New series of Radio 4's The Banksy Story hears first-hand accounts from residents who have woken up to a surprise installation on their property
Roll-up! Roll-up! The Banksy circus is coming to town... For series two of BBC Radio 4's The Banksy Story, super-fan James Peak returns to investigate what actually happens when a Banksy original appears on the wall of your house.
Across the five-part series, James uncovers the personal stories behind two sets of people who woke up to find a Banksy spray-painted on their walls – and have totally different experiences as a result. One was a mural of a seagull stealing giant chips from a skip that emerged in Lowestoft as part of Banksy's Great British Staycation collection; the other, Valentine's Day Mascara - which appeared in Margate in 2023 - and included a frying pan and a chest freezer as well as a striking stencilled piece, all apparently in aid of highlighting the problem of domestic violence.
A Banksy can fetch millions at auction, but does owning one of his pieces on a wall that belongs to you actually make you the lottery winner you might expect? When Banksy Comes to Town looks at the madness that can unfold, and the unexpected consequences for residents, fans, local councils, the art world and beyond. From financial pressures to the ethical dilemmas of preserving street art, the series shows how the people who have found themselves at the centre of a cultural phenomenon attract a huge amount of (not always welcome) attention, by hearing direct from them.
Presenter James Peak says 'The aftermath of a Banksy incident is always dramatic, unpredictable and perhaps a bit bonkers in how local people, the media and the art world all react. For this series, we thought there would be some interesting stories that came from talking to the people who have been on the receiving end of an unexpected Banksy art gift, but the big surprise making these shows was finding out just what it means for the local community when Banksy comes to town, and how deep Banksy's rabbit holes go! We're thrilled to be joined once again by Steph Warren, who lends us her 25 years of experience in the underground world of street art, and gives us some more surprising insights into Banksy's secret world."
Commissioning Editor Daniel Clarke says "In the first smash hit series, we gave a glimpse behind the scenes of Banksy's rise to fame – we're now turning our attention to the frenzy which can take over an entire community when Banksy comes to town. There's so much mystery surrounding what happens when a Banksy appears, and it's totally fascinating to hear first-hand from the people who have experienced being at the centre of the storm.'
Written, Produced & Presented by James Peak
Voices: Keith Wickham & Harriet Carmichael
Music: Alcatraz Swim Team & Lilium
Street Art Consultancy and Investigative Support: Steph Warren
Executive Producer: Philip Abrams
Commissioner: Daniel Clarke
The Banksy Story is an Essential Radio production for BBC Radio 4.
Listen to When Banksy Comes to Town on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds from Monday 7th April
Listen to series one of The Banksy Story on BBC Sounds
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