Composer Tim Minchin shares what it was like working on Matilda the Musical
The new film is out now
Last updated 25th Nov 2022
Composer Tim Minchin joined Simon Mayo on the Drivetime Show to talk about working on new film Matilda the Musical. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Tim Minchin wrote the music for the musical, which has been used in the film adaptation.
Unfortunately, Tim wasn't able to see any of the film being made due to Covid-19, he explained: "Matilda was done completely without me and it’s fine because I’m the composer/lyricist - I wasn’t the director. I wasn’t involved much, except when Matthew (Warchus, the director) was casting. If I wanted to I suppose I could have made a fuss but I don’t get involved where I’m not needed.
"I mostly sat back, other than I wrote a new song for it, and I really hoped I would get over to the UK and watch some of the filming just for my own joy and edification, but I was trapped in Australia through the whole period."
Watch Tim Minchin chat to Simon Mayo about his comedy music show, Back:
As well as being a songwriter, Tim is also a comedian and has brought his comedy music show, called Back, to the big screen. It was filmed live at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire and is now available to watch in cinemas across the UK.
Who plays Matilda in the 2022 film?
Tim was full of praise for the actors from the film, including Emma Thompson who plays Miss Trunchbull and newcomer Alisha Weir who stars as Matilda. He commented: "I think it’s the best child performance I’ve ever seen in my life on film, it is extraordinary. And when I say the best we can all think of iconic children in films but what she has to do vocally and emotionally it really is phenomenal, she is absolutely amazing. But it’s also due to with her chemistry with Lashana Lynch (Miss Honey), who is suddenly this massive star - she’s been in Marvel movies, she’s been 007 – and in this movie she is completely different. She’s such an extraordinary actress she becomes a completely different energy."
He added: "Emma Thompson is completely batty and bonkers and a real Dahl monster and then at the heart of this movie is the relationship between Miss Honey and Matilda. There’s a moment in the movie that just makes me sob. I don’t think it makes children sob, which is good because children don’t like crying, but if you’re an adult most adults like crying and this’ll do it for you."
Watch Simon Mayo's full chat with Tim Minchin:
When is Matilda the Musical coming out?
The film hit cinemas on Friday 25th November.
Where can I watch the new Matilda film?
Matilda the Musical was released in cinemas on 25th November and will join Netflix later in 2022.
Watch the trailer for Matilda the Musical:
When is Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio?
Simon Mayo gets you home on weekdays from 4pm on the Drivetime show, you can also catch him every Sunday from 1pm with The Album Show!
Check out these other interviews from Simon Mayo's show
Simon caught up with Shania Twain about her new music.
Simon spoke to James May about The Grand Tour.
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Ken Bruce
Greatest Hits Radio is the home of the legend that is Ken Bruce, weekdays 10am-1pm - including PopMaster, the UK's biggest music quiz for 25 years and counting.
Find out more about Ken and PopMaster.
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo hosts Drivetime every weekday at 4pm and The Album Show on Sundays from 1pm.
Simon said of his Drivetime show: "I think the thing about Drivetime is that it is like the flip side of breakfast. You kind of know what an awful lot of people are doing, it's the end of most people's day, they're doing some final bits of work, they're shutting the laptop, they're doing a bit of food preparation, they're driving home. I think it is that sense of camaraderie, it's the end of the day, people want to be cheered up and they want to spend some time with some decent folk on the radio!"
Find out more about Simon Mayo here.
Paul Gambaccini
Paul brings us his famous America's Greatest Hits programme every Saturday between 5pm-7pm, featuring two hours of the Greatest Hits that made it big in America.
Sharing some of the things he loves about his show, Paul said: "Radio is the perfect form of one-to-one communication. TV can be direct, too, but the camera operator is always in your line of vision! I enjoy sharing my favourite music, and my admittedly freakish knowledge of it, with people who care about that music. I love the opportunity for challenging talk overs, too!"
Find out more about Paul Gambaccini here.
Alex Lester
The Dark Lord keeps you company in the small hours. Join him for the Music Marathon from 1am and the Best Time Of The Day Show 4-6am weekdays.
Alex brings: "Your favourite songs. Bizarre insights and unusual thoughts," to his show and told us that he loves that during his show: "It's just the two of us. You and me. (Against the world)."
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Jenny Powell
Jenny plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio to kickstart your weekend, every Saturday and Sunday from 6am.
On Jenny's show, listeners can look forward to The Breakfast Club, which she says is: "A warm-up for the weekend, full of positive vibes and feel-good factor when you wake up on Saturdays and Sundays. I insist you have a dance with me on the Kitchen Disco, I share some fun news stories from the previous week on The Headliners and get you smiling no matter what, sharing some of my favourite tracks from the 70s, 80, and 90s."
Find out more about Jenny Powell here.
Andy Crane
Join Andy's late-night community of music and company, Sunday-Thursday at 10pm.
Andy has three hours of the biggest songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon. His show is full of: "Great music and plenty of laughing."
Find out more about Andy Crane here.
Martin Kemp
Join our resident pop star Martin Kemp as he kicks off your Friday night with his Mixtape – three hours of handpicked essential weekend songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s to get you in the mood and dancing round the kitchen.
Then on Saturdays, it's side-two as he brings you nothing but the greatest decade of all time on The 80s Mixtape.
Get your teenage kicks in the company of THE 80s poster boy on Greatest Hits Radio!
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Jackie Brambles
Jackie Brambles hosts The Evening Show every Monday to Thursday from 7pm - 10pm.
Jackie promises to deliver: "Great music and great conversations! Every night we're joined by one of your favourite artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s for an in-depth chat about the highs and lows of their careers and their musical influences over the years."
Find out more about Jackie Brambles here.
Kate Thornton
Join Kate at the weekend.
Saturday afternoons are all about the best 70s, 80s & 90s pop soundtrack, bringing you the weekend Good Times – expect One Hit Wonders, Anthems, Nostalgia and plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in the show live.
On Sundays, it's 'The UK Pop 40' as Kate counts down the UK Top 40 as it was on this day in history – exactly where the chart should be. Get the tape recorder out the loft!
Find out more about Kate Thornton here.
Richard Allinson
Weekend Good Times never sounded so good!
He's a broadcasting legend with a voice like silk that, alongside the Biggest Songs of the 70s, 80s & 90s, make the perfect weekend soundtrack – Saturday and Sundays at 9am.
Saturdays kick off with your chance to guess the year on The Top 10 Til 10, while Sundays are reserved for an hour of your special songs and dedications.
Speaking about his show, Richard said: "The idea is to recreate all those great memories I have of weekends growing up, a bunch of us meeting up to buy clothes, records, maybe sort a date…everything happened on a weekend and we remember the records we played at that time."
Find out more about Richard Allinson here.
Des Paul
Join Des for Rhythm Of The Night every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm, where he plays all the greatest soul, funk, disco and Motown hits to start your weekend.
Des explained what he loves the most about his show: "The favourite bit of presenting Rhythm of the Night is when listeners contact me to say how much they've loved hearing a particular track and then tell us all about when and where they used to hear it."
Find out more about Des Paul here.
Now read:
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Everything you need to know about Drivetime with Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio
Simon Mayo in conversation with Shania Twain about touring and her new music