65. Celebrating Jewish Book Week’s Platinum Anniversary with Legendary Lyricist Don Black

Did you know Jewish Book Week is London’s longest running literary festival? Claudia Rubenstein, Director of Jewish Book Week, tells us about its extraordinary history and what to look forward to amongst the host of fun events that begin on Saturday 26th February.   Those taking part include Elif Shafak, Michael Ignatieff, Julia Neuberger, Claudia Roden with Jay Rayner, Simon Schama, Howard Jacobson in conversation with Melvyn Bragg, Mike Leigh, Amy Bloom and Edmund de Waal delivering the 70th anniversary keynote speech. Plus Simon Kuper on football and celebrations of Sondheim and Lehrer, Dylan and Cohen.  Closing the festival with a celebratory flourish on 6th March will be Don Black, talking to Michael Grade about his long, distinguished career and his book ‘The Sanest Guy in the Room’.  Don puts his sanity down to having a loving family and never having had an unhappy day in his life. To round off Marti Webb, Don’s long-time collaborator, will perform some of his best-known songs. Don also regales with us some hilarious anecdotes about working with a host of legends from Barbara Streisand to a young Michael Jackson.  ‘She was so ordinary,’ he says of Barbara Streisand, ‘but when you hear her sing you run out of goosebumps.’  Tune in to hear more. Jewish Book runs at Kings Place from 26th February till 6th March Produced by Audio Coast