Inner Voices - The Burton Diaries

INNER VOICES - THE BURTON DIARIES (320kbs-m4a/128mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 10th November 2025

The archive of Richard Burton is a treasure. Hamlet, Under Milk Wood, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Equus stand out, and then there are the movies: Wild Geese, Where Eagles Dare, Antony and Cleopatra, Night of the Iguana and The Robe.

Through several periods of Burton's life, most notably from the mid-1960s to the early '70s he kept a diary, sometimes handwritten, mostly typed out and assembled in thick notebooks. The diaries provide a unique view of the world in which he moved, among actors and directors, writers and poets, millionaires and royalty. They also give an insight into his approach to acting, his insecurities, his drinking and his volatile relationship with Elizabeth Taylor at a time when they were the most famous couple in the world.

Shortly after Burton's death in 1984, Melvyn Bragg was given access to the diaries to write his biography of Burton, Rich.

Burton was the son of a Welsh miner. He met a remarkable teacher and made the journey to Oxford and on to fame and fortune but was seldom really happy. He was a hellraiser who often behaved appallingly and was accused of squandering an extraordinary talent on drinking and bad movies. But Burton was also a man of wonderful erudition, passion, insight and self- knowledge. He fought his way in life through force of will, love, and voracious reading. It is this side of the man that makes him such a remarkable presence. It is also a side of him captured in a rich vein of BBC archive and interviews.

Presented by Melvyn Bragg

Reader Josh Richards

Taking part Dai Smith and Chris Williams

Producer Jeremy Grange

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2012.