'd love to learn more about his life and how he influenced British culture πŸŽ¨πŸ“Ί
 
OMG u guys, I'm literally so excited for this docu 🀩! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear LS Lowry's thoughts on life & art? Sounds like it's gonna be super insightful & revealing πŸ“...I'm surprised the Tate museum didn't think of this 15 yrs ago tho πŸ˜’. Can't wait to see Sir Ian McKellen bring Lowry's voice back to life, he's always been a national treasure πŸ‘‘! And btw, who knew Lowry was so witty & complex? Guess that 'simple man' myth needed a wake-up call πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ...anyway, can't wait for this docu to drop, it sounds like a must-watch for art lovers everywhere πŸ“Ί
 
Back
Top