Don't Cry for Me, Maradona
When it comes to drama, most people think of TV. Granted, radio does have a long tradition, but that's mainly on other Ö÷²¥´óÐã networks.
So introducing the genre to 5 live would always be tricky. It had to connect with the audience, be topical and accessible. We thought football should be the subject.
But then - who and what? Football fans often hate each other, so doing something about a particular club could alienate swathes of the audience. We needed a unity figure. We needed .
But why now? What would be the hook? We were in luck. It just so happened that this year is the 25th anniversary of Maradona's .
So the writer Aelish Michael and I discussed different scenarios. Could we re-enact the build up and match itself? Or would it be better to look at the impact of the incident on Sir Bobby in the days afterwards? We settled on the latter.
It was crucial Sir Bobby's family were on board. This would be a fictional take on events but it had to be authentic. And it needed those distinctive Bobbyisms in the dialogue.
We decided it would revolve around a discussion between Bobby and Elsie in the aftermath of the match, and that chat would happen somewhere in the North East. We settled on a picnic at Lady Elsie's favourite beauty spot.
The next step was perhaps the most risky. Who would play Sir Bobby? There's no shortage of great Geordie actors but who would understand his passion and recognise what he might have been feeling about England being cheated out of a place in the World Cup semi-final?
In the end we decided to ask to play Sir Bobby and Lady Elsie. They knew him and they're both passionate Newcastle United fans.
The result? Well, Tim didn't want to do an impression (Sir Bobby had a softer voice than Tim), but his empathy and understanding of the man comes through in his performance. And of course, having a husband and wife team playing a husband and wife means that there's immediate chemistry between the two main characters.
It's an affectionate and poignant piece of drama but it's not just about football. In fact, as Denise Welch has said in numerous interviews this week, it's a love story.
It reveals quite a bit about Bobby the man, his devotion to Elsie and how his upbringing and passion for the North East influenced his career.
I just hope we've managed to do the great man justice and to remind people what a true gentlemen Sir Bobby Robson really was.
Ashley Byrne is the producer of Don't Cry For Me, Maradona. It's a Made in Manchester production for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 5 live and you can listen to it again on Sunday 26 June, at 6pm.
Another programme celebrating the life of Sir Bobby will be broadcast on Saturday. The Day I Met Sir Bobby Robson goes out at 11am. It's also produced by Made in Manchester for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 5 live.
Comment number 1.
At 23rd Jun 2011, carrie wrote:People in Suffolk have a completely different view of Sir Bobby Robson. Some of the above would be seen in a very different light.
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Comment number 2.
At 23rd Jun 2011, Pickle wrote:Carrie, What do you mean?
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Comment number 3.
At 23rd Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Whatever someone does it does not detract from their professional legacy, especially how well loved Robson was. Just want to make that clear.
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Comment number 5.
At 23rd Jun 2011, David Shield wrote:Yeah I really enjoyed it.
Wonder what NEG thought? (old Station message board reference for you there!)
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Jun 2011, carrie wrote:NEG!! Miss her.
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Comment number 7.
At 23rd Jun 2011, David Shield wrote:Yeah me too!
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Comment number 8.
At 24th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 9.
At 24th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 10.
At 24th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 11.
At 24th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 12.
At 24th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 13.
At 24th Jun 2011, Pickle wrote:Carrie, Take a hint!
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Comment number 14.
At 24th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Truth hurts
Hint taken. My integrity is intact
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Comment number 15.
At 24th Jun 2011, what wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 16.
At 24th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 17.
At 25th Jun 2011, GingerTompkins wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 18.
At 25th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Thanks guys. Of course I realise applying for 2012 tickets yesterday were nothing to do with this blog.
Anyway.
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Comment number 19.
At 25th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 20.
At 25th Jun 2011, GingerTompkins wrote:Thanks for another compliment .
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Comment number 21.
At 25th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:I'd like to post in a different form, put it another way.
The above blog is hurtful and literally disingenuous. If you are to blog a truthful piece without any journalistic licence, check your facts. I know my post about doing something else when someone should have been working wasn't to do with this blog, but at least it was true.
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Comment number 22.
At 27th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 23.
At 27th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 24.
At 27th Jun 2011, ryanw wrote:Me too Carrie.
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Comment number 25.
At 28th Jun 2011, carrie wrote:Is it alright to ask for a new blog please?
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Comment number 26.
At 28th Jun 2011, zelda wrote:'Don't cry for me Maradonna' OK then, I wont.
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Comment number 27.
At 30th Jun 2011, phuongvan wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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