Kathy Lette meets Barry Humphries to discuss his life, work, influences and characters. Featuring rare performances, interviews and programmes from the BBC archive.

Kathy Lette celebrates Barry Humphries. An interesting, inspiring, true creative, treasured for his outrageous characters, acerbic wit and sharp tongue. Humphries has collaborated with some of the most revered creative minds of the last century.

The man himself is a considered intellectual with a life immersed in music, literature and arts. For his delivery of Dadaist and absurdist humour to millions, biographer Anne Pender described Humphries as not only "the most significant theatrical figure of our time ... [but] the most significant comedian to emerge since Charlie Chaplin"

In this three-hour compilation, self-styled 'deranged author' Kathy Lette chats to Barry Humphries about his relationship with Sir Les Patterson, Sandy Stone and Dame Edna Everage.

Kathy also introduces rare performances, interviews and programmes from the BBC archive including:

* Barry and Dame Edna's appearances on Front Row, In Tune, Profile, and Nightwave

* Early performances alongside Spike Milligan

* A discussion of working with Emily Perry, who played Dame Edna's bridesmaid Madge.

* Interviews with Dame Edna shortly after her escape from Mooney Ponds.

There's also a look at the people and things that have influenced Humphries' work and life:

* His passion for literature is discussed in Open Book

* His passion for the decadent world of art, music and satire is delved into in Barry Humphries In Weimar.

Produced by Laura Baron

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2015.