Keith Richards to tell story of his childhood in post-war Britain in BBC film

Titled ‘Keith Richards – The Origin of the Species’, the one-hour film will be shown in July and looks back at Keith’s childhood in post World War II Britain.

“There was a feeling late ‘50s/early ‘60s that there was a change coming,” Keith says in the documentary.

“Harold Macmillan actually said it – ‘The winds of change’ and all that – but he didn’t mean it in quite the same way. I certainly felt that my generation and what was happening and the feeling in the air – was it’s time to push limits. The world is ours now and you can rise or fall on it.”

Julien Temple says: “Listening to the early Stones as a kid changed everything for me. I felt a new way of living emerging, a new kind of person becoming possible - something I wanted to be a part of. And without a doubt I thought Keith Richards was the Origin Of The Species. This film sets out to explore how both he and the 60s in England came about."

The film will form the centrepiece of the BBC’s My Generation Season, which focuses on the origins of popular music.

Alongside ‘The Origin of the Species’, Keith will personally curate a weekend of programming for BBC Four.

Each of the two nights will feature an introduction from Keith and will boast documentaries, films and live performances all cherry-picked by the rock icon.

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four, says: “Keith Richards is undoubtedly one of the key icons of our age. His film for BBC Two will be a fascinating exploration into the post-war years, how they impacted both his life and others and influenced the 60s and the decades that followed.

“And his curated weekend of programmes for BBC Four will be a thrilling musical journey for viewers - giving an extraordinary and unique insight into Keith’s passions and inspirations.”