Ian McKellan to lip-sync audio recordings from British artist LS Lowry in BBC doc

LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, with Ian McKellan playing the acclaimed English artist.

BBC Arts has commissioned culture documentary LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, with The Lord of the Rings actor Ian McKellan playing the acclaimed English artist.

The 1×60′ show, for BBC Two and streamer iPlayer, is part of long-running arts strand Arena and will be produced by Warner Bros Discovery-owned prodco Wall to Wall Media (Cook Once, Eat Twice).

Marking 50 years since Lowry’s death, the film sees McKellan lip-sync to newly discovered, previously unheard audio recordings which trace the artist’s journey from childhood through to his ‘matchstick men’ paintings and his final days. Actress Annabel Smith will play the role of Lowry’s young fan, Angela Barratt.

Mark Bell, commissioning editor, BBC Arts, said: “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.

“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.”