50. William Ivory on The Great Escaper

The true story of the Second World War veteran who went absent without leave to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day

Bernard Jordan survived not only Dunkirk, but D-Day too. So when, aged 89, and living in a care home in Hove, he was told that he couldn’t attend the event marking the 70-year anniversary of D-Day in France, Bernard had other ideas.

The Great Escaper, a new film starring Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson, is the moving story of a Second World War veteran’s last hurrah. The writer of the film, William Ivory, shares his thoughts on the events that inspired the movie. And offers his view on why Bernard and his wife, Rene, left their entire estate to the RNLI.

Watch the trailer for The Great Escaper here or visit thegreatescaper.film

Learn more about the RNLI's extraordinary efforts in the Second World War in a special episode of Saving Lives at Sea, presented by Dermot O'Leary. Search Series 9: Episode 1 on BBC iPlayer or visit https://tinyurl.com/4cryn54u

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI 

Interview by Adventurous Audio 

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls 

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200