The Banksy Story

THE BANKSY STORY (320kbs-m4a/465mb/3hrs20mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

James Peak isn't an art critic, or even a journalist. He's a Banksy super-fan, and in this series he, and his soundman, Duncan, get closer than close to Banksy's secret world - telling the story of the graffiti kid who made spraying walls into high art, the household name who is completely anonymous, the cultural phenomenon who bites the hand that feeds him.

James persuades a member of Banksy's secret team – someone who worked closely with the artist when they were starting to cut through – to talk about the experience. The story that results is a rollercoaster ride.

Written, Produced and Presented by James Peak
Sound & Commentary: Duncan Crowe.
Music: Alcatraz Swim Team & Lilium
Series Mixing: Neil Churchill
Executive Producer: Philip Abrams
With special thanks to Hadrian Briggs, Pete Chinn, Keith Wickham, Harriet Carmichael, Patrick Nguyen, John Higgs and Steph Warren

An Essential Radio production for BBC Radio 4

THE BANKSY STORY - 0. WELCOME TO THE BANKSY STORY (320kbs-m4a/6mb/2mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 10th July 2023

THE BANKSY STORY - 1. THE MILD, MILD WEST (320kbs-m4a/51mb/22mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, how did the city of Bristol, in the south west of England, help to shape Banksy and his art? And will James and Duncan find the person they're looking for?

THE BANKSY STORY - 2. LOVE & DEATH & BMX (320kbs-m4a/42mb/18mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, James finds someone from Banksy's secret team, but will they talk?

THE BANKSY STORY - 3. SANTA'S GHETTO (320kbs-m4a/43mb/18mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, an incident at the Christmas Santa's Ghetto exhibition helps Steph prove herself to Banksy.

THE BANKSY STORY - 4. REVERSE HEISTS (320kbs-m4a/47mb/20mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, Banksy's hilarious reverse heists at the world's best museums and galleries gain him some serious notoriety.

THE BANKSY STORY - 5. CRUDE OILS (320kbs-m4a/39mb/17mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, Banksy's new show, Crude Oils, stars 200 live rats scuttling about the gallery floor. It certainly brings in the crowds.

THE BANKSY STORY - 6. LA STORY (320kbs-m4a/48mb/20mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode - a new show in LA, Barely Legal, brings in huge celebrity names and, back in the UK, Steph's life at Pictures on Walls gets trickier.

THE BANKSY STORY - 7. A NIGHTMARE ON OXFORD ST (320kbs-m4a/44mb/19mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, a nightmare exhibition on Oxford Street sees Steph in big trouble with the big man.

THE BANKSY STORY - 8. BRUSHED UNDER THE CARPET (320kbs-m4a/41mb/17mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, Banksy returns to Bristol Museum in triumph, while Steph is accused of forgery.

THE BANKSY STORY - 9. RESTORATION (320kbs-m4a/49mb/21mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In this episode, help arrives for Steph from an unlikely source - a person we've heard quite a lot from already. And we head off to Weston-super-Mare for a very special Banksy show.

THE BANKSY STORY - 10. WHO IS HE? (320kbs-m4a/56mb/24mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 17th July 2023

In the last episode of this series, Banksy springs a surprise retrospective show in Glasgow, and we hear why Steph told her story.

THE BANKSY STORY - 11. BONUS EPISODE: THE LOST BANKSY INTERVIEW (320kbs-m4a/69mb/30mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 21st November 2023

In this bonus episode, James is on the trail of a revealing early Banksy interview from 2003 when the artist was starting to cut through.

Written, Produced and Presented by James Peak
Sound & Commentary: Duncan Crowe.
Music: Alcatraz Swim Team & Lilium
Series Mixing: Neil Churchill
Executive Producer: Philip Abrams
With special thanks to Steph Warren, Eddie, Duncan Crowe, Nigel Wrench, Keith Wickham, Helen Toland, Anna Mears, Rob Shiret, Tracey Williams, Neil Churchill, Roger Mahony, Mohit Bakaya and Dan Clarke.

THE BANKSY STORY - 12. NEW BANKSY PIECE: FINSBURY PARK TREE (320kbs-m4a/37mb/16mins)
BBC Sounds podcast: 18th March 2024

The Finsbury Park Tree is a new Banksy artwork which appeared overnight in March 2024 on the Hornsey Road in North London. James Peak investigates this exciting new Banksy street piece, a giant tree made of paint and... ummm, a tree! Is this the first unnickable Banksy? Only time will tell...

With thanks to Rob Shiret, Neil Churchill, Dan Clarke, Roger Mahony, Anna Mears, Philip Abrams, Jo Carr, Jonathan Glover, Steph Warren & Eddie, Avery Stone, Joe at LDN Graffiti and Patrick Nguyen

Assistant Produced by Ruby Churchill
Written, Produced and Presented by James Peak
An Essential Radio Production for BBC Radio 4