Ian McKellen stars in exclusive first-look clip as he lip syncs to unheard tapes from iconic artist

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Before the new BBC Two documentary, Ahead of LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes airs tomorrow, February 25th, TopMob is sharing an exclusive preview clip.

The video features Sir Ian McKellen portraying L.S. Lowry, with the actor performing to recordings of the artist’s actual voice that have never been released before.

The video shows a scene from an interview where artist L.S. Lowry, played by Ian McKellen, recounts selling his first painting at age 34. He’s speaking with researcher Angela, played by Annabel Smith. Both actors’ voices are synchronized to match the original recording, with McKellen seated with food on his lap and Smith opposite him.

You can watch the full clip above right now.

Although the artist’s life is the subject of the conversations, the recordings used in the documentary were made during the last four years of their life.

This documentary, created to mark the 50th anniversary of L.S. Lowry’s death, tells the story of a heartwarming connection between the famous artist and Angela, a young researcher who interviews him. Annabel Smith portrays Angela in this engaging film.

For me, Lowry’s life story isn’t just about him – it’s a window into how dramatically Greater Manchester was changing during his time there. He really captured the spirit of a place in constant flux through his work, and you can feel that energy in everything he painted.

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Sir Ian McKellen explained that L.S. Lowry has been the most popular painter in the UK during his lifetime, and it’s understandable that people are fascinated by both the artist and his paintings.

He rarely gave interviews, and when he did, his responses often sounded rehearsed and unnatural, as if he’d planned them out beforehand.

From these interviews, the strongest sense we get is of a man who genuinely enjoys talking and doesn’t feel pressured by Angela’s questions. He seems to appreciate her company, and only occasionally appears caught off guard when she explores topics he hasn’t fully thought through himself.

As an actor, while working to deliver his lines with the right expressions and movements, I realized he was truly happy spending time with her.

LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes airs on Wednesday 25 February at 9pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a major international TV production company. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-02-24 19:34