Sir Ian McKellen to play LS Lowry in new BBC documentary

Sir Ian McKellen will portray the acclaimed English painter LS Lowry “through his own voice” in a new BBC Arena film, nearly 50 years after the artist’s death.

The one-hour documentary, LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, will see the Lord of the Rings star, now 86, lip-sync to newly uncovered recordings of Lowry.

It will offer an intimate portrait of the man behind some of Britain’s most recognisable industrial scenes.

LS Lowry is known for his iconic paintings of landscapes in Northern England, populated by his distinctive “matchstick men”.

Going to the Match, painted in 1953, is one of LS Lowry’s best-known and most popular pictures.

It has become an enduring representation of what match day means to fans.

It depicts Burnden Park, the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, at the time, which was within walking distance of Lowry’s home at the time.

Going to the Match (Image: n/a)

Sir Ian, who will lip-sync the tapes in the documentary, said: “To give play to Lowry through his own voice has been a unique privilege.

“These tapes reveal an intimate insight into the artist’s thoughts – his ambitions, regrets and his humour.

“Anyone like me, who admires his paintings and drawings, will be intrigued and delighted that the artist is brought back to life through his own words.”

Sir Ian was educated at Bolton School, where his acting talent was first nurtured.

At school, he appeared in numerous productions, most notably under the guidance of senior English master Frank Greene, who directed the annual spring-term classical play in Bolton School’s main hall, which seated around 800 people.

“To give play to Lowry through his own voice has been a unique privilege” (Sir Ian McKellen. Picture PA)

Sir Ian was further encouraged at the Hopefield Miniature Theatre, a converted Edwardian house with a small auditorium used for experimental performances, puppetry and one-act plays.

It was there that he made his first Shakespeare appearance, aged 13, playing Malvolio in the letter scene from Twelfth Night.

Sir Ian’s latest role in LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes centres on a series of previously unheard conversations between Lowry and Angela Barratt, a young fan who interviewed the artist towards the end of his life.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort viewed Going to the Match during a visit to Bolton Town Hall in 2023

Alongside Lowry’s personal reflections, the film will explore how Salford and Greater Manchester’s industrial landscape evolved during the 20th century.

BBC Arts commissioning editor Mark Bell said the documentary marked a significant moment for both the artist and the broadcaster.

“Marking 50 years since Lowry’s death, and celebrating Arena’s own 50-year tradition of ambitious, intelligent storytelling, this film comes at a very special moment,” he said.

“The inspired casting of Ian McKellen and Annabel Smith – an echo of the age and energy between Lowry and Angela – feels like life imitating art in the best possible way.

“But this film isn’t just about the life of the artist, it also provides an insight into the realities of urban life in the north of England in the 20th century.”

LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, with broadcast details yet to be announced.